Single-wire sensor bus

• US 10,070,286 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsvey, Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US15/166,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/02 simultaneously, i.e. using frequency division
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A electronics control unit is in contemporaneous wireless power communication and wireless data communication with a network of sealed, sensors over a shared bidirectional power antenna. Sensors and sensor networks described below enable the development of networks that are secure and robust, and yet are lighter-weight and lower-cost than, for example, conventional automotive sensor networks.

Claims

1. A network system disposed within a motor vehicle and comprising:

a single-wire antenna configured to send a power signal, and to send and receive data signals;

a communications interface electrically coupled to the single-wire antenna at a first location along the single-wire antenna, the communications interface configured to send and receive the data signals via the single-wire antenna, but configured not to transmit the power signal;

a power transmitter electrically coupled to the single-wire antenna at a second location along the single-wire antenna different than the first location, the power transmitter configured to produce the power signal but not the data signals on the single-wire antenna; and

at least one sealed sensor module having a clip holding the single-wire antenna, wherein the at least one sealed sensor module is configured to;

wirelessly receive power from the power transmitter, and

wirelessly communicate data with the communications interface, via the single-wire antenna.

2. The network system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of distinct sealed sensor modules, each of the plurality of sealed sensor modules disposed within 3 centimeters of the single-wire antenna, each of the plurality of distinct sealed sensor modules configured to;

wirelessly receive power from the power transmitter; and

wirelessly communicate data with the communications interface, via the single-wire antenna.

3. The network system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter is configured to transmit bursts of radio frequency energy.

4. The network system of claim 1, wherein the power transmitter is configured to intermittently transmit power signals so as to provide continuous power to the at least one sealed sensor module.

5. The network system of claim 1, wherein the single-wire antenna is a double-terminated antenna.

6. The network system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealed sensor module comprises a power storage element.

7. The network system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealed sensor module comprises a gyroscope.

8. The network system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sealed sensor module comprises an accelerometer.

9. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network system is disposed in the motor vehicle having at least one safety system, and at least the communications interface is part of an electronics control unit that controls the at least one safety system.

10. The network system of claim 1, wherein:

the single-wire antenna has an unterminated end distal from the power transmitter; and

wherein;

the power signal comprises an RF signal.

11. The network system of claim 1, wherein:

the power signal produced on the single-wire antenna has a power density below 0.5 microwatts per cubic meter at a distance of 3 centimeters from the single-wire antenna.

12. A motor vehicle sensor system comprising:

a motor vehicle;

a dual-mode loop antenna within the motor vehicle;

a communications interface electrically coupled to the dual-mode loop antenna at a first location along the dual-mode loop antenna, and configured to send and receive data signals via the dual-mode loop antenna, but configured not to transmit a power signal;

a power transmitter electrically coupled to the dual-mode loop antenna at a second location along the dual-mode loop antenna different than the first location, and configured to produce the power signal but not the data signals on the dual-mode loop antenna; and

at least one sensor module disposed less than 3 centimeters from the dual-mode loop antenna, the at least one sensor module;

in wireless power communication with the power transmitter, via the dual-mode loop antenna, and

in wireless data communication with the communications interface, via the dual-mode loop antenna.

13. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor module is a sealed sensor module comprising an accelerometer.

14. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor module is a sealed sensor module comprising a gyroscope.

15. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor module is a battery-less sensor module.

16. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 12, wherein the motor vehicle further comprises at least one safety system under control of an electronics control unit wherein at least the communications interface is part of the electronics control unit.