FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for receiving data from several analog signal generators, such as temperature sensors or other transducers.

BACKGROUND

Many systems utilize components or transducers that provide information in the form of an analog signal. One example is an analog output temperature sensor, which generates a linear output voltage directly proportional to measured temperature. An output signal in analog form is often desirable because only one wire (and ground) is required to transmit information to other devices in the system. The circuit complexity in analog output devices is also lower than equivalent functions fitted with digital output encoding, thereby lowering device cost. In most cases, however, analog signals are required to be converted to a digital format to be assimilated by system computing hardware. This is accomplished with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In cases where several analog signals must be converted, a single ADC with an inexpensive input multiplexer (MUX) is used (instead of separate ADCs for each signal). The MUX is a "many-to-1" selector switch that connects only one of the input signals to the ADC at a time. This allows all input signals to be sequentially converted with a single ADC, saving cost and simplifying system hardware.

In certain applications, the number of analog signals requiring conversion exceeds the input capacity of the MUX. One example is a notebook PC where temperature in four different locations must be measured, plus main and back-up battery voltages. This problem can be remedied in four ways: 1) obtain a MUX having a larger input capacity; 2) add a second MUX; 3) modify the system architecture to replace the analog output devices with digital ones; or 4) add another ADC. Each of these approaches has inherent disadvantages. Higher input capacity MUXs have a greater number of pins and, therefore, a larger package size and greater cost. In many system applications, both the MUX and ADC are contained on board a microcontroller. Many microcontrollers have a MUX with a maximum of four inputs, and versions with a larger MUX may not exist. Adding a second MUX adds cost and adversely impacts board space. Replacing the analog output devices with digital output types adds significant cost. For example, a temperature sensor with a two wire, serial output can cost as much as three times that of the same temperature sensor with an analog output. Adding a second ADC adds significant cost and complicates the system address decoding circuitry in that unique address space must be created for the second ADC. In addition, all four of these approaches require a separate circuit board trace from the analog signal source to the MUX input. This complicates circuit board layout and potentially adds electrical noise to the analog signals.

What is needed is a more simple and inexpensive technique for transmitting data from a plurality of analog signal generators to a receiving circuit.

SUMMARY

The invention described here provides a means to connect several analog signal generating devices to a single wire. This technique allows any MUX connected to the analog signal generators to be reduced in size or eliminated. This saves device package size and cost, and simplifies circuit board and system architecture. In the preferred embodiment, the output of each of the analog signal generators is connected to a single wire (the analog bus). Each analog signal generator is addressable by a unique code provided to its respective address input terminals. A host controller selectively addresses only one of the analog signal generators such that an output of only one of the analog signal generators is applied to the analog bus at a time. In this manner, a single wire may be connected to the outputs of a plurality of analog signal generators to transmit an analog signal to a receiver.

In one embodiment, the receiver is a MUX having an output connected to an ADC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, an Analog Signal Bus (8) consists of a single wire, to which the outputs of several Devices 10, 11, 12, 13 connect. Analog signal information is passed, via bus 8, to an input of a MUX 15.

An Address Generator 18 generates a chip enable (CE) signal on wire 20, connected to the CE terminals on Devices 10-13, to enable or disable all the Devices. The Address Generator 18 also generates a 2-bit address code on Address Wires 21 and 22, which are connected to address terminals A0 and A1 on Devices 10-13. When the CE signal is low, a particular address code selects one of the Devices 10, 11, 12, 13. The analog output of each Device 10, 11, 12, 13 is selected only when addressed by the Address Generator 18, otherwise the Device output is in a high impedance state.

If more than four devices are connected to bus 8, then a three or more bit address code would be generated on three or more address lines to address one of the devices.

Each Device 10-13 consists of an Analog Signal Generator 30, consisting of an analog sensor, transducer, or other analog device 31, and an Analog Output Driver 32. The Analog Device 31 may be any analog signal generator. The Analog Device 31 output connects to the Analog Output Driver 32 input. The output of the Analog Output Driver 32 follows the output of the Analog Device 31 when enabled by the appropriate logic level (in this case, a logic low) from the Address Decoder 34 (Select Mode). The Address Decoder 34 receives the CE, A0, and A1 signals on wires 20-22 to determine if the codes signify that the particular Device 10-13 is to be selected.

The output of the Analog Output Driver 32 reverts to a high impedance state when the output of Address Decoder 34 is a logic HIGH (Deselect Mode). The power supply current in Deselect Mode is greatly reduced compared to the power supply current in the Select Mode due to the disabling of the Analog Signal Generator 30. In certain cases, the enable signal from Decoder 34 need not disable the Analog Device 31 as long as the output to bus 8 becomes a high impedance state when the Device 10-13 is disabled.

The output of Address Decoder 34 is LOW when the states of the A0 input and A1 input match the states of the Select 0 (SA0) and Select 1 (SA1) inputs, respectively, and the Chip Enable input (/CE) is a logic LOW. If any of these conditions are not met, the Device 10, 11, 12, 13 is deselected. Any type of Address Decoder may also be used instead of that shown in FIG. 1.

Any number of Devices can be connected to the Analog Signal Bus 8, the limiting factors being the parasitic effects of capacitance and inductance on the Analog Signal Bus 8 and the number of address lines available in the system. MUX 15 may receive other inputs from other buses similar to Bus 8.

A Host Controller 40, incorporating the MUX 15, the Address Generator 18, and an ADC 42, selects one unique Device 10, 11, 12, or 13 to place its output signal on the Analog Signal Bus 8 using Address Wires 21 and 22. The signal from the selected Device is then converted by the ADC 42 aboard Host Controller 40.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.