Intelligent sensor platform
First Claim
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1. A sensor circuit which operates under control of a controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising:
- a front end circuit which receives an input signal from a sensor element and amplifies the input signal to produce an amplified signal therefrom;
a demodulator receiving the amplified signal and converting the amplified signal to a digital signal;
an interface circuit coupled to the controller and relaying operational parameters and commands from the controller to the demodulator and the front end circuit, and for relaying the digital signal to the controller; and
an output circuit for producing an output signal in response to commands from the controller in response to receipt of the digital signal by the controller.
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Abstract
An intelligent sensor platform is provided with an architecture that takes advantage of a low cost microcontroller for overall sensor control. Outputs are all controlled directly by the microcontroller as are gains of signal processing amplifiers and thresholds for threshold detectors. The sensor can be remotely programmed using a remote control device or simple push button programming can be implemented. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
56 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensor circuit which operates under control of a controller circuit, the sensor circuit comprising:
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a front end circuit which receives an input signal from a sensor element and amplifies the input signal to produce an amplified signal therefrom;
a demodulator receiving the amplified signal and converting the amplified signal to a digital signal;
an interface circuit coupled to the controller and relaying operational parameters and commands from the controller to the demodulator and the front end circuit, and for relaying the digital signal to the controller; and
an output circuit for producing an output signal in response to commands from the controller in response to receipt of the digital signal by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling a sensor circuit operation to detect an event, comprising:
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in a controller, driving a sensor transmitter and acquiring sensor circuit state information from an interface circuit at timed intervals;
conducting an analysis of the sensor circuit state information in the controller to determine if the event has occurred; and
if the event is deemed by the controller to have occurred, taking a programmed action. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving of input signals representing actuations of the switch happens during one cycle of a plurality of cycles of a clock, and wherein the sensor circuit operates to detect the event during another of the plurality of cycles of a clock.
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20. A method of adjusting an operational parameter of a sensor circuit, comprising:
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detecting a first actuation of a switch for a specified period of time, said first actuation of the switch enabling an adjustment mode;
detecting subsequent actuations of the switch occurring within a time window; and
adjusting a sensor circuit parameter in accordance with a switch actuation occurring within said time window. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of programming a sensor circuit, comprising:
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interfacing a controller circuit to a sensor receiver circuit, wherein the sensor circuit operates by the sensor receiver circuit receiving signals in order to sense an event, and wherein the sensor receiver circuit includes a front end circuit;
connecting a sensor element to the front end circuit; and
transmitting programming information from an external transmitter to the sensor circuit through the sensor element to establish operational characteristics of the sensor circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification