Distance Sensor Synchronization via Clocked Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distance-measuring sensors face synchronization challenges between measurement value generation and output, leading to inaccuracies due to asynchronous interfaces and differing clock systems, particularly in applications requiring precise timing and control loops.
Innovation Solution
A distance-measuring sensor with a measuring unit that accumulates transmission pulses in a histogram to determine signal time of flight and sets a clocked synchronizing signal for the control unit, allowing programmable output rates without altering the base clock, ensuring internal synchronicity and adjustable measurement value generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If measurement values are generated very fast to reduce asynchronicity influence, then synchronization accuracy improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to limited evaluation resources and physical measurement conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor into two independent units: a measuring unit that generates measurement values at high speed with dedicated hardware resources, and a control unit that processes and outputs measurement values at programmable rates. This segmentation allows each unit to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between fast generation and accurate processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronizing signal as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates between the measuring unit and control unit. This signal acts as a mediator that enables fast measurement value generation while maintaining synchronization accuracy through structured timing control.
2Measurement precision
If a plurality of measurement pulses are transmitted and accumulated in a histogram to improve signal-to-noise ratio, then measurement precision improves, but response time increases due to the time required to accumulate sufficient events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the averaging depth (number of events in histogram) a dynamic, programmable parameter rather than a fixed value. This allows the system to adapt the accumulation time based on application requirements, enabling users to trade off between measurement precision and response time dynamically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of histogram averaging depth from a fixed system parameter to a programmable user parameter. This allows flexible adjustment of the number of measurement pulses accumulated, enabling optimization of the trade-off between signal-to-noise ratio and response time for different application scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control unit operates with its own operating system clock cycles, then operational flexibility improves, but synchronization with measurement value generation deteriorates due to asynchronous interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measuring unit generates synchronizing signals based on its measurement clock, and the control unit uses these signals to trigger its control cycles. This feedback loop ensures that the control unit's operations are synchronized with measurement value generation, maintaining precision while allowing the control unit to operate with its own OS.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronizing signal serves as an intermediary that bridges the two independent clock systems. It allows the control unit with its own operating system to remain operationally flexible while maintaining precise synchronization with the measuring unit through a dedicated timing interface.
4Productivity
If the output rate of measurement values is increased, then productivity improves, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to reduced averaging depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the output rate a dynamic, programmable parameter that can be adjusted without altering the base clock. This allows the system to optimize the trade-off between productivity and measurement accuracy by selecting appropriate output rates based on application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changing the output rate parameter independently from the measurement generation parameters. This allows flexible adjustment of how frequently measurement values are output, enabling users to balance between high output rate for productivity and sufficient averaging depth for accuracy.
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 approach ensures internal synchronicity, allows adjustable output rates, and enables a trade-off between measurement accuracy and response time, improving the sensor's robustness and range while maintaining stable timing.
Implementation Method 1
the time interval between transmission and reception of a signal is converted into a distance based on the speed of light
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor (10) for determining a distance of an object (18), the sensor (10) transmitting a plurality of transmission pulses via a transmitter (12), accumulating reflected reception pulses (102) in a histogram (110), and determining therefrom a time of flight to the object (18). The sensor (10) has a control (24) for processing and outputting measurement values. Measuring unit (22) and control (24) are mutually connected to pass measurement values and to set a timing for the control (24) via a clocked synchronizing signal in that the control (24) executes a control cycle each time when receiving the synchronizing signal. An output rate of measurement values is programmable by the measuring unit (22) setting a smallest base clock and passing an updated measurement value to the control (24) after a multiple of the base clock corresponding to the programmed output rate.