Microcontroller Bus Data Sharing for Actuator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microcontroller architectures face limitations in controlling multiple actuators due to the number of chip-select outputs, which restricts the number of DC motors that can be controlled by a single driving circuit, leading to high power dissipation and output latency issues.
Innovation Solution
The method extends the number of driving circuits and actuators that can be controlled by using a microsecond bus with multiple chip-select outputs and configuration pins, allowing each driving circuit to receive a portion of the data frame signal, thereby increasing the number of actuators controllable by a microcontroller without requiring additional microcontroller pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of chip-select outputs is increased to control more driving circuits, then the number of controllable actuators is improved, but the power dissipation increases beyond acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The data frame signal is segmented into multiple portions, with each portion assigned to a specific driving circuit. Configuration pins divide the data frame into time slots, allowing multiple driving circuits to share a single chip-select output. This segmentation enables control of more actuators without increasing the number of chip-select outputs, thereby avoiding additional power dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic time-multiplexed communication where the single chip-select output and data frame signal are periodically allocated to different driving circuits in sequence. Each driving circuit receives its designated data portion during specific time slots defined by configuration pins, enabling multiple actuators to be controlled through time-division sharing rather than requiring simultaneous dedicated connections.
2Speed
If parallel data lines are used to connect logic controller and power chips, then the data transmission speed is improved, but the number of required connection lines increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical parallel connection approach with a serial communication system. Instead of using multiple parallel data lines for simultaneous data transmission, the invention uses a single serial data line that transmits data in a time-multiplexed fashion, substituting physical parallelism with temporal parallelism through the microsecond bus and configuration pin-based time slot allocation.
3Device complexity
If serial communication protocol is used to reduce connection lines, then the device complexity is reduced, but the output latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration pins are pre-configured to define time slots and data frame portions before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary setup allows the serial communication system to operate with predetermined timing relationships, reducing the need for dynamic negotiation and minimizing output latency during actual actuator control operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for sharing data between a microcontroller and a plurality of driving circuits of actuators is disclosed. A microcontroller is provided with a microsecond bus and a plurality of chip-select outputs. A plurality of driving circuits have input pins for data signals received from the microcontroller through the microsecond bus. Each of the driving circuits has an input pin receiving a signal from a chip-select output of the microcontroller and at least two configuration pins connected to the ground voltage or to a supply voltage. A data frame signal is sent on the microsecond bus. Each of the driving circuits is supplied with a portion of the data frame signal as a function of the chip-select output of the microcontroller and as a function of the voltage connection of the at least two configuration pins.