Magnetic Inertial Sensor Wireless Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inertial sensors with electrical connections between the sensor package and the ASIC are bulky, costly, and prone to failure due to the use of materials like gold or copper, which occupy excessive space and are subject to potential electrical failures.
Innovation Solution
An inertial sensor design featuring a semiconductor body with integrated excitation and sensing coils, a magnetic-field concentrator, and a supply and sensing circuit that generates a time-variable magnetic field to induce electrical signals in the sensing coils, eliminating the need for physical electrical connections between the sensor and the ASIC, and utilizing magnetic or electromagnetic coupling for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical connections (wire-bonding) are used to connect the inertial sensor to the ASIC, then electrical signals can be transmitted, but the device occupies excessive space and is prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-bonding electrical connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless communication system. The inertial sensor uses electromagnetic radiation to transmit measurement data to external receivers, eliminating the need for physical electrical connections between the sensor and processing units. This substitution resolves the contradiction by removing fragile wires (improving reliability) while reducing the space required for connection infrastructure (reducing volume occupation).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic fields as an intermediary medium to transmit data from the inertial sensor without direct physical contact. Instead of electrical signals traveling through wires, the sensor modulates electromagnetic radiation to carry measurement information, using the electromagnetic field as a mediator between the sensor and external receivers. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for physical electrical connections while maintaining data transmission capability.
2Reliability
If electrical connections are used between sensor and ASIC, then data can be transmitted, but the connections are costly and failure-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive electrical wire-bonding infrastructure with electromagnetic field-based wireless communication. By using electromagnetic radiation for data transmission, the system eliminates the need for costly gold or copper wires and complex bonding processes, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while improving reliability through contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses electromagnetic field modulation to create a wireless copy of the data transmission function that previously required physical electrical connections. The sensor modulates electromagnetic radiation to carry measurement data, effectively copying the data transmission capability without the physical infrastructure of wires and electrical contacts, thereby reducing both cost and failure points.
3Ease of operation
If wire-bonding electrical connections are used, then electrical signals can be transmitted, but the connections occupy excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical wire-bonding system with an electromagnetic field-based transmission system. The inertial sensor modulates electromagnetic radiation to transmit measurement data wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical electrical connections and their associated space requirements for wires, bonding pads, and connection infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions data transmission from a physical dimensional constraint (wires occupying three-dimensional space) to an electromagnetic field dimension. By using electromagnetic radiation that can propagate through space without physical medium, the system effectively moves data transmission into the electromagnetic spectrum dimension, freeing up physical space within the device architecture.
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 design reduces space occupation, eliminates costly and failure-prone electrical connections, and enhances the reliability and efficiency of inertial sensing by using magnetic coupling for data transmission, allowing for precise detection of movements and accelerations without the need for wires.
Implementation Method 1
generate a time-variable flow of electric current through the excitation coil to generate a magnetic field that, in use, interacts with said magnetic-field concentrator to induce an electrical quantity in the first sensing coil
Implementation Method 2
a suspended mass including a magnetic-field concentrator, the suspended mass extending above the first surface and being magnetically coupled to the excitation coil and to the first sensing coil
Data Source
AI summary
An inertial sensor having a body with an excitation coil and a first sensing coil extending along a first axis. A suspended mass includes a magnetic-field concentrator, in a position corresponding to the excitation coil, and configured for displacing by inertia in a plane along the first axis. A supply and sensing circuit is electrically coupled to the excitation coil and to the first sensing coil, and is configured for generating a time-variable flow of electric current that flows in the excitation coil so as to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic-field concentrator to induce a voltage/current in the sensing coil. The integrated circuit is configured for measuring a value of the voltage/current induced in the first sensing coil so as to detect a quantity associated to the displacement of the suspended mass along the first axis.