Electrical/electronic system architecture

• US 6,420,797 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Steele, Robert Edward, Rodondi, Andrew Frank, Albanese, Ronald P., Chandler, Christopher C., Schmidt, Theodore Raymond, Robinson, David Allen, Mendez, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/252,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 174/42.A, 370/10.3, 370/10.6, 370/40.8, 701/36
• 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

Abstract

An electrical/electronic system architecture for a vehicle includes a plurality of regions partitioning the vehicle, with each region having a regional electrical/electronic controller (REEC) and at least one local network partitioning each region, with each local network having an electrical/electronic device. The electrical/electronic system architecture includes a global power distribution network that distributes power from a power source to the REEC within each region and a regional power distribution system that distributes the power from the REEC to the local network. The electrical/electronic system architecture also includes a global communication network that provides serial data communication between the REECs in the regions and a regional communication network communicating with the global communication network, such that the regional communication network provides data communication between the REEC and the local network within the region.

Claims

1. An electrical/electronic system architecture for a motor vehicle comprising:

a plurality of regions partitioning the vehicle, wherein each of said regions includes a regional electrical/electronic controller (REEC);

at least one local network partitioning each of said regions, wherein each of said at least one local network includes an electrical/electronic device and a bus having a communication line communicating directly between the respective REEC and the electrical/electronic device of the at least one local network;

a global power distribution network distributing power from a power source to said REEC within each of said regions;

a regional power distribution system that distributes power from said REEC to said at least one local network, within said region;

a global communication network that provides serial data communication between said REECs in each of said regions; and

a regional communication network communicating with said global communication network, wherein said regional communication network provides data communication between said REEC and said local network within said region.

2. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 including a global computational network that distributes computational data between said REECS in each of said regions and a regional computational network communicating with said global computational network, wherein said regional computational network distributes computational data from said REEC to said at least one local network.

3. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said global computational network distributes computed data to each of said regions via said global communication network.

4. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said regional computational network performs computations in said REEC.

5. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 2 wherein said local network performs a function as directed by the REEC based upon said computational data.

6. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said global power distribution system includes a power source, a global circuit protection device, a first power feed electrically connecting said power source and said global circuit protection device and a second power feed electrically connecting said global circuit protection device with said REEC in each of said regions.

7. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said regional power distribution system includes a regional circuit protection device operably connected to said second power feed, and a power line operably connected to said regional circuit protection device that distributes power to said local networks.

8. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one local network is grounded to said REEC within said region via a ground line.

9. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said global communication network is a high speed network that shares data from one region with each of said other regions through a global communication line.

10. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 9, wherein said high speed network is a star network.

11. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 9 wherein said global communication line is an optical wire.

12. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 9 wherein said global communication line is a twisted pair of wire.

13. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said regional communication network includes a data communication line between said REEC and said at least one local network, wherein said data communication line is bi-directional.

14. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said region is connected to said local network via the multi-line bus having at least a power line, a ground line and the data communication line.

15. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one local network includes a node.

16. An electrical/electronic system architecture for a motor vehicle comprising;

a plurality of regions partitioning the vehicle, wherein each of said regions includes a regional electrical/electronic controller (REEC);

at least one local network partitioning each of said regions, wherein each of said at least one local network includes an electrical/electronic device;

a global power distribution network distributing power from a power source to said REEC within each of said regions;

a regional power distribution system that distributes power from said REEC to said at least one local network, within said region;

a global communication network that provides high speed serial data communication between said REECs in each of said regions via a global communication line;

a regional communication network communicating with said global communication network, wherein said regional communication network provides data communication between said REEC and said local network within said region;

a global computational network that distributes computational data between said REECS in each of said regions using said global communication network; and

a regional computational network communicating with said global computational network, wherein said regional computational network distributes computational data from said REEC to said at least one local network.

17. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said regional computational network performs computations in said REEC.

18. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said local network performs a function as directed by the REEC based upon said computational data.

19. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said global power distribution system includes a power source, a global circuit protection device, a first power feed electrically connecting said power source and said global circuit protection device and a second power feed electrically connecting said global circuit protection device with said REEC in each of said regions.

20. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16, wherein said regional power distribution system includes a regional circuit protection device operably connected to said second power feed, and a power line operably connected to said regional circuit protection device that distributes power to said local networks.

21. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said at least one local network is grounded to said REEC within said region via a ground line.

22. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said regional communication network includes a data communication line between said REEC and said at least one local network, wherein said data communication line is bi-directional.

23. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said region is connected to said local network via a multi line bus having at least a power line, a ground line and a data communication line.

24. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 16 wherein said at least one local network includes a node.

25. An electrical/electronic system architecture as set forth in claim 24 wherein said local network is electrically connected to a multi-line bus using multi-drop construction.