Vehicle-mounted communication system and connector device with communication-controlling capability

• US 7,551,999 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Uraki, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/632,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 701/24, 701/29, 701 35- 36, 701/48, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 340/539.1, 340/999, 455/420, 342/357.1, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/48
• 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 object of the present invention is to provide flexibility in modifying or updating a communication system and the like of a vehicle-mounted network, thus reducing processing loads on electrical components modules and the like. In the present invention, a connector device with communication-controlling capability takes charge of controlling a communication system of a vehicle-mounted network, so that an electrical components module is specialized for its inherent processing other than the communication system. A control program about the communication system is rewritably stored in a rewritable non-volatile storage device in the connector device with communication-controlling capability, and the communication system is modified or updated only by renewing the control program stored in the non-volatile storage device in the connector device with communication-controlling capability.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted communication system that carries out communications among a plurality of electrical components units in an automobile through a prescribed vehicle-mounted network, said system comprising:

said plurality of electrical components units each having a processing part for performing drive control of a load associated with each of said plurality of electrical components units; and

a plurality of connector devices with communication-controlling capability removably connected to said electrical components units, respectively, and connected to said vehicle-mounted network, said connector devices taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network.

2. The vehicle-mounted communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each of said connector devices with communication-controlling capability includes

a communication processing part taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network, and

a rewritable non-volatile storage device storing a control program that stipulates control in said communication processing part.

3. A vehicle-mounted communication system that carries out communications among a plurality of electrical components units in an automobile through a prescribed vehicle-mounted network, said system comprising:

said plurality of electrical components units; and

a plurality of connector devices with communication-controlling capability removably connected to said electrical components units, respectively, and connected to said vehicle-mounted network, said connector devices taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network, wherein

each of said connector devices with communication-controlling capability includes

a communication Processing part taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network, and

a rewritable non-volatile storage device storing a control program that stipulates control in said communication processing part, wherein

each of said connector devices with communication-controlling capability is capable of being connected to a prescribed exclusive program rewrite device, and

each of said connector devices with communication-controlling capability including, when supplied with a control program of a new communication system from said program rewrite device, a capability of rewriting said control program stored in said non-volatile storage device in said connector device with communication-controlling capability to said control program of said new communication system, and transmitting said control program of said new communication system to the other connector devices with communication-controlling capability through said vehicle-mounted network.

4. A connector device with communication-controlling capability that connects an electrical components unit in an automobile removably to a prescribed vehicle-mounted network,

said connector device with communication-controlling capability taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network, wherein said electrical components unit has a processing part for performing drive control of a load associated with said electrical components unit.

5. The connector device with communication-controlling capability according to claim 4, comprising:

a communication processing part taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network; and

a rewritable non-volatile storage device storing a control program that stipulates control in said communication processing part.

6. A connector device with communication-controlling capability that connects an electrical components unit in an automobile removably to a prescribed vehicle-mounted network,

said connector device with communication-controlling capability taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network,

a communication processing part taking charge of controlling a communication system through said vehicle-mounted network;

and

a rewritable non-volatile storage device storing a control program that stipulates control in said communication processing part, wherein

the connector device with communication-controlling capability is capable of being connected to a prescribed exclusive program rewrite device, and

when supplied with a control program of a new communication system from said program rewrite device, said connector device with communication-controlling capability, is capable of;

rewriting said control program stored in said non-volatile storage device in said connector device with communication-controlling capability to said control program of said new communication system, and transmitting said control program of said new communication system to the other connector devices with communication-controlling capability through said vehicle-mounted network, and

rewriting said control program stored in said non-volatile storage device to said control program of said new communication system supplied from the other connector devices with communication-controlling capability through said vehicle-mounted network.