Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Patent
1997-05-20
1998-06-30
Elms, Richard T.
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
B60L 300
Patent
active
057739005
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A conventional electronic device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,129. If sensor signals that are affected by severe interfering signals must be processed in such a conventional device, undesired interference can occur, particularly during a conversion of the analog sensor signals into digital signals. These interferences are perceptible as, for example, "crosstalk," the coupling-in of undesired interfering signal components on adjacent lines or, for example, adjacent channels of a multi-channel analog/digital converter (A/D converter).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The electronic device of the present invention allows particularly simple and elegant suppression of undesired interfering pulses, so the output signal of a sensor to be processed as a desired measured signal is essentially further processed free from interference; in particular, it can be converted into a corresponding digital output signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2a shows a plot of an output signal of a sensor as a function of time for the electronic device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2b shows a plot of a resistance as a function of time for the electronic device shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An electronic device for controlling protective devices (e.g., an airbag system) for vehicle passengers, is shown, for example, as a block diagram in FIG. 1. The device includes an acceleration-sensitive sensor 1, preferably a piezoelectric sensor whose output connection is connected to a voltage divider R1, R2. The low end of voltage divider R1, R2 is connected to the ground connection. In the block diagram shown, the tap of voltage divider R1, R2 is connected to an input connection 0 of a microcomputer 2 that includes a plurality of input connections. The plurality of input connections 0 through 7 of microcomputer 2 are connected in time-multiplex fashion to the input connection of an A/D converter 30 contained in the microcomputer, which converts the analog output signals of sensor 1 into corresponding digital signals. Each of the illustrated input connections 0 through 7 can be switched with a corresponding input wiring, such as input connection 0. Consequently, a plurality of sensors 1 and a plurality of voltage dividers R1, R2 can be provided which are connected to corresponding input connections of microcomputer 2. Microcomputer 2 further comprises two reference-voltage connections 20, 21, to which reference voltages can be applied. As an example, reference-voltage connection 20 can be connected to the ground connection, while a predeterminable reference voltage can be applied to reference-voltage connection 21. An output connection 22 of microcomputer 2 is connected with at least one airbag system 3 provided for passenger protection. The output signal present at output connection 10 of sensor 1 is supplied to voltage divider R1, R2 and scaled to the detection range of the A/D converter of microcomputer 2. This detection range is, for example, in the voltage interval between 0 and 5 Volts. Thus, the actual measuring task involved in detecting the output signal of sensor 1 is fulfilled. If, however, interfering voltages occur which are superimposed over the output signal of sensor 1 and are outside of the admissible measuring interval, protective circuits in the input wiring of the A/D converter must bear this additional stress. Usually, this is possible in currently commercially-available microcomputers without resulting in the destruction of the input wiring. However, in most cases the response of the input wiring of an A/D channel, for example the channel indicated by 0 in FIG. 1, which is provided for purposes of protection, cannot guarantee that measurements can be taken on the other channels, for example channels 1 through 7, without interference. To assure extensive suppression of interference even in this si
REFERENCES:
patent: 5037129 (1991-08-01), Fritz et al.
patent: 5062065 (1991-10-01), Lampe
Crispin Norbert
Daiber Martin
Oswald Klaus
Schumacher Hartmut
Elms Richard T.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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