Sensor bus architecture for modular sensor systems

A sensor bus head, comprising:

• processing and control circuitry;
• and
• a sensor select (SS) Out pin, wherein
• the SS Out pin of the sensor bus head is connected to an SS Out line, the SS Out pin configured to be connected to an SS In pin of a first sensor module, and
• the processing and control circuitry is configured to:
• set the SS Out pin of the sensor bus head to high to wake up the first sensor module;
• query the first sensor module to get sensor data;
• pass calibration information to the first sensor module;
• and
• when the sensor bus head is done with the first sensor module, instruct the first sensor module to wake up a next sensor module in a modular stack.

A sensor module, comprising:

• a microcontroller;
• and
• a sensor select (SS) Out pin and an SS In pin, wherein
• the sensor module is interconnectable with a sensor bus head and other sensor modules via a sensor bus, the sensor bus comprising sensor select (SS) lines, and
• the SS Out pin of the sensor module is configured to be connected to an SS In pin of a next sensor module in a modular stack.