This invention relates to a universal device for sequentially sensing any input signals and providing any output signals, comprising; a microprocessor; a programmable memory for defining said input signals and said output signals at selected levels; multiplexers controlled by said microprocessor to sequentially select said input signals and said output signals; electrical components controlled by said microprocessor and programmable memory for generating a digital bit stream for each sequentially selected input signal and output signal; circuitry for translating said digital bit streams to an analogue signal; signal conditioning circuitry activated by said analogue signal for sensing any input signal and providing any output signal defined by said programmable memory.
A sigma delta modulator (350) can be utilized in the Digital-to-Analog (DAC) portion (144) of a modem (120) to achieve a desired level of gain programming. A set of step coefficients (GP2, GP4) are utilized to determined the step size and thereby the overall gain of the modulator (350). A feedback path is provided and configured to deliver the output of the modulator to a gain control block (355) which provides control and stability across the entire transmission bandwidth. A multilevel digital output (320) is provided which represents levels of signal in the digital domain and reduces the number of discrete components required to achieve a particular amount of gain.
An application specific integrated circuit or ASIC (MSC) is connected to a plurality of bridge type sense elements (1-6) for analog multiplexing (10a, 10b, 10c) the outputs from a selected sense element to a common signal conditioning path (10f). The bridge type sense elements are biased through an electronically programmable resistor (10d1) to derive a temperature signal. The signal conditioning path provides electronically programmable correction for offset and gain proportional to the sensed condition, e.g., fluid pressure. Complete sensor characterization data provided at the time of manufacture is stored in non-volatile memory (10h) which is downloaded to a host controller (12) on command. The ASIC also includes diagnostic test bridges (BR1, BR2) for diagnosing ASIC faults and a signal diagnostic path (10m) for diagnosing sense element and sense element connection faults. Characterization data downloaded to the host controller enables the controller to mathematically correct remaining temperature, condition (e.g., pressure) and diagnostic signal errors,
A multi-connection device for use in a game apparatus for outputting data from a plurality of input means to the body of the game apparatus is provided. The multi-connection device is connected to respective input means 20, and comprises a plurality of input connections 32a-32d for inputting data from the input means 20, an output connection for outputting the data to the game console 10, and a control unit for sequentially reading the data from the input means 20 connected to the plural input connections 32a-32d and outputting at the output connection 20 the read data to the game console 10. The multi-connection device can simultaneously connect a larger number of input means than a number of input means directly to the game console without burdening the game apparatus with more data processing, and is very effective as an adaptor for use in a game apparatus.
A configurable controller, comprising a configurable digital unit having a synchronization control module; a plurality of signal acquisition modules connected with said synchronization control module for receiving reference control data therefrom; and a control logic connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules; a plurality of input cells respectively connected with said plurality of signal acquisition modules, each input cell additionally connected with a respective input pin of said controller; and a synchronizing signal generator connected with said synchronization control module and with said plurality of input cells, for sending synchronization signals to said input cells, wherein each input cell is operable to convert input signal parameters to time-based parameters; and wherein each signal acquisition module is configured to convert said time-based parameters to a required digital form.
Signal conditioning of multiple sense elements is shown for providing information to a system requiring high accuracy and robust fault coverage. A first signal conditioning ASIC (10) pre-conditions the sense element data and a second system control ASIC (14) mathematically solves predetermined compensation relations based on the output of ASIC (10) and stored compensation data to fully condition the sensor output signal(s). The sense elements (1 6) are each formed by two half bridges whose inputs are pre-conditioned by separate, identical signal conditioning paths to provide highly accurate sense and diagnostic information.
