Method for calibrating a trigger unit and cascadable sensor therefor

A method is disclosed for calibrating a trigger unit which is connected via a trigger line to at least two sensors configured to be triggered. Each sensor is connected between two successive line portions of the trigger line. Each sensor has an input and an output, a controllable interrupter between the input and output; and a control circuit, which controls the interrupter. The interrupters of all sensors are initially open. The method comprises the following: transmitting a trigger pulse; in the sensor: receiving the trigger pulse and returning a response; in the trigger unit: receiving the response and calibrating the trigger unit; repeating the aforementioned steps, wherein each sensor reflects the trigger pulse, and the trigger unit measures the propagation times and is calibrated thereto.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 13 167 408.7, filed on May 13, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present subject matter relates to a method for calibrating a trigger unit which is connected via a trigger line to at least two sensors that can be triggered, each sensor being connected between two successive line portions of the trigger line, wherein each sensor has an input for one line portion of the trigger line and an output for the other line portion of the trigger line, a controllable interrupter between the input and output, and a control circuit connected to the input and controlling the interrupter, wherein the interrupters of all sensors are initially open. The present subject matter also relates to a sensor for such a method.

2. Background Art

A number of spatially distributed sensors are frequently used in measuring systems, for example in order to record object scenes multi-dimensionally. If a number of sensors on a trigger line are to be triggered, that is to say activated, simultaneously by a common trigger signal, the propagation time of the trigger signal over the trigger line thus changes the actual trigger point of each sensor and is to be taken into consideration with time-critical measurements, for example with propagation time measurements. Besides the line length, the propagation time over the trigger line is also dependent on temperature fluctuations and signs of aging, and therefore a highly accurate measurement of the propagation time of the trigger signal, if this only occurs once, leads to just limited accuracy however.

Spatially distributed transmitters and receivers of a radar system which are coupled to one another in order to carry out a multi-dimensional sampling procedure are known from EP 1 570 291 B1 under the term “multistatic sensor systems”. The radar transmitters and receivers are coupled in this case with the aid of a signal generator for each of the transmitters and receivers with adaptable clock signals of frequencies which deviate slightly from one another and which are transmitted via a common signal line. The signal line is formed in bus topology with branches to each sensor. Here, the sequence of the largely structurally identical sensors on the trigger or signal line must be known for correct assignment of the measured data; it is generally programmed manually for this purpose following the establishment of the system or a sensor replacement, which is complex and additionally susceptible to faults.

The document DE 097 40 306 A1 describes a method for initialization of a bus system with an additional initialization line on which bus modules are connected in a cascade. To initialize a bus master, at first each bus module disconnects the initialization line to the bus module following in the cascade; the bus master then enquires about a device identifier of the last accessible bus module in the cascade, which, after the inquiry, unblocks the initialization line to the module following in the cascade and thereby the bus master progressively determines the sequence of the bus modules on the trigger line.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An object of the present subject matter is to create a method for calibrating a trigger unit and also a sensor suitable therefor, which can be more easily handled and is less susceptible to faults than with known multisensor systems and can automatically recognise signal propagation times.

The object is achieved in a first aspect of the present subject matter with a method of the type mentioned above, said method comprising the following steps:

transmitting a trigger pulse from the trigger unit via at least one line portion to a sensor;

in the sensor: receiving the trigger pulse and, if the interrupter switch is open, returning a response to the trigger unit and closing the interrupter switch;

in the trigger unit: receiving the response and calibrating the trigger unit to the sensor on the basis of the received response;

repeating the aforementioned steps for each further sensor until the trigger unit no longer receives a response to a trigger pulse or a maximum, pre-set number of transmitted trigger pulses has been reached;

wherein each sensor reflects the trigger pulse as a response, and the trigger unit measures the propagation times of the trigger pulses transmitted and then reflected by the respective sensors and is calibrated thereto.

By connecting the sensors via their inputs and outputs in the form of a cascade between individual line portions of the trigger line in conjunction with the initially open interrupters, which only close step-by-step, in the sensors, the trigger unit can address each sensor individually in the calibration mode and can be calibrated thereto. Neither the order of the sensors on the trigger line nor the number thereof has to be known beforehand; each sensor is addressed unambiguously in that it receives a trigger pulse when the interrupter is open. By means of the reflected trigger pulse, in the calibration mode the propagation times over the trigger line are further ascertained quite easily. The cumulated lengths of the line portions can also be determined on the basis of the ascertained propagation times, which is only necessary however if the trigger unit does not take into account the propagation times directly.

In accordance with the method for calibration, the calibration to line lengths or propagation times can be combined in each step with the calibration to the order of identified sensors. To this end, it is particularly advantageous if each sensor has an unambiguous identification and modulates the reflected trigger pulse with its identification, and the trigger unit identifies the order of the sensors on the trigger line on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications and is also calibrated thereto. Such a modulation can be implemented by a passive modulator, which does not require its own energy supply or its own energy store, but merely reflects the energy of the transmitted trigger pulse. Further, there is no need in this embodiment for a separate data bus for identification of the sensors.

In an alternative embodiment, each sensor has an unambiguous identification and, following the reflected trigger pulse, also returns an identification pulse modulated with its identification, and the trigger unit identifies the order of the sensors on the trigger line on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications and is also calibrated thereto. Such an identification pulse returned actively by the sensor may also have a much greater power than a mere reflection, whereby it is possible to compensate for line losses or coupled-in interferences, in particular with large line lengths. The duration of such an identification pulse is also independent of the duration of the trigger pulse; a very short trigger pulse is sufficient, which specifically with short line lengths helps to avoid collisions between transmitted and reflected trigger pulses, wherein long identifications can still also be returned. In this case too, there is no need for a separate data bus for identification of the sensors.

In accordance with a further alternative embodiment, it is advantageous if each sensor has an unambiguous identification, and, following the reflected trigger pulse, if the identification is also returned via a data bus to the trigger unit and the trigger unit identifies the order of the sensors on the trigger line on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications and is calibrated thereto. This embodiment is particularly suitable if a data bus is provided in any case. Since the identification in this case is no longer transmitted via the trigger line, the trigger line is relieved and the entire method for calibration can be performed more quickly and more efficiently.

In a second aspect the present subject matter creates a cascadable sensor, which can be connected via an input and an output between two line portions of a trigger line and comprises:

a sensor circuit that can be triggered, a controllable interrupter between the input and output, and a control circuit connected to the input and controlling the interrupter,

wherein the control circuit is configured

in a calibration mode: to initially open the interrupter and, once a first trigger pulse has been received at the input, to output a response at the input and to close the interrupter; and

in an operating mode: to apply a trigger pulse, received at the input, to the sensor circuit;

further comprising a memory with an unambiguous identification and a modulator connected to the input, wherein the control circuit is configured to return, as a response in the calibration mode, an identification pulse modulated with the identification with the aid of the modulator.

Such a sensor can be cascaded in any order with other sensors having these features. Reference is made to the previous embodiments of the method with respect to further advantages of the sensor.

If the propagation time of a trigger pulse over the trigger line or length thereof is to be determined, the sensor thus may further comprise a reflector at the input, said reflector being switchable by the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to reflect the trigger pulse at the input as a response in the calibration mode. It is particularly favourable if the reflector is formed here by the interrupter in the open state. A further component controlled if need be by the control circuit can thus be omitted. The sensor structure is simpler, more cost effective and less susceptible to faults.

It is particularly advantageous if the sensor further comprises a memory with an unambiguous identification and a modulator connected to the input, wherein the control circuit is configured to modulate the reflected trigger pulse with the identification with the aid of the modulator. In an alternative embodiment the sensor comprises a memory with an unambiguous identification and a modulator connected to the input, wherein the control circuit is configured, following the reflected trigger pulse, to also return an identification pulse modulated with the identification with the aid of the modulator. In a further alternative embodiment the sensor comprises a memory with an unambiguous identification, wherein the control circuit is configured, following the reflected trigger pulse, to also output the identification at the data bus connection.

The triggerable sensor circuit of the sensor may, for example, be of any type as currently known. The sensor circuit may, for example, be a radar sensor circuit. Such a sensor circuit is particularly suitable for multistatic sensor systems and may contain either radar transmitters or radar receivers or both.

Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According toFIG. 1, a trigger unit1is connected via a trigger line2, composed of successive line portions2a,2b,2c, . . . , to sensors3a,3b,3c, . . . , generally3, that can be triggered. The sensors3are in each case connected between two line portions2a,2b,2c, . . . of the trigger line2and thus form a cascade formed of any number of sensors3.

Each sensor3has an input4for one line portion and an output5for the other adjacent line portion2a,2b,2c, . . . and has a controllable interrupter6between the input and output4,5as well as a control circuit7, which is connected to the input4and controls the interrupter6.

In a calibration mode according toFIGS. 1 and 2a-2c, the interrupters6of all sensors3are initially open, as illustrated inFIG. 1. The control circuit7opens the interrupters6upon request, for example a regularly repeated automatic request by the trigger unit1, for which purpose the trigger unit for example transmits a specific signal (not illustrated) via the trigger line2and the input4or an optional data bus8and a data bus connection9of the sensor3; the interrupter6can also be opened manually at the factory or during installation, and, if desired, can also be closed permanently by the control circuit7after one-time calibration.

In the event of stepwise calibration in the calibration mode, the trigger unit1according toFIGS. 2ato 2csends individual trigger pulses10a,10b,10c, . . . generally10, step-by-step via the trigger line2, more specifically initially only the first trigger pulse10avia the first line portion2aof the trigger line2, since all interrupters6are open, to the sensors3, here initially only the first sensor3aof the cascade. If, with open interrupter6, a trigger pulse10is received at the input4at a sensor3in the calibration mode, the respective sensor3thus returns a response with the aid of its control circuit7to the trigger unit1and then closes the interrupter6. The trigger unit1receives the response and can calibrate itself on the basis of the received response to the respective sensor3, as will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.

If the interrupter6of a sensor3is closed, the sensor3thus does not respond to any further trigger pulse10. For further calibration to further sensors3, the trigger unit1transmits a further trigger pulse10for each further sensor3until the trigger unit1no longer receives a response to a trigger pulse10; alternatively or additionally, a maximum number of trigger pulses10to be transmitted by the trigger unit1can be pre-set.

As a response, the sensor3in a first embodiment3aaccording to the example ofFIG. 2aeasily reflects the trigger pulse10aby means of a reflector as a reflected trigger pulse10a′ at the input4. The reflector is formed in the simplest case by the interrupter6in the open state. The control circuit7then closes the interrupter6of the sensor3a.

The trigger unit1measures the propagation time t1of the trigger pulse10a,10a′ transmitted and then reflected by the sensor3aand is calibrated thereto. The propagation time t1thus measured, which corresponds to a length l1of the trigger line2between the trigger unit1and the sensor3ain question, here the length l1of the line portion2a, can be taken into consideration subsequently in an operating mode in which the sensor3atakes measurements with the aid of its sensor circuit l1. In further steps of the calibration mode, the trigger unit1is calibrated on the basis of further propagation times t2, t3, . . . , generally tn, or further cumulated line lengths l2, l3, . . . , generally ln, to further sensors3b,3c, . . . of the cascade until the trigger unit1no longer receives a response to a trigger pulse10.

In addition to such a measurement of the propagation times tnor also alternatively, if a propagation time measurement is unnecessary or undesired, the sensors3and the order thereof on the trigger line2can be identified in the calibration mode. According to the example ofFIG. 1, each sensor3for this purpose has an unambiguous identification ID, stored for example in a memory12, and also has a modulator13.

To this end,FIG. 2bshows an example of an embodiment in which the second sensor3bof the cascade reflects a second trigger pulse10band modulates the reflected trigger pulse10b′ with its identification ID with the aid of the modulator13. This can be repeated again stepwise for all sensors3on the trigger line2. The trigger unit1thus identifies the order of the sensors3on the trigger line2on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications ID of the sensors3and can be calibrated thereto in addition to the propagation times tnor can be calibrated only thereto, alternatively to the propagation times tn.

In the example inFIGS. 1 and 2b, the modulator13is formed as a closer14with an HF driver15controlled by the control circuit7. The closer14is a reflector in this embodiment and short circuits to earth the trigger line2, which is illustrated by way of example and which has a defined wave impedance; the trigger line2may have any structure of wave lines known in the art, for example may be a coaxial trigger line2.

Here, the purpose of the closer14is to induce a deviation, controlled by the HF driver15, from the defined wave impedance of the trigger line2and to induce a reflection thereon; for this purpose, it may form a short circuit to earth for example, as illustrated inFIG. 1. In this case, the interrupter6in the open state may, for example, be terminated with the wave impedance of the trigger line2, such that there are no reflections on the interrupter6itself, which spares a separation from a reflection on the closer14itself. An interrupter6of this type is produced for example by an SPDT (single pole, double throw) changeover switch, in which a first connection is terminated with the wave impedance of the trigger line2and a second connection is connected to the output5.

If the modulator13is to form an open circuit (not illustrated), the closer14could alternatively also be formed by the interrupter6controlled by the HF driver15, and for example could be structured as an SPTT (single pole, triple throw) switch, of which the first connection forms the open circuit, of which the second connection is terminated with the wave impedance of the trigger line2, and of which the third connection is connected to the output5.

SPDT and SPTT switches can be produced here in high-frequency semiconductor circuit engineering.

The identification ID is fixedly incorporated, for example programmed, into each sensor3in the example ofFIG. 1by means of its memory12; the memory12could also alternatively be inserted into the sensor3as an exchangeable module separate from the sensor3in the manner of a SIM card.

In the example ofFIG. 2bthe identification ID is coded as a 4-bit identification with a prefixed startbit16, but could also have any other code length and coding. The reflected trigger pulse10b′, instead of being amplitude-modulated, could also be frequency-or phase-modulated and/or could have an additional stopbit.

The third sensor3cof the cascade used for a third embodiment according toFIG. 2cmay return its identification ID in the calibration mode in the form of a modulated identification pulse17as a sole response or following the reflected trigger pulse10c′. The calibration may again take place gradually in this way for all sensors3on the trigger line2. In this case too, the trigger unit1identifies the order of the sensors3on the trigger line2on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications ID of each sensor3and is calibrated thereto, either alone or additionally.

The identification pulse17can be provided for this purpose, as has been described further above with respect to the reflected trigger pulse10b′, with a startbit16and can be coded with 4-bit length, or can be composed differently and is likewise generated by the modulator13.

The modulator13is supplied with energy in this exemplary embodiment either separately, for example via an external feed (not illustrated), wherein the signal power of the identification pulse17can be adapted and therefore any line losses can also be increased for compensation; or the energy necessary to form and transmit the identification pulse is taken from the trigger pulse10citself, for which purpose the sensor3cmay have an energy store, for example a capacitor (not illustrated). If the modulator13is supplied with energy separately, the trigger pulse10cmay therefore be very short, as shown inFIG. 2c; if, by contrast, the energy for the identification pulse17is to be taken from the trigger pulse10c, this is therefore of correspondingly longer duration and/or is more powerful.

Alternatively, the control circuit7of a sensor3in accordance with a fourth embodiment (not illustrated) may also be configured, following the reflected trigger pulse10′ or instead of such a pulse, to output the identification ID for calibration of the trigger unit1at the data bus connection9and to thus return said identification via the data bus8to the trigger unit1. The trigger unit1again identifies the order of the sensors3on the trigger line2stepwise on the basis of the sequence of the incoming identifications ID of each sensor3.

Of course, all sensors3of the cascade may be designed in the same form, and the trigger unit1can thus calibrate itself to all sensors3similarly; alternatively, sensors3of different embodiments3a-3caccording toFIG. 1can be combined in a single cascade, and the trigger unit1can be calibrated in accordance with the variants shown inFIGS. 2a-2cor the variant of the identification of the sensors3via the data bus8.

In the operating mode, which can generally be activated after the calibration, the sensor circuit11of each sensor3is triggered as necessary by the trigger unit1via the trigger line2, and a measuring procedure of the sensor3or sensor circuit11thereof is thus activated. The control circuit7and the sensor circuit11can receive possible adjustment values here via the database8and the database connection9and/or the sensor circuit11can output ascertained measured values in the same way.

The sensor circuit11of the example ofFIG. 1comprises a radar transmitter and/or receiver11′, however the sensors3and the method are not limited to radar sensors, but can also be applied similarly with other sensor technologies.

Here, the sensor circuit11can be permanently connected to the input4and thus receive the trigger pulse10transmitted in the operating mode from the trigger unit1via the trigger line2. By contrast, in the example ofFIG. 1, the control circuit7is configured, in the operating mode, to apply the trigger pulse10received at the input4to the sensor circuit11with the aid of a controlled trigger switch18, if a measuring procedure of the sensor circuit11of the sensor3is to be triggered. The interrupters6of the sensors3connected in cascade are generally closed here in order to keep all sensors of the cascade ready for operation in the operating mode.

CONCLUSION

The invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, but comprises all variants, modifications and combinations of the presented measures which fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.