Current Reference Drive-Sense Circuit Voltage Amplifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data communication systems face challenges in efficiently collecting and processing sensed data from various sensors, particularly in industrial and automation applications, where sensors require precise power management and signal interpretation to accurately reflect physical conditions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a drive-sense circuit (DSC) that provides a regulated source signal to sensors, detects changes in the signal due to sensor electrical characteristics, and generates representative signals for data processing, thereby enabling accurate sensing and communication of physical conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor circuit provides regulated power and detects sensor signals using separate drive and sense lines, then power management precision and signal detection accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive signal generation and sense signal detection functions into a single integrated circuit block. The drive-sense circuit generates the drive signal, receives the sense signal from the sensor through the sense line, and processes both signals to detect sensor output while managing power delivery, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite maintaining functional separation for precision.
2Measurement precision
If a voltage amplifier is added to the drive-sense circuit to amplify the sense signal, then signal detection precision is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage amplifier is activated periodically rather than continuously. The amplifier receives control signals that enable it to amplify sense signals only during specific measurement intervals, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining high detection precision when needed. This periodic operation allows the system to balance between power efficiency and measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A current reference operative drive-sense circuit (DSC) includes a current source operably coupled to a load and a voltage-mode analog to digital converter (ADC). When enabled, the current source is configured to drive a sinusoidal current reference signal to the load thereby generating a load voltage that is based on the sinusoidal current reference signal and an impedance of the load. The voltage-mode ADC is operably coupled the load and to the current source. When enabled, the voltage-mode ADC configured to perform digital sampling of the load voltage and to generate a digital signal that is representative of the load voltage. In some implementations, one or more processing modules is configured to execute operational instructions to process the digital signal that is representative of the load voltage in accordance with determining impedance of the load and/or change of impedance of the load.