Bus-Compatible Sensor Element With Shift Register Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bus-compatible sensor systems face issues with increased information runtime and interference due to long sensor chains, particularly in industrial and automotive environments, where serial communication architectures lead to signal echoes and unacceptable latencies, and parallel architectures are limited by the number of outputs and require predefined slave configurations.
Innovation Solution
A bus-compatible sensor element incorporating a 1-bit shift register that activates sensor elements via a parallel activation signal, allowing efficient data communication without time delays and minimizing interference, even in long chains, by using a serial peripheral interface (SPI) with a master-controlled shift register for addressing and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a serial SPI bus structure with many sensor elements is used to cover long path lengths, then the measurement range is improved, but the information runtime increases and signal interference increases due to long return lines
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple independent sensor elements that can be individually addressed. Each sensor element has its own shift register and activation mechanism, allowing the system to segment the long measurement range into manageable units that communicate in parallel rather than sequentially through a single long return line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the communication architecture by using shift registers to distribute activation signals time-divisionally across multiple sensor elements. This transforms the traditional serial communication into a parallel-like structure where multiple sensors can be activated simultaneously or in quick succession without requiring a long return line, effectively adding a temporal dimension to the communication protocol.
2Length of moving object
If a serial SPI bus structure with many sensor elements is used to cover long path lengths, then the measurement range is improved, but electromagnetic interference and signal echoes increase due to long return lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the activation signal distribution function from the traditional serial return line mechanism. By using shift registers at each sensor element, the activation signal is distributed locally without requiring a long return line to carry address information back to the master. This separates the activation function from the data return function, eliminating the source of electromagnetic interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The shift register acts as an intermediary component between the master controller and each sensor element. It receives the activation signal and distributes it appropriately without requiring the sensor elements to communicate their addresses back through a long return line. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for long return lines while maintaining individual sensor addressing capability.
3Loss of time
If a parallel architecture with separate activation lines for each sensor is used, then the information runtime is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the number of outputs and predefined slave configurations required
Solution Approach 1:
The master controller uses a single output pin that serves multiple functions: it can activate different sensor elements by combining the activation signal with shift register clock cycles. This universal approach allows one output to control multiple sensors without requiring separate activation lines for each sensor, reducing the number of outputs while maintaining fast information runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic addressing through shift register operations. Instead of static separate activation lines for each sensor, the system uses a single activation line combined with dynamic shift register clocking to selectively activate different sensors. This dynamic approach reduces the number of physical outputs while maintaining the ability to quickly address any sensor element.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables fast and reliable data communication across multiple sensor elements with reduced latency and interference, allowing for scalable and cost-effective modular designs without the need for extensive chip select lines, effectively addressing the limitations of traditional serial and parallel architectures.
Implementation Method 1
the position of a displaceable permanent magnet is ascertained, for example, with the aid of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor
Implementation Method 2
the position of a displaceable permanent magnet is ascertained, for example, with the aid of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor or of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional Hall sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A bus-compatible sensor element includes a converter generating a digital measurement signal, a first data input receiving an input data, a first data output for outputting an output data, a first clock input receiving a first clock signal, a slave select connection receiving an activation signal, and a 1-bit shift register. The 1-bit shift register includes a shift register data input, a shift register output, and a second clock input. The shift register output is connected to the slave select connection to activate the sensor element in response to the activation signal present at the shift register data input.