Drive-Sense Interface Circuits for Single-Line Sensor Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data communication systems in sensor applications face challenges in efficiently processing and communicating diverse physical conditions across various environments, such as industrial settings, healthcare, and transportation, due to limitations in sensor-actuator integration and data transmission protocols.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication system that integrates drive-sense circuits with computing devices, sensors, and actuators, enabling simultaneous signal driving and sensing through a single line, which facilitates efficient data processing and actuation across multiple physical conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate drive and sense circuits are used for sensors, then signal driving and sensing can be performed independently, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines drive and sense circuits into a single integrated interface circuit that can simultaneously perform both drive and sense operations. The interface circuit includes a drive circuit coupled to a sense circuit, where the sense circuit is coupled to the sensor and the drive circuit is coupled to the actuator, allowing both functions to be performed through a unified architecture rather than separate independent circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface circuit is designed to perform multiple functions including drive operation, sense operation, and mixed operation modes. The circuit can selectively enable or disable the drive circuit and sense circuit based on operational requirements, providing universal functionality that adapts to different operating conditions while maintaining a single integrated structure.
2Reliability
If multiple separate circuits are used for sensing and actuation, then each function can be optimized independently, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges drive and sense circuits into a single integrated interface that shares common components and power supply pathways. The interface circuit can operate in mixed mode where both drive and sense operations occur simultaneously through coordinated control, reducing redundant power consumption that would occur with completely separate circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface circuit employs dynamic control mechanisms that can selectively enable or disable the drive circuit and sense circuit based on real-time operational requirements. This dynamic switching allows the system to optimize power consumption by activating only the necessary circuit components for each specific operation mode rather than maintaining all circuits continuously active.
3Reliability
If traditional sensor circuits with multiple electrical connections are used, then power and signal references can be provided separately, but the number of wiring connections and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates power supply, reference voltage, and signal transmission functions into a unified interface circuit architecture. The interface circuit receives control signals from the computing device and internally manages power distribution and reference voltage generation, eliminating the need for separate external wiring connections for each function while maintaining stable power and signal references through integrated design.
4Reliability
If dedicated communication lines are used for each sensor and actuator, then data transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interface circuit serves as a universal communication node that can handle both sensor data acquisition and actuator control commands through a single integrated communication interface. The circuit selectively operates in drive mode, sense mode, or mixed mode based on control signals, allowing bidirectional communication functionality to be achieved through a unified communication pathway rather than requiring separate dedicated lines for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.