Temperature management in ring topology networks

• US 7,386,370 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Ensslin, Ulrich, Seib, Hans-Gerd, Niemczyk, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US10/525,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 700/299, 700/300, 713/320, 713/324, 307/651, 702/132, 701/29, 701/31, 701/33, 701/35, 701/36, 361/103
• US Class Current: 700/299
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21156 Over temperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24205 Slow down processor activity if temperature rises above limit
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25165 Token ring network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for temperature management in a network (1) with ring topology, wherein control devices (2) exchange data via the network (1) by means of transmitting/receiving units. The object of the present invention is to find a method and a data bus system which increases the fail safety of a network (1) with ring topology. For this purpose, the temperature near to the transmitting/measuring unit of at least one control device (2) is measured. As soon as the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit (2) of the control device exceeds a predefined critical temperature T_krit, the transmitting/receiving unit is switched off and wakeup requests put onto the network (1) by the control devices (2) are blocked.

Claims

1. A method for temperature management in a network, wherein control devices exchange data via the network using transmitting/receiving units and the temperature is measured at at least one control device, the method comprising the acts of:

measuring the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of at least one control device;

switching off the transmitting/receiving unit as soon as the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of the at least one control device exceeds a predefined critical temperature T_krit;

blocking wakeup requests put onto the network via the control devices as soon as the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of the control device exceeds a predefined critical temperature T_krit;

canceling the blocking of the wakeup requests as soon as the temperature of the transmitting/receiving unit has dropped to a temperature below the predefined critical temperature T_krit and below a predefined threshold value temperature T_th within a predefined time period, wherein the threshold value temperature T_th lies below the critical temperature T_krit; and

placing the at least one control device in an energy saving mode as soon as the temperature of the transmitting/receiving unit exceeds the predefined critical temperature T_krit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the act of:

storing a fault code for diagnostic purpose when the critical temperature T_krit is reached.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one control device is placed in an energy saving mode in which a wakeup standby mode of the control device and the temperature measurement at the transmitting/receiving unit of the at least one control device are ensured.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein when a predefined temperature T_inf, which lies below the predefined critical temperature T_krit and above the predefined threshold value temperature T_th is reached, a driver external service points and the control devices are informed about possible overheating and/or preventive protective measures are taken.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the preventive protective measures include

activation of an automatic air conditioning system;

deactivation of heat sources;

activation of heat protection means;

or

activation of an emergency operating function of a control device which can be used without a network functionality.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one control device is placed in a standby mode, or switched off, if the temperature of the transmitting/receiving unit is above the critical temperature T_krit or equal to the critical temperature T_krit during a predefined time period.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the network is configured as an optical data bus network with an electric wakeup line, and the wakeup requests are blocked by connecting the wakeup line to ground.

8. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the critical temperature T_krit corresponds to the maximum operating temperature of the transmitting/receiving units.

9. The use of the method as claimed in claim 2 in a data bus system using ring topology.

10. A method for temperature management in a network, wherein control devices exchange data via the network using transmitting/receiving units and the temperature is measured at at least one control device, the method comprising the acts of:

measuring the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of at least one control device;

switching off the transmitting/receiving unit as soon as the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of the at least one control device exceeds a predefined critical temperature T_krit;

blocking wakeup requests put onto the network via the control devices as soon as the temperature at the transmitting/receiving unit of the at least one control device exceeds a predefined critical temperature T_krit;

canceling the blocking of the wakeup requests as soon as the temperature of the transmitting/receiving unit has dropped to a temperature below the predefined critical temperature T_krit and below a predefined threshold value temperature T_th within a predefined time period, wherein the threshold value temperature T_th lies below the critical temperature T_krit; and

storing a fault code for diagnostic purpose when the critical temperature T_krit is reached.