THERMAL DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to temperature detection for example for electronic circuits, and in particular relates to thermal detection without the need for a dedicated thermal probe or sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many different circuits, the circuit temperature is a key factor for system health. One particular example is lighting circuits, where the lighting elements generate significant amounts of heat as well as the desired light output. Thermal information is increasingly important in lighting circuits because many more semiconductor components and other electronics components are used in lighting systems, such as LED luminaires and lighting controllers.

Currently, most thermal detectors are based on a thermal coupler or thermal resistor and relevant circuitry, in order to measure the temperature. Infrared radiation cameras are also known for this purpose for providing a non-contact measurement option. These solutions are mature but not simple enough and cost effective in cost sensitive products like luminaires. The required complex circuits may also cause potential reliability risks.

It is known that a crystal oscillator, for example as used to generate a microcontroller clock signal, has a temperature dependency of its output frequency. This means the oscillator response may be used to determine temperature without the need for a separate temperature sensor. It is for example known to compare a frequency of one crystal oscillator with another crystal oscillator which has a different dependence on temperature, in order to determine temperature information. One example of this approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,228,906.

This requires particular types of crystal oscillator as well as accurate measurement of frequency. This measurement becomes increasing difficult for crystal oscillators with low dependency of their output frequency on temperature. As a result, crystals with a high temperature dependency are needed, but this is against the general aim of having a frequency response which is independent of temperature.

There is therefore a need for a more simple and flexible solution for thermal detection and which does not require the general temperature stability of the circuit to be compromised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Examples in accordance with a first aspect of the invention provide a temperature sensing device for sensing a temperature of a remote device, comprising:

a controller which is clocked by a first crystal oscillator, wherein the device is for sensing a temperature of a remote device having a second controller which is clocked by a second crystal oscillator, wherein the temperature of the second crystal oscillator is less stable than the temperature of the first crystal oscillator, wherein the temperature sensing device and the remote device communicate electronically with each other over a communications interface,

wherein the controller is adapted to:

- initiate a chain of repeated sequential communications between the temperature sensing device and the remote device;
- measure a time interval associated with the chain of repeated communications;
- from the time interval determine a clocking frequency of the remote device; and
- from the clocking frequency, determine a temperature based on knowledge of the frequency-temperature characteristics of the second crystal oscillator.

This device determines a temperature by measuring a time interval associated with communications between two devices, which in particular includes a time delay resulting from different clocking frequencies. By measuring a time interval for a number of repeated sequential communications, it becomes possible to measure time interval values resulting from very small changes in crystal oscillator frequency and hence controller clock frequency. Thus, there is no need to use crystal oscillators with high temperature dependency of their output frequency. The temperature measurement may be implemented digitally. The remote device is “remote” in the sense that it is exposed to a different temperature environment, so that heating caused by the remote device does not result in corresponding heating of the temperature sensing device.

The approach does not need modification to the hardware of the remote device, since it simply relies on communication with the remote device. The thermal status of the remote device is thus determined without any change in the existing product, in particular with no additional thermal sensor and associated circuits. The temperature sensing function is instead implemented based on signal communications and statistical analysis.

The device may comprise a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the controller is adapted to:

control the transmitter to transmit an activation signal to the remote device for activating the remote device;

control the transmitter to transmit a number of challenge signals to the remote device, wherein the remote device is adapted to respond to the number of challenge signals by sending back a response signal per challenge signal to the temperature sensing device; and

determine time intervals present between transmissions of the challenge signals and receptions of the response signals.

In this way, the remote device is first activated, following which the challenge signals (i.e. ping signals) are sent and the responses are monitored. The activation signal means that an individual remote device within a network of such devices may be addressed.

The activation signal thus for example comprises an address for addressing one particular remote device.

The challenge signals and the response signals for example comprise square wave signals or step changes in voltage or short voltage pulses. The number of challenge signals and time intervals comprises at least two challenge signals and time intervals, preferably at least ten challenge signals and time intervals, more preferably at least one hundred challenge signals and time intervals etc. A time interval can be expressed in time or in numbers of clock pulses or in any other way.

The controller is preferably adapted to perform a calibration process at two known temperatures, wherein at each of the two known temperatures, the controller is adapted to:

make a chain of repeated sequential communications between the temperature sensing device and the remote device and measure a time interval for each communication;

calculate a reference time interval value for each temperature (e.g. an average time interval); and

obtain a crystal oscillator frequency of the second crystal oscillator from the known characteristics of the second crystal oscillator; and

derive a reference time interval and corresponding reference frequency based on the difference between the reference time intervals and the difference between the crystal oscillator frequencies.

This calibration process thus provides a mapping between a change in reference time value (e.g. average time value or other statistical value based on the measured time intervals) for the response to the challenge and a change in frequency. The change in reference time interval becomes a reference time value and the change in frequency becomes a reference frequency value. By deriving change values as the references, it becomes possible to compensate for any constant time interval contributions.

These reference values are then used for interpreting the measured average time value at the unknown temperature, in particular based on interpolation between, or extrapolation from, the two measurements at known temperature.

The clocking frequency of the remote device may be obtained based on a statistical analysis. The statistical analysis for example comprises:

a calculation of a mean value or any other value of the time intervals or functions thereof; or

an analysis of a distribution or any other spread of the time intervals or functions thereof.

These different possible analyses of the time intervals may be used to assess the clock frequency of the remote device to a high accuracy. Functions of the time intervals may for example comprise numbers of clock pulses of the clock signal of the temperature sensing device within the time intervals or any other values derived from the time intervals. The two options may be combined.

The communications interface for example comprises a communication bus.

In one example the device comprises a lighting system controller. It is then able to monitor the temperature of lighting units (e.g. luminaires) under its control, as part of the overall system monitoring function.

The invention also provides a temperature sensing system, comprising:

a temperature sensing device as defined above;

the remote device connected to the temperature sensing device by the communications interface, wherein the remote device comprises:

- a remote device controller which is adapted to respond immediately or else a preset number of clock cycles later to communications from the temperature sensing device.

The remote device thus responds to the ping messages in dependence on when the clock signal of the local controller is at the suitable transition.

The remote device may comprise:

a receiver adapted to receive the activation signal for activating the remote device and adapted to receive the number of challenge signals; and

a transmitter adapted to send back, in response to receptions of the number of challenge signals, the response signal per challenge signal to the temperature sensing device.

The remote device is thus first activated so that it then knows to respond to the ping messages of the temperature sensing device.

The remote device for example comprises a lighting load and associated local lighting controller. The remote device may for example comprise an LED luminaire.

The second crystal oscillator (i.e. the one in the remote device) may be an AT-cut quartz oscillator. This has low temperature dependency of its output frequency, which is desirable for circuit stability, but is undesirable when variations are being used to measure temperature. However, this low temperature dependency can be tolerated because the analysis is based on multiple time interval measurements and statistical analysis rather than frequency measurements.

The controller of the temperature sensing device may be adapted to implement a calibration measurement with the remote device at one or more known temperatures. This provides reference information for calibrating the subsequent temperature measurements.

Examples in accordance with another aspect of the invention provide a temperature sensing method, comprising:

initiating a chain of repeated sequential communications between a temperature sensing device having a first controller which is clocked by a first crystal oscillator and a remote device having a second controller which is clocked by a second crystal oscillator, wherein the temperature of the second crystal oscillator is less stable than the temperature of the first crystal oscillator;

measuring a time interval associated with the chain of repeated communications;

from the time interval determining a clocking frequency of the remote device; and

from the clocking frequency, determining a temperature of the remote device based on knowledge of the frequency-temperature characteristics of the second crystal oscillator.

The temperature sensing device for example comprises a lighting system controller and the remote device then comprises a lighting load and associated local lighting controller.

The method may comprise implementing a calibration determination of the clocking frequency with the remote device at one more known temperatures.

The invention may be implemented at least in part in software.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a network of a central control device and a set of remote load devices;

FIG. 2 shows different crystal cuts;

FIG. 3 shows the frequency-temperature characteristics for different crystal cuts;

FIG. 4 shows a set of frequency-temperature characteristics for AT cuts of different angles;

FIG. 5 shows a frequency-temperature characteristic for a BT cut;

FIG. 6 shows a typical angle choice for an AT cut;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a central control device in more detail;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a remote device in more detail;

FIG. 9 shows clock signals in a first situation;

FIG. 10 shows clock signals in a second situation;

FIG. 11 shows distributions of time intervals;

FIG. 12 shows a temperature measurement method;

FIG. 13 shows experimental results; and

FIG. 14 shows a general computer architecture suitable for implementing the processing within the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides a temperature sensing system and method. A chain of repeated sequential communications is made between a temperature sensing device having a first controller which is clocked by a first crystal oscillator and a remote device having a second controller which is clocked by a second crystal oscillator. It is not necessary that the temperature dependency of the first crystal oscillator is higher/lower than the temperature dependency of the second crystal oscillator. Preferrably the frequency shift amount caused by temperature change of first crystal oscillator is less than that of second crystal oscillator. Preferrably, the environment of the remote device has a less stable temperature than the environment of the temperature sensing device, or in other words, the temperature of the second crystal oscillator is less stable than the temperature of the first crystal oscillator. A time interval associated with the chain of repeated communications is measured and from this a clocking frequency and hence the temperature at the remote device can be derived, based on knowledge of the frequency-temperature characteristics of the second crystal oscillator.

FIG. 1 shows a network of a central control device 1 and a set of remote load devices 2. The central control device 1 controls and communicates with the remote load devices 2 over a communication interface, in particular a bus 7.

In one example, the overall system is a lighting system, in which the central control device is a main (upstream) lighting controller and the remote devices are luminaires.

The invention makes use of communication between the central control unit 1 and the luminaires 2 by which the central controller functions as an interrogator and the luminaries function as responders.

In a regular networked lighting system of this type, the upstream central control unit, such as segment controller, is an existing part of the system. By providing software code within the existing software, additional communications functions may be realized. The control board, based on a controller, in particular a microcontroller, in each luminaire can function as a downstream responder also by using software modifications.

The central control unit 1 is responsible for sending signals to the luminaires 2, analyze data and output a temperature sensing result. The control board in each luminaire receives commands and signals from the central controller and sends back responding signals.

As mentioned above, the crystal oscillator is key component in all microcontroller based digital systems, as it provides the periodic pulses for use as the microcontroller clock signal. All operations of the microcontroller are based on this signal. If the output of the crystal oscillator is changed, for example the frequency is increased, the operation of the microcontroller will be slightly faster than before. The speed will reduce when the frequency drops.

This invention is based on observing the frequency variance indirectly, by measuring a time penalty for certain software instructions that have a fixed machine cycle. Temperature is one variable which affects the output frequency of the crystal, so that temperature can be derived by measuring variance of the microcontroller operation time.

There are three main factors which have an impact on the output of a crystal oscillator. These are the capacitance of the load, the excitation power and temperature.

In a typical application, the load capacitance and excitation power for the crystal oscillator are determined by electrical circuit. Thus, these two factors will not affect the crystal oscillator frequency once the hardware is fixed. Therefore, the temperature dependency remains the only significant cause for frequency variation.

Different crystal oscillators have different frequency-temperature (f-T) curves. The f-T characteristics are strongly related to the process by which crystals has been cut from a quartz sheet.

FIG. 2 illustrates the different cutting processes, including AT, BT, CT, DT, GT and NT cuts. Different cutting methods cause different f-T curves as shown in FIG. 3, which shows frequency versus temperature.

The frequency-temperature characteristics of the crystal are categorized into two types according to its shape of curve. One is a tertiary curve and the other is a quadratic curve.

The typical frequency-temperature characteristics of AT and BT cuts are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. The set of curves shown in FIG. 4 depend on the angle of the cut so that the angle at which the quartz plate is cut from a quartz bar determines the frequency vs. temperature characteristics of a crystal unit.

AT cut crystal units are most widely used because they produce smaller frequency changes in response to temperature changes in the room temperature range. The change in frequency follows a series of 3rd degree S-Curves as shown in FIG. 4.

Adjustment of the cut angle allows the crystal design engineer to select the desired temperature coefficient for the application. To get best frequency stability at a room temperature range, a particular cut angle is used. As shown in FIG. 6, the proper cut-angle gives the bold line 60 which is flat around 20 degrees. This corresponds to the most popular cut-angle for a crystal oscillator. The resulting curve is a monotone increasing function.

There is a clear mathematical expression for the temperature-frequency function of an AT-cut crystal oscillator, which is provided by the manufacturer. A typical example is:

${\frac{Δ f}{f_{0}} = a_{0} (T - T_{0}) + c_{0} (T - T_{0}) \rangle}^{3}$

T₀is reference temperature;

f₀is frequency at temperature T₀;

a₀is a temperature coefficient of the fundamental;

c₀is a temperature coefficient of the 3rd overtone.

In the system of FIG. 1, the upstream controller 1 may be considered to be in a constant temperature environment, such as room temperature. The microcontroller and crystal have the best frequency stability. Thus, each machine cycle has the same time expense with no frequency variance according to the corresponding temperature-frequency curve.

The luminaires 2 work in a practical environment which means the temperature changes according to different working conditions. For example, when the luminaire is working, the power dissipation will heat the whole luminaire including the control board which includes the crystal oscillator especially for a compact LED luminaire in which the LED driver (control board) is integrated with or very close to the LEDs. This leads to a frequency change which follows the known curve. The speed of the microcontroller changes accordingly. Thus by detecting the temperature of the crystal oscillator on the driver board, the status of the LED can be monitored. Of course, the temperature of the drivers could also be affected by other factors, such as the lighting system being in an abnormal condition, etc. By detecting the temperature of remote luminaires, a health condition of the luminaires can be obtained.

When the same program is run by the microcontroller, the time expense is different from before. Based on the known frequency-temperature function, the accurate temperature change can be derived based on time differences.

It is challenging to measure directly a time difference at different temperatures because the frequency variance is very small. Usually for an AT cut crystal, the variation is +25 ppm for a temperature range of −55° C. to +85° C.

To address this issue, the microcontroller in the luminaire 2 is operated in a responder mode. The upstream controller 1 sends a ping challenge signal and measures the time expense of responding from the remote downstream unit. By repeating this process hundreds or thousands of times, the time expense can be derived using statistical tools with high accuracy.

This ping challenge and the response together form a signal communication event between the upstream and downstream controller. The repetition of the process then forms a chain of communications. This overall chain forms a measurement period. Each communication can be based on any outward message which is sent from the upstream controller to the downstream controller and return message which is sent back from the downstream controller to the upstream controller. The timing at which a message is sent (and finally received) by the upstream controller will depend on the timing of the clock signal in the upstream controller. Similarly, the timing at which a message is received (and then sent) by the downstream controller will depend on the timing of the clock signal in the downstream controller. As a result, the overall communication conveys information about the relative timing of the two clock signals.

The central controller for example operates with a clock signal having a relatively high clock speed, whereas the controllers of the luminaires operate with a clock signal having a relatively low clock speed. As a result, an amount of delay which is introduced by the luminaire controller may be significant compared to the central controller clock frequency. This delay may show relatively large fluctuations. The central device can measure the time interval associated with this delay relatively precisely because of the faster clock signal whereas the luminaire may react to a reception of a challenge signal by sending a response signal relatively soon or relatively late, depending on whether the edges or levels of both clock signals of both devices in each case match or not. Thus, a time interval of a single signal will not give much information about the clock frequency of the luminaire controller, whereas the use of multiple challenge and response signals enables statistical analysis to be used to determine the luminaire clock frequency.

The time interval which is measured is for example the length of time, expressed as the number of clock periods of the faster upstream controller clock, which has elapsed between the upstream controller clock signal edge which corresponds to the sending of the challenge signal and upstream controller clock signal edge which corresponds to the receipt of the response signal. As a result, all timing measurements may be made at the upstream controller based on the faster upstream controller clock. The whole timing process is thus controlled from the upstream side with the downstream controller simply following a dumb response routine.

Note that the time interval may include fixed time durations not related to the clock speeds, for example propagation delays. Furthermore, it is not essential that the response is provided immediately to the challenge signal. There may be a delay of a number of clock cycles at the downstream controller, to process the challenge and generate the response. These elements do not change the operation of the method.

This process will now be described in more detail.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the central controller 1 which functions as a temperature measurement device. This is an upstream unit.

The temperature measurement device 1 comprises a transceiver 11,13 for transmitting and receiving signals. A transmitter 11 is configured to transmit an activation signal to a remote device 2 for activating this remote device 2. The transmitter part 11 is also configured to transmit a number of challenge signals to the activated remote device 2. Such an activated remote device 2 is configured to respond to the number of challenge signals by sending back a response signal per challenge signal to the temperature measurement device 1. A receiver 13 of the temperature measurement device 1 is configured to receive the response signals from the activated remote device 2. The temperature measurement device 1 further comprises a controller 14 configured to determine time intervals present between transmissions of the challenge signals on the one hand and receptions of the response signals on the other hand. The controller 14 is further configured to derive a temperature from an analysis of the time intervals.

These response signals are not to be confused with reflection signals that result from impedance mismatching. The activation signal may for example comprise an address for addressing the remote device 2.

Usually, the analysis comprises a statistical analysis, such as for example a calculation of a mean value or any other value of the time intervals or functions thereof or such as for example an analysis of a distribution or any other spread of the time intervals or functions thereof, or such as for example a determination of a minimum value of the time intervals or functions thereof.

The transmitter 11 is configured to transmit the number of challenge signals periodically or randomly.

In FIG. 7, the transceiver 11, 13 is coupled to a bus interface 15, that is further coupled to the communication bus 7, but alternatively the bus interface 15 could be left out or integrated into said transceiver 11, 13. A controller 14 controls and/or communicates with the transmitter 11 and the receiver 13 and the bus interface 15, and further controls and/or communicates with a user interface 16. An example of such a controller 14 is a processor/memory combination that is operated with a clock signal having a relatively high clock speed, like for example 10 MHz or 100 MHz etc. The (first) crystal oscillator 12 of the central controller is also shown schematically.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a remote device 2. This is a downstream unit.

The remote device 2 is configured to be interrogated by the temperature measurement device 1 as shown in FIG. 7 and comprises a transceiver 21, 23. A receiver 21 of the transceiver is configured to receive the activation signal from the temperature measurement device 1 for activating this remote device 2. The receiver 21 is also configured to receive the number of challenge signals from the temperature measurement device 1. The transmitter 23 of the transceiver of the remote device 2 is configured to send back, in response to receptions of the number of challenge signals, the response signal per challenge signal to the temperature measurement device 1. The remote device 2 may further comprise a load 26 such as for example a light dot or a lamp.

In FIG. 8, the receiver 21 and the transmitter 23 are coupled to a bus interface 25, that is further coupled to the communication bus 7, but alternatively the bus interface 15 could be left out or integrated into said receiver 21 and said transmitter 23.

A controller 24 controls and/or communicates with the receiver 21 and the transmitter 23 and the bus interface 25 and the load 26. An example of such a controller 24 is a processor/memory combination that is operated with a clock signal having a relatively low clock speed, like for example 1 MHz or 10 MHz etc. Usually, the relatively high clock speed of the clock signal of the controller 14 is higher than the relatively low clock speed of the clock signal of the controller 24. The (second) crystal oscillator 22 of the remote device is also shown schematically.

In FIG. 9, clock signals are shown in a first situation. In this first situation, a rising edge of the clock signal having the relatively high clock speed of the controller 14 is situated in time just sufficiently before a rising edge of the clock signal having the relatively low clock speed of the controller 24. As a result, the remote device 2 can in one example react immediately to the challenge signal from the temperature measurement device 1 by sending back the response signal to the temperature measurement device 1. A minimum value of a total delay D1 is a duration of a time interval present between a transmission of the challenge signal and a reception of the response signal, at the next rising edge of the controller clock signal.

In FIG. 10, clock signals are shown in a second situation. In this second situation, a rising edge of the clock signal having the relatively high clock speed of the controller 14 is situated in time insufficiently before a the first shown rising edge of the clock signal having the relatively low clock speed of the controller 24. As a result, the remote device 2 can only react later to the challenge signal from the temperature measurement device 1 by sending back the response signal to the temperature measurement device 1 shortly after the next rising edge of the clock signal having the relatively low clock speed of the controller 24. A maximum value in this scenario of a total delay D2 is a duration of a time interval present between a transmission of the challenge signal and a reception of the response signal at the next rising edge.

This assumes the execution of signals by the upstream controller is trigged by the rising edge of clock signal. Of course, the triggers could equally be at the falling edge of the clock signals.

This maximum delay (as a number of the faster clock cycles) in particular will depend on the absolute frequency of the slower clock signal. Thus, while the challenge and response shown in FIG. 9 does not convey significant information about the clock frequency, the challenge and response of FIG. 10 does.

Instead of responding immediately, the response may be made after a fixed number (which may be 1 or more) of clock cycles of the remote device. In such a case, even the most rapid response conveys information about the speed of the slower clock.

The above analysis is based on the assumption that the time expense of the signal propagation on the cable between the upstream unit and the downstream unit is zero.

Actually the time expense caused by cable is not zero but it does not affect the analysis above because it is a fixed number for a given cable length. The time expense caused by the cable is thus cancelled by the algorithm as explained further below.

By sending a large set of challenges and responses, a statistically significant set is obtained. For example, the average number of faster clock pulses for a large sample of data will give an accurate indicator of the period of the slower clock period.

As can be seen from the example above, one time interval will not give much information about the clock frequency of a remote device because of the amount of possible variation. By analysis of a number of time intervals, the frequency of operation of the remote device can be determined much better. The number of challenge signals and time intervals comprises at least two challenge signals and time intervals, preferably at least ten challenge signals and time intervals, more preferably at least one hundred challenge signals and time intervals etc. There may even be 1000 of more challenges and responses. For a sufficient number of challenge signals and time intervals, the set of time intervals durations will satisfy an even distribution.

FIG. 11 shows distributions of time intervals. FIGS. 11A to 11E show distributions of time intervals for a remote device which is operating at different (reducing) frequencies.

Clearly, from FIG. 11A to FIG. 11E, the distributions are shifting to the right.

For the time intervals related to FIG. 11A, a calculation of a mean value of the time intervals will result in a smaller value than a similar calculation for the time intervals related to FIG. 11B and so on. For the time intervals related to FIG. 11A, a determination of a minimum value of the time intervals will result in a smaller value than a similar calculation for the time intervals related to FIG. 11B and so on due to the slower processing of the respond signal.

The distribution or any other spread of the time intervals may be used for analysis.

An example of the signal processing that may be applied will now be presented in more detail.

A calibration stage is first carried out. As a minimum, the calibration takes place at a known temperature. However, more preferably, it involves taking measurements at two known temperatures; T1 and T2.

At the first calibration temperature T1 a number of steps are carried out:

Step 1: The upstream unit sends a command with a specific address to activate a selected unit at downstream side. The specific downstream unit transitions to a responder mode and then waits for a “ping” signal from the upstream unit. Other downstream units are still in their “idle” state.

Step 2: The upstream unit sends a pulse as a “ping signal” to the specific downstream unit, and starts a timer at same time.

Step 3: The downstream unit receives the “ping” signal and sends back a pulse immediately.

Step 4: The upstream unit stops the timer at once when it detect the response pulse from the downstream side.

Step 5: The upstream unit saves the timer's readout in a register for further calculation. The timer is then reset for the next action.

Step 6: The steps 2 to 5 are repeated hundreds or thousands of times.

Step 7: The average time value is calculated based on the data in the register.

Step 8: The final result is saved as reference data t_ref1 to be used for measurement.

Step 9: The determined crystal frequency f1 at temperature T1 is obtained from the frequency-temperature curve and from the formula for the crystal oscillator.

At the second calibration temperature T2, the steps 2 to 7 above are again carried out. The final result save in step 8 is then reference data t_ref2.

The determined crystal frequency in step 9 is then f2 at temperature T2 again based on the frequency-temperature curve and from the formula for the crystal oscillator.

A reference time value and corresponding reference frequency value are then obtained:

t_ref=t_ref2−t_ref1

f_ref=f2−f1

This calibration process thus provides a mapping between a change in time value for the response to the ping message and a change in frequency. The change in time value becomes a reference time value and the change in frequency becomes a reference frequency value. By deriving change values as the references, it becomes possible to compensate for any constant time interval contributions.

After the calibration, the system is ready for use.

This involves performing a temperature measurement, namely when there is an unknown temperature Tx at the downstream side.

Steps 2 to 7 above are repeated to obtain an average time value t_measured.

A time difference is then calculated as tx=t_measure−t_ref1.

A frequency difference is then obtained as fx=tx/t_ref*f_ref

This sets the ratio of the measured frequency to the reference frequency value as equal to the ratio of the measured time interval to the reference time value. In other words, it is based on a linear relationship between the time interval and the frequency.

The frequency of the crystal at the unknown temperature is then obtained as

f=fx+f1

This is a linear interpolation or extrapolation from the two measurements at known temperature.

According to the frequency temperature curve of crystal and the formula for the crystal oscillator, the temperature Tx can be derived.

Although the clock frequency in the upstream unit is higher than the clock frequency in the downstream unit, it still does not have enough resolution to measure (i.e. see) the time difference caused by temperature changes.

For example if a 16 MHz crystal is used for for the upstream controller, the ultimate resolution for a timer in the upstream unit is 1/16 Mhz=62.5 ns. The timer in the control unit cannot recognize a time variance if is less than 62.5 ns.

Unfortunately, the time variance caused by temperature is only several nanoseconds.

The time interval which is measured by the timer in the controller at temperature Ta may for example be 500 clock cycles. Even if the temperature changes to Tb, the readout of the timer may still be the same even though the time expense is fractionally longer.

One option is to increase the timer frequency to giver higher resolution but this is costly. The approach above is instead based on use of the statistical probability distribution. In particular, the readout signal from the timer should meet certain distribution rules relating to time measurement. If there is minor change to the time expense which is caused by temperature, the distribution curve of the readout signal from the timer will change as well.

For example, if 1000 timing measurements are taken at temperature Ta, all close to 500 clock cycles, the frequency density of the timing measurements may be as shown below:

Timer readout

499
500
501

Frequency
100
800
100

If the temperature is changed to Tb and assume the time expense increases by 2 nanoseconds. For 1000 time measurements, the data from the timer may be changed as shown below:

Timer readout

499
500
501

Frequency
90
801
109

This provides a shift to the increasing values, for example as shown in FIG. 11. The readout is still within the range 499 to 501 but the change in distribution reflects the change in temperature.

It has been shown that this approach enables the time change to be distinguished with nanosecond accuracy even with a 16 MHz clock. For example, the average timer value has increased from 500.000 to 500.019. The average value may be used, or measures of spread or other statistical measures may be used to obtain a more accurate representative timer value, which can then be converted to frequency and then temperature.

The controller 24 may introduce a delay for example owing to the fact that it needs several clock periods to detect the challenge signal and to instruct the response signal to be sent back. The controller 14 may also introduce a delay for example owing to the fact that it needs several clock periods to prepare the challenge signal and/or that it needs several clock periods to detect the response signal and/or that it needs several clock periods to determine the time intervals. These introduced delays are taken into account in determining the frequency value, in particular because the computations are based on reference time and reference frequency values which are based on change values.

FIG. 12 shows a temperature sensing method.

In step 120 a chain of repeated sequential communications is initiated between a temperature sensing device having a first microcontroller which is clocked by a first crystal oscillator and a remote device having a second microcontroller which is clocked by a second crystal oscillator.

In step 122, a time interval associated with the chain of repeated communications is measured at the temperature sensing device. This time interval may be a value derived from the set of individual measurements, such as an average value, or a value which takes account of the degree of spread, or a value which takes account both of an average value and a degree of spread.

In step 124 a clocking frequency of the remote device is determined from the time interval.

In step 126, a temperature of the remote device is determined from the clocking frequency, also based on knowledge of the frequency-temperature characteristics of the second crystal oscillator.

The method may include a calibration step in which the remote device is known to be at a particular temperature such as room temperature or is even controlled to be at a regulated known temperature. This provides reference information for calibrating the subsequent temperature measurements.

The system and method have been tested by providing the upstream controller at room temperature and setting the temperature of the remote device in a temperature chamber. FIG. 13 shows a plot of the measured temperature versus for different samples at different temperatures, and a plot of the actual controlled temperature. The near exact overlap, and hence accuracy of the measurement method, can be seen.

The method assumes that the central controller is at a fixed temperature. It may be sufficient for this to be room temperature (for example with a fluctuation of +/−5 degrees). However, if desired, the central controller may be kept in a controlled temperature environment.

The system described above makes use of a controller/processor for processing data to determine the temperature.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a computer 130 for implementing the controller or processor described above.

The computer 130 includes, but is not limited to, PCs, workstations, laptops, PDAs, palm devices, servers, storages, and the like. Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, the computer 130 may include one or more processors 131, memory 132, and one or more I/O devices 133 that are communicatively coupled via a local interface (not shown). The local interface can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The local interface may have additional elements, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components.

The processor 131 is a hardware device for executing software that can be stored in the memory 132. The processor 131 can be virtually any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the computer 130, and the processor 131 may be a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip) or a microprocessor.

The memory 132 can include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM), such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), etc.) and non-volatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), tape, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette, cartridge, cassette or the like, etc.). Moreover, the memory 132 may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory 132 can have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remote from one another, but can be accessed by the processor 131.

The software in the memory 132 may include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. The software in the memory 132 includes a suitable operating system (O/S) 134, compiler 135, source code 136, and one or more applications 137 in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

The application 137 comprises numerous functional components such as computational units, logic, functional units, processes, operations, virtual entities, and/or modules.

The operating system 134 controls the execution of computer programs, and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services.

Application 137 may be a source program, executable program (object code), script, or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be performed. When a source program, then the program is usually translated via a compiler (such as the compiler 135), assembler, interpreter, or the like, which may or may not be included within the memory 132, so as to operate properly in connection with the operating system 134. Furthermore, the application 137 can be written as an object oriented programming language, which has classes of data and methods, or a procedure programming language, which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions, for example but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Pascal, BASIC, API calls, HTML, XHTML, XML, ASP scripts, JavaScript, FORTRAN, COBOL, Perl, Java, ADA, .NET, and the like.

The I/O devices 133 may include input devices such as, for example but not limited to, a mouse, keyboard, scanner, microphone, camera, etc. Furthermore, the I/O devices 133 may also include output devices, for example but not limited to a printer, display, etc. Finally, the I/O devices 133 may further include devices that communicate both inputs and outputs, for instance but not limited to, a network interface controller (NIC) or modulator/demodulator (for accessing remote devices, other files, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, etc. The I/O devices 133 also include components for communicating over various networks, such as the Internet or intranet.

When the computer 130 is in operation, the processor 131 is configured to execute software stored within the memory 132, to communicate data to and from the memory 132, and to generally control operations of the computer 130 pursuant to the software. The application 137 and the operating system 134 are read, in whole or in part, by the processor 131, perhaps buffered within the processor 131, and then executed.

When the application 137 is implemented in software it should be noted that the application 137 can be stored on virtually any computer readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer related system or method. In the context of this document, a computer readable medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
PCT/CN2016/092878	Aug 2016	CN	national
16194288.3	Oct 2016	EP	regional

THERMAL DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

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