Ultrasonic Sensor Controller Triggered-Event Error Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern automobiles equipped with numerous sensors face challenges in minimizing wiring requirements while ensuring reliable error reporting, particularly in high-demand applications like parking-assist systems, where environmental noise and safety concerns limit the time available for detecting sensor errors.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a digital error reporting system using a one-line triggered-event signal, where a sensor controller detects a trigger signal and provides status bits on an event signaling line before driving the line based on sensor signals, allowing for efficient error reporting without reducing the measurement repetition rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If subsidiary modes are employed to detect and report sensor errors, then error reporting capability is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror reporting capabilityVSAvoidcontrol unit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the error reporting function with the existing single-wire communication interface. The same wire used for normal sensor data transmission is also used for error status reporting. The control unit integrates error detection logic into its existing processing architecture, eliminating the need for separate error reporting hardware paths or modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single wire interface is designed to serve multiple functions: normal sensor data transmission, error status reporting, and bidirectional communication between control unit and sensor. The control unit can operate in different operational modes (normal measurement, error reporting, standby) without requiring separate dedicated hardware paths for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If subsidiary modes are employed to detect and report sensor errors, then error reporting capability is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror reporting capabilityVSAvoidtime for error detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The error reporting mechanism operates continuously in the background without requiring the control unit to switch to a separate error detection mode. The sensor continuously monitors its own status and maintains error flags ready for reporting. The control unit can query error status at any time during normal operation, making error detection an ongoing process rather than a periodic interrupt.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor performs self-diagnosis and error detection in advance, maintaining ready-to-report error status flags. When the control unit queries the sensor, the error information is already prepared and immediately available for transmission, eliminating the need for time-consuming error detection routines during the query process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple transducers are actuated in turn, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement speed and error reporting time decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor coverageVSAvoidmeasurement repetition rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic actuation of multiple transducers in a cyclic sequence, with each transducer being activated for a brief interval. The control unit rapidly cycles through multiple transducers, collecting measurements from each in succession. This periodic multiplexing approach maintains comprehensive sensor coverage while achieving high measurement repetition rates through efficient time-division multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables prompt error detection and reporting in high-demand scenarios, enhancing the reliability of sensor systems without increasing complexity or reducing measurement rates, thus improving the overall performance of parking-assist systems.

Implementation Method 1

The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Converse Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9810778B2Triggered-event signaling with digital error reporting

Publication Date: 2017.11.07 SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC

AI summary

An illustrative sensor controller embodiment includes: a transmitter that drives an ultrasonic transducer to produce a transmit pulse; a receiver that derives a sensor signal from the transducer; and a core logic that detects a trigger signal on an event signaling line and responsively provides one or more error reporting bits on the event signaling line before driving the event signaling line based on the sensor signal. An illustrative embodiment of a sensor control method includes: detecting a trigger signal on an event signaling line; providing at least one status bit on the event signaling line in response to the trigger signal; and after providing the at least one status bit, driving the event signaling line based upon on a sensor signal from a transducer. The transducer may be a piezoelectric element for producing and sensing ultrasonic pulses, particularly for use in parking-assist sensors and systems.