Sensor interface transceiver
First Claim
1. A control unit, comprising;
- a sensor interface module configured to output a modulated output voltage to one or more sensors and to receive a modulated sensor current signal from the one or more sensors;
an impedance network comprising an impedance element, which is located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensors;
a protocol processor configured to detect one or more properties of the modulated output voltage or the modulated sensor current signal; and
an impedance controller configured to selectively adjust a value of the impedance element based upon the one or more properties to improve performance of the control unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a sensor interface module that selectively varies the resistance of an RLC network based upon one or more properties of exchanges data signals between one or more sensors and a controller (e.g., an ECU). The disclosed sensor interface module has a closed control loop that receives modulated sensor current signals from one or more sensors and that regulates a modulated output voltage that is provided to the one or more sensors. A protocol processor detects one or more properties of the exchanged voltage and current signals. The protocol processor provides the detected properties to an impedance controller, which selectively varies the value of an impedance element within an RLC network, located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensor, to adjust the one or more properties in a manner that improves performance of the sensor interface module.
67 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A control unit, comprising;
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a sensor interface module configured to output a modulated output voltage to one or more sensors and to receive a modulated sensor current signal from the one or more sensors; an impedance network comprising an impedance element, which is located between the sensor interface module and the one or more sensors; a protocol processor configured to detect one or more properties of the modulated output voltage or the modulated sensor current signal; and an impedance controller configured to selectively adjust a value of the impedance element based upon the one or more properties to improve performance of the control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A control unit, comprising;
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a reference voltage source configured to provide a modulated reference signal; a closed control loop configured to drive an output driver stage to provide a modulated output voltage, which tracks the modulated reference signal, to an output node and to receive a modulated sensor current signal from one or more sensors; an impedance network comprising an emulated resistor located between the output driver stage and the one or more sensors; a protocol processor in communication with the closed control loop and the reference voltage source, which is configured to provide a slew rate of the modulated reference signal or out-of-band energy of the modulated sensor current signal to a protocol processor output; and an impedance controller coupled to the protocol processor output and configured to dynamically adjust a value of the emulated resistor if the slew rate or the out-of-band energy violates a performance indicator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification