US 11,868,109 B2
Sensor interface circuit controller for multiple sensor types in an integrated circuit device
Robert S. Brandt, II, Satellite Beach, FL (US); Bruno W. Garlepp, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Ke Yun, San Jose, CA (US); Navin Kumar, San Jose, CA (US); and Jafar Savoj, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/466,320.
Prior Publication US 2023/0076507 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G05B 19/042 (2006.01); G06F 13/38 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/042 (2013.01) [G06F 13/387 (2013.01); G05B 2219/25341 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor interface circuit, comprising:
a first sensor control circuit coupled to a first plurality of sensors of a first type in an integrated circuit device, wherein the first sensor control circuit includes:
a first communication protocol circuit configured to communicate with the first type of sensor using a first protocol; and
a first conversion circuit configured to convert sensor data from the first plurality of sensors to a generic format;
a second sensor control circuit coupled to a second plurality of sensors of a second type in the integrated circuit device, wherein the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors include serially connected chains of sensors in the integrated circuit device, and wherein the second sensor control circuit includes:
a second communication protocol circuit configured communicate with the second type of sensor using a second protocol; and
a second conversion circuit configured to convert sensor data from the second plurality of sensors to the generic format; and
a transmission circuit coupled to the first sensor control circuit and the second sensor control circuit, wherein the transmission circuit is configured to output the sensor data in the generic format.