METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING DATA FROM AND TO A CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20110093632A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axel Aue
• Original Assignee: Axel Aue
• Inventors: AUE, Axel
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

A method for transmitting data from and to a control device, in particular an engine control device for a motor vehicle that has a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the method having the following steps: connecting the first communication interface to a development tool, and connecting the second communication interface to one or more function units during the development phase of the control device, transmitting data from the control device to the development tool via the first communication interface using a first communication protocol, transmitting data from the development tool to the control device via the first communication interface using the first communication protocol, breaking the connection between the first communication interface and the development tool, connecting the first communication interface to one or more additional 20 function units, and transmitting data between the control device and the other function unit or function units via the first communication interface using a second communication protocol.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A control unit, comprising:

a first communication interface, which is optionally connectable to a development tool or to one or more functional units;

a second communication interface, which is connectable to the one or more functional units;

a memory for storing data;

a first communication unit via which data are transmitted between the memory and the first communication interface using a first communication protocol;

a second communication unit via which data are transmitted between the memory and the first communication interface using a second communication protocol; and

a switching arrangement, which optionally connects the first communication interface to one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit;

wherein the switching arrangement is configured to connect the first communication interface optionally to one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit, and wherein the second communication interface remains permanently connected to the second communication unit.

13. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the first communication protocol is a unidirectional communication protocol.

14. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the first communication protocol is an asynchronous serial interface protocol.

15. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the second communication protocol is a bidirectional communication protocol.

16. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the second communication protocol is a CAN bus protocol.

17. The control unit of claim 12, wherein the control unit is an engine control unit for a motor vehicle.

18. A method for providing data transmission from and to a control unit, which has a first communication interface and a second communication interface (110B), the method comprising:

connecting the first communication interface to a development tool, and connecting the second communication interface to one or more first functional units during the development phase of the control unit;

transmitting data from the control unit via the first communication interface to the development tool using a first communication protocol;

transmitting data from the development tool via the first communication interface to the control unit using the first communication protocol;

transmitting data between the control unit and the one or more of the first functional units via the second communication interface using a second communication protocol;

breaking the connection between the first communication interface and the development tool after the termination of the development phase;

connecting the first communication interface to the one ore more of the second functional units;

transmitting data between the control unit and the one or more of the second functional units via the first communication interface using one of the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol; and

transmitting data between the control unit and the one or more of the first functional units via the second communication interface using the second communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting of the data from the control unit to the development tool and from the development tool to the control unit are each carried out as a unidirectional transmission.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein switching over takes place at predetermined time intervals between the data transmission from the control unit to the development tool and between the data transmission from the development tool to the control unit.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

switching over, using a switching arrangement, which optionally connects the first communication interface to one of a first communication unit and a second communication unit, wherein the first communication unit controls the data transmission while using the first communication protocol, and wherein the second communication unit controls the data transmission while using the second communication protocol.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first communication protocol is a unidirectional communication protocol.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the first communication protocol is an asynchronous serial interface protocol.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the second communication protocol is a bidirectional communication protocol.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the second communication protocol is a CAN bus protocol.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting of data from the development tool to the control unit includes the storing of the data in a memory in the control unit.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting of data between the development tool and the control unit includes at least one of the measuring, adjusting, debugging and bypassing of functions during the development phase of the control unit.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the control unit is an engine control unit for a motor vehicle.