Vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus

• US 5,675,189 A
• Filed: 08/09/1994
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation, Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation, Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Nozomi, Umegaki, Kouji, Nakazono, Hideki, Michihira, Osamu, Shimizu, Masaaki, Hirano, Seiji, Anma, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M.
• Application Number:
  US08/288,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/23, 307/29, 307/64, 307/70, 307/80, 307/85, 307/86, 307/87, 307/125, 307/130, 307/131
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q

Abstract

A vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus which can operate all the auxiliary units of a vehicle even when a power supply line of the vehicle is locally short-circuited. This vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus includes a plurality of control nodes arranged in respective portions of a vehicle, for controlling vehicle auxiliary units, and a multiplex transmission line for connecting among the plurality of control nodes. The control nodes are connected to a power supply node arranged at a predetermined position of a vehicle body through two independent systems of first and second power supply lines. The first power supply line supplies power to vehicle travel auxiliary units. The second power supply line supplies power to general system auxiliary units, but it can supply power to the travel auxiliary units as needed.

Claims

1. A vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus, comprising:

a power supply node arranged at a predetermined portion of a vehicle;

a plurality of control nodes, including a first group of control nodes and a second group of control nodes arranged in respective portions of the vehicle, controlling vehicle auxiliary units;

a multiplex transmission line connecting said plurality of control nodes;

a first power supply line connecting said power supply node and the first group of control nodes in series to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes; and

a second power supply line connecting said power supply node and the second group of control nodes in series to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes, wherein the first and second power supply lines are arranged to form different routes respectively so that one of the first power supply line and the second power supply line connects one control node and an adjacent control node directly and the other one of the first power supply line and the second power supply line connects said one control node and said adjacent control node through at least another one control node.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load controller, and said load controller is connected to said first and second power supply lines through reverse-flow prevention diodes.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply node comprises protection means for protecting said first and second power supply lines, respectively.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said protection means comprises a fuse.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle auxiliary units are classified into travel system auxiliary units which are associated with traveling of the vehicle, and general system auxiliary units which are not associated with traveling,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said travel system auxiliary units, and said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said general system auxiliary units, and

said apparatus further comprises switching means for switching the electrical power supplied through said second power supply line to said travel system auxiliary units instead of said general system auxiliary units.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load driver, a control unit, and a communication unit,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said load driver, said control unit, and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes, and

said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to only said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising protection means for protecting said second power supply line wherein said second power supply line is connected to said power supply node through single protection means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said protection means comprises a fuse.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second power supply lines are connected to said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes through reverse-flow prevention diodes.

10. A vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus comprising:

a plurality of control nodes, arranged in respective portions of a vehicle, controlling vehicle auxiliary units;

a multiplex transmission line connecting said plurality of control nodes;

a power supply node, arranged at a predetermined portion of the vehicle, supplying electrical power to said plurality of control nodes;

a first power supply line connecting said power supply node with said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes; and

a second power supply line connecting said power supply node with said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes simultaneously with the supply of electric power to said plurality of control nodes through said first power supply line, said second power supply line being routed on a path to supply power to said plurality of control nodes different from a path the first power supply line is routed to supply power to said plurality of control nodes,

wherein each of said plurality of control nodes is connected with both of said first and second power supply lines so that said control nodes are supplied with the electric power from both said first and second power supply lines, and each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load driver, a control unit, and a communication unit,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said load driver, said control unit, and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes, and

said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to only said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising protection means for protecting said second power supply line wherein said second power supply line is connected to said power supply node through single protection means.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said protection means comprises a fuse.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second power supply lines are connected to said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes through reverse-flow prevention diodes.

14. A vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus, comprising:

a power supply node arranged at a predetermined portion of a vehicle;

a plurality of control nodes, arranged in respective portions of the vehicle, controlling vehicle auxiliary units;

a multiplex transmission line connecting said plurality of control nodes;

a first power supply line connecting said power supply node and said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes; and

a second power supply line connecting said power supply node and said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes, wherein the first power supply line connects a first group of the plurality of control nodes arranged at one side of the vehicle in series and the second power supply line connects a second group of the plurality of control nodes arranged at the other side of the vehicle in series so that the first and second power supply lines form different power supply routes.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load controller, and said load controller is connected to said first and second power supply lines through reverse-flow prevention diodes.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power supply node comprises protection means for protecting said first and second power supply lines, respectively.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said protection means comprises a fuse.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said vehicle auxiliary units are classified into travel system auxiliary units which are associated with traveling of the vehicle, and general system auxiliary units which are not associated with traveling,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said travel system auxiliary units, and said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said general system auxiliary units, and

said apparatus further comprises switching means for switching the electrical power supplied through said second power supply line to said travel system auxiliary units instead of said general system auxiliary units.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load driver, a control unit, and a communication unit,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said load driver, said control unit, and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes, and

said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to only said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes.

20. A vehicle multiplex transmission apparatus, comprising:

a power supply node arranged at a predetermined portion of a vehicle;

a plurality of control nodes, arranged in respective portions of the vehicle, controlling vehicle auxiliary units;

a multiplex transmission line connecting said plurality of control nodes;

a first power supply line connecting said power supply node and said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes; and

a second power supply line connecting said power supply node and said plurality of control nodes to supply electric power to said plurality of control nodes, wherein the first power supply line connects a first group of the plurality of control nodes in series and the second power supply line connects a second group of the plurality of control nodes in series to form different power supply routes so that influences of collision on the vehicle are different at the first and second power supply lines.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load controller, and said load controller is connected to said first and second power supply lines through reverse-flow prevention diodes.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said power supply node comprises protection means for protecting said first and second power supply lines, respectively.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said protection means comprises a fuse.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said vehicle auxiliary units are classified into travel system auxiliary units which are associated with traveling of the vehicle, and general system auxiliary units which are not associated with traveling,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said travel system auxiliary units, and said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said general system auxiliary units, and

said apparatus further comprises switching means for switching the electrical power supplied through said second power supply line to said travel system auxiliary units instead of said general system auxiliary units.

25. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said plurality of control nodes comprises a load driver, a control unit, and a communication unit,

said first power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to said load driver, said control unit, and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes, and

said second power supply line is arranged to supply electrical power to only said control unit and said communication unit of each of said plurality of control nodes.