Converter/Multiplexer for Serial Bus

• US 20110255411A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Morey Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Morey Corporation
• Inventors: Champa, Jeff A., Isaac, Emad S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a converter/multiplexer and associated method of use therefor or converting and multiplexing parallel inputs, a modem, a GPS, or even modem information into a single multimaster broadcast serial bus standard for connecting electronic control units, and more specifically, to a multiplexer for transforming analog, digital, frequency, GPS, or modem inputs into a CAN bus data transmittal over LAN and/or PAN and interrelation with a similarly equipped receiving module. Further, the converter/multiplexer is used alone or in a group as part of a larger system for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals for serial bus processing and also for guidance when the converters are cabled by operators using stored configurations.

Claims

1. A converter for multiplexing multiple inputs to a serial bus, the converter comprising:

a central processing unit connected to at least two inputs for receiving parallel data from each of the at least two inputs;

at least a first transceiver connected to the central processing unit for merging the at least two serial inputs into a serial output format; and

at least a second transceiver connected to the central processing unit and to a serial bus to adapt a level of the serial output from the first transceiver to the serial bus.

2. The converter of claim 1, further comprising a third transceiver for transmitting the serial output via a wireless protocol.

3. The converter of claim 2, wherein the transmission over the serial output is for an optical cable, or an Ethernet over twisted cable.

4. The converter of claim 1, further comprising a third transceiver for transmitting the serial output a protocol taken from a group consisting of a local area network protocol, a personal area network protocol, a low-power digital radio protocol, and a hypertext transfer protocol.

5. The converter of claim 2, wherein the first transceiver is a first UART with asynchronous input/output connected serially with a microtransceiver with auto shutdown, the second transceiver is a CAN transceiver, and the third transceiver is a low-power transceiver.

6. The converter of claim 5, wherein the low-power transceiver transmits the serial output over a high-level communication protocol using small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

7. The converter of claim 1, wherein the inputs are selected from a group consisting of an analog input, a digital input, a frequency input, modem data, or GPS data.

8. The converter of claim 1, wherein the inputs are at least one analog input and at least one digital input.

9. The converter of claim 1, further comprising a real-time clock for regulating the central processing unit and the inputs.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the multiplexer/controller is built according to the teachings of claim 1.

10. A multiple-input converter for transforming parallel inputs to a serial CAN-bus output, the converter comprising:

a central processing unit connected to at least two digital inputs and two analog inputs for receiving data from each of the inputs;

at least a first UART with asynchronous input/output connected serially with a microtransceiver connected to the central processing unit for merging the serial inputs into a serial output;

a CAN transceiver connected to the central processing unit and to a CAN bus to adapt a level of the serial output from the microtransceiver to the CAN bus;

a low-power transceiver for transmitting the serial output via a wireless protocol or a protocol taken from a group consisting of a local area network protocol, a personal area network protocol, a low-power digital radio protocol, and a hypertext transfer protocol.

11. The converter of claim 10, wherein the low-power transceiver transmits the serial output over a high-level communication protocol using small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

12. The converter of claim 10, wherein the inputs further include an input selected from a group consisting of an analog input, a digital input, a frequency input, modem data, or GPS data.

13. A method of converting a plurality of parallel inputs to a serial bus, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting a plurality of parallel inputs at a first multiplexer/converter;

converting the plurality of parallel inputs into a single serial bus output; and

transmitting using a first transceiver of the serial bus output to a serial bus, a local area network protocol, a personal area network protocol, a low-power digital radio protocol, or a hypertext transfer protocol either over a hardwire or a wireless connection.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at a second multiplexer/converter the serial bus output; and

converting the single serial bus output back to multiple parallel inputs.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the serial bus output includes a step of selecting the mode of transmission based on an existence of a hardwire connection.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of parallel inputs are further converted by the first multiplexer/converter into other formats using drivers.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of converting the single serial bus output back to multiple parallel inputs includes a step of further converting the inputs into other formats using drivers.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein between the first multiplexer/converter and the second multiplexer/converter is a hardware connection and a wireless connection for the transmission step and the method further includes the step of selecting the mode of transmission based on a programmed default configuration.

19. A method of advance notification of cabling of a multiplexer/controller converting a plurality of parallel inputs to a serial bus, the method comprising the steps of:

uploading in a memory of a host processor a plurality of predetermined configurations each for a set of inputs associated with a different configuration;

connecting a new input into a multiplexer/controller converting a plurality of parallel inputs to a serial bus; and

comparing the input configuration with the plurality of predetermined configurations;

continuing to monitoring the connection of new inputs into the multiplexer/controller until all inputs are connected and a match is validated and used as a stored configuration for the operational aspects of the multiplexer/controller.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the stored configuration is further used to control operations using connections configurations, and sending a notice when a variation from the stored configuration is observed.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein if at least one input is not in conformity with the stored configuration, a notice is sent to a user that an improper input connection is used.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the notice includes cabling guidelines and monitoring as the user continues to connect new inputs into the multiplexer/controller.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of predetermined configurations is a voltage map for each of the different inputs to be cabled in any configuration.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein upload of the predetermined configurations or notices sent are exchanged via a location positioning system or a modem connected to the multiplexer/controller.