Multi-parallel Sensor Array Wiring Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensors that measure physical parameters based on resistance changes, such as thermocouples or strain gauges, require multiple wires for power and return connections, making them challenging to integrate in systems with limited space or access, like thermal systems.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system with resistive elements connected to nodes and a controller that indexes through various modes to measure electrical characteristics, calculating total power and resistance to determine physical parameters like strain, light intensity, or gas concentration, using Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse and correlation information, while reducing the number of wires needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sensors use separate power and return wires for each sensor, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor connections into a shared multi-parallel network where multiple resistive sensors connect to common power and return nodes. This consolidation reduces the number of individual wires needed while maintaining reliable measurement capabilities through the controller's ability to distinguish individual sensor readings within the shared network.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it provides power to all sensors through shared nodes, measures electrical characteristics of each individual sensor, calculates resistance values, and determines physical parameters. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated wiring for each sensor operation.
2Ease of operation
If multiple wires are used for each sensor, then ease of operation during installation is improved, but ease of manufacture and system integration worsen due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor signal paths are merged into a shared multi-parallel network with common power and return nodes. This reduces wire count and simplifies routing in space-constrained thermal systems while maintaining the ability to individually address and measure each sensor through the controller's indexing capability.
3Device complexity
If a multi-parallel sensor array is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by circuit interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller segments the measurement process by indexing through multiple modes, where each mode isolates and measures the electrical characteristics of individual resistive elements within the parallel network. This segmentation allows precise calculation of each sensor's resistance despite their interconnected parallel configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters by cycling through different modes that apply distinct voltage configurations to the parallel network. By measuring electrical characteristics under different parameter states and calculating resistance based on these variations, the system achieves precise measurements while using a simplified parallel wiring structure.
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 approach allows for efficient measurement of physical parameters with reduced wiring complexity, enabling more sensors to be used in space-constrained systems while maintaining accurate data acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
the resistive elements are comprised of an electrically conductive material with a temperature dependent electrical resistance
Implementation Method 2
Conventional sensors that measure a physical parameter based on a change in resistance, such as thermocouples or strain gauges
Implementation Method 3
The controller is configured to index through a plurality of modes to measure an electrical characteristic for each resistive element. Each mode of the plurality of modes represents a different combination of power, return, or open circuit condition applied to each of the plurality of nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a sensing system that includes a plurality of resistive elements coupled to a plurality of nodes and a controller configured to index through a plurality of modes to measure an electrical characteristic for each resistive element. Each mode of the plurality of modes represents a different combination of power, return, or open circuit condition applied to each of the plurality of nodes. The controller is configured to calculate, for each of the modes, a total power consumed by the system and a power consumed by each of the resistive elements based on the measured electrical characteristics, to determine a physical parameter.