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, wherein the demodulator comprises a threshold detector having at least one of a hysteresis level or a threshold as an operational parameter set under control of the controller circuit;
wherein the front end circuit comprises an amplifier having programmable gain or transconductance that is set by an operational parameter set under control of the controller circuit;
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.
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Citations
20 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, wherein the demodulator comprises a threshold detector having at least one of a hysteresis level or a threshold as an operational parameter set under control of the controller circuit; wherein the front end circuit comprises an amplifier having programmable gain or transconductance that is set by an operational parameter set under control of the controller circuit; 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)
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13. 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; calculating a sensor circuit operational parameter in the controller and sending a command that changes the sensor circuit operational parameter to the interface circuit for relaying to the sensor circuit; conducting an analysis of the sensor circuit state information in the controller to determine if the event has occurred; if the event is deemed by the controller to have occurred, taking a programmed action; and wherein the controller makes the determination of detection of the event by determining that an input signal has crossed a plurality of threshold values in an established sequence. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. 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; adjusting a sensor circuit parameter in accordance with a switch actuation occurring within said time window; and wherein the switch actuations are detected during one cycle of a plurality of cycles of a clock, and wherein the sensor circuit operates to detect an event during another of the plurality of cycles of a clock. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. 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; receiving input signals representing actuations of a switch; changing an operational parameter of the sensor in response to receipt of the input signals representing actuation of the switch; calculating a sensor circuit operational parameter in the controller and sending a command that changes the sensor circuit operational parameter to the interface circuit for relaying to the sensor circuit; 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 (20)
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Specification