Use of a configurable electronic controller for capacitance measurements and cable break detection

A method for measurement of capacitance values, comprising:

• a) providing a configurable input-cell, said input-cell comprising of a comparator having a first input and a second input, said capacitance connected between said first input and a ground;
• a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series between a first voltage reference source and said first input, a first switch connected to said first resistor, said second resistor and the ground;
• a third resistor and a fourth resistor connected in series between a second voltage reference source, a second switch and a waveform input line, said third resistor and fourth resistor connected to said second input;
• b) defining a first measurement configuration and a second measurement configuration of said input-cell by provision of a first control signal to said first switch and a second control signal to said second switch;
• c) providing a system clock to synchronize at least said waveform input and said first control signal and said second control signal;
• d) initiating, by said first control signal at least one charge and discharge cycle of said capacitance;
• and
• e) measuring at least one of high capacitance values and low capacitance values by said first measurement configuration and said second measurement configuration;
• wherein the output signal of said comparator is measured by a cumulative count of said system clock and is indicative of a value of said capacitance.

A configurable controller comprising:

• a system clock;
• at synchronization control module;
• a plurality of configurable signal acquisition modules connected with said synchronization control module;
• a control logic connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules;
• a plurality of input-cells respectively connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules and with a respective plurality of input pins;
• and
• a synchronization signal generator connected with said synchronization control module and with said plurality of input-cells, wherein each one of said plurality of input-cells is operable to convert input signal parameters to time-based parameters;
• and wherein each of said signal acquisition modules is configured to convert said time-based parameters to a digital form, the input-cell comprising:
• at least one of a sensor output signal and a capacitance connected to one of said input pins;
• a comparator having a first input and a second input, said first input connected to the input pin that is connected to the capacitance, and an output signal connected to one of the plurality of signal acquisition modules;
• a first transistor switch;
• a second transistor switch;
• and
• resistor networks respectively connected to said first input, to the input pin that is connected to the capacitance, to said second input, and to said first and second transistor switches;
• wherein said first transistor switch can be configured by said signal acquisition module to form one of a pull-up and a pull-down for a sensor output signal received from the input pin;
• and
• wherein said first transistor switch can be configured by said signal acquisition module to initiate at least one charge and discharge cycle of said capacitance;
• and
• wherein said second transistor switch can be configured by said signal acquisition module to connect said second input to one of a second voltage reference source and an input waveform from said synchronization signal generator;
• and
• wherein the generated output signal of said comparator is indicative of at least one of said sensor output signal and a value of said capacitance.

A method of acquiring a plurality of signals and measuring capacitance comprising the steps of providing:

• a system clock;
• a synchronization control module, configuring a plurality of configurable signal acquisition modules connected with said synchronization control module;
• a control logic connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules, providing a plurality of input-cells respectively connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules;
• and
• a synchronization signal generator connected with said plurality of input-cells, acquiring input signals from sensors and charged capacitance, said input signals acquired by one of said plurality of input-cells, converting said acquired input signals into a plurality of time-based parameters, converting said plurality of time-based parameters into a digital form, wherein said converting of said acquired input signals into a plurality of time-based parameters is controlled by a first transistor switch and a second transistor switch comprised in said input-cells and wherein said signal acquisition module connected to one of said input-cells is configured to control said first and second transistor switches of the one of said input-cells according to at least one of a type of parameters characterizing an input signal at the input-cell and a value of a measured capacitance, acquired by the input-cells.