Intramodule Multielement Microsystem (IM2) Bus and Interface Circuit.

摘要

This report describes a communication bus for multielement 'smart sensor' microsystems and the architecture for a sensor bus interface circuit. The Intramodule Multielement Microsystem (IM2) Bus which has been developed provides a link between central control electronics and individual front-end transducers in a sensor-based microsystem. The Transducer Independent Interface (TII) of the IEEE standard for a Smart Transducer Interface for Sensors and Actuators (IEEE 1451.2) has been adopted and expanded in this implementation to support multi-node digital communication. Modifications include signals, protocols, and architecture. The microsystem interface circuit which has been designed includes an IM2 Bus interface, 128 bits SRAM, 8 bits of multifunction I/O, a boundary-scan test chain, and an SPI bus interface to support an external EEPROM, a serial A/D and/or a D/A. Its advanced features include online control of sensor readout such as sensor range selection, amplifier gain and offset control, interrupt parameter threshold selection, automatic network configuration (plug-n-play features), and online self-test. It owns real time interrupt and controllable power supplies to keep system working in very low power consumption level. A user interface to this IC for test and development, which consists of both hardware and software, is also presented.