Single-Wire Sensor Bus

• US 20180041874A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,070,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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, the communications interface configured to send and receive radio frequency data signals via the single-wire antenna;

a power transmitter electrically coupled to the single-wire antenna, the power transmitter configured to produce the power signal on the single-wire antenna; and

at least one sealed sensor module having a clip holding the single-wire antenna.

2. The network system of claim 1, wherein:

the 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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 a sealed sensor module.

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

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

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

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

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. A motor vehicle sensor system comprising:

a motor vehicle;

a dual-mode loop antenna within the motor vehicle, the dual-mode loop antenna having an antenna node;

an electronics control unit within the motor vehicle, the electronics control unit comprising;

a communications interface electrically coupled to the dual-mode loop antenna at the antenna node, and configured to send and receive data signals via the dual-mode loop antenna, and

a power transmitter electrically coupled to the dual-mode loop antenna at the antenna node, and configured to produce a power signal on the dual-mode loop antenna;

the electronics control unit configured to transmit both the data signals and the power signal 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 power communication with the power transmitter, and

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

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

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

16. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor module is a battery-less sensor module.

17. The motor vehicle sensor system of claim 13, wherein the motor vehicle further comprises at least one safety system under control of the electronics control unit.

18. A method of operating an automotive network system, comprising:

providing a power signal to a plurality of sensors within an automobile at a first frequency using a single-wire antenna;

receiving, at a controller of the automobile, wireless data signals of a second frequency from a first sensor of the plurality of sensors via the single-wire antenna; and

providing a data signal from the first sensor to a second sensor of the plurality of sensors via the single-wire antenna.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising sending radio frequency wireless data signals to the first sensor via the single-wire antenna.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the power signal is a radio frequency signal.