Device for automatically detecting coupling between electronic devices

A method for automatically detecting a sensor coupled to an electronic computer, the method comprising:

• a first step e1), consisting in switching a transistor in order, on the one hand, to short a first resistor and, on the other hand, to apply, between a first computer pin and a second computer pin, an impedance of the order of a second resistor,
• a second step e2), consisting in reading a signal generated by said sensor coupled to the computer,
• a third step e3), consisting in comparing the value of the signal generated by the sensor coupled to the computer with a reference value,
• in the event that the result of the comparison in the third step e3) is positive, performing:
• a fourth step e4), consisting in configuring a hardware interface in voltage-source sensor mode, and in controlling the transistor in open-circuit mode, wherein the first resistor is no longer shorted by the transistor,
• a sixth step e6), consisting in a software configuration of the hardware interface which is suitable for allowing the signals delivered by the voltage-source sensor to be read,
• a seventh step e7), consisting in monitoring and in detecting information that a starter of a vehicle has been controlled,
• an eighth step e8), consisting in checking the presence and the correct operation of the voltage-source sensor coupled between the first computer pin and the second computer pin,
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the voltage-source sensor is detected, performing a ninth step e9), which is representative of the correct operation of the voltage-source sensor, consisting in confirming said presence and said correct operation of the voltage-source sensor across the terminals of the computer,
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the voltage-source sensor is not detected, performing:
• a tenth step e10), which is representative of a potential anomaly of the sensor, consisting in switching the transistor in short-circuit mode, to short the first resistor and to position the hardware interface in a software configuration mode for a current-source sensor, configuring the hardware interface in current-source sensor mode,
• an eleventh step e11), consisting in a software configuration of the hardware interface which is suitable for allowing the signals delivered by the current-source sensor to be read,
• a twelfth step e12), consisting in checking the presence and the correct operation of the current-source sensor coupled between the first computer pin and the second computer pin,
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the current-source is detected, performing a thirteenth step e13), which is representative of the correct operation of the current-source sensor, consisting in confirming said presence and said correct operation of the current-source sensor across the terminals of the computer, and
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the current-source is not detected, performing a fourteenth step e14), which is representative of the presence of an anomaly, consisting in confirming an anomaly at the level of the sensor coupled to the computer,
• in the event that the result of the comparison in the third step e3) is negative, performing:
• a fifth step e5), which is representative of a negative comparison result in step e3, consisting in configuring the hardware interface in current-source sensor mode, and in a software configuration of the hardware interface in order to allow the signals delivered by the current-source sensor to be read,
• a fifteenth step e15), consisting in repeatedly monitoring and detecting information that the starter of the vehicle has been controlled, and
• a sixteenth step e16), consisting in checking the presence and the correct operation of the current-source sensor coupled between the first computer pin and the second computer pin,
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the current-source is detected, performing a seventeenth step e17), which is representative of the correct operation of the current-source sensor, consisting in confirming said presence and said correct operation of the current-source sensor across the terminals of the computer,
• in the event that a frequency variation in the signal delivered by the current-source is not detected, performing an eighteenth step e18), which is representative of the presence of an anomaly and consists in confirming an anomaly at the level of the current-source sensor coupled to the computer.