Communication system having communication devices capable of synchronous communication therebetween

• US 8,457,268 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Itou, Akito
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US12/872,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20110051870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/222, 375/293, 375/295, 375/316, 375/354, 375/356, 375/358, 375/359, 375/362, 375/365, 375/368
• US Class Current: 375/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines

Abstract

There is provided a communication system that includes master and slave communication ECUs. The master communication ECU sends a clock signal to a clock communication line, with which the communication ECUs synchronize with each other when sending and receiving data. The master and slave communication ECUs then receive the clock signal through the clock line. The ECUs use the received clock signal as a reference timing, which is designated as a transmission/reception reference, and send or receive data to/from data communication lines.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected with a plurality of communication lines, the communication system comprising:

a clock transmission means for sending a clock signal to a clock communication line by a master device, the master device is selected from the plurality of communication devices, the clock communication line is selected from the plurality of communication lines, the clock signal is used to synchronize the plurality of communication devices when sending and receiving data;

a clock reception means for receiving the clock signal from the clock communication line, the clock signal is received by all of the communication devices, the all of the communication devices send and receive data through data communication lines, the data communication lines are selected from the plurality of communication lines excluding the clock communication line; and

a data transmission/reception means for sending and receiving data through the data communication lines, the data is sent and received according to a reference timing, the reference timing is designated as a transmission/reception reference, the reference timing is determined by the time that the clock signal is received, wherein

the master device comprises the clock reception means and the data transmission/reception means, and further comprises a single transceiver with which the clock transmission means sends a clock signal and the clock reception means receives the clock signal.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the clock reception means and the data transmission/reception means configured to be included in at least one of the communication devices are at least partially mounted on a single integrated circuit.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the clock communication line through which the clock transmission means sends a clock signal is connected to a midpoint of the clock communication line through which each of the communication devices receives the clock signal.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the clock communication line through which the clock transmission means sends a clock signal is connected to a midpoint of the clock communication line through which each of the communication devices receives the clock signal.

5. A communication device among the plurality of communication devices in the communication system in claim 1, each of which is connected with the plurality of communication lines, wherein the communication device is constructed as the master device of the communication system.

6. Communication devices in the communication system in claim 1, each of which is connected with the plurality of communication lines, wherein the communication devices excluding the master device are constructed as regular communication devices.

7. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication devices each of which is connected with a plurality of communication lines, the communication system comprising:

a clock signal transmitter configured to send a clock signal to a clock communication line by a master device, the master device is selected from the plurality of communication devices, the clock communication line is selected from the plurality of communication lines, the clock signal is used to synchronize the plurality of communication devices when sending and receiving data;

a clock signal receiver configured to receive the clock signal from the clock communication line, the clock signal is received by all of the communication devices, the all of the communication devices are configured to send and receive data through data communication lines, the data communication lines are selected from the plurality of communication lines excluding the clock communication line; and

a data transmitter/receiver configured to send and receive data through the data communication lines, the data is sent and received according to a reference timing, the reference timing is designated as a transmission/reception reference, the reference timing is determined by the time that the clock signal is received, wherein

the master device comprises the clock signal receiver and the data transmitter/receiver, and further comprises a single transceiver with which the clock signal transmitter is configured to send a clock signal and the clock signal receiver is configured to receive the clock signal.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the clock signal receiver and the data transmitter/receiver are configured to be included in at least one of the communication devices are at least partially mounted on a single integrated circuit.

9. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the clock communication line through which the clock signal transmitter sends a clock signal is connected to a midpoint of the clock communication line through which each of the communication devices receives the clock signal.

10. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the clock communication line through which the clock signal transmitter sends a clock signal is connected to a midpoint of the clock communication line through which each of the communication devices receives the clock signal.

11. A communication device among the plurality of communication devices in the communication system in claim 7, each of which is connected with the plurality of communication lines, wherein the communication device is constructed as the master device of the communication system.

12. Communication devices in the communication system in claim 7, each of which is connected with the plurality of communication lines, wherein the communication devices excluding the master device are constructed as regular communication devices.