Network and method for operating a network

• US 9,442,543 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Dring, Martin, Krieger, Olaf, Titze, Andreas, Harbs, Henning
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): YESHAW, ESAYAS G
• Application Number:
  US13/881,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

A network, in particular in a motor vehicle, wherein the network includes a central subscriber and at least one first subscriber, wherein the central subscriber and the at least one first subscriber are interconnected by way of at least one first cable. The central subscriber has at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit, wherein by way of the signal coupling unit an AC voltage can be impressed on at least one first line of the first cable, or can be tapped from the signal coupling unit. Also disclosed is a method for operating a network.

Claims

1. A network in a motor vehicle, the network comprising:

a central subscriber and at least one first subscriber,

wherein the central subscriber and the at least one first subscriber are connected by at least one first cable,

wherein the central subscriber comprises at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit,

wherein the at least one signal coupling unit impresses or taps off an AC voltage onto or from at least one first line of the first cable,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit impresses a DC voltage at a predetermined voltage level onto the at least one first line of the first cable,

wherein the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit,

wherein the at least one signal coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber taps off or impresses an AC voltage from or onto the at least one first line of the first cable,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber taps off the DC voltage from the at least one first line of the first cable,

wherein the DC voltage is a first operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber or is transformed into the first operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber,

wherein the first operating voltage is applied to at least one first input of the at least one first subscriber,

wherein the at least one first subscriber comprises a signaling unit or the at least one first subscriber has an associated signaling unit,

wherein the signaling unit can be used to produce a requirement signal in a disconnected or sleeping state of the at least one first subscriber, wherein the requirement signal can be transmitted from the signaling unit to the central subscriber via at least one line connecting the first and central subscribers.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the central subscriber can be used to detect the requirement signal, wherein the energy coupling unit of the central subscriber can be used to impress the DC voltage onto the at least one first line of the first cable when the requirement signal is detected.

3. The network of claim 1, wherein the signaling unit can be used to produce a requirement voltage at a predetermined voltage level as a requirement signal, wherein the energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber can be used to impress the requirement voltage onto a line connecting the first and central subscribers.

4. The network of claim 3, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the central subscriber taps off the requirement voltage from the at least one first line and applies the requirement voltage to a detection input of the central subscriber,

wherein an evaluation unit of the central subscriber is used to evaluate whether the voltage applied to the detection input exceeds a predetermined voltage level, and

wherein the energy coupling unit of the central subscriber is used to impress the DC voltage onto the at least one first line of the first cable when the voltage applied to the detection input exceeds the predetermined voltage level.

5. The network of claim 3, wherein a level of the requirement voltage is lower than a level of the first operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber and/or of an operating voltage for the central subscriber.

6. The network of claim 3, wherein the signaling unit of the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one switching unit, and

wherein the signaling unit can be connected to a voltage source by the at least one switching unit.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one voltage transformer,

wherein the at least one voltage transformer is used to alter the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and

wherein the first operating voltage with the altered voltage level is applied to a second input of the at least one first subscriber.

8. The network of claim 1, wherein the first cable comprises a second line,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the central subscriber is used to impress a second DC voltage of the at least one first subscriber onto the second line of the first cable,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the first subscriber is used to tap off the second DC voltage from the second line of the first cable,

wherein the second DC voltage is a second operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber or is transformed into the second operating voltage, and

wherein a voltage level of the second operating voltage is equal to the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and the second operating voltage is applied to the at least one first input of the at least one first subscriber, or the voltage level of the second operating voltage is different than the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and the second operating voltage is applied to a second input of the at least one first subscriber.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein the predetermined voltage level of the voltage impressed onto the second line corresponds to a ground potential,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber is used to tap off the DC voltage from the second line of the first cable and to apply the second DC voltage from the second line to a ground input of the at least one first subscriber.

10. A method for operating a network in a motor vehicle wherein the network comprises a central subscriber and at least one first subscriber, the method comprising:

connecting the central subscriber and the at least one first subscriber by at least one first cable, wherein the central subscriber comprises at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit;

using, in a communication state of the at least one first subscriber, the at least one signal coupling unit to impress or tap off an AC voltage onto or from at least one first line of the at least one first cable;

using the at least one energy coupling unit to impress a DC voltage at a predetermined voltage level onto the at least one first line of the at least one first cable, wherein the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one signal coupling unit and at least one energy coupling unit;

using the at least one signal coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber to tap off or impress an AC voltage from or onto the at least one first line of the at least one first cable;

using the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber to tap off the DC voltage from the at least one first line of the at least one first cable and to apply the DC voltage from the at least one first line of the at least one first cable to at least one first input of the at least one first subscriber, wherein the DC voltage is a first operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber,

wherein the at least one first subscriber comprises a signaling unit or the at least one first subscriber has an associated signaling unit, and the method further comprises using the signaling unit to produce a requirement signal in a disconnected or sleeping state of the at least one first subscriber and transmitting the requirement signal from the signaling unit to the central subscriber via at least one line connecting the first and central subscribers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the central subscriber is used to detect the requirement signal, wherein the energy coupling unit of the central subscriber is used to impress the DC voltage onto the at least one first line of the first cable when the requirement signal is detected.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the signaling unit is used to produce a requirement voltage at a predetermined voltage level as a requirement signal, wherein the energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber is used to impress the requirement voltage onto a line connecting the first and central subscribers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the central subscriber taps off the requirement voltage from the at least one first line and applies the requirement voltage to a detection input of the central subscriber,

wherein an evaluation unit of the central subscriber is used to evaluate whether the voltage applied to the detection input exceeds a predetermined voltage level, and

wherein the energy coupling unit of the central subscriber is used to impress the DC voltage onto the at least one first line of the first cable when the voltage applied to the detection input exceeds the predetermined voltage level.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a level of the requirement voltage is lower than a level of the first operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber and/or of an operating voltage for the central subscriber.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signaling unit of the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one switching unit, and wherein the signaling unit is connected to a voltage source by the at least one switching unit.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber comprises at least one voltage transformer, wherein the at least one voltage transformer is used to alter the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and wherein the first operating voltage with the altered voltage level is applied to a second input of the at least one first subscriber.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first cable comprises a second line, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the central subscriber is used to impress a second DC voltage of the at least one first subscriber onto the second line of the first cable, wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the first subscriber is used to tap off the second DC voltage from the second line of the first cable, wherein the second DC voltage is a second operating voltage for the at least one first subscriber or is transformed into the second operating voltage, and wherein a voltage level of the second operating voltage is equal to the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and the second operating voltage is applied to the at least one first input of the at least one first subscriber, or the voltage level of the second operating voltage is different than the voltage level of the first operating voltage, and the second operating voltage is applied to a second input of the at least one first subscriber.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined voltage level of the voltage impressed onto the second line corresponds to a ground potential,

wherein the at least one energy coupling unit of the at least one first subscriber is used to tap off the DC voltage from the second line of the first cable and to apply the second DC voltage from the second line to a ground input of the at least one first subscriber.