Drive Sense Circuit With Transient Compensation for Noisy Sensor Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data communication systems face challenges in efficiently processing and interpreting signals from sensors, particularly in managing power signals and detecting changes in electrical characteristics of sensors, which affects the accuracy and reliability of data collection and communication.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a drive sense circuit that provides a regulated source signal to sensors, detects changes in the power signal due to electrical characteristics, and generates representative signals for communication, using a programmable reference signal generator to adjust sensitivity, linearity, and resolution based on the sensing environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor circuit is coupled to a sensor to provide power and receive signals, then the sensor can be powered and data can be collected, but the circuit complexity increases due to multiple electrical connections and signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive circuit and sense circuit into a single integrated sensor circuit that can both power the sensor and detect changes in electrical characteristics. This merging reduces the number of separate components and connections needed while maintaining reliable data collection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: providing power to the sensor, receiving sensor signals, and detecting changes in electrical characteristics. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor circuit detects changes in electrical characteristics to improve measurement accuracy, then the precision of physical quantity measurement is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to transient signals and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using transient suppression techniques before the sensor signal is processed. The circuit preemptively counteracts transient effects and noise that would otherwise interfere with accurate measurement, making the detection process more reliable and less difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor circuit uses feedback mechanisms to continuously monitor and adjust the detection of electrical characteristic changes. This feedback allows the circuit to distinguish between actual sensor signals and transient noise, improving measurement precision while reducing the difficulty of signal detection.
3Reliability
If transient suppression is implemented to improve signal accuracy, then the reliability of data communication is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional circuit components
Solution Approach 1:
The transient suppression functionality is merged into the existing sensor circuit rather than being implemented as a separate standalone component. This integration achieves transient suppression and improved data communication reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.