Interface and Data Format Converters in Automotive Data Acquisition and Control Systems

The interconnect problem within automotive type data acquisition and control system is reviewed. In real time systems which used analog type sensors and transducers, high speed data and information format converters are needed. The format converters can be realized as single devices or possibly as part of the data processing equipment. In case threshold or switch type sensors are used to gather control information, the need for data or information format converters is minimized. Threshold sensors have also the capability to perform logic and decision making functions as single elements, or can be combined into threshold logic type network. The performance of such up front data processing, reduces the need of continuous real time data processing but additional memory capacity is needed to store control patterns, which are used to characterize typical control conditions.