Light Sensor MCU Architecture for Single-CPU Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operational mode of existing light sensor devices requires dual-CPU control, leading to high costs due to the need for a master machine to control light sensors, which is inefficient and expensive.
Innovation Solution
Embedding an MCU into a light sensor chip to combine dual-mode master-and-slave dual-CPU architectures into a single-CPU architecture, allowing the light sensor chip to directly control light sensors by redirecting the I2C bus to internal non-volatile memory, switching operational modes from slave to host and disabling the interrupt pin, thus simplifying the architecture and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If dual-CPU control architecture is used to control light sensors, then control functionality is achieved, but cost increases due to requiring master machine and multiple CPUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the master and slave CPU functions into a single integrated MCU within the light sensor chip. The MCU can operate in dual modes: slave mode for configuration adjustment and host mode for direct light sensor control, eliminating the need for separate master machine CPU and slave microcontroller CPU, thus reducing BOM cost while maintaining control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated MCU is designed with multi-functionality to perform both configuration adjustment (slave mode) and direct light sensor control (host mode). This universal controller replaces the need for separate master and slave CPUs, achieving cost reduction without sacrificing control capabilities
2Ease of manufacture
If dual-CPU control architecture is used, then light sensors can be controlled, but bill of materials cost remains high due to multiple CPU components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple CPU functions into a single integrated MCU, directly reducing the number of CPU components in the bill of materials. The MCU contains all necessary control logic for both configuration and sensor operation, simplifying the overall system composition
Solution Approach 2:
The light sensor chip with integrated MCU achieves self-service capability by autonomously controlling light sensors in host mode without requiring external master machine intervention. This self-contained operation reduces dependency on additional control components, lowering BOM cost while maintaining operational simplicity
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 solution enables a cost-effective, easy-to-use single-CPU architecture for light sensor control, maintaining compatibility with existing circuit designs and reducing the overall bill of materials by eliminating the need for dual-CPU configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the AFE circuit electrically connects to the light sensor area to photoelectrically convert and analogically trim parameters of the light sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A light sensor device is provided. It is controlled with a dual-mode master-and-slave microcontroller unit (MCU) application. An MCU is embedded into a light sensor chip. The original dual-mode master-and-slave dual-CPU architectures are combined to be operated as a single-CPU architecture. Since the original circuit pin design is followed, it is possible to be compatible with the old circuit design. The present invention uses a single-CPU architecture to directly control light sensors. Through the configuration of RAM, an inter-integrated circuit bus (I2C I/F) can be redirected to an internal non-volatile memory to switch the operational mode of the light sensor chip from a slave machine to a host machine which switches off the interrupt pin and, then, turns to a GPIO pin. Thus, the present invention provides a simple single-CPU architecture with easy use and effectively-lowered cost.