# US 2017/0282816 A1 · Sensor apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282816 A1 - Document ID: US20170282816A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/464,917 - Filed: 2017-03-21 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Jtekt Corporation - Applicants: Jtekt Corporation - Inventors: Kenichi KOZUKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282816A1 ## CPC - B60R 16/0231: {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)} - B60R 21/013: including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over - B62D 5/04: electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear - G01D 3/10: with provision for switching-in of additional or auxiliary indicators or recorders - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - G08C 15/06: successively, i.e. using time division - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - 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 - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A sensor apparatus includes an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target and a CPU that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the sensor. The interface circuit has a first power supply circuit, a second power supply circuit, a receiver including a receiver circuit, and an operation determination circuit. The first power supply circuit generates an operating voltage of the sensor. The second power supply circuit generates a synchronizing signal for the digital signal. The receiver circuit receives an electric signal generated by the digital sensor. The operation determination circuit stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor apparatus comprising: an interface circuit to which one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor is connected as a sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target; and a calculation circuit that calculates the physical quantity of the detection target based on the electric signal generated by the digital sensor or the analog sensor, wherein the interface circuit has: a first power supply circuit that generates an operating voltage supplied to the digital sensor or the analog sensor; a second power supply circuit that generates a voltage allowing generation of a synchronizing signal for the digital sensor when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target; a receiver circuit that receives the electric signal generated by the digital sensor when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target; and an operation determination circuit that stops an operation at least of the second power supply circuit when the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation determination circuit also stops an operation of the receiver circuit when the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation circuit has a storage apparatus that stores type information indicating which of the digital sensor and the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target, and the operation determination circuit determines, based on the type information, which of the digital sensor and the analog sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface circuit is integrated into a single IC chip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the digital sensor is used as the sensor that generates an electric signal corresponding to a physical quantity of a detection target, Peripheral Serial Interface 5 is adopted as a communication standard for communication between the digital sensor and the interface circuit.