Sensor, control unit and method to communicate between sensors and control units

• US 9,444,613 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Hammerschmidt, Dirk, Rasbornig, Friedrich, Schaffer, Bernhard, Strasser, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US14/612,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 375/360
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0278 Band edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/10 Arrangements for initial synchronisation

Abstract

A sensor may include a clock generator configured to generate a clock. A receiver may be configured to receive signals from a control unit, and a transmitter they be configured to send signals to the control unit. In one implementation, the transmitter is configured to send a synchronization signal based on the clock. A period between a first edge and a second edge of the synchronization signal may be dependent on the clock and both edges are either rising or falling.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a clock generator configured to generate a clock within the sensor;

a receiver within the sensor that is configured to receive a signal from a controller separate from the sensor; and

a transmitter within the sensor that is configured to send a synchronization signal to the controller in response to the signal from the controller, the synchronization signal being based on the clock, and wherein a period between a first edge and a second edge of the synchronization signal is dependent on the clock and both edges are either rising or falling.

2. A sensor system, comprising:

a sensor having a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal within the sensor; and

a controller coupled to the sensor by way of a bus line, the controller configured to change a signal on the bus from a first state to a second state to generate a trigger signal,

wherein the sensor is configured to;

change the signal from the second state to the first state based on the trigger signal,

generate a synchronization signal based on the clock signal and the change of the signal from the second state to the first state, and

provide the synchronization signal to the controller via the bus.

3. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the signal is at low state in the first state.

4. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the signal is at a high state in the second state.

5. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the signal is at low state in the first state and a high state in the second state.

6. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to change the signal from the first state to the second state and to terminate the synchronization signal after the signal change from the first state to the second state.

7. The sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the signal is at a low state in the first state.

8. The sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the signal is at high state in the second state.

9. The sensor system according to claim 6, wherein the signal is at low state in the first state and high state in the second state.

10. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein a length of the synchronization signal is dependent on a frequency of the clock signal.

11. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the signal is on the bus line.

12. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor changes the signal from the second state to the first state after a delay period.

13. The sensor system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to request a transmission by changing the signal from the second state to the first state and thereafter change the signal from the second state to the first state.

14. A method for establishing a communication between a controller and sensor, comprising:

changing, by the controller, a signal from a first state to a second state to generate a trigger signal, the signal being associated with a bus line coupled between the controller and the sensor;

changing, by the sensor, the signal from the second state to the first state based on the trigger signal;

generating, by the sensor, a clock signal within the sensor; and

generating, by the sensor, a synchronization signal based on the clock signal and the changing of the signal from the second state to the first state by the sensor.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising requesting a transmission by changing the signal from the second state to the first state;

and subsequently changing the signal from the second state to the first state.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the signal is at low state in the first state and a high state in the second state.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising changing the signal from the first state to the second state;

and terminating the synchronization signal after the signal change from the first state to the second state.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein a length of the synchronization signal is dependent on a frequency of the clock signal.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the changing the signal from the second state to the first state occurs after a delay.