DISTRIBUTED MEMS DEVICES SYNCHRONIZATION METHODS AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A method for time synchronization in a MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) based system having a MEMS processor and a plurality of MEMS devices, the method comprising:
- in one or more of the MEMS devices,receiving a synchronization signal from the MEMS processor;
storing a local time upon receiving the synchronization signal;
performing a sensing operation to sample sense data; and
storing the sampled sense data and sense time information; and
in the MEMS processor,transmitting the synchronization signal to the plurality of MEMS devices;
saving a local time upon transmitting the synchronization signal;
receiving the stored local time upon receiving the synchronization signal from one or more of the MEMS devices;
receiving sampled sense data, and sense time information from one or more of the MEMS devices; and
determining when each sampled sense data is captured relative to a local time in the MEMS processor and the local time of other MEMS device in the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for time synchronization in a MEMS (MicroElectroMecahnical system) based system having a MEMS processor and a plurality of MEMS devices. In a specific embodiment, the method includes, in the MEMS processor, transmitting a synchronization signal to the plurality of MEMS devices and saving a local time upon transmitting the synchronization signal. The MEMS processor also receives sampled data and time information from the plurality of MEMS devices, when the data and information become available. The method also includes, in one or more of the MEMS devices, receiving the synchronization signal from the MEMS processor and storing a local time upon receiving the synchronization signal. The MEMS device also performs a sensing operation and stores sampled sense data and sense time information.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for time synchronization in a MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) based system having a MEMS processor and a plurality of MEMS devices, the method comprising:
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in one or more of the MEMS devices, receiving a synchronization signal from the MEMS processor; storing a local time upon receiving the synchronization signal; performing a sensing operation to sample sense data; and storing the sampled sense data and sense time information; and in the MEMS processor, transmitting the synchronization signal to the plurality of MEMS devices; saving a local time upon transmitting the synchronization signal; receiving the stored local time upon receiving the synchronization signal from one or more of the MEMS devices; receiving sampled sense data, and sense time information from one or more of the MEMS devices; and determining when each sampled sense data is captured relative to a local time in the MEMS processor and the local time of other MEMS device in the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical system) based system, the system comprising:
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a MEMS processor and a plurality of MEMS devices, wherein the MEMS processor includes; a processor; a synchronization signal generator for providing a synchronization signal; an output terminal for transmitting the synchronization signal; and an input terminal for receiving information from each of the plurality of MEMS device; wherein the MEMS processor is configured to; transmit, through the output terminal, the synchronization signal to the plurality of MEMS devices; saves a local time upon transmitting the synchronization signal; and receive, through the input terminal, sampled data and time information from the plurality of MEMS devices; wherein each MEMS device includes; a MEMS sensor; an oscillator; a register; an input terminal for receiving the synchronization signal; and an output terminal for providing access to the register; wherein each MEMS device is configured to; receive, through the input terminal, the synchronization signal from the MEMS processor; store, in the register, a local time in the register upon receiving the synchronization signal; perform a sensing operation to obtain sense data; and store, in the register, the sense data and sense time information associated with the sense data; wherein the MEMS processor is further configured to; receive the stored local time upon receiving the synchronization signal from each of the plurality of MEMS devices; and determine when each sampled sense data is captured relative to a local time in the MEMS processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical System) based device, comprising:
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a MEMS sensor; an oscillator for providing a clock signal to the MEMS based device; a storage unit comprising a sync register configured to be read by an external MEMS processor; an input terminal for receiving a synchronization signal; and an output terminal for providing access to the storage unit; wherein the MEMS based device is configured to; receive, through the input terminal, the synchronization signal; store a local time in the sync register in the storage unit upon receiving the synchronization signal; perform a sensing operation to produce sensed data; and store, in the storage unit, the sense data and sense time information; wherein the MEMS based device is configured to provide the stored local time upon receiving the synchronization signal, the sense data, and the sense time for alignment in the external MEMS processor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification