Sensor information output apparatus and vehicle control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020156569-A1
Application number	US-201916681967-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2019
Priority date	Nov 15, 2018
Publication date	May 21, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor information output apparatus includes a plurality of first power supply circuits, a single second power supply circuit, and a plurality of receivers. The first power supply circuits are configured to generate operating voltages of digital sensors of a plurality of systems. The number of the first power supply circuits is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The second power supply circuit is configured to generate a signal voltage for synchronizing signals. The receivers are configured to supply the digital sensors with the synchronizing signals including the operating voltages and the signal voltage. The number of the receivers is equal to the number of the plurality of systems. The digital sensors are configured to supply the electric signals to an external circuit as sensor information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor information output apparatus comprising:
A plurality of first power supply circuits configured to generate operating voltages of digital sensors of a plurality of systems, the number of the first power supply circuits being equal to the number of the plurality of systems, the digital sensors being configured to generate electric signals based on a physical amount of a detection target; a single second power supply circuit configured to generate a signal voltage for synchronizing signals, the synchronizing signals being periodically supplied to the digital sensors; and a plurality of receivers configured to supply the digital sensors with the synchronizing signals including the operating voltages generated by the first power supply circuits and the signal voltage generated by the second power supply circuit, the number of the receivers being equal to the number of the plurality of systems, the digital sensors being configured to supply the electric signals to an external circuit as sensor information, the electric signals being supplied from the digital sensors in response to the synchronizing signals.

2 . The sensor information output apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising switches configured to interrupt, when an abnormality occurs in one of transmission lines between the digital sensors and the receivers, supply of the signal voltage to the receiver of a system in which the abnormality occurs.

3 . The sensor information output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein Peripheral Sensor Interface 5 is employed as communication standards between the digital sensors and the receivers.

4 . The sensor information output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first power supply circuits, the second power supply circuit, and the receivers are integrated into a single integrated circuit chip.

5 . A vehicle control apparatus comprising:
a sensor information output apparatus including a plurality of first power supply circuits, a single second power supply circuit, and a plurality of receivers,
the first power supply circuits being configured to generate operating voltages of digital sensors of a plurality of systems, the number of the first power supply circuits being equal to the number of the plurality of systems, the digital sensors being configured to generate electric signals based on a physical amount of a detection target,
the second power supply circuit being configured to generate a signal voltage for synchronizing signals, the synchronizing signals being periodically supplied to the digital sensors,
the receivers being configured to supply the digital sensors with the synchronizing signals including the operating voltages generated by the first power supply circuits and the signal voltage generated by the second power supply circuit, the number of the receivers being equal to the number of the plurality systems, the digital sensors being configured to supply the electric signals to an external circuit as sensor information, the electric signals being supplied from the digital sensors in response to the synchronizing signals; and
a control circuit, which is the external circuit configured to control a control target based on the sensor information acquired through the sensor information output apparatus.

Assignees

• Jtekt Corp

Inventors

• Sato Yuma
• Oda Masato
• Kozuka Kenichi

Classifications

• G01L25/003

  for measuring torque · CPC title

• 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

• G05B19/0423

  Input/output · CPC title

• B60R21/013

  including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over · CPC title

• B62D6/10 Primary

  characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque · CPC title