Sensor device
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorDirk Hammerschmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor device has a sensor assembly with at least one sensor element, an additional sensor assembly having at least one additional sensor element, and a switch-in element which couples the additional sensor assembly to the sensor assembly responsive to a switch-in signal to obtain an overall sensor assembly having a reduced power demand.
Claims27
A sensor device comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor element;
- an additional sensor assembly comprising at least one additional sensor element;
- a switch-in element coupling the additional sensor assembly to the sensor assembly responsive to a switch-in signal to selectively achieve an overall sensor assembly comprising the sensor assembly and the additional sensor assembly;
- and
- a supply circuit configured to provide a first supply signal comprising a first power value to the sensor assembly and a second supply signal comprising a second power value to the overall assembly, wherein the overall sensor assembly has a reduced power demand so that the second power value is smaller than the first power value.
A sensor device for detecting a measurable quantity by an overall sensor assembly, comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising at least one resistive sensor element;
- an additional sensor assembly comprising at least one additional resistive sensor element;
- a switch-in element coupled to the additional sensor assembly, the switch-in element configured to selectively couple together the sensor assembly and the additional sensor assembly, responsive to a switch-in signal, to form the overall sensor assembly having a reduced power demand;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the switch-in element, the control circuit configured to provide the switch-in signal.
A sensor device comprising:
- sensor means comprising at least one detection means for detecting a measurable quantity;
- additional sensor means comprising at least one additional detection means;
- switch-in means coupling the additional sensor means to the sensor means responsive to a switch-in signal to selectively achieve an overall sensor assembly comprising the sensor assembly and the additional sensor assembly;
- and
- a supply means configured to provide a first supply signal comprising a first power value to the sensor means and a second supply signal comprising a second power value to the overall sensor assembly, wherein the overall sensor assembly has a reduced power demand so that the first power value is greater than the second power value.
A method for detecting a measurable quantity by a sensor device comprising a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor element and an additional sensor assembly comprising at least one additional sensor element, comprising the step of:
- switching in the additional sensor assembly, upon receipt of a switch-in signal, to the sensor assembly to selectively achieve an overall sensor assembly comprising the sensor assembly and the additional sensor;
- wherein a first supply signal comprising a first power value is provided to the sensor assembly, wherein a second supply signal comprising a second power value is provided to the overall sensor assembly, and wherein the overall sensor assembly has a reduced power demand so that the second power value is smaller than the first power value.
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium storing a program code for performing a method for detecting a measurable quantity by a sensor device comprising a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor element and an additional sensor assembly comprising at least one additional sensor element, the method comprising the step of:
- switching in the additional sensor assembly, upon receipt of a switch-in signal, to the sensor assembly to selectively achieve an overall sensor assembly comprising the sensor assembly and the additional sensor assembly, when the program runs on a processor;
- wherein a first supply signal comprising a first power value is provided to the sensor assembly, wherein a second supply signal comprising a second power value is provided to the overall sensor assembly, and wherein the overall sensor assembly has a reduced power demand so that the second power value is smaller than the first power value.
A sensor device comprising:
- a sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor element;
- an additional sensor assembly comprising at least one additional sensor element;
- a switch-in element coupling the additional sensor assembly to the sensor assembly responsive to a switch-in signal to achieve an overall sensor assembly comprising a reduced power demand;
- and
- a supply circuit providing a first supply signal comprising a first power value to the sensor assembly and providing, responsive to the switch-in signal, a second supply signal comprising a second power value to the overall assembly, the second power value being smaller than the first power value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.