Sensor Signal PWM Conversion for High-Resolution Fast Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems face challenges in achieving high resolution and high update rates for accurate and rapid detection of physical variables, particularly in applications requiring both high precision and quick response to changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a device comprising a sensor that outputs an analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter arrangement to convert the signal into a sigma-delta-modulated digital signal, and a pulse width modulator to generate a pulse-width-modulated signal, along with a controller that processes the signal by averaging over multiple cycles to enhance resolution and update rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pulse width modulation with high resolution is used, then measurement precision is improved, but update rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using pulse width modulation where the signal is transmitted as periodic pulses with varying duty cycles. The controller averages multiple periodic pulses to achieve high resolution while maintaining high update rate, as each pulse provides partial information that accumulates over the periodic cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by encoding the measured value not as a single high-resolution number but as a pulse width (duty cycle) that can be rapidly transmitted. The resolution is achieved through the variation of pulse width parameter rather than through multiple discrete high-resolution values.
2Productivity
If pulse width modulation with high update rate is used, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback by having the controller average multiple received pulses to reconstruct the measured value with high precision. Each pulse provides feedback information about the sensor value, and the averaging process accumulates this feedback to achieve high resolution despite the rapid update rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing the sensor signal into pulse width modulated form before transmission. This preliminary conversion allows the signal to be transmitted rapidly in compressed pulse form, and the full resolution is recovered through subsequent averaging at the controller side.
3Measurement precision
If high resolution signal transmission is used, then measurement precision is improved, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information (measured value) and encodes it into a compact pulse width representation. Instead of transmitting multiple high-resolution data points or complex signals, only the critical measurement information is extracted and transmitted efficiently through pulse width variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the analog sensor signal in the form of pulse width modulated digital signal. This copy preserves the measurement information in a compact temporal representation that transmits quickly while maintaining the resolution through pulse width variation rather than through extended transmission time.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a sensor configured to output an analog sensor signal, an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured to convert the analog sensor signal into a sigma-delta-modulated digital signal having a bit width of n bits, and a pulse width modulator configured to generate a pulse-width-modulated signal based on the sigma-delta-modulated digital signal.