Count value generation circuit, physical quantity sensor module, and structure monitoring device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10693465-B2
Application number	US-201916729644-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 27, 2018
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A count value generation circuit includes a first counter that counts edges of a reference signal to generate a first count value in synchronization with an input signal, a time digital value generator that generates a time digital value corresponding to a phase difference between the reference signal and the input signal, a count integrated value combiner that outputs a difference between an integer multiple of the first count value and the time digital value, and a count value generator that generates a count value based on a difference between a first output value and a second output value output from the count integrated value combiner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A count value generation circuit comprising:
a first counter that counts edges of a reference signal in synchronization with an input signal to generate a first reference signal count value, the input signal being input to the first counter as a frequency modulation signal;
a time digital value generator that generates a time digital value corresponding to a phase difference between the reference signal and the input signal;
a count integrated value combiner that combines an integer multiple of the first reference signal count value and the time digital value; and
a count value generator that generates a count value in response to a difference between a first output value and a second output value, the first and second output values being temporally continuously output from the count integrated value combiner, the first output value being output prior to the second output value from the count integrated value combiner.

2. The count value generation circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the time digital value generator includes:
an oscillator;
a second counter that counts an output signal from the oscillator based on the reference signal and generates a second reference signal count value; and
a count value integrator that integrates the second reference signal count value to obtain an integrated value and outputs the integrated value as the time digital value.

3. The count value generation circuit according to claim 2 ,
wherein the number of times the oscillator oscillates is equal to the integer.

4. The count value generation circuit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the oscillator stops oscillating after the oscillator oscillates 2 n times, where n is a positive integer.

5. The count value generation circuit according to claim 1 ,
wherein the frequency modulation signal is an output signal from a physical quantity sensor, and a resonance frequency of the frequency modulation signal changes in response to a physical quantity corresponding to the output signal from the physical quantity sensor.

6. A physical quantity sensor module comprising:
the count value generation circuit according to claim 1 ; and
a physical quantity sensor that outputs the input signal.

7. The physical quantity sensor module according to claim 6 ,
wherein the physical quantity sensor detects at least one of acceleration, angular velocity, and angular acceleration as a physical quantity.

8. The physical quantity sensor module according to claim 7 ,
wherein the physical quantity sensor includes a tuning fork.

9. A structure monitoring device comprising:
the physical quantity sensor module according to claim 6 ;
a receiver that receives a detection signal from the physical quantity sensor module attached to a structure; and
a calculator that calculates an inclination angle of the structure in response to a signal output from the receiver.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Todorokihara Masayoshi

Classifications

• H03K21/406

  Synchronisation of counters · CPC title

• H03K19/17716 Primary

  with synchronous operation, i.e. using clock signals, e.g. of I/O or coupling register (H03K19/17712 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H03K19/1774

  for global signals, e.g. clock, reset · CPC title

• G01R23/02

  Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage · CPC title

• G01R31/31727

  Clock circuits aspects, e.g. test clock circuit details, timing aspects for signal generation, circuits for testing clocks (G01R31/31725 takes precedence; concerning scan test G01R31/318552, for tester hardware G01R31/31922) · CPC title