Sensor Integrated Circuit Checker Circuit Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor integrated circuits face challenges in meeting strict safety requirements for redundancy and fault detection in safety-critical applications, particularly in automotive control systems, where traditional approaches may not adequately ensure high safety standards due to limitations in fault performance and reporting times.
Innovation Solution
The development of a sensor integrated circuit with non-homogeneous processing channels and a checker circuit that compares outputs from two unique processing channels to detect faults, ensuring a high level of safety compliance by generating a fault signal when the processed signals differ by more than a predetermined amount, thereby providing operational redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant identical circuits are used to meet safety requirements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-homogeneous processing channels where each channel has unique characteristics (different accuracies, sensing methodologies, or processing speeds). This allows the system to maintain redundancy for safety compliance while avoiding the complexity of completely identical circuits, as each channel is optimized for its specific local function within the safety system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements asymmetry through non-homogeneous processing channels that deliberately differ from each other in their characteristics. Rather than using symmetric identical circuits, the system employs asymmetric channels with different accuracies and sensing methodologies, which reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the required redundancy for safety certification.
2Reliability
If traditional redundant circuits are used, then fault detection capability is provided, but fault performance and reporting times do not meet high safety standards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the checker circuit that continuously monitors the outputs of the non-homogeneous processing channels. The checker circuit provides real-time feedback about discrepancies between channels, enabling rapid fault detection and reporting. This feedback mechanism ensures that faults are detected and reported within the required timeframes for high safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by deliberately varying the accuracy and processing characteristics of different channels. This allows the system to optimize for fast fault detection in certain channels while maintaining redundancy, thereby meeting the time-critical requirements of high safety standards without compromising overall system reliability.
3Device complexity
If non-homogeneous processing channels with different accuracies are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision varies between channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different accuracy levels to different processing channels based on their specific functions. Not all channels require the same precision, so the system optimizes each channel's accuracy locally rather than uniformly, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining sufficient precision for safety-critical measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying through the checker circuit that creates a virtual copy of the processing channels for comparison purposes. Instead of requiring all physical channels to have identical high precision, the system copies the output signals and compares them to detect faults, allowing lower-precision channels to exist while maintaining measurement reliability through the comparison mechanism.
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 solution enhances safety standard compliance by using non-homogeneous processing channels with different accuracies and sensing methodologies, effectively detecting faults and maintaining system integrity in safety-critical applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensing element that is positioned adjacent to the first diaphragm and configured to detect the pressure differential across the first diaphragm by detecting deformation of the first diaphragm
Implementation Method 2
a second sensing element that is positioned adjacent to the second diaphragm and configured to detect the pressure differential across the second diaphragm by detecting deformation of the second diaphragm
Implementation Method 3
Some sensors include one or magnetic field sensing elements, such as a Hall effect element or a magnetoresistive element, to sense a magnetic field associated with proximity or motion of a target object
Implementation Method 4
Some sensors include one or magnetic field sensing elements, such as a Hall effect element
Implementation Method 5
Some sensors include one or magnetic field sensing elements, such as a Hall effect element or a magnetoresistive element
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor integrated circuit can include sensors with differing levels of sensitivity, a first processing channel that responds to a first analog signal generated by a first sensor to generate a first processed signal, and a second processing channel that responds to a second analog signal generated by the second sensor to generate a second processed signal. Where the first sensor can include a pressure or optical sensing element, and the second sensor can include a pressure or optical sensing element. A checker circuit uses the processed signals to detect faults in the sensor integrated circuit.