Multiplex communication system for vehicle

• US 6,009,105 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Imaizumi, Nobuhiro, Oniishi, Tatsuaki, Hosokawa, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/671,647
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 370/438, 370/442, 370/447, 370/458, 370/461, 370/462, 701/36, 701/49
• US Class Current: 370/458
• 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

In a multiplex communication system for a bus vehicle, including: a plurality of loads disposed in the bus vehicle and connected to a wire harness; a switch unit for inputting signals to operate the loads and generating multiplex data; a first load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly on a floor of the bus vehicle; and a second load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly on a ceiling of the bus vehicle, the multiplex communication system further includes a multiplex line interconnecting the switch unit, the first load drive unit and the second load drive unit, and transmitting the multiplex data to the first and second load drive units to execute a multiplex communication, each the first and second load drive units controlling the loads in accordance with the multiplex data received through the multiplex line from the switch unit. The wire harness can be formed with high assembling performance or productivity in the bus vehicle.

Claims

1. A multiplex communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of loads disposed in the vehicle and connected to a wire harness;

a central switch for inputting signals to operate the loads and generating multiplex data;

a first load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly on a floor of the vehicle;

a second load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly on a ceiling of the vehicle;

a multiplex line interconnecting the central switch, the first load drive unit and the second load drive unit, and transmitting the multiplex data generated by the central switch to the first and second load drive units to execute a multiplex communication, each of the first and second load drive units controlling the loads in accordance with the multiplex data received through the multiplex line from the central switch;

wherein each of the first and second load drive units and the switch unit comprises a processor and a memory, the processor executing the multiplex communication corresponding to predetermined times in accordance with data stored in the memory, the multiplex communication sharing selectively one of transmitting and receiving status data received from the loads, transmitting and receiving the multiplex data, and controlling the loads and inputting the signals;

wherein said switch, said first load drive unit, and said second load drive unit comprise first through third control units, respectively, and wherein each memory of said first through third control units stores data corresponding to flags indicating timer time setting conditions, flags corresponding to transmitting or reception states for the other two control units, a transmission and reception end flag for the respective control unit and a timer, and wherein each processor of the respective control unit executes multiplexing data in accordance with said timer flags, transmission and reception state flags, transmission and reception end flag, and timer.

2. A multiplex communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of loads disposed in the vehicle and connected to a wire harness;

a central switch for inputting signals to operate the loads and generating multiplex data;

a first load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly in a first section of the vehicle;

a second load drive unit for controlling the loads placed mainly in a second section of the vehicle;

a multiplex line interconnecting the central switch, the first load drive unit and the second load drive unit, and transmitting the multiplex data generated by the central switch to the first and second load drive units to execute a multiplex communication, each of the first and second load drive units controlling the loads in accordance with the multiplex data received through the multiplex line from the central switch,

wherein each of the first and second load drive units and the switch comprises a processor and a memory, the processor executing the multiplex communication corresponding to predetermined times in accordance with data stored in the memory, the multiplex communication sharing selectively one of transmitting and receiving status data received from the loads, transmitting and receiving the multiplex data, and controlling the loads and inputting the signals,

wherein said switch, said first load drive unit, and said second load drive unit comprise first through third control units, respectively, and wherein each memory of said first through third control units stores data corresponding to flags indicating timer time setting conditions, flags corresponding to transmitting or reception states for the other two control units, a transmission and reception end flag for the respective control unit and a timer, and wherein each processor of the respective control unit executes multiplexing data in accordance with said timer flags, transmission and reception state flags, transmission and reception end flag, and timer.