Galvanic isolation devices to provide power and data between subsystems

1. A system comprising:

a control subsystem comprising a static power supply, a modulated power supply, and a comparator;

a galvanic isolation device coupled to the static power supply, the modulated power supply, and the comparator; and

a parameter measurement subsystem comprising a parameter measurement device coupled to a capacitor to be charged by the static and modulated power supplies via the galvanic isolation device, the capacitor having an electrical connection to the galvanic isolation device modulated in accordance with a current pulse train output by the parameter measurement device, the current pulse train indicating a parameter measured by the parameter measurement device,

wherein the comparator is to produce a signal indicative of the modulated electrical connection between the capacitor and the galvanic isolation device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter measurement device comprises a temperature sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the galvanic isolation device comprises a single transformer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter measurement subsystem comprises a pair of transistors that are switched by the current pulse train.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the parameter measurement device is to produce the current pulse train after the control subsystem has charged the capacitor to a threshold charge.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first input of the comparator couples to the static power supply and to a first tap of the galvanic isolation device, and wherein a second input of the comparator couples to a node to which the modulated power supply and a second tap of the galvanic isolation device couple.

7. A system comprising:

a transformer with primary and secondary sides having multiple winding taps;

a first switch coupled to a first tap on the primary side and to ground, the first switch coupled to a modulated power supply;

a power supply coupled to a second tap on the primary side;

a comparator having inputs coupled to the first and second taps on the primary side;

a second switch coupled to a first tap on the secondary side, the second switch coupled in parallel with a first diode;

a third switch coupled to the second switch and to a second tap on the secondary side;

a parameter measurement device coupled to the second and third switches; and

a capacitor coupled to the parameter measurement device.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a second diode having a cathode coupled to a third tap of the primary side, the second diode to dissipate current remaining in a winding of the primary side when the first switch is opened.

9. The system 7 , further comprising an inverter having an output coupled to the first switch.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second switch couples to a node in between two resistors of a voltage divider.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second switch is a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and wherein the third switch is also a BJT, a collector of the third switch coupled to the node via one of the two resistors.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein an output of the parameter measurement device controls the third switch, and wherein a current flow through the third switch controls the second switch.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the parameter measurement device is configured to modulate a voltage provided by the capacitor.

14. The system of claim 7 further comprising first and second voltage dividers, the first voltage divider coupled to the first tap on the primary side and to an input of the comparator, the second voltage divider coupled to the second tap on the primary side and to another input of the comparator.

15. A method comprising:

providing a control subsystem and a parameter measurement subsystem;

charging a capacitor in the parameter measurement subsystem using the control subsystem and a galvanic isolation device;

applying a voltage to a parameter measurement device in the parameter measurement subsystem using the capacitor;

measuring a parameter using the parameter measurement device;

producing a current pulse train using the parameter measurement device, the current pulse train indicative of the measured parameter;

opening and closing a switch using the current pulse train, the opening and closing of the switch modulating an electrical connection between the capacitor and the galvanic isolation device; and

interpreting the modulated electrical connection between the capacitor and the galvanic isolation device to determine the measured parameter.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein interpreting the modulated electrical connection comprises using a comparator to compare a static power supply and a signal on a tap of the galvanic isolation device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein charging the capacitor in the parameter measurement subsystem using the control subsystem and the galvanic isolation device comprises:

in response to a modulated power supply being in a first state, shutting off a transistor coupled to a first tap of the galvanic isolation device such that no current flows through a primary side of the galvanic isolation device; and

in response to the modulated power supply being in a second state, turning on the transistor such that the first tap couples to ground and a current flows through the primary side of the galvanic isolation device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising discharging current in the primary side using a diode coupled to a third tap of the galvanic isolation device.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the galvanic isolation device comprises a single transformer, and wherein the parameter measurement device comprises a temperature sensor.