Modular Inertial Sensor Architecture for Replaceable IMUs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inertial sensors integrate a controller and a single type of inertial measurement unit on a chip, making it difficult to replace the measurement unit, limiting data measurement types and causing misjudgments in complex environments, and requiring costly upgrades for higher performance.
Innovation Solution
An inertial sensor design that supports decouplable configuration between the controller and inertial measurement units, allowing for interchangeable units through a two-layer PCB structure with adaptable interfaces, enabling compatibility with multiple types of inertial measurement units and flexible data processing modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the controller and inertial measurement unit are integrated on the same chip, then the device structure is simplified, but the measurement unit becomes difficult to replace and limits measurement types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the inertial sensor into separate modules: the controller remains on the chip while the inertial measurement unit is placed on an external circuit board. This segmentation allows the measurement unit to be replaced independently without affecting the controller, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and replaceability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertial measurement unit is extracted from the integrated chip structure and placed on an external circuit board through an interface. This extraction enables the measurement unit to be removed and replaced while keeping the controller intact, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling adaptability.
2Device complexity
If a single type of inertial measurement unit is used, then the device structure is simplified, but data measurement types are limited causing misjudgments in complex environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the interface and controller to support multiple types of inertial measurement units (e.g., acceleration sensors, gyroscope sensors, magnetic sensors). This universal interface allows different sensor types to be connected and used according to environmental requirements, enabling the system to handle diverse measurement tasks without increasing structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inertial measurement unit is integrated on the chip, then manufacturing is easier, but upgrades to higher performance require costly new chip development
Solution Approach 1:
The inertial measurement unit is extracted from the chip and placed on an external circuit board. This allows performance upgrades to be achieved by simply replacing the external sensor module without requiring costly chip redesign and re-manufacturing, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling flexible performance upgrades.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sets of interfaces are provided for different measurement units, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal interface structure that can accommodate multiple types of inertial measurement units through a standardized connection protocol and pin assignment. This single universal interface replaces the need for multiple specialized interfaces, achieving adaptability without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to an inertial sensor, and to the field of embedded designs. The inertial sensor includes at least one inertial measurement unit; a controller configured to read measurement data of the at least one inertial measurement unit, wherein the at least one inertial measurement unit is couplable to or decouplable from the controller; and a plurality of sets of interfaces, wherein each set of interfaces has a first end electrically connected with the controller and a second end electrically connected with one of the at least one inertial measurement unit.