Sensor Pulse Duration Temperature Detection Without Protocol Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensing protocols, such as the AK protocol used in active speed sensors, do not provide for the transmission of temperature information, making it difficult to monitor temperature in sensors or their environments without additional hardware or protocol modifications.
Innovation Solution
A device with a data processing unit that measures the pulse duration of electrical pulses transmitted by a sensor and uses reference data to determine temperature information, allowing temperature monitoring without modifying existing protocols or adding hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If further sensors or components are added to directly measure temperature, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device uses its own operational parameters (pulse duration) to indicate temperature information. The sensor essentially monitors itself by allowing thermal effects to naturally influence its output signal characteristics, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensing hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits changes in the pulse duration parameter of the existing sensor output signal in response to temperature variations. By measuring how the pulse duration changes with temperature, the system derives temperature information from the sensor's normal operational characteristics without adding measurement hardware.
2Loss of information
If the data transmission protocol is modified to include temperature information, then temperature information transmission is enabled, but protocol compatibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse duration acts as an intermediary carrier that conveys temperature information indirectly. Instead of modifying the protocol to explicitly transmit temperature data, the existing pulse duration parameter serves as a mediator that encodes temperature information within the normal data transmission framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing pulse duration parameter, originally designed for data transmission, is made to serve multiple functions: both conveying sensor measurement data and indicating temperature information. This multi-functionality enables temperature monitoring without requiring separate communication channels or protocol modifications.
3Device complexity
If existing protocols and hardware are used without modification, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but temperature information becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the sensor's own output signal characteristics (pulse duration variations caused by thermal effects) to derive temperature information. The sensor's operational parameters provide feedback about its thermal state, which is then measured and used for temperature determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful thermal effects (temperature drift, pulse duration changes due to heating) into a beneficial feature for temperature measurement. What was originally considered a source of measurement error or instability becomes the basis for extracting temperature information.
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
Enables accurate temperature monitoring and warning systems for sensors and their environments, improving reliability and reducing costs by leveraging existing protocols and hardware.
Implementation Method 1
A measurable and reproducible relationship between the pulse duration of the electrical pulses and thermal effects in such sensor devices has been observed. This relationship may collectively arise as a result of dependences of the method of operation on electrical circuit components or semiconductor components present in the sensor device, which dependences are not specifically determined in more detail; in particular, PN junctions in diodes, transistors or oscillators respectively exhibit a temperature drift.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for determining temperature information from a sensor device, which is configured to transmit sensor information by time-limited electrical pulses according to a defined protocol, including: a data processing unit configured to perform the following: retrieving reference data relating to a relationship between a pulse duration of the electrical pulses and thermal effects in the sensor device; measuring the pulse duration at at least one of the electrical pulses; and determining the temperature information on the basis of at least one result of the measurement and the reference data. Also described are a related sensor system, a related vehicle, related methods, and a computer readable medium.