# US 12,278,627 B2 · Synchronization of sensor output samples > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,278,627 B2 - Document ID: US12278627B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/384,220 - Filed: 2023-10-26 - Published: 2024-02-22 - Granted: 2025-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-10-26 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Trevor Scott Bunker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12278627B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/94: characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated - G01D 21/02: Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass - G06F 13/38: Information transfer, e.g. on bus (G06F13/14 takes precedence) - H03K 2217/94094: Wired transmission, e.g. via bus connection or similar - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system includes multiple sensors and, for each sensor, a respective sensor controller of multiple sensor controllers. Each sensor controller is configured to implement a respective decimation filter that is configured to generate a single output value from multiple input samples generated by a corresponding sensor of the multiple sensors. The system further includes a master sensor controller of the multiple sensor controllers, which is configured to generate a sync signal upon receiving a threshold number of input samples. Each sensor controller other than the master sensor controller is configured to monitor sync signals generated by the master sensor controller and to provide an output value generated from input samples upon determining that the master sensor controller generated a sync signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by a device having a plurality of sensor controllers, wherein each sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers is configured to implement a respective decimation filter that is configured to generate a single sample output from multiple input samples generated by a corresponding sensor of a plurality of sensors, the method comprising: while monitoring for a sync signal from a master sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers, receiving and storing, by a non-master sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers, a plurality of input samples from the corresponding sensor; upon receiving the sync signal from the master sensor controller, generating, by the non-master sensor controller, a sample output representative of the plurality of input samples received by the sensor while monitoring for the sync signal, wherein generating the sample output comprises applying the respective decimation filter of the non-master sensor controller to the plurality of input samples; and outputting, by the non-master sensor controller, the sample output generated from the plurality of input samples received while monitoring for the sync signal from the master sensor controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers comprises a programmable register space comprising a mode value indicating whether or not the sensor controller is the master sensor controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the programmable register space comprises a sync mask that indicates which sensor controller to monitor for sync signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the programmable register space comprises an enable value indicating whether the sensor controller should generate output values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining, by the master sensor controller, that the mode value for the master sensor controller indicates that the master sensor controller should be a non-master sensor controller; and in response, assuming a role as the non-master sensor controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein assuming the role as the non-master sensor controller comprises waiting to generate any output values until another sync signal is received from a new master sensor controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining, by the non-master sensor controller, that the mode value for the non-master sensor controller indicates that the non-master sensor controller should be a master sensor controller; and in response, assuming a role as the master sensor controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more of audio sensors, light sensors, or proximity sensors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors include both audio sensors and light sensors. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a plurality of sensor controllers, wherein each sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers is configured to implement a respective decimation filter that is configured to generate a single sample output from multiple input samples generated by a corresponding sensor of a plurality of sensors, wherein a non-master sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers is configured to perform operations comprising: while monitoring for a sync signal from a master sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers, receiving and storing, by the non-master sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers, a plurality of input samples from the corresponding sensor; upon receiving the sync signal from the master sensor controller, generating, by the non-master sensor controller, a sample output representative of the plurality of input samples received by the sensor while monitoring for the sync signal, wherein generating the sample output comprises applying the respective decimation filter of the non-master sensor controller to the plurality of input samples; and outputting, by the non-master sensor controller, the sample output generated from the plurality of input samples received while monitoring for the sync signal from the master sensor controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein each sensor controller of the plurality of sensor controllers comprises a programmable register space comprising a mode value indicating whether or not the sensor controller is the master sensor controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the programmable register space comprises a sync mask that indicates which sensor controller to monitor for sync signals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the programmable register space comprises an enable value indicating whether the sensor controller should generate output values. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise: determining, by the master sensor controller, that the mode value for the master sensor controller indicates that the master sensor controller should be a non-master sensor controller; and in response, assuming a role as the non-master sensor controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein assuming the role as the non-master sensor controller comprises waiting to generate any output values until another sync signal is received from a new master sensor controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising: determining, by the non-master sensor controller, that the mode value for the non-master sensor controller indicates that the non-master sensor controller should be a master sensor controller; and in response, assuming a role as the master sensor controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors include one or more of audio sensors, light sensors, or proximity sensors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sensors include both audio sensors and light sensors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a threshold number of input samples has not been received by the sensor controller; and in response, storing the input samples in a sensor controller data storage for the sensor controller. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: determining, by the sensor controller, a threshold number of input samples has not been received by the sensor controller; and in response, storing the input samples in a sensor controller data storage for the sensor controller.