Reconfigurable Smart Sensor Interface for Multiple Analog Inputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart sensor systems are limited to interfacing with specific predetermined sensors, lacking flexibility and adaptability to various analog sensor types.
Innovation Solution
A configurable smart sensor system with input and output channels equipped with switches, analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, and a controller to manage impedance, filters, and supply voltage, enabling connection to multiple analog sensor types through programmable gain amplifiers and field programmable gate arrays for on-the-fly configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a smart sensor system uses fixed-function analog circuits with predetermined sensor interfaces, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the adaptability to different sensor types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfigurability by allowing the analog front end to be reconfigured between different sensor interface modes during operation. The system can switch between various sensor types (e.g., capacitive, resistive, voltage output) by reconfiguring the analog circuit parameters, enabling a single device to adapt to multiple sensor types without physical hardware changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the analog front end to achieve different sensor interface functionalities. By adjusting parameters such as impedance, gain, and filtering characteristics through digital control, the system can optimize its performance for different sensor types while maintaining a unified hardware platform.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dedicated smart sensor devices are used for different sensor types, then the measurement precision for each specific sensor type is optimized, but the device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal smart sensor interface that can handle multiple sensor types through a single device. The analog front end is designed with reconfigurable capabilities that allow it to interface with capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, voltage-output sensors, and other types by dynamically adjusting its operational parameters, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor interface functionality into separate reconfigurable modules within the analog front end. This allows independent optimization of different interface functions (e.g., capacitive sensing path, resistive sensing path, voltage amplification path) that can be activated or deactivated based on the connected sensor type, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed analog filter circuits are used in smart sensors, then the manufacturing precision is improved and production is simplified, but the adaptability to different signal frequencies and sensor types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic filter reconfiguration by allowing the analog filter characteristics (cutoff frequency, filter order, filter type) to be changed during operation based on the connected sensor type and signal requirements. This enables the same hardware filter circuit to provide optimized filtering for capacitive sensors, resistive sensors, and other types without requiring precision manufacturing of multiple dedicated filter circuits.
Data Source
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AI summary
A smart sensor system can include one or more configurable input and output channels, each configurable channel including one or more switches configured to activate the input and/or output and/or to select a type of input and/or output signal, at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to the one or more switches for the one or more configurable channels, and at least one controller configured to control the configurable channels.