US 10,948,311 B2Granted

Electronic reliability enhancement of a physical quantity sensor

AssigneePanasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

InventorsKeisuke Kuroda, Takeshi Mori

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Abstract

A sensor includes a detection element that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a physical quantity, a detection circuit that outputs a physical quantity signal corresponding to the physical quantity, first to third diagnosis circuits. The first diagnosis circuit is configured to receive a signal input to the detection circuit and a signal output from the detection circuit, to output an error signal in a case where the detection circuit is abnormal. The second diagnosis circuit is configured to input a diagnosis signal to the first diagnosis circuit. The second diagnosis circuit is configured to input, to the first diagnosis circuit, another of the signal input to the detection circuit and the signal output from the detection circuit. The third diagnosis circuit monitors whether or not the diagnosis signal is input from the second diagnosis circuit to the first diagnosis circuit.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A sensor comprising:

a detection element that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a physical quantity;
a driver circuit that outputs a driving signal to the detection element and receives a monitor signal input from the detection element;
a detection circuit that receives the detection signal input thereto and outputs a physical quantity signal corresponding to the physical quantity;
a first diagnosis circuit connected to the detection circuit;
a second diagnosis circuit connected to the first diagnosis circuit;
and
a third diagnosis circuit connected to at least one of the first diagnosis circuit and the second diagnosis circuit,
wherein the detection circuit includes:
an amplifier that amplifies the detection signal;
a synchronous detection circuit that synchronously detects a signal from the amplifier;
and
a processing circuit that processes a signal from the synchronous detection circuit, and outputs the processed signal,
wherein the first diagnosis circuit is configured:
to receive a signal input to the processing circuit and a signal output from the processing circuit;
to output an error signal in a case where the processing circuit is abnormal;
and
not to output the error signal in a case where the processing circuit is normal,
wherein the second diagnosis circuit is configured:
to input a diagnosis signal to the first diagnosis circuit instead of one of the signal input to the processing circuit and the signal output from the processing circuit;
and
to input, to the first diagnosis circuit, another of the signal input to the processing circuit and the signal output from the processing circuit, and
wherein the third diagnosis circuit is configured to monitor whether or not the diagnosis signal is input from the second diagnosis circuit to the first diagnosis circuit.

19 more elements

A sensor comprising:

a detection element that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a physical quantity;
a processing circuit that receives the detection signal input thereto, processes a signal corresponding to a physical quantity signal corresponding to the physical quantity, and outputs the processed signal;
a first diagnosis circuit connected to the processing circuit;
a second diagnosis circuit connected to the first diagnosis circuit;
and
a third diagnosis circuit connected to at least one of the first diagnosis circuit and the second diagnosis circuit,
wherein the first diagnosis circuit is configured:
to output an error signal in a case where a signal input to the processing circuit and a signal output from the processing circuit satisfy a predetermined condition;
and
not to output the error signal in a case where the signal input to the processing circuit and the signal to be output from the processing circuit do not satisfy the predetermined condition,
wherein the second diagnosis circuit is configured;
to input a diagnosis signal to the first diagnosis circuit instead of one of the signal input to the processing circuit and the signal output from the processing circuit;
and
to input, to the first diagnosis circuit, another of the signal input to the processing circuit and the signal output from the processing circuit, and
wherein the third diagnosis circuit is configured to monitor whether or not the diagnosis signal is input from the second diagnosis circuit to the first diagnosis circuit.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.