Automobile multiplex data communication method and system capable of preventing chattering phenomenon of switching component

• US 5,790,042 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Isao, Sakagami, Atsushi, Sekido, Tatsuya, Echigo, Yuko
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/814,747
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.16, 340/870.16, 340/511, 340/526, 371/69.1, 371/70, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/3.42
• 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

An automobile multiplex data communication system includes: a plurality of child stations; a parent station for controlling a multiplex data communication established with the plurality of child stations; and a signal transmission path for mutually connecting the parent station with said plurality of child stations. The parent station is arranged by a storage unit for storing data about a condition-stabilizing time period specific to the operation member, defined by a time duration after the operation member has been manipulated until an operation condition becomes a stable condition; a first operation-condition detecting unit for detecting at least two successive operation conditions of the operation member connected to the communication unit of each child station to produce first and second operation-condition detection data; a condition-change detecting unit for detecting a change in at least the two successive operation conditions of the operation member; a second operation-condition detecting unit for detecting another operation conditions of said operation member after the operation condition change has been detected by the operation-change detecting unit and when the operation-stabilizing time period specific to the operation member has elapsed, thereby producing third operation-condition detection data free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of the operation member; a setting unit for setting a drive instruction of the terminal unit based upon the third operation-condition detection data; and a transmission unit for transmitting the drive instruction to the child station with the operation member whose operation condition has been detected as the third-condition detection data.

Claims

1. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system wherein there are provided a plurality of child stations each having a child communication unit to which at least one of an operation member and a terminal unit are connected, and a parent station connected via a signal transmission path to the plurality of child stations, and multiplex data communications are sequentially established between the parent station and the respective child stations, comprising the steps of:

storing, in the parent stations, a plurality of condition-stabilizing time periods, each condition-stabilizing time period being specific to a respective operation member and being defined by a time duration after the respective operation member has been manipulated until an operation condition thereof becomes a stable condition;

the parent station firstly detecting at least two successive operation conditions of one operation member of said operation members to produce first and second operation-condition detection data;

the parent station secondly detecting a difference between said two successive operation conditions of the one operation member;

the parent station thirdly allowing a condition stabilizing time period specific to said one operation member to elapse;

the parent station fourthly detecting another operation condition of the one operation member, thereby producing third operation-condition detection data free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one operation member;

the parent station setting a drive instruction of a terminal unit based upon said third operation-condition detection data; and

transmitting said drive instruction from said parent station via said signal transmission path to a child station corresponding to the terminal unit.

2. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third operation-condition detecting step, said drive-instruction setting step, and said drive-instruction transmitting step are executed as a timer interrupt operation when said condition-stabilizing time period has elapsed.

3. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

determining a priority order with respect to said third operation-condition detecting steps for said operation members of said plural child stations, whereby when a plurality of timer interrupt operations are demanded at a substantially same time instant, said third operation-condition detecting step for the operation member having a top priority is executed first of all.

4. A method for sequentially establishing automatic multiplex data communications between a parent station and first and second child stations connected to the parent station via a signal transmission path, wherein the first child station has a first child communication unit connected to a first operation member and a first terminal unit, and the second child station has a second child communication unit connected to a second operation member and a second terminal unit, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a first condition-stabilizing time period corresponding to the first operation member in the parent station, the first condition-stabilizing time period representing a time after the first operation member is manipulated until the first operation member becomes stable;

storing a second condition-stabilizing time period corresponding to the second operation member in the parent station, the second condition-stabilizing time period being different from the first condition-stabilizing time period and representing a time after the second operation member is manipulated until the second operation member becomes stable;

detecting, at the parent station, a first operation condition of one of the first and second operation members;

detecting, at the parent station, a second operation condition of said one of the first and second operation members;

determining, at the parent station, a difference between the first operation condition and the second operation condition;

detecting, at the parent station, a third operation condition of said one of the first and second operation members after allowing the condition-stabilizing time period specific to said one of the first and second operation members to elapse, the third operation condition thereby being free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one of the first and second operation members;

setting, at the parent station, a drive instruction for the terminal unit corresponding to said one of the first and second operation members based, upon the third operation condition; and

transmitting the drive instruction from the parent station to the child station corresponding to the terminal corresponding to said one of the first and second operation members via the signal transmission path.

5. An automobile multiplex data communication system comprising:

a first child station having a first child communication unit connected to a first operation member and a first terminal unit;

a second child station having a second child communication unit connected to a second operation member and a second terminal unit;

a parent station for controlling multiplex data communications established with said first and second child stations; and

a signal transmission path for mutually connecting said parent station with said first and second child stations, wherein said parent station includes;

storage means for storing a first condition-stabilizing time period specific to the first operation member and defined by a time duration after the first operation member is manipulated until an operation condition of the first operation member becomes stable and a second condition-stabilizing time period specific to the second operation member, different from the first condition-stabilizing time period, and defined by a time duration after the second operation member is manipulated until an operation condition of the second operation member becomes stable;

first operation-condition detecting means for detecting a first operation condition and a second operation condition of one the first and second operation members;

condition-change detecting means for detecting a difference between the first operation condition and the second operation condition;

second operation-condition detecting means for detecting a third operation condition of said one of the first and second operation members after the condition-change detecting means has detected the difference between the first operation condition and the second operation condition and the condition-stabilizing time period corresponding to said one of the first and second operation members has subsequently elapsed, such that the third operation condition is free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one of the first and second operation members;

setting means for setting a drive instruction of the terminal unit corresponding to said one of the first and second operation members based on said third operation condition; and

transmission means for transmitting the drive instruction from the parent station via the signal transmission path to the child station corresponding to the terminal unit corresponding to said one of the first and second operation members.

6. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system wherein there are provided a plurality of child stations each having a child communication unit to which at least one of an operation member and a terminal unit are connected, and a parent station connected via a signal transmission path to the plurality of child stations, and multiplex data communications are sequentially established between the parent station and the respective child stations, comprising the steps of:

storing, in the parent station, a plurality of condition-stabilizing time periods, each condition-stabilizing time period being specific to a respective operation member and being defined by a time duration after the respective operation member has been manipulated until an operation condition thereof becomes a stable condition;

the parent station firstly detecting at least two successive operation conditions of one operation member of said operation members to produce first and second operation-condition detection data;

the parent station secondly detecting a difference between said two successive operation-conditions of the one operation member;

the parent station thirdly allowing a condition-stabilizing time period specific to said one operation member to elapse;

the parent station fourthly detecting another operation condition of the one operation member, thereby producing third operation-condition detection data;

the parent station determining whether said second operation condition of the one operation member is coincident with said third operation condition thereof;

the parent station setting a drive instruction of a terminal unit based upon said third operation-condition detection data when said second operation condition is coincident with said third operation condition, said third operation-condition detection data being free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one operation member; and

transmitting said drive instruction from said parent station via said signal transmission path to a child station corresponding to the terminal unit.

7. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said third operation-condition detecting step, said drive-instruction setting step, and said drive-instruction transmitting step are executed as a timer interrupt operation when said condition-stabilizing time period has elapsed.

8. A method for an automatic multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

determining a priority order with respect to said third operation-condition detecting steps for said operation members of said plural child stations, whereby when a plurality of timer interrupt operations are demanded at a substantially same time instant, said third operation-condition detecting step for the operation member having a top priority is executed first of all.

9. An automobile multiplex data communication system comprising:

a plurality of child stations each having a child communication unit to which at least one of an operation member and a terminal unit are connected;

a parent station for controlling multiplex data communications established with said plurality of child stations; and

a signal transmission path for mutually connecting said parent station with said plurality of child stations,

wherein said parent station includes;

storage means for storing a plurality of condition-stabilizing time periods, each condition-stabilizing time period being specific to a respective operation member and defined by a time duration after the respective operation member has been manipulated until an operation condition thereof becomes a stable condition;

first operation-condition detecting means for detecting at least two successive operation conditions of one operation member of said operation members to produce first and second operation-condition detection data;

condition-change detecting means for detecting an operation-condition difference between the at least two successive operation conditions of the one operation member;

second operation-condition detecting means for detecting another operation condition of said one operation member after said operation-condition difference has been detected by said condition-change detecting means and a condition-stabilizing time period specific to said one operation member has subsequently elapsed, thereby producing third operation-condition detection data free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one operation member;

setting means for setting a drive instruction of a terminal unit based upon said third operation-condition detection data; and

transmission means for transmitting said drive instruction from said parent station via said signal transmission path to a child station corresponding to the terminal unit.

10. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said child stations includes:

address comparing means for comparing first address data contained in said drive instruction sent from said parent station with second address data preset to own child station to check a coincidence between said first and second address data, thereby judging whether or not said drive instruction is directed to said own child station.

11. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said parent station further includes:

timer means for counting an elapse of time defined by said condition-stabilizing time period specific to said one operation member, and when said condition-stabilizing time period has elapsed, a timer interrupt demand is issued, thereby producing said third operation-condition detection data.

12. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said parent station further includes:

a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing at least one of said first and second operation-condition detection data.

13. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first operation-condition detecting means, said condition-change detecting means, said second operation-condition detecting means, and said setting means are accomplished by a microprocessor.

14. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said one operation member is a switch and said terminal unit is one of automobile lamps, power-window motors, and horns.

15. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein when a small lamp switch is employed as said switch, said condition-stabilizing time period is selected to be approximately 20 milliseconds, whereas when a hazard lamp switch is employed as said switch, said condition-stabilizing time period is selected to be approximately 100 milliseconds.

16. An automobile multiplex data communication system comprising:

a plurality of child stations each having a child communication unit to which at least one of an operation member and a terminal unit are connected;

a parent station for controlling multiplex data communications established with said plurality of child stations; and

a signal transmission path for mutually connecting said parent station with said plurality of child stations,

wherein said parent station includes;

storage means for storing a plurality of condition-stabilizing time periods, each condition-stabilizing time period being specific to a respective operation member and defined by a time duration after the respective operation member has been manipulated until an operation condition thereof becomes a stable condition;

first operation-condition detecting means for detecting at least two successive operation conditions of one operation member of said operation members to produce first and second operation-condition detection data;

condition-change detecting means for detecting an operation-condition difference between the at least two successive operation conditions of the one operation member;

second operation-condition detecting means for detecting another operation condition of said one operation member after said operation-condition difference has been detected by said condition-change detecting means and a condition-stabilizing time period specific to said one operation member has subsequently elapsed, thereby producing third operation-condition detection data free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one operation member;

judging means for judging whether or not said second operation condition of the one operation member is coincident with said third operation condition thereof;

setting means for setting a drive instruction of a terminal unit based upon said third operation-condition detection data when said second operation condition is coincident with said third operation condition, said third operation-condition detection data being free from an adverse influence caused by a chattering phenomenon of said one operation member; and

transmission means for transmitting said drive instruction from said parent station via said signal transmission path to a child station corresponding to the terminal unit.

17. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said parent station further includes:

timer means for counting an elapse of time defined by said condition-stabilizing time period specific to said operation member, and when said condition-stabilizing time period has elapsed, a timer interrupt demand is issued, thereby producing said third operation-condition detection data.

18. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said parent station further includes:

a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing at least one of said first and second operation-condition detection data.

19. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first and second operation-condition detecting means, said condition-change detecting means, said judging means, and said setting means are accomplished by a microprocessor.

20. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said operation member is a switch and said terminal unit is one of automobile lamps, power-window motors, and horns.

21. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 20, wherein when a small lamp switch is employed as said switch, said condition-stabilizing time period is selected to be approximately 20 milliseconds, whereas when a hazard lamp switch is employed as said switch, said condition-stabilizing time period is selected to be approximately 100 milliseconds.

22. An automobile multiplex data communication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said child stations includes:

address comparing means for comparing first address data contained in said drive instruction sent from said parent station with second address data preset to own child station to check a coincidence between said first and second address data, thereby judging whether or not said drive instruction is directed to said own child station.