Multi-sensing using multiple serial protocols over a common interconnection scheme
First Claim
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1. A multi-sensing system, comprising:
- multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configured to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line, and wherein the first serial communication protocol comprises a point-to-point master-slave protocol, and wherein the second serial communication protocol comprises a synchronous, time-slotted add-drop protocol; and
a host, which is configured to communicate with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols.
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Abstract
A multi-sensing system (20) includes multiple sensor units (28) that include respective sensors (44), (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines (32), and (iii) are connected to a common clock line (36) and to a common alignment line (40). The sensor units are configured to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line. A host (24) is configured to communicate with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-sensing system, comprising:
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multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configured to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line, and wherein the first serial communication protocol comprises a point-to-point master-slave protocol, and wherein the second serial communication protocol comprises a synchronous, time-slotted add-drop protocol; and a host, which is configured to communicate with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 8)
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3. A multi-sensing system, comprising:
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multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configured to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line; and a host, which is configured to communicate with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols, wherein the host is configured to configure the sensor units using the first serial communication protocol, and to read the sensors using the second serial communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A multi-sensing system, comprising:
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multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configured to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line; and a host, which is configured to communicate with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols, wherein the host is configured to read from the sensors readings that are time-synchronized with one another, based on a timing of the second serial communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for multi-sensing, comprising:
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operating multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configurable to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line, and wherein the first serial communication protocol comprises a point-to-point master-slave protocol, and wherein the second serial communication protocol comprises a synchronous, time-slotted add-drop protocol; and using a host, communicating with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for multi-sensing, comprising:
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operating multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configurable to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line; and using a host, communicating with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols, wherein communicating with the sensor units comprises configuring the sensor units using the first serial communication protocol, and reading the sensors using the second serial communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for multi-sensing, comprising:
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operating multiple sensor units, which (i) comprise respective sensors, (ii) are connected to one another in a cascade using serial data lines, and (iii) are connected to a common clock line and to a common alignment line, wherein the sensor units are configurable to selectably communicate in accordance with first and second different serial communication protocols using the same serial data lines, clock line and alignment line; and using a host, communicating with the sensor units, including reading the sensors and instructing the sensor units to switch between the first and second serial communication protocols, wherein reading the sensors comprises reading from the sensors readings that are time-synchronized with one another, based on a timing of the second serial communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification