Method and apparatus for use in measurement data acquisition
First Claim
1. A method for use in a measurement system comprising at least one sensor and a controller, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a physical quantity and to form a sensor data signal, the method comprising:
- at the controller, receiving a data receive signal from the sensor, wherein the data receive signal is an output signal of a multiplexer which receives a Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal and another data signal, the multiplexer providing the Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal as the output signal when data values associated with the physical quantity detected by the sensor are valid, and otherwise providing the other data signal as the output signal, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value; and
interpreting the data receive signal to be one of at least the sensor data signal and the other data signal, wherein the interpreting is based on an attribute information intrinsic to the data receive signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for use in a measurement system. Some embodiments comprise at least one sensor unit and a control unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit is configured to detect a physical quantity and to form a sensor data signal. The method comprises, at the control unit, receiving a data receive signal from the sensor unit, and interpreting the data receive signal to be one of at least the sensor data signal and another data signal, wherein the interpreting is based on an attribute information intrinsic to the data receive signal. Furthermore, there is a sensor unit for use in measurement data acquisition, an apparatus configured to control a measurement data acquisition, a measurement system for use in measurement data acquisition, and a medium incorporating a sequence of operation steps that, when executed, perform a method for use in a measurement system for data acquisition.
14 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for use in a measurement system comprising at least one sensor and a controller, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a physical quantity and to form a sensor data signal, the method comprising:
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at the controller, receiving a data receive signal from the sensor, wherein the data receive signal is an output signal of a multiplexer which receives a Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal and another data signal, the multiplexer providing the Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal as the output signal when data values associated with the physical quantity detected by the sensor are valid, and otherwise providing the other data signal as the output signal, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value; and interpreting the data receive signal to be one of at least the sensor data signal and the other data signal, wherein the interpreting is based on an attribute information intrinsic to the data receive signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor for use in measurement data acquisition, the sensor comprising:
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a Sigma-Delta modulator operative to derive a Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal from an analog sense signal, a control circuit configured to derive a status data signal from status information, wherein the control circuit is configured to derive a select signal based on operational information, and a multiplexer configured to receive the select signal, wherein the multiplexer is configured, based on the select signal, to selectively output a transmit digital signal indicative of (i) the status data signal when data values associated with a physical quantity detected by the sensor are not valid, or (ii) the Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal when data values associated with a physical quantity detected by the sensor are valid, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus configured to control a measurement data acquisition, comprising:
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a discriminator configured to be coupled to an interface that is configured for communication with a sensor, wherein the discriminator is configured to receive a digital signal from the interface, wherein the digital signal is an output signal of a multiplexer which receives a Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal and a status data signal, the multiplexer providing the Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal as the output signal when data values associated with a physical quantity detected by the sensor are valid, and otherwise providing the status data signal as the output signal, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value, wherein the discriminator is further configured to discriminate the status data signal from the Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal comprised in the digital signal, and a processor coupled to the discriminator and configured to process the Sigma-Delta modulated digital sense signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A measurement system for use in measurement data acquisition, comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to form, based on a detected quantity, an analog sense signal, wherein the at least one sensor comprises; a Sigma-Delta modulator configured to convert the analog sense signal into a digital sense signal, and a multiplexer configured to output a digital data signal by selecting between the digital sense signal and a status data signal to provide a Sigma-Delta modulated version of the digital sense signal as the digital data signal when data values associated with the detected quantity formed by the sensor are valid, and otherwise providing the status data signal as the digital data signal, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value; an interface coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the digital data signal, a controller coupled to the interface and configured to receive the digital data signal from the interface, and a discriminator coupled to the controller and configured to extract the digital sense signal from the digital data signal, wherein the discriminator is configured to extract status data from the status data signal comprised in the digital data signal received at the discriminator. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium incorporating a sequence of operation acts that, when executed, perform a method for use in a measurement system for data acquisition, the method comprising:
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at a controller, receiving a data receive signal provided by a sensor configured to detect a quantity and form a sensor data signal corresponding to the data receive signal, wherein the data receive signal is an output signal of a multiplexer which receives a Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal and another data signal, the multiplexer providing the Sigma-Delta modulated version of the sensor data signal as the output signal when data values associated with a quantity detected by the sensor are valid, and otherwise providing the another data signal as the output signal, the data values being determined as valid based upon a comparison of the data values to a predetermined threshold value, and interpreting the data receive signal to represent one of at least;
the sensor data signal and another data signal,wherein the interpreting is based on attribute information intrinsic to the data receive signal, wherein the attribute information is duration of an interval between a point in time, when a control signal was sent to the sensor, and a point in time, when the data receive signal was received at the controller, and wherein a difference is predetermined sufficiently large for the sensor to transit from a low power mode to a high power mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification