Circuitry for autonomously measuring analog signals and related systems, methods, and devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11587421-B2
Application number	US-202117301105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Jun 17, 2020
Publication date	Feb 21, 2023
Grant date	Feb 21, 2023

Abstract

Analog signal measurement and related circuitry, systems, and methods are disclosed. Circuitry includes timing circuitry configured to assert a first enable signal at a first time and a second enable signal at a second time. The circuitry also includes an operational amplifier circuit configured to enable responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal. The operational amplifier circuit is configured to receive an analog input signal and, if enabled, generate an amplified analog input signal responsive to the analog input signal. The circuitry further includes signal analyzing circuitry configured to enable responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal, compare the amplified analog input signal to one or more threshold values responsive to the assertion of the second enable signal, and generate an alert signal responsive to a determination that the amplified analog input signal falls outside of the one or more threshold values.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuitry, comprising:
a timing circuitry to assert a first enable signal at a first time and a second enable signal at a second time, the second time following the first time;
an operational amplifier circuit to enable responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal, the operational amplifier circuit to, if enabled, generate an amplified analog input signal responsive to an analog input signal;
a signal analyzing circuitry to:
enable responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal;
compare the amplified analog input signal to one or more threshold values responsive to the assertion of the second enable signal; and
generate an alert signal responsive to a determination that the amplified analog input signal falls outside of a range of values defined by the one or more threshold values; and

a central processing unit (CPU) to provide timer values associated with timing of assertions of the first enable signal and the second enable signal and the one or more threshold values, wherein the timing circuitry, the operational amplifier circuit, and the signal analyzing circuitry are to perform, using the one or more threshold values and the timer values, periodic analog measurements with threshold checks independently from intervention or supervision from the CPU.

2. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the timing circuitry is assert the first enable signal and the second enable signal periodically.

3. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the signal analyzing circuitry includes an analog to digital converter.

4. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the signal analyzing circuitry includes an analog comparator.

5. The circuitry of claim 4 , wherein the signal analyzing circuitry includes a digital to analog converter generate one or more reference signals respectively associated with the one or more threshold values, the analog comparator to compare the amplified analog input signal to the one or more reference signals.

6. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the operational amplifier circuit comprises a low-pass filter to filter the analog input signal.

7. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the timing circuitry includes a first timing circuit to generate the first enable signal and a second timing circuit to generate the second enable signal.

8. The circuitry of claim 7 , wherein the first timing circuit is to assert the first enable signal responsive to expiration of a countdown from a first timer value of the timer values.

9. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the signal analyzing circuitry is to disable the operational amplifier circuit and the signal analyzing circuitry after comparing the amplified analog input signal to the one or more threshold values.

10. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the operational amplifier circuit and the signal analyzing circuitry are disabled for a majority of a time during the periodic analog measurements.

11. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the alert signal comprises an interrupt signal to interrupt operation of the CPU to take remedial action.

12. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the alert signal is provided to a peripheral device.

13. The circuitry of claim 1 , wherein the analog input signal is generated by a smoke sensor of a smoke detector.

14. A smoke detector system, comprising:
a smoke sensor to generate an analog input signal correlated to a quantity of smoke in a smoke chamber;
a first timing circuit to periodically assert a first enable signal;
a second timing circuit periodically assert a second enable signal following assertions of the first enable signal;
an operational amplifier circuit to enable responsive to assertions of the first enable signal, the operational amplifier circuit to receive the analog input signal and, if enabled, generate an amplified analog input signal responsive to the analog input signal;
a signal analyzing circuitry to:
enable responsive to the periodic assertions of the first enable signal;
compare the amplified analog input signal to one or more threshold values responsive to the respective assertion of the second enable signal; and
generate an alert signal responsive to a determination that the amplified analog input signal falls outside of a range of values defined by the one or more threshold values;

an alarm circuitry to generate an alarm responsive to the alert signal; and
a central processing unit (CPU) to provide timer values associated with timing of assertions of the first enable signal and the second enable signal and the one or more threshold values, wherein timing circuitry, the operational amplifier circuit, and the signal analyzing circuitry are to perform, using the one or more threshold values and the timer values, periodic analog measurements with threshold checks independently from intervention or supervision from the CPU.

15. The smoke detector system of claim 14 , wherein the second timing circuit is to enable responsive to assertions of the first enable signal and assert the second enable signal following the assertions of the first enable signal.

16. The smoke detector system of claim 14 , comprising a signal driver electrically connected to an infrared illumination source, the signal driver to enable responsive to assertions of the first enable signal, the infrared illumination source to illuminate the smoke chamber with infrared illumination while the signal driver is enabled, wherein the smoke sensor comprises a passive infrared sensor to detect the infrared illumination.

17. A method of measuring an analog input signal, the method comprising:
receiving the analog input signal at an input of an operational amplifier circuit;
asserting a first enable signal;
activating the operational amplifier circuit responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal to generate an amplified analog input signal at an output of the operational amplifier circuit;
activating a signal analyzing circuitry electrically connected to the output of the operational amplifier circuit responsive to the assertion of the first enable signal;
asserting a second enable signal;
determining, by the signal analyzing circuitry, whether the amplified analog input signal is outside of a predetermined range of values defined by one or more threshold values responsive to the assertion of the second enable signal;
disabling the operational amplifier circuit responsive to a determination that the amplified analog input signal is inside the predetermined range of values defined by the one or more threshold values; and
generating, by the signal analyzing circuitry, an alert signal responsive to a determination that the amplified analog input signal is outside of the predetermined range of values.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
disabling the signal analyzing circuitry responsive to the determination that the amplified analog input signal is inside of the predetermined range of values.

19. The method of claim 17 , comprising initializing, with a central processing unit (CPU), the one or more threshold values and timing of assertions of the first enable signal and the second enable signal, wherein the receiving, asserting, activating, activating, asserting, determining and generating operations are performed independently from the CPU after the initializing.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein receiving the analog input signal at the input of the operational amplifier circuit comprises receiving the analog input signal from a smoke sensor.

21. The method of clai

Assignees

• Microchip Tech Inc

Inventors

• Sunderdiek Gregor Hubert

Classifications

• H03M1/34

  Analogue value compared with reference values (H03M1/48 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08B17/107

  for detecting light-scattering due to smoke · CPC title

• G08B1/08

  using electric transmission {; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal} · CPC title

• G08B17/12 Primary

  Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions · CPC title

• H03M1/002 Primary

  Provisions or arrangements for saving power, e.g. by allowing a sleep mode, using lower supply voltage for downstream stages, using multiple clock domains or by selectively turning on stages when needed · CPC title