Patent Description:
As is known, there is a widespread use, for example both in the field of consumer electronics and in the industrial and automotive sectors, of electronic apparatuses that incorporate a plurality of sensors each configured to detect one or more respective physical quantities useful for operation of the respective electronic apparatus.

For instance, the sensors may be accelerometers, gyroscopes, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, electrical-resistance sensors, mechanical-stress sensors, and strain gauges.

It is also known to make such sensors with MEMS technology, which enables to obtain sensors having small dimensions, low energy consumption, and high detection accuracy.

MEMS sensors convert a physical quantity into a respective electrical signal, of an analog type, whose evolution in time is a function of the evolution in time of the detected physical quantity. Further, MEMS sensors are each configured to convert the respective analog signal into a corresponding (digital) discretized signal having a respective output sample rate, and supply the respective discretized signal to a control unit of the electronic apparatus.

The control unit of the electronic apparatus is configured to process the discretized signals received from the plurality of sensors.

It is desirable to ensure that the sensors send, to the electronic apparatus, in a mutually synchronized way, the respective discretized signal. Different approaches are adopted for this purpose.

In one approach, the analog signals generated by the sensors are first stored in a sample-and-hold circuit and then discretized by a single analog-to-digital converter.

In another approach, the sensors each comprise a respective analog-to-digital converter, the discretization function of which is controlled in parallel by a single trigger signal.

However, both of these approaches involve incorporating additional devices in the electronic apparatus and thus involve a high cost and a high energy consumption of the electronic apparatus. In addition, these approaches are not suited to applications where it is desirable to have a high output-data rate from the sensors.

In another approach, the control unit of the electronic apparatus is configured to receive specific information of configuration from the sensors, from which the control unit determines a series of synchronization instructions to be sent to the sensors. However, this approach requires high calculation resources by the control unit of the electronic apparatus, with consequent high energy consumption. Further, this approach also requires the use of a dedicated communication interface between the sensors and the control unit, with consequent reduction in versatility and simplicity of implementation of the electronic apparatus.

Moreover, documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> describe examples of systems and methods for synchronizing data provided by a plurality of sensors.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the present invention, a sensor coupleable to a plurality of sensors in an electronic apparatus and a method for synchronizing samples provided by a plurality of sensors are provided, as defined in the annexed claims.

For a better understanding of the present invention, some embodiments thereof are now described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:.

Hereinafter, if not otherwise specified, reference is made to the frequency of a discretized (digital) signal to indicate the sample frequency thereof, i.e. the data rate at which the samples of the discretized signal are supplied at output from the respective block that has generated it.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of an electronic system or apparatus <NUM>, for example a smartphone, a wearable device, a device for augmented or virtual reality, an apparatus for monitoring one or more physical quantities, for example for monitoring vibrations, etc..

The electronic apparatus <NUM> comprises a plurality of sensors <NUM>, a control unit <NUM> and an interface <NUM>, which operatively mutually couples together the plurality of sensors <NUM> and the control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> comprises a memory <NUM> and a processing unit (not illustrated herein) and is configured to send instructions to the sensors <NUM>, for example configuration instructions, and to receive measurement data or samples from the sensors <NUM> through the interface <NUM>, which is, for example, a bus of a known type for transfer of electrical signals.

The electronic apparatus <NUM> further comprises input and output peripherals <NUM>, for example a screen, in particular of a touchscreen type, one or more keys, etc., and a power-supply unit <NUM>, for example a battery. The input and output peripherals <NUM> and the power-supply unit <NUM> are coupled to the control unit <NUM>. The power-supply unit <NUM> may be configured also to supply a supply voltage to the sensors <NUM>, through the interface <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> here comprises a first sensor 5A, a second sensor 5B, and a third sensor 5C, which are each configured to detect one or more respective physical quantities associated to operation of the electronic apparatus <NUM>.

For instance, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C may each be, for example, one of an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a mechanical-stress sensor, an electrical-resistance sensor, a gyroscope, etc..

In particular, in this embodiment, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C are sensors of a MEMS type.

Further, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C are configured to supply each to the control unit <NUM>, through the interface <NUM>, a respective output signal SO, of a digital type, which is a function of the one or more respective detected physical quantities and has an output frequency fou. In particular, the samples that form the output signals SO of the sensors <NUM> are supplied to and stored in the memory <NUM>.

As described in detail hereinafter, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C are configured to supply to the control unit <NUM> the samples of the respective output signals SO in a mutually synchronized way, i.e. so as to have the same output frequency fou and the same phase (i.e., so as to be temporally aligned).

In detail, in this embodiment, the first sensor 5A, illustrated in <FIG>, is configured to operate as reference (or master) sensor, whereas the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C (<FIG>) are configured to operate each as a slave sensor.

As described in detail hereinafter, here, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C have a general structure similar to one another, apart from the differences discussed below; consequently, elements in common are designated by the same reference numbers. In particular, the second and third sensors 5B, 5C here have a similar general structure except for the sensitive parts, which are each optimized for detecting the one or more specific physical quantities. Consequently, by way of example, <FIG> indiscriminately represents any of the second sensor 5B or the third sensor 5C.

As may be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C each comprise a detection unit <NUM>, a signal-conditioning stage <NUM>, and a clock <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM> is the sensitive part of the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C; i.e., the detection unit <NUM> is configured to detect a respective physical quantity associated to an operation of the electronic apparatus <NUM> and generate one or more electrical signals, here an analog signal SA, as a function of said physical quantity.

In detail, in this embodiment, the detection unit <NUM> comprises a sensing element <NUM> and a mechanical oscillator <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM>, in particular the sensing element <NUM> and/or the mechanical oscillator <NUM>, of the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C are designed on the basis of the specific physical quantity to be detected and the specific application; they may thus be different in each of the sensors <NUM>. In particular, the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C may be the same as one another apart from differences in the respective sensing element <NUM> and/or in the respective mechanical oscillator <NUM>.

The mechanical oscillator <NUM> comprises a structure that is mobile and/or deformable, for example in an elastic way, such as a cantilever, a membrane, or a structure having any other shape, with a resonance frequency fr.

In use, the mechanical oscillator <NUM> is actuated, for example according to an electrostatic, piezoelectric, or electromagnetic actuation principle, so that the respective mobile and/or deformable structure oscillates at an operating frequency fo. In general, the operating frequency fo is a function of the resonance frequency fr, for example it is equal to the resonance frequency fr.

The mechanical oscillator <NUM> is configured in such a way that the physical quantity to be detected modifies the movement of the mobile and/or deformable structure of the mechanical oscillator <NUM>, for example modifying phase, amplitude and/or frequency thereof.

The sensing element <NUM> is configured to detect the movement of the mobile and/or deformable structure of the mechanical oscillator <NUM>, for example according to an electrostatic, piezoresistive, piezoelectric or electromagnetic detection principle, and convert it into the analog signal SA. The trend over time of the analog signal SA is thus indicative of the variations of movement of the mobile and/or deformable structure of the mechanical oscillator <NUM>, these variations of movement being caused by the variations in time of the physical quantity to be detected.

The clock <NUM> is configured to supply a periodic signal, hereinafter clock signal CLK, in particular a square-wave signal, having a clock frequency fclk, for example of the order of a few megahertz. For instance, the clock <NUM> may be formed by any type of known electronic oscillator, such as a voltage-controlled oscillator.

The signal-conditioning stage <NUM> receives the clock signal CLK and the analog signal SA and generates the output signal SO. The output signal SO is obtained from the discretization of the analog signal SA, as discussed hereinafter.

In detail, the signal-conditioning stage <NUM> comprises an analog conditioning circuit (or Analog Front-End, AFE) <NUM>, an analog-to-digital converter <NUM>, a filter <NUM>, and an output-data-rate (ODR) modification block <NUM>, hereinafter also designated as ODR modification block <NUM>.

The analog conditioning circuit <NUM> comprises, for example, one or more operational amplifiers and is configured, for example, to filter, amplify or demodulate the analog signal SA, providing a conditioned analog signal S'A.

The analog-to-digital converter <NUM> is configured to receive the conditioned analog signal S'A and supply a sampled signal Ss. The sampled signal Ss is obtained by discretizing the conditioned analog signal S'A at a sample frequency fs.

The sample frequency fs is chosen at the design stage on the basis of the requirements of the specific application. For instance, the sample frequency fs is such as to satisfy the Nyquist sampling theorem, i.e. greater than twice the operating frequency fo of the mechanical oscillator <NUM> of the detection unit <NUM>.

The sampled signal Ss at output from the analog-to-digital converter <NUM> thus has a sample frequency that is equal to the sample frequency fs.

The filter <NUM> comprises one or more filters of a low-pass or band-pass type, has one or more respective cut-off frequencies, and is configured to receive the sampled signal Ss and supply a digital signal SD. The digital signal SD is thus obtained by filtering the sampled signal Ss, for example to remove undesired spectral components thereof introduced by the analog-to-digital converter <NUM>, the analog conditioning circuit <NUM>, and/or the detection unit <NUM>.

According to the specific application and design requirements, for example in order to meet a die area occupation requirement, the filter <NUM> may be configured also to reduce the frequency of the sampled signal Ss, for example by an integer reduction factor, for example comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Thus, the digital signal SD has a conditioned sample frequency f's, which, here, is lower than the sample frequency fs. In other applications, the conditioned sample frequency f's is equal to the sample frequency fs.

In this embodiment, the signal-conditioning stage <NUM> of the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C also receives a respective set of configuration signals CONF comprising a frequency-selection signal F_C and an output-trigger signal OUT_TRG. Each signal-conditioning stage <NUM> further generates, as explained below, a respective reference signal EXT_REF, INT_REF.

In detail, the ODR modification block <NUM> is configured to receive the digital signal SD and the set of configuration signals CONF and supply the output signal So and the reference signal EXT_REF, INT_REF.

The output signal SO is obtained from the digital signal SD by modifying the sample frequency thereof.

Here, the reference signal is indicated as external reference signal EXT_REF for the first sensor 5A (<FIG>) and as internal reference signal INT_REF for the second sensor 5B (<FIG>) and for the third sensor 5C.

The external reference signal EXT_REF is a periodic signal, in particular a square-wave signal, which has, in this embodiment, a frequency equal to the output sample rate fou of the output signal So of the first sensor 5A.

However, in general, the frequency of the reference signal EXT_REF may be a submultiple of the output sample rate fou of the output signal So of the first sensor 5A.

In detail, the first sensor 5A is coupled to the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C and, in use, generates the external reference signal EXT_REF and supplies the external reference signal EXT_REF to the second sensor 5B and to the third sensor 5C.

The internal reference signal INT_REF of the second sensor 5B and the internal reference signal INT_REF of the third sensor 5C are each a periodic signal, in particular a square-wave signal, having a frequency equal to the output sample rate fou of the respective output signal SO.

As described in detail hereinafter, the second sensor 5B and the third sensor 5C each receive the external reference signal EXT_REF and generate a sample of the respective output signal SO in response to the comparison between the external reference signal EXT_REF and the respective internal reference signal INT_REF.

As illustrated in detail in <FIG>, the ODR modification block <NUM> of the first, the second and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C comprises an interpolator <NUM>, a decimator <NUM> and a reference block <NUM>.

The interpolator <NUM> comprises an interpolation filter <NUM>, is configured to receive at input the digital signal SD, which has the conditioned sample frequency f's, and is configured to supply at output an interpolated digital signal SD,int having an interpolation frequency fint higher than the conditioned sample frequency f's. In particular, here, the interpolation frequency fint is obtained by incrementing the conditioned sample frequency f's by an interpolation factor I<NUM>, according to the formula fint = f's·I<NUM>.

The interpolator <NUM>, in particular the respective interpolation filter <NUM>, may be obtained in a known way, using, for example, a linear or non-linear phase interpolation circuit, in particular of a CIC (Cascaded Integrator-Comb) type, a spline type, a lagrangian type, or a hermitian type.

The decimator <NUM> is configured to receive the interpolated digital signal SD,int and the set of configuration signals CONF and supply the output signal So in response to reception of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG.

In detail, as illustrated in <FIG>, the decimator <NUM> comprises a filtering stage <NUM>, a downsampler <NUM>, and a gain block <NUM>, cascaded to one another.

The filtering stage <NUM> is a low-pass filter, for example an infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filter or a finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter, such as a CIC circuit, and is configured to receive the frequency-selection signal F_C and the interpolated digital signal SD,int and supply a filtered signal F.

The filtering stage <NUM> has a transfer function having a cut-off frequency fc, which is chosen on the basis of the output frequency fou, in particular on the basis of the frequency-selection signal F_C.

For instance, the cut-off frequency fc is chosen in such a way that the ratio between the frequency of the output signal SO and the cut-off frequency fc complies with the Nyquist sampling theorem. Moreover, the cut-off frequency fc is chosen so as to suppress the high-frequency spectral images introduced by the interpolator <NUM>.

The transfer function of the filtering stage <NUM>, in particular the cut-off frequency fc, may be modified, in use, in a known way. For instance, in the case where the filtering stage <NUM> is formed by a CIC filter of order N, the corresponding coefficients that determine the transfer function thereof may be determined, in a known way, from the ratio between the frequency of the output signal So and the frequency of the interpolated digital signal SD,int. In the case where the filtering stage <NUM> is formed by an IIR filter, the corresponding coefficients that determine the transfer function thereof may be chosen from a specific look-up table, for example stored in the memory <NUM>.

The downsampler <NUM> is configured to receive the filtered signal F and the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG and supply a downsampled signal DS.

In detail, the downsampler <NUM> is configured, in response to the reception of a first sample Fi(t<NUM>) of the filtered signal F at a first instant t<NUM>, to store the first sample Fi(t<NUM>) and, in response to the reception of a second sample Fi(t<NUM>) of the filtered signal F at a second instant t<NUM> subsequent to the first instant t<NUM>, to overwrite the first sample Fi(t<NUM>) with the second sample Fi(t<NUM>).

The downsampler <NUM> is configured, in response to the detection of an event, in particular a switching edge, of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG, for example a rising edge or a falling edge, to supply at output the sample Fi of the filtered signal F currently stored. For instance, if the downsampler <NUM> does not detect any event of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG between the first instant t<NUM> and the second instant t<NUM>, and detects an event of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG subsequent to the second instant t<NUM>, then the downsampler <NUM> supplies at output the second sample Fi(t<NUM>) of the filtered signal F. The set of the samples Fi supplied at output constitutes the downsampled signal DS.

In other words, the downsampler <NUM> is configured to cause the sample frequency of the downsampled signal DS to be lower than, or at the most equal to, that of the filtered signal F.

The gain block <NUM> is configured to receive the downsampled signal DS and the frequency-selection signal F_C and supply the output signal So.

In detail, the gain block <NUM> is configured to amplify or attenuate, by a gain factor G, the value of the samples Fi of the downsampled signal DS corresponding to a d. component (i.e., the component at zero frequency) of the downsampled signal DS. For instance, the component at zero frequency of the downsampled signal DS is identified by performing a Fourier transform of the downsampled signal DS. The gain factor G is chosen as a function of the frequency-selection signal F_C and as a function of the type of filter used in the filtering stage <NUM>.

In particular, if the filtering stage <NUM> is obtained using an IIR filter, then the gain factor G may be chosen from a specific table, stored in the memory <NUM>. If the filtering stage <NUM> is obtained using a CIC filter, then the gain factor G may be calculated as <NUM>/D<NUM>N, wherein N is the order of the CIC filter of the filtering stage <NUM> and D<NUM> is a value indicative of the ratio between the frequency of the output signal SO and that of the interpolated digital signal SD,int.

In practice, in use, supplying a sample of the respective digital signal SD by the ODR modification block <NUM> of the reference sensor 5A and of the slave sensors 5B, 5C comprises upsampling the respective digital signal SD, thereby generating an interpolated signal SD,int and downsampling the interpolated signal SD,int, thereby generating the respective output signal So.

Furthermore, downsampling the interpolated signal SD,int comprises filtering the interpolated signal by a low-pass filter (filtering stage <NUM>), which has a cut-off frequency fc, thus obtaining the filtered signal F; downsampling the filtered signal F in response to the reception, by the reference sensor 5A and the slave sensor 5B, 5C, of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG, thus obtaining a downsampled signal DS, which has a d. component; and modifying the d. component of the downsampled signal DS through amplification or attenuation of the d. component, using the gain value G.

The reference block <NUM> (<FIG>) is configured to receive the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG and supply the respective reference signal (i.e., the external reference signal EXT_REF in the case of the first sensor 5A and the internal reference signal INT_REF in the case of the second and third sensors 5B, 5C), in response to the reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG.

In detail, the reference block <NUM> is configured, in response to the reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG, in particular in response to the detection of a switching event or switching edge of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG, for example a rising edge or a falling edge thereof, to generate a switching edge of the respective reference signal, for example a rising edge or a falling edge thereof. In other words, the switching edge of the external reference signal EXT_REF of the first sensor 5A is temporally aligned with the sample of the output signal So of the first sensor 5A supplied in response to reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG.

Likewise, the switching edge of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the second sensor 5B is temporally aligned with the sample of the output signal So of the second sensor 5B supplied in response to the reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG. In addition, the switching edge of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the third sensor 5C is temporally aligned with the sample of the output signal SO of the third sensor 5C supplied in response to the reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG.

Again with reference to <FIG>, the first sensor 5A further comprises a configuration block <NUM>, which is configured to receive the respective clock signal CLK and a user signal SU, and generate the respective set of configuration signals CONF.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the user signal Su is sent by the control unit <NUM> to the first sensor 5A via the interface <NUM> and is indicative of the desired output-data rate ODRE from the plurality of sensors <NUM>.

For instance, in use, a user of the electronic apparatus <NUM> may indicate the desired output-data rate ODRE via the peripheral units <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the user signal Su indicates a setting value Ns equal to a number of cycles, for example a number of rising or falling edges, of the clock signal CLK of the first sensor 5A. The configuration block <NUM> (<FIG>) of the first sensor 5A is configured to count the cycles of the respective clock signal CLK and generate, every number of cycles of the respective clock signal CLK equal to the setting value Ns, the respective set of configuration signals CONF. In particular, the frequency-selection signal F_C of the first sensor 5A is indicative of the setting value Ns.

With reference to <FIG>, the configuration block of the second and third sensors 5B, 5C, designated by <NUM>, is configured to receive the clock signal CLK from the respective clock <NUM>, the internal reference signal INT_REF from the respective reference block <NUM>, and the external reference signal EXT_REF from the first sensor 5A and generate the respective set of configuration signals CONF.

The configuration block <NUM> of the second sensor 5B and the configuration block <NUM> of the third sensor 5C each comprise a respective measurement block <NUM> and a respective correction block <NUM>.

The measurement block <NUM> of the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C is configured to receive the respective clock signal CLK, the respective internal reference signal INT_REF, and the external reference signal EXT_REF; and generate a respective set of correction signals CORR comprising a phase-correction signal PH_C and the frequency-selection signal F_C.

As illustrated in detail in <FIG>, the measurement block <NUM> comprises a counter <NUM>, a first register 105A, a second register 105B, a third register 105C, a first subtraction device 110A and a second subtraction device 110B.

The counter <NUM> is a free-running counter configured to receive the clock signal CLK, to store a count number, and to supply a clock-count signal N_CLK indicative of the count number. The counter <NUM> increments the count number by one unit at each cycle of the clock signal CLK (for example, at each rising edge or falling edge). In other words, the count number has an increasing monotonic value equal to the number of cycles of the clock signal CLK counted from a last reset of the counter <NUM>, for example upon a restart of the electronic apparatus <NUM>.

The first register 105A is configured to receive and store the clock-count signal N_CLK, receive the internal reference signal INT_REF, and supply an internal phase signal N_INT, in response to the detection of a switching edge, for example a rising edge or a falling edge, of the internal reference signal INT_REF. The internal phase signal N_INT is equal to the value of the clock-count signal N_CLK stored in the first register 105A upon detection of the switching edge of the internal reference signal INT_REF.

The second register 105B is configured to receive and store the clock-count signal N_CLK, receive the external reference signal EXT_REF, and supply a first external count signal N1_EXT in response to the detection of a switching edge, for example a rising edge or a falling edge, of the external reference signal EXT_REF. The first external count signal N1_EXT is equal to the value of the clock-count signal N_CLK stored in the second register 105B upon detection of the switching edge of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

The first subtraction element 110A is configured to receive the internal phase signal N_INT and the first external count signal N1_EXT and supply the phase-correction signal PH_C. The phase-correction signal PH_C is given by the difference between the internal phase signal N_INT and the first external count signal N1_EXT and corresponds to a number of phase-shift cycles Nd of the clock signal CLK. As may be seen in <FIG>, the phase-correction signal PH_C is indicative of the phase difference ΔΦ between the internal phase signal N_INT and the first external count signal N1_EXT.

In other words, the phase-correction signal PH_C generated by the measurement block <NUM> of the second sensor 5B is indicative of the temporal offset (phase shift), expressed as number of cycles of the clock signal CLK of the second sensor 5B, between the internal reference signal INT_REF of the second sensor 5B and the external reference signal EXT_REF; in particular, between a rising edge of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the second sensor 5B and a rising edge of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

Likewise, the phase-correction signal PH_C generated by the measurement block <NUM> of the third sensor 5C is indicative of the phase shift, expressed as number of cycles of the clock signal CLK of the third sensor 5C, between the internal reference signal INT_REF of the third sensor 5C and the external reference signal EXT_REF; in particular, between a rising edge of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the third sensor 5C and a rising edge of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

Again with reference to <FIG>, the third register 105C is configured to receive and store the first external count signal N1_EXT, receive the external reference signal EXT_REF, and supply a second external count signal N2_EXT, in response to the detection of a switching edge, for example a rising edge or a falling edge, of the external reference signal EXT_REF. The second external count signal N2_EXT is equal to the value of the first external count signal N1_EXT stored in the third register 105C upon detection of the switching edge of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

The second subtraction element 110B is configured to receive the first external count signal N1_EXT and the second external count signal N2_EXT and supply the frequency-selection signal F_C. The frequency-selection signal F_C is given by the difference between the first external count signal N1_EXT and the second external count signal N2_EXT and corresponds to a number of frequency cycles Nf of the clock signal CLK. As may be seen in <FIG>, the frequency-selection signal F_C is indicative of the time difference Δt between two successive switching edges, in particular two successive rising edges, of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

In practice, the frequency-selection signals F_C generated by the measurement blocks <NUM> of the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C are indicative of the frequency, expressed as number of cycles of the clock signal CLK of the second sensor 5B, respectively the third sensor 5C, of the external reference signal EXT_REF, i.e., of the output frequency fou of the output signal So of the first sensor 5A, and thus of the desired output-data rate ODRE from the plurality of sensors <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a possible implementation of the correction block <NUM> of the second sensor 5B and of the third sensor 5C.

In detail, the correction block <NUM> of <FIG> comprises a decimation counter <NUM> and a comparator <NUM>, cascaded to the decimation counter <NUM>.

The decimation counter <NUM> is configured to receive, from the respective measurement block <NUM> (<FIG>), the phase-correction signal PH_C; receive, from the respective clock <NUM>, the clock signal CLK; store a respective decimation count number k; and supply a respective comparison signal C indicative of the decimation count number k.

The comparator <NUM> is configured to receive the comparison signal C and the frequency-selection signal F_C and generate the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG upon the occurrence of a trigger condition.

In this embodiment, the comparator <NUM> is also configured to supply, upon the occurrence of the trigger condition, a reset signal RST to the decimation counter <NUM>.

Operation of the correction block <NUM> of <FIG> is represented in the flowchart <NUM> of <FIG>.

In detail, in an initial step <NUM>, for example upon start-up of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, the decimation counter <NUM> resets to zero the value of the decimation count number k. Next, at each cycle of the clock signal CLK, for example at each rising edge or falling edge of the clock signal CLK, the counter <NUM> verifies whether (step <NUM>) the phase-correction signal PH_C, i.e. the number of phase-shift cycles Nd, is different from zero. If not (output N from step <NUM>), the decimation counter <NUM> updates the decimation count number k, incrementing it by one unit (step <NUM>). If yes (output Y from step <NUM>), the decimation counter <NUM> updates the decimation count number k, incrementing it by one unit and by the value indicated by the phase-correction signal PH_C (step <NUM>); i.e. k = k + <NUM> + Nd.

The comparator <NUM> then verifies the trigger condition (step <NUM>), by comparing the value indicated by the comparison signal C (i.e. the decimation count number k) with the value indicated by the frequency-selection signal F_C. In particular, the trigger condition comprises verifying whether the decimation count number k is greater than or equal to the number of frequency cycles Nf indicated by the frequency-selection signal F_C.

If not (output N from step <NUM>), the correction block <NUM> repeats step <NUM>.

If yes (output Y from step <NUM>), the comparator <NUM> generates the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG (step <NUM>) and the reset signal RST (step <NUM>).

In response to the reception of the reset signal RST, the decimation counter <NUM> resets the decimation count number k. In this embodiment, the decimation counter <NUM> resets the decimation count number k to a value equal to the result of a modulo operation between the decimation count number k and the number of frequency cycles Nf; i.e. k = mod(k, Nf).

The correction block <NUM> then returns to step <NUM>.

In practice, in use, and with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the user signal SU sent by a user of the electronic apparatus <NUM> to the first sensor 5A sets a desired output-data rate ODRE from the first sensor 5A, i.e. the desired output frequency fou of the respective output signal So.

In particular, the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG of the first sensor 5A is generated by the respective configuration block <NUM> so as to trigger the decimator <NUM> (<FIG>) to supply the samples of the output signal SO at the output frequency fou.

The reference block <NUM> of the first sensor 5A generates, in response to the reception of the output-trigger signal OUT_TRG, the external reference signal EXT_REF, so that the rising (or falling) edges thereof are generated with the same phase and frequency as the samples of the output signal SO of the first sensor 5A.

The external reference signal EXT_REF, supplied by the first sensor 5A to the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C, is thus used by the latter for setting the frequency of the samples of the respective output signals So, as discussed in detail with reference to <FIG>.

Further, the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C in turn each generate, by the respective reference block <NUM>, the respective internal reference signal INT_REF, in response to the reception of the respective output-trigger signal OUT_TRG. The rising (or falling) edges of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the second sensor 5B are generated with the same phase and frequency as the samples of the output signal SO of the second sensor 5B. Likewise, the rising (or falling) edges of the internal reference signal INT_REF of the third sensor 5C are generated with the same phase and frequency as the samples of the output signal SO of the third sensor 5C.

Accordingly, since the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C each compare the external reference signal EXT_REF with the respective internal reference signal INT_REF, as described in detail with reference to <FIG>, they are also able to temporally align the respective output signals SO with the output signal SO of the first sensor 5A, thereby compensating possible phase offsets (for example, the phase difference ΔΦ of <FIG>).

Consequently, except for an initial transient period subsequent to the start-up of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, for example after an initial number of adjustment samples of the output signals SO of the plurality of sensors <NUM>, for example comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, the first, the second, and the third sensors 5A, 5B, 5C generate in a mutually synchronized way the samples of the respective output signal So. In particular, the samples of the output signals So of the plurality of sensors <NUM> are temporally coherent with one another; i.e. not only do they have the same output frequency fou, but they are also temporally aligned with one another (they are in phase).

In fact, the fact that the sensors <NUM> supply the samples of the respective output signals So simultaneously to the memory <NUM>, means that the control unit <NUM> of the electronic apparatus <NUM> may be configured to read at once, and at the output frequency fou, the data received from all the sensors <NUM>, from the memory <NUM>. Consequently, the control unit <NUM> may assign a shorter time to the activity of data collection. This means that the electronic apparatus <NUM> has a lower energy consumption with respect to the case where the samples of the output signals SO were not synchronized, wherein the control unit <NUM> should periodically control the effective arrival of said samples. Alternatively, the time saved by the control unit <NUM> in the data acquisition may be used in other activities, thereby increasing the performance of the electronic apparatus <NUM> and/or improving the operating efficiency.

Furthermore, in the electronic apparatus <NUM> the plurality of sensors <NUM> is able to self-synchronize by implementing the transmission of just one signal (the external reference signal EXT_REF) among the sensors <NUM>. Moreover, use by the second and the third sensors 5B, 5C of the external reference signal EXT_REF and of the respective internal reference signal INT_REF enables to compensate possible variations of behaviour of the clocks <NUM>, for example offset and drift due to the change of conditions of use, such as temperature.

In other words, synchronization of the data at output from the sensors <NUM> of the electronic apparatus <NUM> may occur without the control unit <NUM> being configured to execute complex synchronization protocols, which would involve conspicuous hardware and software resources. Also for this reason, the electronic apparatus <NUM> has an improved efficiency.

In addition, the interface <NUM> may be a generic and known communication interface. This enables a high versatility of use of the plurality of sensors <NUM>, which may be easily incorporated in the electronic apparatus <NUM>.

At the same time, the fact that the output signals So of the sensors <NUM> are temporally coherent (i.e. aligned in frequency and phase), enables the control unit <NUM> to use the data supplied by the sensors <NUM> properly in a subsequent processing operation, for example for a subsequent combined processing of the data of the sensors <NUM> to execute advanced functions of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, for example multi-sensor data-fusion processes, advanced compensations, batching in a buffer, in particular of a FIFO (First-In/First-Out) type.

<FIG> shows a different embodiment of the present electronic apparatus, here designated by <NUM>.

The electronic apparatus <NUM> has a general structure similar to that of the electronic apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>; consequently, elements in common have the same reference numbers and are described briefly.

In detail, the electronic apparatus <NUM> comprises the control unit <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the interface <NUM> and a plurality of sensors, here designated by <NUM>.

Furthermore, also here, the electronic apparatus <NUM> comprises the power-supply unit <NUM> and the input and output peripherals <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> also here comprises a first sensor 205A, a second sensor 205B, and a third sensor 205C.

The first sensor 205A has an equal structure to the first sensor 5A of <FIG> and is consequently not illustrated any further, reference being made to the description of <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, the first sensor 205A generates a reference signal, which is referred to as the first external reference signal REF1 and is intended to be supplied only to the second sensor 205B.

The second sensor 205B, whose block diagram is illustrated in <FIG>, also here comprises the detection unit <NUM>, the signal-conditioning stage <NUM> including the ODR modification block <NUM>, the clock <NUM> and the synchronization block <NUM> including the measurement block <NUM> and the correction block <NUM>.

The synchronization block <NUM>, in particular the measurement block <NUM>, is here configured to receive at input the respective internal reference signal INT_REF and, as external reference signal, the first external reference signal REF1 generated by the first sensor 205A.

In this embodiment, the second sensor 205B is configured to generate also a second external reference signal REF2 and supply it to the third sensor 205C. The second external reference signal REF2 is a periodic signal, in particular a square-wave signal, the rising (or falling) edges of which are aligned with the samples of the respective output signal So.

In detail, in this embodiment, the second external reference signal REF2 is generated by the reference block <NUM> of the ODR modification block <NUM> and is the same as the internal reference signal INT_REF.

The third sensor 205C has an equal structure to the second sensor 205B illustrated in <FIG> and is consequently not illustrated any further. The third sensor 205C also here comprises the detection unit <NUM>, the signal-conditioning stage <NUM> comprising the ODR modification block <NUM>, the clock <NUM> and the synchronization block <NUM> including the measurement block <NUM> and the correction block <NUM>. However, the synchronization block <NUM>, in particular the measurement block <NUM>, here receives at input, in addition to the respective internal reference signal INT_REF, the second external reference signal REF2 generated by the second sensor 205B, as external reference signal.

Thus, in this embodiment, the second sensor 205B operates both as slave sensor, with respect to the first sensor 205A, and as reference sensor, with respect to the third sensor 205C.

In practice, the plurality of sensors <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM> is configured to execute a self-synchronization, in a way similar to what has been described above for the electronic apparatus <NUM>. Consequently, the electronic apparatus <NUM> shares the advantages, discussed above, of the electronic apparatus <NUM>.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the present electronic apparatus <NUM>, <NUM> and to the corresponding synchronization method, described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

For instance, the various embodiments described may be combined so as to provide further solutions.

For example, in the electronic apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>, the first sensor 5A may supply the external reference signal EXT_REF also to the control unit <NUM> via a dedicated connection <NUM>, which is represented by a dashed arrow in <FIG>. In this way, the control unit <NUM> may read the samples of the output signals SO in response to the reception of the external reference signal EXT_REF.

Similarly, in the electronic apparatus <NUM> of <FIG>, the first sensor 5A may send the first external reference signal REF1 to the control unit <NUM> through a dedicated connection, which is also here designated by <NUM> and represented by a dashed arrow. In a further embodiment, the second sensor 5B may send the second external reference signal REF2 to the control unit <NUM> through a respective dedicated connection. In this way, the control unit <NUM> may read the samples of the output signals So in response to the reception of the first external reference signal REF1 or of the second external reference signal REF2.

For instance, the control unit <NUM> may be configured to read the samples of the output signals SO at intervals corresponding to submultiples of the output frequency fou, with consequent energy saving.

For example, the sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may have the same structure and be configured to operate, each, both as reference sensor and as slave sensor. In a step of initial configuration of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>, a user of the electronic apparatus <NUM>, <NUM> may choose which sensor to use as reference sensor by sending specific configuration instructions through the interface <NUM>. In particular, the user may choose, as reference sensor, the sensor having the lower operating frequency fo.

The sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be mutually equal, to detect the same physical quantities in different conditions and/or positions, or else may be different, to detect different physical quantities.

The sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may also differ as regards the respective clock <NUM>. For instance, the sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may each have a respective clock <NUM> of a different type; in particular, they may each have a respective clock frequency fclk.

The sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may each be formed in a respective die or in a number of dies of semiconductor material; further, a number of sensors may be formed in just one die. In particular, for each sensor <NUM>, the detection unit <NUM> may be formed in a distinct die with respect to the other circuit components, i.e. with respect to the signal-conditioning stage <NUM>, the clock <NUM> and the synchronization block <NUM>, <NUM>. Alternatively, for each sensor of the plurality of sensors <NUM>, the components of an analog type, for example the analog conditioning circuit <NUM>, may be formed in a different die with respect to the components of a digital type, for example the clock <NUM>, the ODR modifier block <NUM> and the synchronization block <NUM>, <NUM>.

As an alternative to what has been illustrated, for each sensor <NUM>, <NUM>, a die may integrate both the respective detection unit <NUM> and part of the signal-conditioning stage <NUM>, in particular the analog conditioning circuit <NUM>, the analog-to-digital converter <NUM>, and possibly the filter <NUM>, the ODR modifier block <NUM> being provided on a separate die.

In general, in any case, for each sensor <NUM>, <NUM>, the detection unit <NUM>, the analog conditioning circuit <NUM>, and the analog-to-digital converter <NUM> may be considered functionally as forming a digital detector <NUM>, which is represented by a dashed block in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. In some applications, also the filter <NUM> may be considered as belonging to the digital detector <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the configuration block <NUM> of the reference sensor (i.e., of the first sensor 5A of the electronic apparatus <NUM> and of the first and second sensors 205A, 205B of the electronic apparatus <NUM>) may be configured so that the respective external reference signal EXT_REF, REF1, REF2 has a frequency equal to a submultiple of order SM of the output sample rate fou of the reference sensor. In other words, the external reference signal is generated every SM samples of the respective output signal So. Consequently, the configuration block <NUM> of the slave sensors (i.e., the second sensor 5B, 205B and the third sensor 5C, 205C) is configured so that the frequency-selection signal F_C indicates the number of frequency cycles Nf, measured by the respective measurement block <NUM>, divided by the order SM of the frequency submultiple.

In practice, the digital output signal So has a first frequency (output sample rate fou), and the reference or frequency-indication signal EXT_REF, REF1, REF2 has a second frequency, where the second frequency is a submultiple equal to the first frequency divided by an order of division SM, and where a first number of periods (number of frequency cycles Nf) is indicative of the number of periods of the clock signal CLK between two successive events of the frequency-indication signal, divided by the order of division SM.

Claim 1:
An integrated sensor (5A-5C; 205A-205C), the integrated sensor being configured to receive a frequency-indication signal (SU, EXT_REF; REF1, REF2) and to supply an output digital signal (SO) including a plurality of samples, the integrated sensor comprising:
a digital detector (<NUM>), configured to detect a physical quantity and generate a discrete detection signal (SD) indicative of the detected physical quantity;
an output timing regulation block (<NUM>, <NUM>), configured to receive the frequency-indication signal (SU, EXT_REF; REF1, REF2) and a set of local reference signals (CLK, INT_REF) and to generate a trigger signal (OUT_TRG) as a function of the frequency-indication signal and of the set of local reference signals; and
an output stage (<NUM>), configured to receive the discrete detection signal and the trigger signal (OUT_TRG) and to supply the digital output signal (SO) and a locking signal (EXT_REF, INT_REF; REF1, REF2),
wherein the output stage (<NUM>) is configured to supply a sample of the discrete detection signal in response to the reception of the trigger signal, thereby generating the digital output signal, and to supply the locking signal in response to the reception of the trigger signal, the locking signal being temporally aligned with the digital output signal,
wherein the integrated sensor is configured to be used as a reference sensor and/or as a slave sensor of an electronic apparatus (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising a plurality of integrated sensors (<NUM>; <NUM>),
the integrated sensor being configured, when used as reference sensor (5A; 205A, 205B), to provide at output the respective locking signal as external reference signal (EXT_REF; REF1, REF2) for use as frequency-indication signal by a slave sensor (5B, 5C; 205C) of the plurality of integrated sensors,
the integrated sensor being configured, when used as slave sensor (5B, 5C; 205B), to use the respective locking signal as local reference signal (INT_REF; REF2).