Passive Transmitter Impedance Modulation for Isolation Barrier Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for data exchange across isolation barriers are inefficient and require continuous energy to prevent data failures, as they do not pass direct current and rely on refresh pulses.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a passive transmitter that modulates impedance to send data across an isolation barrier, where a sensing element detects changes in impedance to receive data with minimal power consumption, synchronized with a trigger or shift clock signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional systems use optocouplers, capacitive couplers, or inductive couplers to transmit data across isolation barriers, then data exchange is enabled, but continuous energy consumption is required to send refresh pulses and prevent data failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the transmitter passive and the receiver active. Instead of the transmitter actively sending continuous refresh pulses, the receiver actively senses impedance changes at the transmitter. This inversion eliminates the need for continuous energy transmission while maintaining reliable data transfer across the isolation barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive transmitter uses the inherent impedance characteristics of the isolation barrier itself to encode data, rather than requiring external energy sources. The transmitter modulates the impedance of the isolation barrier capacitance, and the receiver detects these changes, allowing the system to use the barrier's own properties for data encoding without continuous power consumption.
2Reliability
If isolation barriers block direct current to ensure electrical isolation, then safety and fault isolation are improved, but data transmission requires continuous refresh pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional active transmission system (requiring continuous pulse generation and synchronization) with a passive sensing system. The receiver uses a sensing element to detect impedance changes, substituting complex active transmission circuitry with a simpler detection-based approach that maintains electrical isolation while reducing system complexity.
3Loss of information
If active transmitters send continuous pulses across isolation barriers, then data is maintained, but power consumption increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the transmitter passive and the receiver active. Instead of the transmitter actively sending continuous refresh pulses, the receiver actively senses impedance changes at the transmitter. This inversion eliminates the need for continuous energy transmission while maintaining reliable data transfer across the isolation barrier.
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 enables reliable and power-efficient data transfer across isolation barriers with reduced power consumption and the ability to maintain a valid data signal without continuous refresh pulses.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor having a plurality of terminals configured to be capacitively coupled to the passive transmitter
Implementation Method 2
A passive transmitter that modulates impedance to send data across an isolation barrier, where a sensing element detects changes in impedance to receive data
Implementation Method 3
In some systems, communication takes place across an isolation barrier such as an air gap, printed circuit board (PCB), or other isolating material that does not pass direct current (DC)
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system for communication has a receiver for receiving data from a passive transmitter capacitively coupled to the receiver. The receiver has a sensing element having a plurality of terminals configured to be capacitively coupled to the passive transmitter and DC isolated from the passive transmitter.