Sensor interfaces
First Claim
1. An automotive control unit (ACU), comprising:
- a control unit configured to selectively generate a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols;
a modulation unit configured to receive one of the plurality of control signals, to generate modulated communication signals having characteristics that correspond to the plurality of different communication protocols based on the plurality of control signals, and to provide each of the modulated communication signals to a shared communication bus at different times; and
wherein the shared communication bus is configured to provide the modulated communication signals to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to an automotive control unit (ACU) able to communicate with sensors using a plurality of different communication protocols. The ACU comprises a control unit that operates a sensor interface module to selectively generate a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols, wherein respective control signals have characteristics corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols. A modulation unit receives one of the control signals and generates a modulated communication signal having characteristics that correspond to a communication protocol of the one of the control signals. A communication bus provides the communication signal to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors. By operating the modulation unit to operate according to different communication protocols the ACU can be operated to communicate with multiple sensors using different communication protocols (e.g., PSI5 and DSI3 communication protocols).
74 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An automotive control unit (ACU), comprising:
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a control unit configured to selectively generate a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols; a modulation unit configured to receive one of the plurality of control signals, to generate modulated communication signals having characteristics that correspond to the plurality of different communication protocols based on the plurality of control signals, and to provide each of the modulated communication signals to a shared communication bus at different times; and wherein the shared communication bus is configured to provide the modulated communication signals to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sensor system, comprising:
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a sensor interface module configured to generate a test signal that is provided to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors; an evaluation unit configured to characterize an electrical behavior of the sensor network by operating the sensor interface module to send the test signal to the sensor network, measuring a response of the test signal induced by the sensor network, and determining one or more characterization parameters that describe the electrical behavior of the sensor network based upon the measured response; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to send the test signal within an open time window free of data communication between the sensor interface module and the sensor network; and wherein a length of the test signal is selected based upon measured sizes of one or more previous open time windows that are free of data communication between the sensor interface module and the sensor network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of detecting a communication protocol being used by sensors connected to an automotive control unit (ACU), comprising:
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selectively generating a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols, wherein respective control signals have characteristics corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols; generating a plurality of modulated communication signals based upon the plurality of control signals, which have characteristics that correspond to the plurality of different communication protocols; and providing each of the plurality of modulated communication signals to a shared bus at different times, wherein the shared bus provides the plurality of modulated communication signals to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of characterizing an electrical behavior of a sensor network, comprising:
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generating a test signal based upon one or more controller parameters using a closed control loop; sending the test signal to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors; measuring a response of the test signal induced by the sensor network; and determining one or more characterization parameters that describe an electrical behavior of the sensor network from the measured response. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification