Patent ID: 11954321
Assignee: SIGMASENSE, LLC.
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 6:
7. A user-interactive steering wheel system, the system comprising:
a touch sensor implemented within a steering wheel of a vehicle; and
a drive-sense circuit (DSC) operably coupled to the touch sensor, wherein, when enabled, the DSC configured to:
drive a signal via a single line coupling to the touch sensor and simultaneously sense, via the single line, change of the signal that is based on interaction of a user with the touch sensor that changes an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor; and
process the signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of the electrical characteristic of the touch sensor corresponding to the interaction of the user with the touch sensor;

wherein the DSC further comprises:
a power source circuit operably coupled to the touch sensor via the single line, wherein, when enabled, the power source circuit is configured to provide the signal that includes an analog signal via the single line coupling to the touch sensor, and wherein the analog signal includes at least one of a DC (direct current) component or an oscillating component; and
a power source change detection circuit operably coupled to the power source circuit, wherein, when enabled, the power source change detection circuit is configured to:
detect an effect on the analog signal that is based on the electrical characteristic of the touch sensor; and
generate the digital signal that is representative of the electrical characteristic of the touch sensor; and
wherein the power source circuit including a power source to source at least one of a voltage or a current to the touch sensor via the single line; and
the power source change detection circuit including:
a power source reference circuit configured to provide at least one of a voltage reference or a current reference; and
a comparator configured to compare the at least one of the voltage or the current provided to the touch sensor to the at least one of the voltage reference or the current reference to produce the analog signal.