Interface device with integrated sensor interface units for an electronic sensor system

• US 8,805,549 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Lill, Anton, Bauer, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gami, Tejal
• Application Number:
  US12/305,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 370/254, 702/62, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface device (100) for an electronic sensor system (200) comprising a plurality of sensors (210, 220) and a processing unit (230) for controlling the sensors (210, 220) and/or analyzing sensor data obtained by the sensors (210, 220), where the sensors (210, 220) can be connected to the processing unit (230) via the interface device (100).

According to the invention, the interface device (100) is able to accommodate simultaneously at least two sensor interface units (110, 120) for connecting to the sensors (210, 220), where each sensor interface unit (110, 120) can be selected from a plurality of sensor interface units, which differ at least by a different number of sensor channels.

Claims

1. An interface device for connecting ultrasonic sensors of a motor vehicle to a processing unit of an electronic sensor system in the motor vehicle, the interface device comprising:

ultrasonic sensors of a motor vehicle connected via the interface device to a processing unit of an electronic sensor system in the motor vehicle;

a first sensor interface unit comprising a first number of sensor channels for connecting a first plurality of sensors to the processing unit;

a second sensor interface unit comprising a second number of sensor channels, distinct from the first number of channels, for connecting a second plurality of sensors, distinct from the first plurality of sensors, to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is for controlling the first and second plurality of sensors and analyzing sensor data obtained by the first and second plurality of sensors, wherein the interface device is able to accommodate simultaneously the first and second sensor interface units for connecting to the sensors, and wherein each of the first and second sensor interface units is selected from a plurality of sensor interface units each with a different number of sensor channels;

the first sensor interface unit comprises six sensor channels and the second sensor interface unit comprises six sensor channels; and

the first sensor interface unit comprises at least one actuator channel which allows the processing unit to control one selected from a group consisting of an acoustic signaling device and an optical signaling device, via the interface device.

2. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second sensor interface unit is implemented as an application-specific integrated circuit.

3. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein an electronic printed circuit board or a substrate of the interface device comprises at least two mounting positions for accommodating the first and second sensor interface units.

4. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sensor interface units are pin-compatible.

5. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the interface device is integrated with the processing unit in a control module controlling the sensor system.

6. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor interface unit comprises at least one power driver for controlling an actuator channel.

7. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor interface unit comprises at least one level converter for converting signal levels of the sensors and the processing unit.

8. An electronic sensor system, comprising:

a plurality of sensors and a processing unit for controlling the plurality of sensors and analyzing sensor data obtained by the plurality of sensors; and

an interface device according to claim 1, by means of which the sensors are connected to the processing unit.

9. The sensor system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensors are one selected from a group consisting of ultrasound sensors, radar sensors, and optical sensors.