Physical-Quantity Sensor Phase Adjustment Circuit

Solution Overview

Problem

Physical-quantity sensors face challenges in accurately synchronizing sensor signals with detecting signals due to manufacturing variations and environmental changes, leading to phase-shift issues, which existing technologies struggle to address without increasing sampling frequency.

Innovation Solution

A physical-quantity sensor system that includes a signal generating unit to convert a first phase of a predetermined signal into a second phase, calculating an amplitude value corresponding to the second phase, and using a multiplier to generate a detecting signal, thereby improving phase adjustment accuracy without increasing sampling frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sampling frequency is increased to improve phase adjustment accuracy, then the phase synchronization between sensor signal and detecting signal improves, but the power consumption and circuit complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase adjustment accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of phase adjustment by introducing a phase adjustment circuit that modifies the phase of the detecting signal based on detected phase difference, rather than increasing sampling frequency. This allows accurate phase synchronization while maintaining lower power consumption and circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a phase adjustment circuit as an intermediary component between the signal generation and detection processes. This circuit detects the phase difference and generates a corrected detecting signal, serving as a mediator that achieves phase synchronization without requiring higher sampling frequencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the sampling frequency is increased to improve phase adjustment accuracy, then the phase synchronization between sensor signal and detecting signal improves, but the circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase adjustment accuracyVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of phase adjustment by introducing a phase adjustment circuit that modifies the phase of the detecting signal based on detected phase difference, rather than increasing sampling frequency. This allows accurate phase synchronization while maintaining lower power consumption and circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a phase adjustment circuit as an intermediary component between the signal generation and detection processes. This circuit detects the phase difference and generates a corrected detecting signal, serving as a mediator that achieves phase synchronization without requiring higher sampling frequencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If manufacturing process variations are reduced to improve phase consistency, then the phase shift between sensor signal and detecting signal decreases, but the manufacturing cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the phase adjustment circuit continuously detects the phase difference between sensor signal and detecting signal, and automatically adjusts the detecting signal's phase accordingly. This feedback-based approach compensates for manufacturing variations without requiring tighter manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of phase consistency by dynamically adjusting the phase of the detecting signal based on detected phase differences, rather than relying on precise manufacturing control. This allows phase consistency to be achieved through post-manufacturing adjustment rather than strict manufacturing process control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10018468B2Physical-quantity detection circuit, physical-quantity sensor, and electronic device

Publication Date: 2018.07.10 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A physical-quantity sensor is configured to be used with a physical-quantity sensor element that outputs a sensor signal in response to a physical quantity. A physical-quantity detection circuit of the physical-quantity sensor includes a signal generating unit for generating a detecting signal and a multiplier that multiplies the sensor signal by the detecting signal. The signal generating unit converts a first phase of a predetermined signal having a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the sensor signal, into a second phase, and calculates an amplitude value corresponding to the second phase as to generate the detecting signal. This physical-quantity sensor improves accuracy of phase adjustment without increasing a sampling frequency.