Sensor Data Rate Increase via Dual-Edge Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensor interfaces, such as SENT and SPC, face limitations in data rate and are vulnerable to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD), leading to performance degradation and complex wiring harnesses in mechatronic systems, especially in automotive applications where increased complexity demands smarter digital sensors.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a sensor system that utilizes differential transceivers and encoding schemes to increase data rates by utilizing both rising and falling edges for data transmission, with the ECU determining the protocol modifications and enabling backwards compatibility with existing SENT/SPC protocols, thereby enhancing data transfer efficiency and robustness against interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional SENT/SPC protocols are used for sensor communication, then the interface complexity is low and implementation is simple, but the data rate is limited and bandwidth is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes both rising and falling edges of the clock signal for data transmission, effectively adding a second dimension to the communication channel. This allows doubling the data rate without increasing the fundamental clock frequency or adding more physical wires, thus improving productivity while maintaining relatively simple interface hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the communication protocol by changing how data is encoded on the signal edges. By using differential encoding on rising and falling edges and implementing protocol detection mechanisms, it increases the effective data rate while managing complexity through intelligent protocol design rather than hardware expansion
2Reliability
If basic physical layer implementation is used, then the device complexity is low, but the vulnerability to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protocol detection and verification mechanisms that act as intermediaries between the physical signal and the data interpretation layer. These mechanisms detect and correct transmission errors caused by EMI and ESD without requiring complex hardware shielding or filtering, thus improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple physical layer design
3Adaptability or versatility
If one-way data link is used from sensor to ECU, then the interface implementation is simple, but dynamic adjustment of sensor parameters and synchronization are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a communication protocol that can operate in multiple modes - supporting both traditional one-way sensor-to-ECU communication and new bi-directional communication with synchronization capabilities. The protocol detection mechanism automatically identifies the appropriate mode, providing universal functionality without requiring separate hardware systems for different communication modes
4Device complexity
If point-to-point connections are used between sensor and ECU, then the implementation is straightforward, but complex systems with several remote sensors result in complex wiring harnesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables multiple sensors to share a common communication bus by implementing protocol detection and addressing mechanisms. This merges multiple point-to-point connections into a single multi-drop bus configuration, reducing wiring harness complexity while maintaining the ability to individually address and communicate with each sensor for efficient data transfer
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system with a sensor device communicatively coupled to a sensor bus to a receiver circuitry or processing component increases the data rate of sensor transmissions based on the sensor communication protocol. The sensor device can be a short pulse width modulation (PWM) code (SPC) protocol or a single edge nibble transmission (SENT) protocol. A first plurality of sensor values can be configured based on a first communication scheme and a second plurality of sensor values based on a second communication scheme of the communication protocol within a sensor transmission. An indication of modifications of the sensor communication protocol can further be provided via the transmission to sensor bus and processed accordingly by the receiver or processing circuitry of the sensor bus.