SENSOR WITH A DYNAMIC DATA RANGE

Abstract

A sensor with a dynamic data range. The sensor generates sensor values at consecutive time points. The sensor is configured in such a way that the data range is subjected, after each time point, to a treatment corresponding to one of the following treatment options performed as a function of the generated sensor values, wherein the treatment options include:increasing the data range if n of the generated sensor values are outside the data range during a first time window,decreasing the data range if m of the generated sensor values are within the data range during a second time window, andotherwise leaving the data range unchanged. A method for automatically adjusting a data range of such a sensor is also described.

Claims

1. A sensor with a dynamic data range, wherein the sensor is configured to generate sensor values at consecutive time points, and is configured in such a way that the data range is subjected, after each time point, to a treatment corresponding to one of the following treatment options performed as a function of the generated sensor values, wherein the treatment options include: increasing the data range if n of the generated sensor values are outside the data range during a first time window, decreasing the data range if m of the generated sensor values are within the data range during a second time window, and otherwise leaving the data range unchanged.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the data range has at least one dynamically variable bound, wherein the dynamically variable bound is an upper bound of the data range and/or a lower bound of the data range.

3. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein only the upper bound of the data range is variable and the lower bound has a constant value.

4. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein only the lower bound of the data range is variable and the upper bound has a constant value.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the data range can be increased by 1%-20%.

6. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured in such a way that the data range is increased only by changing the upper bound of the data range.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the data range can be decreased by 1%-20%.

8. The sensor according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured in such a way that the data range is decreased only at the upper bound of the data range.

9. A method for adjusting a data range of a sensor, the method comprising: generating sensor values at consecutive time points, using the sensor; and subjecting the data range, after each time point, to a treatment corresponding to one of the following treatment options performed as a function of the generated sensor values, wherein the treatment options include: increasing the data range when n of the generated sensor values are outside the data range during a first time window, decreasing the data range when m of the generated sensor values are within the data range during a second time window, and otherwise leaving the data range unchanged.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] As discussed above, there are various ways to advantageously design and develop the teaching of the present invention. In this respect, reference is made to disclosure herein including the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention on the basis of the figures.

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows a data range increase and a data range decrease for a sensor according to an example embodiment of the present invention with a variable upper bound and a constant lower bound.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic program flow for an implementation of a data range increase, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic program flow for an implementation of a data range decrease, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, by way of example, an increase and a decrease of a data range 100 for a sensor according to the invention. On the abscissa, the time is plotted in the form of discrete time points t.sub.i. Sensor values S.sub.i which are generated and provided by the sensor are plotted on the ordinate.

[0034] The left half of FIG. 1 illustrates a data range increase, which is performed at the time point t.sub.5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, an upper bound A of the data range 100 has the value 6 for a first time window x, wherein the first time window x lasts from t.sub.3 to t.sub.7, i.e., comprises five consecutive time points. The upper bound A may be entered by a user for the first time when the sensor is switched on. The upper bound may alternatively also take on a last saved value when the sensor is switched on or used again. The data range 100 furthermore has a constant lower bound C, the value of which is zero. In other words, the data range 100 of the sensor shown in FIG. 1 can be increased only via the upper bound A.

[0035] The sensor whose sensor values S.sub.i are depicted in FIG. 1 is configured in such a way that the upper bound A being exceeded twice (n=2) during the first time window x causes the sensor to increase the data range. The sensor may alternatively be designed in such a way that reaching the upper bound A is equivalent to exceeding it, i.e., that the generated sensor values can reach at least the value of the upper bound, without having to exceed it, in order to bring about a data range increase. The number n can be selected or set freely so that n=1, 3, 4 or 5 is also possible in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. A control of the sensor is designed in such a way that the logical condition n?x is ensured, i.e., that the number n, which reflects the maximum permitted number of exceedances of the upper bound A of the sensor values S.sub.i, cannot be greater than the number of time points of the first time window x. By means of such a configuration, the sensor can automatically or autonomously increase its data range.

[0036] At the time point t.sub.5, the condition for the data range increase, namely, the second exceedance of the current upper bound A, is satisfied so that the upper bound A is increased. In the present embodiment of the invention, the upper bound A, and thus also the data range 100 due to the constant lower bound C=0, is increased by 16.67% to A=7. At the time point t.sub.5, a new time window x automatically begins, which in the example shown likewise lasts for five consecutive time points.

[0037] The right half of FIG. 1 illustrates a data range decrease, which is performed at the time point t.sub.16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, an upper bound B of the data range 100 has the value 4 for a second time window y, wherein the first time window y lasts from t.sub.10 to t.sub.16, i.e., comprises seven consecutive time points. The upper bound B may also be entered by a user when the sensor is switched on for the first time. The upper bound B may alternatively also take on a last saved value when the sensor is switched on or used again. The lower bound C is unchangedly constant and consequently has the value zero.

[0038] Undershooting the upper bound B five times (m=5) during the second time window y causes the sensor to decrease the data range, wherein the number m can be selected or set freely so that m=1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 7 is also possible in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. At the last time point t.sub.16 of the second time window y, the condition for the data range decrease, namely, the fifth undershooting of the current upper bound B, is satisfied so that the upper bound B is decreased. In the present embodiment of the invention, the upper bound B, and thus also the data range 100 due to the constant lower bound C=0, is decreased by 20% to B=3.2. At the time point t.sub.16, a new time window y automatically begins.

[0039] FIG. 2 schematically shows an implementation of a data range increase. At the beginning, in a process step 101, a comparison between the currently generated sensor value S.sub.i and the current upper bound A of the data range 100 is carried out. If the sensor value S.sub.i is greater than the upper bound A, the process step 102 is initiated. In the course of the process step 102, a counter variable z is increased by the value one. The counter variable z captures how many sensor values S.sub.i of the current time window x are outside the data range 100 or greater than the upper bound A. Subsequently, it is checked whether the value of the counter variable z has reached the number n required for a data range increase, wherein the number n reflects the number of exceedances of the upper bound A at which a data range increase is performed. Specifically, it is checked whether z is greater than or equal to n, wherein checking for equality would be sufficient. If z is greater than or equal to n, a data range increase is performed in a process step 103, wherein an extent of the data range increase is saved in advance in the sensor. After each data range increase, the counter variable z is set to the value zero and a new time window x begins. In addition, a control variable i, whose value is increased by one when the value of the counter variable z is increased by the value one, is reset to the value one in order to be able to capture in the new time window x at which current time point t.sub.i, the sensor or the sensor values S.sub.i are. In other words, a new time window x begins every time a data range increase is performed or the time window x is ended.

[0040] If the counter variable z is incremented, but the number n required for a data range increase is not reached, i.e., z is still less than n, a next sensor value S.sub.i+1 can be generated and compared to the upper bound A if the current time window x is not ended at the same time. The check whether a current time window x is still running is carried out with the control variable i, wherein it is checked whether the value of the control variable i is greater than the time window x.

[0041] If the current sensor value S.sub.i is less than or equal to the value of the current upper bound A of the data range 100, the generated sensor value S.sub.i is not outside the data range 100. Consequently, the counter variable z is not incremented.

[0042] FIG. 3 schematically shows an implementation of a data range decrease. A data range decrease is carried out taking into consideration the logical operators analogously to the data range increase described in the context of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In a process step 111, it is checked whether the currently generated sensor value S.sub.i is less than the value of the current upper bound B of the data range 100. If S.sub.i is less than B, the counter variable z is increased by the value one in a subsequent process step 112. If m of the generated sensor values S.sub.i are within the data range 100, the data range 100 is decreased by decreasing the upper bound B to the value B.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0043] 100 Data range [0044] S.sub.i Sensor values [0045] t.sub.i Time points [0046] A Upper bound before data range increase [0047] A Upper bound after data range increase [0048] B Upper bound before data range decrease [0049] B Upper bound after data range decrease [0050] C Lower bound [0051] x First time window [0052] y Second time window [0053] x New time window after a data range increase [0054] y New time window after a data range decrease [0055] z Counter variable [0056] i Control variable