Sensor apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259406-B2
Application number	US-201715464917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 1, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A sensor apparatus includes an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target and a CPU that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the sensor. The interface circuit has a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, a receiver including a receiver circuit, and an operation determination circuit. The first power supply circuit generates an operating voltage of the sensor. The second power supply circuit generates a synchronizing signal for the digital signal. The receiver circuit receives an electric signal generated by the digital sensor. The operation determination circuit stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor apparatus comprising:
an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target; and
a calculation circuit that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the digital sensor or the analog sensor, wherein
the interface circuit has:
a first power supply circuit that generates an operating voltage supplied to the digital sensor or the analog sensor;
a second power supply circuit that generates a voltage allowing generation of a synchronizing signal for the digital sensor when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target;
a receiver circuit that receives the electric signal generated by the digital sensor when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target; and
an operation determination circuit that stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target.

2. The sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation determination circuit also stops an operation of the receiver circuit when the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target.

3. The sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the calculation circuit has a storage apparatus that stores type information indicating which of the digital sensor and the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target, and
the operation determination circuit determines, based on the type information, which of the digital sensor and the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target.

4. The sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the interface circuit is integrated into a single IC chip.

5. The sensor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target, Peripheral Serial Interface 5 is adopted as a communication standard for communication between the digital sensor and the interface circuit.

Assignees

• Jtekt Corp

Inventors

• Kozuka Kenichi

Classifications

• B60R16/0231 Primary

  Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P) · CPC title

• B62D5/04

  electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear · CPC title

• G08C15/06

  successively, i.e. using time division · CPC title

• G05B19/0423 Primary

  Input/output · CPC title

• G01D3/10

  with provision for switching-in of additional or auxiliary indicators or recorders · CPC title