Wireless Sensor Interface for Interchangeable Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor networks, including cameras, lack flexibility and ease of adaptation to changes in technology, requiring custom-built software and reprogramming when upgrading or replacing sensor devices, which slows the adoption of new technologies and limits their application-specific use.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with a sensor base and interchangeable sensor assemblies that transmit settings wirelessly, allowing for software-programmable control registers and flexible capture settings, including frame-by-frame or simultaneous capture of video sequences, abstracting away from specific hardware implementations through ControlClasses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom-built software is used for each sensor device, then application-specific processing can be achieved, but device complexity and development time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal software platform that can process data from multiple sensor types (cameras, microphones, environmental sensors) through a common architecture. The sensor interface layer provides standardized data access, while higher-level processing layers handle application-specific requirements, eliminating the need for custom software for each sensor device.
Solution Approach 2:
The software stack is divided into distinct layers: sensor interface layer, data processing layer, and application layer. This segmentation allows the lower layers to handle hardware-specific details while upper layers provide application-specific functionality, reducing overall system complexity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor devices are upgraded or replaced, then newer technology can be adopted, but reprogramming of lower layers is required
Solution Approach 1:
A standardized sensor interface layer acts as an intermediary between the hardware and upper software layers. This interface layer abstracts hardware-specific details, allowing sensor devices to be upgraded or replaced without requiring changes to the upper application layers, thus eliminating reprogramming time for technology upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic sensor configuration where the software automatically adapts to different sensor types through standardized interfaces. When sensors are added or upgraded, the system dynamically recognizes and integrates them without requiring manual reprogramming, enabling flexible technology adoption.
3Reliability
If mechanical connectors are used for sensor mounting, then physical connection is established, but wireless transmission of settings is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines mechanical mounting with wireless communication capabilities in a unified sensor interface. The sensor mount provides both physical connection and wireless data transmission, eliminating the need for separate mechanical connectors for settings transmission and enabling easy reconfiguration of sensor parameters.
4Adaptability or versatility
If full stack application-specific software is created, then complete control over processing is achieved, but development speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A universal processing platform provides common functionality for multiple sensor types and applications through shared code libraries and standardized interfaces. This allows developers to create applications faster by leveraging existing processing capabilities rather than building complete stacks from scratch, while still maintaining control over application-specific processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor device has a sensor base with a sensor mount, for which different sensor assemblies are attachable to the sensor mount. The sensor base transmits different settings to the sensor assembly via the sensor mount interface. The transmission preferably is wireless, rather than using mechanical connectors. The sensor assembly stores the settings in control registers that determine the settings for the capture of sensor data. In one approach, the sensor base includes an application processor and software executing on the application processor determines the settings. The control registers for the sensor assembly are thus software programmable, allowing different settings to be applied to different samples of sensor data.