Power supply integrated circuit having communication function

• US 20030025594A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Toya, Takayuki, Akiyama, Susumu
• Granted Patent: US 6,842,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A power supply integrated circuit is provided which makes it possible to make an on-vehicle apparatus compact and to allow power supply cable communication having resistance to noise. The power supply integrated circuit is connected to a micro-controller incorporated in an ECU and a power supply cable. The power supply integrated circuit has an LPF and a regulator. The power supply integrated circuit also has an interface circuit, a BPF, a transmitting section, and a receiving section. The LPF passes only the power supply voltage, and the BPF passes only transmission signal.

Claims

1. A power supply integrated circuit incorporated in an on-vehicle apparatus for performing data communication with another apparatus through a power supply cable provided in a vehicle and for supplying power to an internal circuit, the power supply integrated circuit comprising:

a constant voltage power supply unit for converting a power supply voltage into a DC constant voltage and supplying the same to the internal circuit; and

a data communication unit for performing data communication with the another apparatus through the power supply cable.

2. A power supply integrated circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first filter unit provided between the constant voltage power supply unit and the power supply cable for blocking a transmission signal for data communication and selectively allowing only the power supply voltage to pass between the power supply cable and the constant voltage power supply unit; and

a second filter unit provided between the data communication unit and the power supply cable for blocking the power supply voltage and selectively allowing only a transmission signal to pass between the power supply cable and the data communication unit.

3. A power supply integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein:

the data communication unit comprises a transmitting section for converting output data from the internal circuit into the transmission signal and transmitting it onto the power supply cable and a receiving section for restoring data from a transmission signal superposed on the power supply cable and inputting it to the internal circuit;

the second filter unit blocks the power supply voltage in a path of input of the transmission signal from the power supply cable to the receiving section to allow only the transmission signal to pass selectively; and

the transmitting section is connected to the power supply cable to transmit the transmission signal onto the power supply cable without through a filter unit.

4. A power supply integrated circuit according to claim 1, wherein the data communication unit is configured such that it performs data communication with the another apparatus using a frequency hopping method.