Engine Sensor Mounting Check via Shared Power Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting incorrect mounting of multiple sensors, particularly in engine systems, are complex and require significant controller resources or are too expensive, especially for large diesel engines with numerous sensors, and may fail to reliably detect sensor mix-ups.
Innovation Solution
A system where at least two sensors of different types are connected to a common power supply port, allowing for simultaneous power switching and communication checks, using a controller to monitor communication behavior and pin select states to ensure correct mounting, reducing controller outputs and simplifying the detection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate power supply ports are used for each sensor, then each sensor can be individually controlled and checked, but the number of controller outputs increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors of different types are connected to a common power supply port, merging their power supply control into a single controller output. This reduces the number of controller outputs required while maintaining the ability to detect incorrect sensor mounting through communication behavior analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The common power supply port serves multiple sensors simultaneously, making the power supply system universal for different sensor types. This multi-functionality approach allows the same power supply channel to manage and detect issues with multiple sensors without requiring dedicated outputs for each.
2Reliability
If more controller outputs are allocated for sensor monitoring, then sensor mounting errors can be detected more reliably, but the system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors identify themselves through their communication behavior patterns (cyclic vs. interrogation-based). When powered through the common port, each sensor type communicates in its characteristic manner, allowing the controller to automatically detect incorrect mounting without additional hardware or complex identification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensor communication behavior to detect mounting errors. By monitoring whether sensors communicate in their expected patterns (cyclic for some types, interrogation-based for others), the controller can identify mix-ups and provide feedback about correct or incorrect installation.
3Device complexity
If sensors are connected to common power supply ports, then controller outputs are reduced, but detecting incorrect mounting becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Different sensor types connected to the same power supply port have distinct local qualities in their communication behavior. Cyclic sensors continuously transmit data, while interrogation-based sensors respond only when queried. This local differentiation in communication patterns enables the controller to identify each sensor type and detect incorrect mounting despite the shared power supply.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system for checking a correct mounting of a plurality of sensors, in particular of sensors mounted in an engine system, comprising a controller configured to communicate with the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to control a switching on or off of the power supply to at least a sub-group of the sensors and to check whether a sensor whose power supply was switched on is communicating, wherein the system is configured such that at least two sensors are connected to a common power supply port and are therefore powered on or off at the same time, wherein the at least two sensors comprise at least two different types of sensors.