Sensor Interface Board with Dynamic Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensing devices are inflexible and difficult to interface with multiple sensor types, requiring hardwiring and limited power management, making it challenging to seamlessly replace sensors as they reach the end of their useful lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A sensor interface board with standardized connectors and a power management module that supports rapid sensor insertion and removal, enabling any sensor conforming to a common physical form factor to be interfaced, with dynamic power control and interrupt management for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are hardwired to support a particular sensor type, then device reliability is improved, but device adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor interface board implements a universal connector design that can interface with multiple sensor types through a single standardized interface. The connector includes power terminals, communication terminals, and interrupt terminals that can work with different sensor form factors, allowing the same hardware platform to support various sensor types without requiring separate hardwired connections for each sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor device is divided into modular components: a sensor interface board with standardized connectors, removable sensors, and a processor. This segmentation allows sensors to be independently replaced or upgraded while maintaining the core device structure, enabling adaptability without compromising the reliability of the core system architecture.
2Device complexity
If power management is limited to the entire device level, then device complexity is reduced, but sensor-level power control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Power management functionality is segmented from the main processor and integrated directly into the sensor interface board. This allows the interface board to independently control power delivery to individual sensors through dedicated power terminals, enabling sensor-level power control without requiring complex processor intervention for each power management decision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor interface board autonomously manages power distribution to connected sensors based on their specific requirements. The interface board can detect when a sensor is connected or disconnected and automatically adjust power delivery accordingly, providing self-service power management that reduces the burden on the main processor while enabling fine-grained power control.
3Manufacturing precision
If sensors cannot be quickly removed and replaced, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are designed as removable modules that can be independently detached from the sensor interface board. The connector design maintains precise electrical connections during installation while allowing quick removal and replacement. This modular approach enables sensors to be swapped without requiring precision rework of the entire device, maintaining manufacturing precision while dramatically improving operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor connection system transitions from a static hardwired configuration to a dynamic removable connection. Sensors can be inserted or removed during device operation, allowing the system to adapt to changing operational requirements. The connector design ensures that even during dynamic insertion and removal, electrical connections remain precise and reliable.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media (transitory and non-transitory) are described that include a plurality of sensor connectors to removably receive a corresponding plurality of sensors and a power management module to selectively provide power to sensor connector power terminals in response to power management signals from a sensor control module. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.