Electronic vehicle controller with a databus capability

• US 6,553,039 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Huber, Martin, Kuder, Helmar, Kuehner, Thilo, Lohrmann, Peter, Minuth, Juergen, Preuschoff, Werner, Saeufferer, Bernd, Seefried, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US09/288,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/419, 370/463, 370/469, 370/451, 370/423, 370/535, 340/426, 701/29
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An electronic vehicle controller has a processor unit and a communication output stage for coupling the controller to a databus. A data protocol device, which is connected between the processor unit and the communication output stage, variably defines the data protocol to be used for a particular data transfer, as a function of protocol control information which is supplied to its input side. The data protocol device may be in the form of hardware or software, and allows flexible data protocol selection even at the end of the controller development process.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle controller comprising:

a processor unit;

a communication output stage for coupling the controller to a databus; and

a data protocol device connected between the processor unit and the communication output stage;

wherein

said data protocol device variably sets a data protocol to be used for a respective data transfer, as a function of protocol control information which is supplied as an input to said data protocol device; and

the data protocol device comprises

a transmission block having a predeterminable number of data input channels on a processor unit side thereof, a predeterminable number of data output channels on a bus side thereof, and means for transposing data from the input channels to the output channels, which means include a transmission multiplexer stage that emits at least one data transmission control signal as a function of a set data protocol; and

a reception block having a predeterminable number of data input channels on a bus side thereof, a predeterminable number of data output channels on a processor side thereof, and means for transposing data from the input channels to the output channels, which means includes a reception multiplexer stage that emits at least one data transmission control signal as a function of the data protocol.

2. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, further comprising an overload protection unit which processes the data transmission control signal in order to prevent an excessive number of transmissions.

3. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein the data protocol device comprises:

a reception block having a predeterminable number of data input channels on a bus side thereof;

a predeterminable number of data output channels on a processor side thereof; and

means for transposing data from the input channels to the output channels, which means includes a reception multiplexer stage which emits at least one data transmission control signal as a function of the data protocol.

4. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, further comprising an obsolescence unit for monitoring time associated with data reception processes based on a data reception control signal which is supplied on the bus side.

5. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmission block and the reception block has a data-buffering register unit per data channel on the processor side.

6. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission block and the reception block has a data-buffering register unit per data channel on the processor side.

7. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 5 wherein at least one of the transmission block and the reception block contains an assessment unit for assessing the status of data, which assessment unit is connected downstream of the respective register unit and whose output signal is supplied to the multiplexer stage.

8. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmission block and the reception block contains a multimode timer per data channel on the bus side, which multimode timer produces a mode-specific clock signal for the associated multiplexer stage.

9. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the transmission block and the reception block contains a multimode timer per data channel on the bus side, which multimode timer produces a mode-specific clock signal for the associated multiplexer stage.

11. The electronic vehicle controller according to claim 1, wherein said processor unit communicates said protocol control information to said data protocol device in the form of configuration signals which define a data protocol to be selected.

10. An electronic vehicle controller, comprising:

a processor unit;

communication output stage for coupling the controller to a databus; and

a data protocol device connected between the processor unit and the communication output stage;

wherein,

said data protocol device variably selects a data protocol to be used for data communication between the processor unit and the databus, as a function of a type of data which is currently being transferred, in response to protocol control information which is supplied as an input -to the data protocol device; and

said processor unit communicates said protocol control information to said data protocol device in the form of configuration signals which define a data protocol to be implemented.