Sensor that transmits signals responsive to a request signal and receives information

• US 10,700,848 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2017
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Scherr, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus C
• Application Number:
  US15/499,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20170230168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1484 operating bytewise
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/00 Arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter synchronisation of generators of electric oscillations or pulses H03L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/044 using a single bit, e.g. start stop bit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/06 the synchronisation signals differing from the information signals in amplitude, polarity or frequency or length

Abstract

A sensor comprises a transmitter to transmit signals over a communication path, the sensor further capable to receive signals from the communication path, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate sensor data having a nibble data signal format at the transmitter in response to a trigger signal received at the sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

circuitry configured to determine if a sensor identification in a request signal received from a controller matches an assigned identification of the sensor; and

a transmitter configured to, if the received sensor identification matches the assigned sensor identification, and in response to a trigger signal in the request signal, start to transmit a synchronization signal to the controller, and after reaching a predetermined sensor internal count value, transmit a trailing edge of the synchronization signal, wherein a length of the synchronization signal, from the trigger signal to the trailing edge, indicates a time base or clocking speed of the transmitter, and the synchronization signal indicates a communication synchronization between the controller and the transmitter.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled with the controller via a three-wire connection.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an automotive sensor.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the response signal comprises sensor data in nibble format.

17. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the request signal overlaps with at least a portion of the synchronization signal.

18. The sensor of claim 17, wherein a trailing edge of the request signal occurs before the trailing edge of the synchronization signal is transmitted.

5. A system, comprising:

a controller configured to transmit a request signal having a sensor identification; and

a sensor configured to;

determine if the sensor identification in the request signal matches an assigned identification of the sensor; and

if the sensor identification in the request signal matches the assigned sensor identification of the sensor, and in response to a trigger signal in the request signal, start to transmit a synchronization signal to the controller, and after reaching a predetermined sensor internal count value, transmit a trailing edge of the synchronization signal, wherein a length of the synchronization signal, from the trigger signal to the trailing edge, indicates a time base or clocking speed of the transmitter, and the synchronization signal, and the synchronization signal indicates a communication synchronization between the controller and the transmitter.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is coupled to the sensor via a three-wire connection.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors each coupled to the controller and configured to receive the request signal having the sensor identification corresponding to one of the plurality of sensors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is coupled to each of the plurality of sensors via a three-wire connection.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is an automotive sensor.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the response signal comprises sensor data in nibble format.

19. The system of claim 5, wherein the request signal overlaps with at least a portion of the synchronization signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a trailing edge of the request signal occurs before the trailing edge of the synchronization signal is transmitted.

11. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a controller, a request signal having a sensor identification; and

determining, by a sensor, if the sensor identification in the request signal matches an assigned identification of the sensor; and

if the sensor identification in the request signal matches the assigned sensor identification of the sensor, and in response to a trigger signal in the request signal, start transmitting by the sensor a synchronization signal to the controller, and after the sensor reaches a predetermined internal count value, transmitting a trailing edge of the synchronization signal, wherein a length of the synchronization signal, from the trigger signal to the trailing edge, indicates a time base or clocking speed of the transmitter, and the synchronization signal indicates a communication synchronization between the controller and the sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller is coupled to the sensor via a three-wire connection.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting, by the controller, the request signal to a plurality of sensors each coupled to the controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the controller is coupled to each of the plurality of sensors via a three-wire connection.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is an automotive sensor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the response signal comprises sensor data in nibble format.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the request signal overlaps with at least a portion of the synchronization signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a trailing edge of the request signal occurs before the trailing edge of the synchronization signal is transmitted.