Data synchronisation process, and transmission and reception interfaces

• US 6,567,476 B2
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kohl, Walter, Jakobi, Lothar, Koss, Thomas, Suelzle, Helmut, Nasswetter, Guenter, Schleupen, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURD, KEVIN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/043,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 375/282, 375/286, 375/293, 375/259, 375/288, 375/364, 375/368, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 375/293
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4286 using a handshaking protocol, e.g. RS232C link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/028 Arrangements specific to the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0292 Arrangements specific to the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/04 the signals being represented by different amplitudes or polarities, e.g. quadriplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/06 the synchronisation signals differing from the information signals in amplitude, polarity or frequency or length

Abstract

The method of transmitting data as a sequence of high bits and low bits over a transmission line from a transmitting device to a receiving device includes transmitting synchronization signals over the transmission line and transmitting one and only one high bit or one and only one low bit over the transmission line at an end of each synchronization signal. When the predetermined voltage levels for the high bit, low bit and synchronization signals are different from each other, the method is implemented in an especially simple manner. The interfaces for the receiving and transmitting devices for performing the method are also described.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information over a transmission line from a transmitting device to a receiving device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein said high bit or said low bit transmitted after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmission line is in a resting state during transmission of either said high bits, said low bits or said synchronization signals over said transmission line, and further comprising putting said transmission line in another state besides said resting state to signal a start of a data transmission.

4. A method of transmitting data in a motor vehicle over a transmission line from a transmitting device in the motor vehicle to a receiving device in the motor vehicle, said data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein said high bit or said low bit transmitted after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration;

wherein said transmitting device is a microprocessor and said receiving device is a voltage controller of said motor vehicle.

5. A method of transmitting data in a motor vehicle over a transmission line from a transmitting device in the motor vehicle to a receiving device in the motor vehicle, said data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein said high bit or said low bit transmitted after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration;

wherein said transmitting device is a microprocessor and said receiving device comprises a plurality of receiving units, and further comprising establishing a transmission protocol for transmissions from said microprocessor to the receiving units.

6. An interface for output of data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information on a transmission line, said interface comprising

means for transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from a transmitting device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration;

and

means for transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits from the transmitting device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein said high bit or said low bit transmitted after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration.

7. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for transmitting said one and only one of said high bits or said low bits includes a voltage divider (5,6) and a first switch (7), said voltage divider comprising a first resistor (5) and a second resistor (6);

and said first resistor (5) is arranged between a first voltage (VCC) and a node (4) connected to the transmission line;

the second resistor (6) is arranged between the node (4) and said first switch (7);

said first switch (7) is connected between the second resistor (6) and a second voltage and said first switch (7) comprises means for selectively switching to output either one of said high bits or one of said low bits.

8. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for transmitting said synchronization signals comprises a second switch (8) for connecting the transmission line with the first voltage or the second voltage selectively and said second switch (8) is switched according to the synchronization signal.

9. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 8, further comprising a data line (out-data) and a synchronization line (out-clk) connected with said first switch (7) and said second switch (8) respectively for supplying corresponding trigger signals to said first switch (7) and said second switch (8) from a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising means for generating said trigger signals.

10. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

11. An interface for receiving data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information on a transmission line, said interface comprising

means for detecting a plurality of synchronization signals transmitted on said transmission line one after the other, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration;

and

means for detecting one and only one high bit or one and only one low bit on the transmission line at an end of each of said synchronization signals, wherein said high bit and said low bit differ from each other so that said high bit and said low bit are distinguishable from each other;

wherein said high bit or said low bit detected after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration.

12. The interface for receiving data as defined in claim 11, wherein said means for detecting said synchronization bits and said means for detecting said high or low bit comprises respective comparators (10,11);

each of said comparators (10,11) have a first input terminal (+), a second input terminal (−

) and an output terminal;

said first terminal of each of said comparators is connected to said transmission line and said second terminal of each of said comparators is at a respective comparison voltage value.

13. The interface for receiving data as defined in claim 12, further comprising a data line (In-Data) and a synchronization line (In-CLK) connected with said output terminals of said comparators (10,11) respectively and wherein said high bits or said low bits and said synchronization signals are transmitted to a controller for a generator over said data line (In-Data) and said synchronization line (In-CLK) respectively.

14. The interface for receiving data as defined in claim 11, wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

15. A method of transmitting data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information over a transmission line from a transmitting device to a receiving device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

16. The method as defined in claim 15, wherein said high bit or said low bit transmitted over the transmission line after each of said synchronization signals has a high bit or low bit duration that is different from said synchronization signal duration.

17. A method of transmitting data in a motor vehicle over a transmission line from a transmitting device in the motor vehicle to a receiving device in the motor vehicle, said data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other;

wherein said transmitting device is a microprocessor and said receiving device is a voltage controller of said motor vehicle.

18. A method of transmitting data in a motor vehicle over a transmission line from a transmitting device in the motor vehicle to a receiving device in the motor vehicle, said data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration; and

b) transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device to the receiving device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other;

wherein said transmitting device is a microprocessor and said receiving device comprises a plurality of receiving units, and further comprising establishing a transmission protocol for transmissions from said microprocessor to the receiving units.

19. An interface for output of data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information on a transmission line, said interface consisting of

means for transmitting a plurality of synchronization signals over the transmission line from a transmitting device, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration;

and

means for transmitting one and only one of said high bits or one and only one of said low bits over the transmission line from the transmitting device at an end of each of said synchronization signals;

wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

20. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting said one and only one of said high bits or said low bits over the transmission line includes a voltage divider (5,6) and a first switch (7), said voltage divider comprising a first resistor (5) and a second resistor (6);

and said first resistor (5) is arranged between a first voltage (VCC) and a node (4) connected to the transmission line;

the second resistor (6) is arranged between the node (4′

) and said first switch (7);

said first switch (7) is connected between the second resistor (6) and a second voltage and said first switch (7) comprises means for selectively switching to output either one of said high bits or one of said low bits.

21. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 20, wherein said means for transmitting said synchronization signals over the transmission line comprises a second switch (8) for connecting the transmission line with the first voltage or the second voltage selectively and said second switch (8) is switched according to the synchronization signal.

22. The interface for output of data as defined in claim 20, further comprising a data line (out-data) and a synchronization line (out-clk) connected with said first switch (7) and said second switch (8) respectively for supplying corresponding trigger signals to said first switch (7) and said second switch (8) from a microprocessor, said microprocessor comprising means for generating said trigger signals.

23. An interface for receiving data comprising a sequence of high bits of information and low bits of information on a transmission line, said interface consisting of

means for detecting a plurality of synchronization signals transmitted on said transmission line one after the other, each of said synchronization signals having a synchronization signal duration;

and

means for detecting one and only one high bit or one and only one low bit on the transmission line at an end of each of said synchronization signals, wherein said high bit and said low bit differ from each other so that said high bit and said low bit are distinguishable from each other;

wherein each of said high bits has a predetermined fixed high bit voltage level, each of said low bits has a predetermined fixed low bit voltage level and each of said synchronization signals has a predetermined fixed synchronization signal voltage level and said high bit voltage level, said low bit voltage level and said synchronization voltage level are different from each other.

24. The interface for receiving data as defined in claim 23, wherein said means for detecting said synchronization bits and said means for detecting said high or low bit comprises respective comparators (10,11);

each of said comparators (10,11) have a first input terminal (+), a second input terminal (−

) and an output terminal;

said first terminal of each of said comparators is connected to said transmission line and said second terminal of each of said comparators is at a respective comparison voltage value.

25. The interface for receiving data as defined in claim 24, further comprising a data line (In-Data) and a synchronization line (In-CLK) connected with said output terminals of said comparators (10,11) respectively and wherein said high bits or said low bits and said synchronization signals are transmitted to a controller for a generator over said data line (in-Data) and said synchronization line (In-CLK) respectively.