Shared Communication Node for Sensor Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
As controllers operate at faster speeds, there is a need to synchronize sensor output data transmission to provide the newest available data for processing, and to synchronize the sampling of multiple sensors to derive information from the same moment in time, while reducing latency and the number of sensor connections to minimize electromagnetic interference and cost.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication protocol where slave components share a single communication node, using a trigger signal to synchronize data storage and transmission, allowing multiple sensors to respond in turn and store data, which can be read later using a Manchester encoded input or point-to-point serial data protocol, such as SENT, to reduce ambiguities in sensor data age and eliminate the need for external synchronization signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are connected individually to the controller, then data transmission reliability is improved, but the number of connections increases causing more electromagnetic interference and higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor connections are merged into a single shared communication node. The controller and multiple slave components share one physical communication interface, eliminating the need for separate connections for each sensor. This reduces electromagnetic interference and connection cost while maintaining reliable data transmission through protocol-level addressing and identification mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If sensors update data periodically without synchronization, then system complexity is reduced, but data latency increases and multiple sensors cannot provide synchronized data from the same moment
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic trigger signals sent from the controller to slave components to synchronize data sampling and transmission. The trigger signal initiates a sequence where all sensors sample their data simultaneously, then transmit it in a coordinated manner. This periodic synchronized action ensures all sensors provide data from the same moment in time while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured timing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a shared communication node is used for multiple sensors, then the number of connections is reduced minimizing electromagnetic interference, but communication protocol complexity increases to manage multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol is segmented into distinct phases: a trigger phase where the controller initiates data collection, an identification phase where slave components are recognized, and a data transmission phase where synchronized sensor data is exchanged. This segmentation organizes the complex interactions into manageable, sequential steps, reducing the perceived protocol complexity while enabling efficient shared node communication.
4Measurement precision
If external synchronization signals are used to coordinate multiple sensors, then sampling synchronization is achieved, but the number of connections and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller itself generates and sends the synchronization trigger signal to all slave components through the shared communication node, eliminating the need for external synchronization hardware. The slave components are designed to respond to this internal trigger signal by sampling and transmitting data in a coordinated sequence. This self-service approach achieves precise sampling synchronization while reducing system complexity by removing external synchronization dependencies.
Data Source
AI summary
A network slave device includes a transceiver for communicating over a communication bus in accordance with a point-to-point network protocol. The network slave device may include an address to identify the network slave device on the network. It may also include a communication circuit configured to process a command received by the transceiver and generate a reply for transmission over the communication bus if an address included in the command matches the address of the slave device. A master device communicating on the network may send commands including the address of the slave device in accordance with the point-to-point network protocol. In an embodiment, the point-to-point protocol is the SENT protocol.