Patent ID: 8878518
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
1. A sensor device, comprising: a sensor circuit; a terminal portion comprising a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the first, second and third terminals being power, output and ground terminals, respectively, and configured to be connected with an external device; and a sensor interface that is located between an output of the sensor circuit and the terminal portion, the sensor interface comprising a communication portion, a memory circuit, and a mode detector configured to detect a mode specified by a mode signal when an input signal received from a side of the first terminal is the mode signal, the sensor interface being configured to transmit an electric signal, corresponding to a target object's physical quantity obtained from the sensor circuit, to a side of the second terminal that is the output terminal when the mode detected with the mode detector is a sensor output mode, and to receive an input signal from the side of the first terminal while transmitting an output signal to the side of the second terminal, when the mode detected with the mode detector is a communication mode, and the communication portion being configured to store data obtained from a serial input signal in the memory circuit while transmitting a serial output signal, which is said output signal, to the external device through the output terminal, if receiving a serial input signal when the mode detected with the mode detector is the communication mode, said serial input signal being said input signal transmitted from the external device and received from a side of the power terminal.