Redundant Inductive Sensor IC Multiplexing for Plausibility Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inductive position sensor systems require redundant signal conditioning ICs to process voltages from redundant inductive sensors, which is inefficient and does not meet the high safety requirements of ASIL D compliance in automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
A single integrated circuit (IC) is used to time-multiplex and process voltages from redundant inductive sensors, implementing a fixed relation between the sensors to perform plausibility checks, achieving ASIL D compliance without the need for two separate ICs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant signal conditioning ICs are used to process voltages from redundant inductive sensors, then reliability and safety are improved, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal conditioning functions into a single IC that can process voltages from multiple inductive sensors. The IC includes multiple ADCs and signal processing channels that can be configured to handle redundant sensor inputs, eliminating the need for separate conditioning ICs for each sensor while maintaining safety and reliability functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal conditioning IC is designed with multi-functional capabilities to process voltages from different inductive sensors using the same IC. It includes configurable channels and ADCs that can be assigned to different sensor pairs, allowing one IC to perform the work that previously required multiple dedicated ICs, thus reducing hardware complexity while maintaining safety.
2Device complexity
If a single integrated circuit is used to process voltages from redundant inductive sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to perform independent plausibility checks is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The single signal conditioning IC is segmented into multiple independent processing channels, each capable of processing voltages from different sensor pairs. This segmentation allows the IC to maintain independent plausibility check capabilities for each sensor channel while using a single integrated hardware unit, thus reducing overall hardware complexity without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC includes intermediary processing stages that can independently evaluate voltages from different sensors before outputting final signals. These intermediary channels allow the system to perform plausibility checks on each sensor input independently within the single IC, maintaining integrity verification capabilities while reducing hardware requirements.
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
The solution enables efficient and safe operation of inductive position sensors by ensuring redundancy and integrity checks, meeting the highest safety standards in automotive systems while reducing hardware requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission coil configured to generate a magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a first set of receiver coils configured to pick up a set of first voltage signals from the magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for inductive positioning sensing are described. A transmission coil can generate a magnetic field. A first set of receiver coils can pick up first voltage signals from the magnetic field. A second set of receiver coils can pick up second voltage signals from the magnetic field. The first and second inductive sensors can have a fixed relation. An integrated circuit (IC) can multiplex the first and second voltage signals to process one of the first and second voltage signals using one channel at a time. The IC can convert the first voltage signals into a first digital parameter and convert the second voltage signals into a second digital parameter. The IC can output the first and second digital parameters to trigger at least one plausibility checker to determine whether the first angle position and the second angle position satisfy or fail to satisfy the fixed relation.