Method and device for bi-directional half duplex transmission of data

• US 7,480,263 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Junger, Andreas, Kostorz, Wolfgang, Elbracht, Berthold, Haensel, Jens, Lueders, Uwe, Moritz, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; David C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stevens; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/498,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,281 Days
• Field of Search: 714/18, 375/257, 375/219
• US Class Current: 370/296
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0282 Provision for current-mode coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/029 Provision of high-impedance states
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0294 Provision for current-mode coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4904 using self-synchronising codes, e.g. split-phase codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission

Abstract

A method and a device for bi-directional transmission of data are provided such that an interface for digital communication on a signal line is obtained which is suited for automotive use. In accordance with the present invention, the following are provided: at least one switchable load unit, the load unit of the temporary transmitter being able to be deenergized prior to transmission of the data; and being able to be reenergized after transmission of the data; in each case at least one switchable current-source unit is assigned to the load unit, the current-source unit of the transmitter being able to be clocked to generate the signals to be transmitted via the communication path; and in each case at least one comparator unit is assigned to the load unit, corresponding output signals being generated at the comparator unit of the receiver from the signals transmitted via the communication path.

Claims

1. A method for bi-directional transmission of data signals between at least two communication participants on a communication path, the communication participants each having at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the load unit, the method comprising:

temporarily assigning each of the at least two communication participants one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, wherein;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals;

the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path;

the generated data signals are transmitted via the communication path, so that corresponding output signals are produced at the comparator unit assigned to the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is reenergized after transmission of the data signals; and

at least one second switchable current-source unit is connected in parallel to the at least one first current-source unit in each of the at least two communication participants.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

acknowledging to the transmitter that a receive buffer of the receiver is full, by at least one buffer-comparator unit connected in parallel to the comparator unit; and

blocking the transmitter when the receive buffer of the receiver is full.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data signals are encoded by at least one cyclical code.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one cyclical code includes the Abramson code, the Hamming code, the Manchester code and the Manchester II code.

5. A system for bi-directional transmission of data signals on a communication path, comprising:

at least two communication participants on the communication path, each of the two communication participants being temporarily assigned one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, each of the two communication participants including at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the switchable load unit

wherein;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals and reenergized after transmission of the data signals;

the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path;

corresponding output signals are generated at the comparator unit of the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path; and

at least one second switchable current-source unit is connected in parallel to the at least one first current-source unit in each of the at least two communication participants.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one buffer-comparator unit is connected in parallel to the comparator unit in each of the at least two communication participants, the buffer-comparator unit of the receiver being configured to acknowledge to the transmitter that a receive buffer of the receiver is full.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the system is configured to be operated by the at least one second switchable current-source unit as a system for conditioning of electrical and non-electrical measured variables.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

at least one diagnosis-comparator unit assigned to the communication path for wake-up of the system after the system has been in a sleep state.

9. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the system is configured to be operated by the at least one second switchable current-source unit as a system for conditioning of electrical and non-electrical measured variables.

10. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

at least one diagnosis-comparator unit assigned to the communication path for wake-up of the system after the system has been in a sleep state.

11. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein one communication participant is configured as a radar control device and the other communication participant is configured as a radar sensor device.

12. The device as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

at least one diagnosis-comparator unit assigned to the communication path for a diagnosis of short-circuit of the communication path to ground.

13. A system for bi-directional transmission of data signals on a communication path, comprising:

at least two communication participants on the communication path, each of the two communication participants being temporarily assigned one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, each of the two communication participants including at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the switchable load unit; and

at least one diagnosis-comparator unit assigned to the communication path for a diagnosis of short-circuit of the communication path to ground;

wherein;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals and reenergized after transmission of the data signals;

the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path; and

corresponding output signals are generated at the comparator unit of the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

at least one diagnosis-comparator unit assigned to the communication path for wake-up of the system after the system has been in a sleep state.

17. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one buffer-comparator unit is connected in parallel to the comparator unit in each of the at least two communication participants, the buffer-comparator unit of the receiver being configured to acknowledge to the transmitter that a receive buffer of the receiver is full.

15. A method of operating a radar sensor interface unit of a radar system, the interface unit facilitating bi-directional transmission of data signals between at least two communication participants on a communication path, the communication participants each having at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the load unit, the method comprising:

temporarily assigning each of the at least two communication participants one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, wherein;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals;

the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path;

the generated data signals are transmitted via the communication path, so that corresponding output signals are produced at the comparator unit assigned to the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is reenergized after transmission of the data signals; and

at least one second switchable current-source unit is connected in parallel to the at least one first current-source unit in each of the at least two communication participants.

16. A radar sensor interface unit of a radar system, the interface unit facilitating bi-directional transmission of data signals on a communication path, comprising:

at least two communication participants on the communication path, each of the two communication participants being temporarily assigned one of a function of a transmitter for transmission of the data signals and a function of a receiver, each of the two communication participants including at least one switchable load unit, at least one first switchable current-source unit assigned to the switchable load unit, and at least one comparator unit assigned to the switchable load unit;

wherein;

the switchable load unit of the transmitter is deenergized prior to transmission of the data signals and reenergized after transmission of the data signals;

the switchable current-source unit of the transmitter is clocked for generating the data signals to be transmitted via the communication path;

corresponding output signals are generated at the comparator unit of the receiver from the data signals transmitted via the communication path; and

at least one second switchable current-source unit is connected in parallel to the at least one first current-source unit in each of the at least two communication participants.