Device for transmitting and receiving a sensor signal

A transmission device for transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, comprising:

• an input interface for inputting the sensor signal;
• a signal generator for generating a comparison signal;
• a data processing unit to combine the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form a modified sensor signal;
• and
• an output interface which can be coupled to a signal path to output the modified sensor signal;
• wherein the comparison signal changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values, so as to permit a receiver to detect an erroneous sensor signal or an erroneous transmission using the transmitted comparison signal.

A receiving device for receiving a modified sensor signal from a transmission device, comprising:

• an input interface which is couple-able to the signal path to receive the modified sensor signal;
• a detection unit for detecting a comparison signal;
• an evaluation unit for evaluating the comparison signal, wherein the evaluation unit has access to information about a valid comparison signal to ascertain an invalidity of the comparison signal based on a comparison of the information about the recorded comparison signal;
• and
• an error detector to detect an error if the comparison signal is invalid;
• wherein the transmission device is for transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, and the transmission device includes:
• an input interface for inputting the sensor signal;
• a signal generator for generating the comparison signal;
• a data processing unit to combine the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form the modified sensor signal;
• and
• an output interface which is couple-able to a signal path to output the modified sensor signal, wherein the comparison signal changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values, so as to permit a receiver to detect an erroneous sensor signal or an erroneous transmission using the transmitted comparison signal.

A system, comprising:

• a transmission device for transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, including:
• an input interface for inputting the sensor signal;
• a signal generator for generating a comparison signal;
• a data processing unit to combine the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form a modified sensor signal;
• and
• an output interface which can be coupled to a signal path to output the modified sensor signal, wherein the comparison signal changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values, so as to permit a receiver to detect an erroneous sensor signal or an erroneous transmission using the transmitted comparison signal;
• a receiving device for receiving a modified sensor signal from a transmission device, including:
• an input interface which is couple-able to the signal path to receive the modified sensor signal;
• a detection unit for detecting the comparison signal;
• an evaluation unit for evaluating the comparison signal, wherein the evaluation unit has access to information about a valid comparison signal to ascertain an invalidity of the comparison signal based on a comparison of the information about the recorded comparison signal;
• and
• an error detector to detect an error if the comparison signal is invalid;
• and
• a signal path connecting the transmission device to the receiving device.

A vehicle, comprising:

• an actuator;
• a sensor for recording a position of the actuator;
• and a system, wherein the sensor is configured to record a position of the actuator as a sensor signal, and the system is configured to transmit the sensor signal securely to an electronic control unit;
• wherein the system includes:
• a transmission device for transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, including:
• an input interface for inputting the sensor signal;
• a signal generator for generating a comparison signal;
• a data processing unit to combine the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form a modified sensor signal;
• and
• an output interface which can be coupled to a signal path to output the modified sensor signal, wherein the comparison signal changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values, so as to permit a receiver to detect an erroneous sensor signal or an erroneous transmission using the transmitted comparison signal;
• a receiving device for receiving a modified sensor signal from a transmission device, including:
• an input interface which is couple-able to the signal path to receive the modified sensor signal;
• a detection unit for detecting the comparison signal;
• an evaluation unit for evaluating the comparison signal, wherein the evaluation unit has access to information about a valid comparison signal to ascertain an invalidity of the comparison signal based on a comparison of the information about the recorded comparison signal;
• and
• an error detector to detect an error if the comparison signal is invalid;
• and
• a signal path connecting the transmission device to the receiving device.

A method for securely transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, the method comprising:

• generating a comparison signal which changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values;
• combining the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form a modified sensor signal;
• transmitting the modified sensor signal over a signal path;
• receiving the modified sensor signal by a receiver;
• extracting the comparison signal from the modified sensor signal;
• comparing the extracted comparison signal with information about a valid comparison signal to ascertain an invalidity of the recorded comparison signal based on a comparison of the information about the extracted comparison signal;
• and
• ascertaining an error in the transmission of the sensor signal if the recorded comparison signal is invalid.

A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

• a program code arrangement having program code for securely transmitting a sensor signal relating to a physical variable, the by performing the following:
• generating a comparison signal which changes over time in a predetermined manner over a range of values;
• combining the sensor signal and the comparison signal to form a modified sensor signal;
• transmitting the modified sensor signal over a signal path;
• receiving the modified sensor signal by a receiver;
• extracting the comparison signal from the modified sensor signal;
• comparing the extracted comparison signal with information about a valid comparison signal to ascertain an invalidity of the recorded comparison signal based on a comparison of the information about the extracted comparison signal;
• and
• ascertaining an error in the transmission of the sensor signal if the recorded comparison signal is invalid.