Sensor Controller Sync Frame Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data transmission protocols for sensor signals between sensor modules and receivers often face challenges in balancing complexity and throughput, particularly in motorized systems where low- or medium-complexity sensors need to communicate with complex computing units while maintaining robustness and simplicity.
Innovation Solution
A sensor controller and receiver system that uses a protocol with two signal edges indicating a pre-determined synchronization time interval, embedding at least one data signal portion between the edges, which decreases overhead and increases data throughput while maintaining reduced complexity and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robust protocol with high throughput is used for data transmission, then data throughput is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data transmission protocol is segmented into distinct functional portions: a synchronization portion containing two signal edges that define a time interval, and a data portion containing actual sensor data. This segmentation allows the receiver to efficiently synchronize and decode data without processing overhead from complex protocol handshaking, thereby improving throughput while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol uses periodic signal edges to establish a pre-determined synchronization time interval between transmitter and receiver. This periodic structure enables the receiver to anticipate data arrival times and process data continuously without complex flow control mechanisms, achieving high throughput with minimal complexity.
2Device complexity
If a simple protocol is used for data transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but data throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter pre-establishes a synchronization pattern using two signal edges that define a pre-determined time interval before data transmission begins. This preliminary synchronization action allows the receiver to be ready to capture data immediately without complex negotiation or handshaking, achieving simple protocol design with efficient throughput.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex computing units accumulate sensor data from multiple sensors, then data processing capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller protocol is designed with universal structures that can handle data from multiple sensor types through a unified interface. The synchronization portion and data portion format remains consistent regardless of sensor source, allowing complex computing units to accumulate and process data from multiple sensors using the same simple protocol without increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor module includes at least one sensor configured to generate sensor information and processing circuitry configured to generate a sensor signal based on the sensor information. The sensor signal includes a sync frame, including two sync signal edges defining the sync frame and indicating a pre-determined synchronization time interval, and the sensor signal further includes a plurality of data signal portions, including at least one data signal portion transmitted within the sync frame. The at least one data signal portion is provided within the sync frame located between the two sync signal edges, wherein each of the at least one data signal portion is defined by at least one data signal edge interposed in the sensor signal between the two sync signal edges.