Ultrasonic Sensor UART Switching for Faster Echo Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic sensors in ADAS systems face limitations in data rate and information content, leading to inefficient and inflexible data communication with higher-level computer systems, which affects system performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an ultrasonic sensor that communicates via a UART protocol in three phases: a command phase, a measurement phase using a different protocol, and a status transmission phase, allowing efficient and flexible data exchange with a computer system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing ultrasonic sensors use simple proprietary protocols or LIN/DSI3 protocols for communication, then device compatibility and ease of operation are maintained, but data rate and information content are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication process is segmented into three distinct phases: a command phase using UART protocol for configuration, a measurement phase using a simplified protocol for echo detection, and a status transmission phase for data exchange. This segmentation allows each phase to use the most appropriate protocol for its specific function, thereby increasing information content without requiring the entire system to use a complex protocol throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol is made dynamic by switching between different protocols (UART and simplified echo protocol) depending on the measurement phase. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve high data rates during measurement while maintaining ease of operation during configuration, effectively resolving the contradiction between information content and device complexity.
2Productivity
If ultrasonic sensors transmit only temporal information of received echoes, then device complexity is kept low, but data rate and system performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of information transmission by not only sending temporal data but also amplitude information and status data during the status transmission phase. This parameter change enables faster measurement sequences and provides more data for analysis, increasing productivity while the structured three-phase approach manages the associated complexity.
3Loss of information
If existing communication protocols are used for ultrasonic sensors, then ease of operation is maintained, but data rate is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The status transmission phase provides comprehensive feedback to the control unit, including amplitude information and status data that enable better measurement validation. This feedback mechanism increases both data transmission efficiency and measurement reliability, as the control unit can make more informed decisions based on the additional information received from the sensor.
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
Enhances data communication efficiency, flexibility, and reliability by enabling faster measurement sequences and additional data transmission, facilitating remote configuration updates and improved measurement validation.
Implementation Method 1
in the second phase to emit an ultrasonic burst or an ultrasonic signal
Implementation Method 2
to convert and receive a reflected ultrasonic signal or a reflected ultrasonic burst into a received signal
Implementation Method 3
receive a reflected ultrasonic signal or a reflected ultrasonic burst
Data Source
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AI summary
The technical teaching of this document describes, in the form of a method and a suitable associated device, data communication between a computer system of an ultrasonic measurement system and an associated ultrasonic sensor via a modified UART data interface. The proposed core idea is to temporarily switch from the UART protocol to a special signaling protocol by modifying the UART data interface for the duration of a second phase (125). This involves transmitting the arrival of echoes at the ultrasonic sensor to the computer system in a timely manner via pulses (140 to 144) and then reverting to the UART protocol for data transmission from the ultrasonic sensor to the computer system after the end of the second phase (125).