Sensor System Single-Point Interface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor systems for measuring physical variables in the automotive industry, such as air mass flow and temperature, require additional expensive connection points for programming and signal transmission, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
Configuring the application-specific integrated circuit via a single connection point and reading out the measurement signal of the second sensor element through this point, eliminating the need for an extra connection point after programming, and integrating additional sensors like humidity and pressure to compensate for measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate third interface is used for programming the application-specific integrated circuit, then the sensor system can be programmed, but the number of connection points increases and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The first connection point is designed to serve dual purposes: it is used both for programming the application-specific integrated circuit and for reading out the measurement signal from the second sensor element. This eliminates the need for a separate third interface, reducing the total number of connection points from three to two, thereby lowering production costs and simplifying the device structure while maintaining full functionality
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor elements are integrated in the sensor system, then measurement precision is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor elements (first sensor element for measuring a first physical variable and second sensor element for measuring a second physical variable) into a single integrated sensor system with unified electrical connection through the first connection point. This merging approach allows the system to achieve improved measurement precision through multiple sensing capabilities while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from separate systems, as all components share common connection infrastructure and are coordinated through a single application-specific integrated circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor system has at least one first sensor element for measuring a first physical variable and a second sensor element for measuring a second physical variable. The first sensor element is part of an application-specific integrated circuit which, in addition to the first sensor element, has further electronic circuits. The second sensor element is arranged separately and outside the application-specific integrated circuit. The second sensor element is electrically connected to the application-specific integrated circuit via a first connection point. The application-specific integrated circuit is configurable via the first connection point and the measurement signal from the second sensor element can be read out via the first connection point.