Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relates to an automotive control unit (ACU) able to communicate with sensors using a plurality of different communication protocols. The ACU comprises a control unit that operates a sensor interface module to selectively generate a plurality of control signals corresponding to a plurality of different communication protocols, wherein respective control signals have characteristics corresponding to one of the plurality of different communication protocols. A modulation unit receives one of the control signals and generates a modulated communication signal having characteristics that correspond to a communication protocol of the one of the control signals. A communication bus provides the communication signal to a sensor network comprising one or more sensors. By operating the modulation unit to operate according to different communication protocols the ACU can be operated to communicate with multiple sensors using different communication protocols (e.g.

Abstract: An age monitoring arrangement includes a sensor, a calculation component, and a timer. The sensor is configured to generate one or more measurements of an environmental property. The calculation component is configured to generate a virtual age and identify an occurrence of an event based on the one or more measurements and a clock using an aging module. The timer is configured to generate the clock.

Abstract: A system including an encoder, multiple sensing elements and control logic. The encoder has a pole pitch and is configured to rotate in a direction of rotation. The multiple sensing elements are situated along the direction of rotation and span at least half the length of the pole pitch. The control logic is configured to receive signals from the multiple sensing elements based on the encoder in a static position and obtain a switching point based on the signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor system having a shared communication interface that transmits sensor signals having independent channel protection data from a plurality of sensors. In some embodiments, the sensor signal has a plurality of sensors that independently generate sensor signals corresponding to a sensed quantity. A plurality of channel protection elements respectively receive one of the sensor signals and to introduce channel protection data into the received sensor signal to generate a channel protected sensor (CPS) signal. A shared communication interface receives CPS signals from one or more of the channel protection elements and to selectively provide the CPS signals onto a transmission line according to one or more communication protocols. By introducing channel protection data to the sensor signals upstream of the shared communication interface, a same communication interface can be used to transmit channel protected sensor signals from a plurality of independent sensors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for communication has a receiver for receiving data from a passive transmitter capacitively coupled to the receiver. The receiver has a sensing element having a plurality of terminals configured to be capacitively coupled to the passive transmitter and DC isolated from the passive transmitter.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a sensor interface module that delivers a supply voltage to a plurality of sensors, and which exchanges data signals between the plurality of sensors and a control unit (e.g., an ECU). The sensor interface often employs a single-bit comparator (or a coarse analog to digital converter (ADC), e.g., a 2-bit or 3-bit ADC) to track signals to be exchanged between the sensors and controller over the sensor interface. Compared to power hungry ADC with more bits (e.g., 32 bit ADC), the single-bit comparator/coarse ADC limits hardware complexity and power consumption. In addition, in some embodiments the sensor interface module can include an estimator and assist comparators to speed up the tracking ability of the sensor interface module. In this way, techniques provided herein facilitate reliable, low-power communication between a control unit (e.g., an ECU) and its corresponding sensors.

Abstract: A receiver according to an embodiment includes a receiver circuit to receive a transition in a first direction, a second transition after the first transition in a second direction, and a third transition after the second transition in the first direction and a fourth transition in the second direction of a signal. The receiver circuit is adapted to determine a first time period between the first and third transitions and to determine a second time period between the second and fourth transitions. The receiver circuit is adapted to determine a datum based on at least one of the first time period and the second time period. Furthermore, the receiver is adapted to indicate an error, if the determined first and second time periods do not fulfil a predetermined verification relationship.

Abstract: A pressure sensor calibration system comprises one or more pressures sensors for calibrating sensor parameters based on a membrane deflection or a membrane displacement from an electrostatic force. A measuring component measures capacitance values corresponding to applied voltages at the electrodes of the one or more pressure sensors. Sensor parameters are derived from capacitance measurements and a pressure measurement, which are utilized by a calibration component for calibration and recalibration of the one or more pressure sensors.

Abstract: A system including an encoder, multiple sensing elements and control logic. The encoder has a pole pitch and is configured to rotate in a direction of rotation. The multiple sensing elements are situated along the direction of rotation and span at least half the length of the pole pitch. The control logic is configured to receive signals from the multiple sensing elements based on the encoder in a static position and obtain a switching point based on the signals.

Abstract: State observers and systems using wave digital filter models are discussed.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of controlling a power supply node includes measuring a voltage of the power supply node, determining a first current based on the measuring, determining a first current and a second current based on the measuring, and summing the first current and the second current at the power supply node. Determining the first current includes operating a first controller having a first bandwidth, and determining the second current includes operating a second controller having a second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a driving situation of a vehicle to be monitored is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a provider configured to provide measurement values, wherein the provider is configured to obtain the measurement values at non-equidistant sampling instants, wherein the measurement values comprise information relating to the driving situation of the vehicle to be monitored. The apparatus further comprises an evaluator configured to evaluate a plurality of the measurement values with respect to a measure indicating a temporal variation of the plurality of measurement values.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device comprises a circuit with at least one circuit element; measurement circuitry capable to test a state of the at least one circuit element during an operation of the circuit, the measurement circuitry comprising a first terminal configured to be coupled to a first node of the circuit via a first capacitor, a second terminal configured to be coupled to a second node of the circuit, wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to determine in situ an operating state of the at least one circuit element based on signals applied by the measurement circuitry to the circuit during the operation of the circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system having a plurality of electronic devices interconnected by way of dielectric waveguides. In some embodiments, the system has a plurality of electronic devices respectively including a data element and a multiplexing element. The data element has a plurality of electronic device terminals that output and receive data. The multiplexing element provides the data output from the plurality of electronic device terminals to a transceiver element, which generates a wireless signal that transmits the data in a manner that distinctly identifies data from different electronic device terminals. A plurality of dielectric waveguides are disposed at locations between the plurality of electronic devices. The plurality of dielectric waveguides convey the wireless signal between the plurality of electronic devices. By interconnecting electronic devices using dielectric waveguides, disadvantages associates with metal interconnect wires can be mitigated.

Abstract: A multi voltage sensor system includes one or more charge pumps, a sensor bridge and readout circuitry. The one or more charge pumps are configured to provide a high voltage. The sensor bridge is biased by the high voltage and is configured to provide sensor values. The readout circuitry includes only low voltage components. The readout circuitry is configured to receive the sensor values.

Abstract: Embodiments related to signal generation for spectral measurements are described and depicted. In one embodiment, a signal generator for a spectral measurement is configured to generate a digital sigma-delta modulated signal. The signal generator has a digital output to feed the digital sigma-delta signal to a probe.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that uses a switch to convey wireless signals between a plurality of electronic devices interconnected by dielectric waveguides. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of electronic devices respectively having a transceiver element that generates a wireless signal that transmits a data packet. A switch receives the wireless signal from a first one of the plurality of electronic devices and re-transmits the wireless signal to a second one of the plurality of electronic devices. A plurality of dielectric waveguides convey the wireless signal between the plurality of electronic devices and the switch. Respective dielectric waveguides have a dielectric material disposed at a location between one of the plurality of electronic devices and the switch. Using the switch to convey wireless signals between the plurality of electronic devices provides a system that has a low wireless signal attenuation and reduced number of transceivers.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system comprises a force feedback loop. The force feedback loop is configured to receive a measured pressure sensor signal and generate a feedback signal based on the measured pressure and an electrostatic force. The electrostatic force is generated based on the feedback signal and combined with the measured force keeping the resultant sensor signal stable.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a sensor interface module that delivers a supply voltage to a plurality of sensors, and which exchanges data signals between the plurality of sensors and a control unit (e.g., an ECU). The sensor interface often employs a single-bit comparator (or a coarse analog to digital converter (ADC), e.g., a 2-bit or 3-bit ADC) to track signals to be exchanged between the sensors and controller over the sensor interface. Compared to power hungry ADC with more bits (e.g., 32 bit ADC), the single-bit comparator/coarse ADC limits hardware complexity and power consumption. In addition, in some embodiments the sensor interface module can include an estimator and assist comparators to speed up the tracking ability of the sensor interface module. In this way, techniques provided herein facilitate reliable, low-power communication between a control unit (e.g., an ECU) and its corresponding sensors.

Abstract: A sensor device is provided with a magnetic field sensitive element to be positioned in a magnetic field of a magnet. The magnet is positioned on an end face of a cam shaft of an engine. The magnetic field sensitive element is configured to sense an orientation angle of the magnetic field in the range between 0° and 360°. Further, the sensor device is provided with a memory. The memory stores a mapping of pulse edges to orientation angles. Further, the sensor device is provided with electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is configured to generate, depending on the sensed orientation angle and the stored mapping of pulse edges to orientation angles, a signal comprising a pattern of pulses with rising and falling pulse edges which are mapped to predefined orientation angles as sensed by the magnetic field sensitive element.