Pressure Sensor Array Circuit Reducing Wire Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pressure-sensitive sensor arrays face challenges with increased wire area and manufacturing costs due to numerous signal connection wires, which hinder size reduction and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing circuit with a pressure-sensitive sensor array is designed, featuring a bridge-connected sensing unit configuration that reduces signal wires by forming differential signal pairs from row and column outputs, utilizing an analog-digital converter and pseudo half-bridge circuit to minimize wire connections and conversion times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If every sensing unit is connected with separate signal wires in a conventional bridge configuration, then signal quality is maintained, but the wire area increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple signal lines by connecting positive output terminals of sensing units in the same row together and negative output terminals of sensing units in the same column together. This combining approach reduces the number of signal wires from M×N individual connections to just M+N collective connections, significantly reducing wire area while maintaining signal integrity through differential signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the row and column output lines universal by having each row output line carry signals from multiple sensing units simultaneously, and each column output line similarly aggregate signals from multiple units. This multi-functional wiring approach allows the same physical wire to serve multiple sensing units, reducing the total wire count while preserving measurement capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If separate signal processing channels are provided for each sensing unit, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines M×N sensing unit outputs into M+N aggregate signals through row and column summation circuits. This merging reduces the number of separate signal processing channels from M×N to M+N, simplifying the downstream analog-to-digital conversion and processing hardware while maintaining measurement precision through the differential nature of the combined signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces row output terminals and column output terminals as intermediary aggregation points between the sensing units and the final signal processing stage. These intermediaries combine multiple sensing signals before they reach the analog-to-digital converter, reducing complexity while preserving measurement information through the differential signal structure.
3Reliability
If M×N sensing units are arranged in a bridge configuration, then signal quality is improved, but the number of connection wires increases to M×N plus excitation wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the output connections of M×N sensing units into M+N collective row and column lines. This merging reduces the connection wire count from M×N individual wires to just M+N collective wires, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the bridge configuration's signal quality benefits.
4Measurement precision
If more input channels are provided in subsequent signal processing chips, then all sensing unit signals can be processed, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges M×N sensing unit outputs into M+N aggregate signals that can be processed by fewer analog-to-digital conversion channels. This merging reduces the required number of input channels in subsequent signal processing chips from M×N to M+N, lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to process signals from all sensing units through the row and column summation approach.
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 significantly decreases the number of output signal wires, improves system reliability, reduces manufacturing costs, and minimizes the volume of the system by optimizing signal processing and chip input channels.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure-sensitive sensor is adapted for converting the externally applied pressure into electrical signals. It comprises resistive pressure-sensitive sensor, capacitive pressure-sensitive sensor and piezoelectric pressure-sensitive sensor.
Implementation Method 2
The pressure-sensitive sensor is adapted for converting the externally applied pressure into electrical signals. It comprises resistive pressure-sensitive sensor, capacitive pressure-sensitive sensor and piezoelectric pressure-sensitive sensor.
Implementation Method 3
The pressure-sensitive sensor is adapted for converting the externally applied pressure into electrical signals. It comprises resistive pressure-sensitive sensor, capacitive pressure-sensitive sensor and piezoelectric pressure-sensitive sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing circuit with a pressure-sensitive sensor array includes a pressure-sensitive sensor array with M rows and N columns, and an excitation source adapted for outputting positive and negative excitation voltages, wherein: the positive output terminals of the sensing units at a same row of the pressure-sensitive sensor array are connected with each other and act as an output of the row; the negative output terminals of the sensing units at a same column of the pressure-sensitive sensor array are connected with each other and act as an output of the column; so that the whole pressure-sensitive sensor array has a positive excitation input end, a negative excitation input end, M row output signals and N column output signals. The signal processing circuit and method are capable of significantly decreasing an amount of output signal wires of the sensor, reducing connection areas, and improving reliability.