JP2898684B2 - Multiplex transmission method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a multiplex transmission system in which a plurality of multiplex nodes mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile are mutually connected by a common transmission path.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of transmission system includes an electronic control processing unit (EC) including a main microprocessor (CPU) in a vehicle, RAM and ROM memories, an analog / digital converter, and the like.
In U), a LAN controller is provided to control the communication of the multiplex communication network, and multiple nodes are connected to each other by a common signal transmission line (bus) consisting of twisted pair wires to form a bus network, and control between ECUs Some have multiplexed transmission of signals such as data.

Among the signals transmitted between multiple nodes in the vehicle, there are signals having various responsiveness (for example, different transmission speeds). In some designs, each multiplex node was all integrated into one network.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned transmission system, all the multiplex nodes need to be designed in accordance with a signal that requires a fast response, so that the configuration becomes complicated over the entire system, and However, there is a problem that the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
A multiplex transmission system that has a simple configuration that configures a network for each multiplex node that transmits signals with the same responsiveness, and that minimizes the path length and the number of circuits of each signal transmission line, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. The purpose is to provide.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, signals from at least one predetermined sensor or the like are connected to each other via a common signal transmission path such as a multiplex transmission path. A plurality of multiplex nodes having detection means and driving means such as actuators; and at least two signal transmission paths to which the plurality of multiplex nodes are connected. In the multiplex transmission system, when any one of the signals from the multiplex nodes is input, a control signal for driving and controlling a predetermined driving unit connected to each of the multiplex nodes is generated in accordance with the signal. A gateway node that is connected to the transmission path and that is located at a joint box at a branch point of the wiring harness wiring path; Control means such as a LAN controller provided in the gateway node for performing signal transmission between each signal transmission path, and when the gateway node inputs a signal from any of the multiplex nodes via the transmission control means And a multiplex transmission system for transmitting a signal whose transmission is controlled in accordance with the signal to each of the multiplex nodes.

(Operation) When the predetermined multiplex node receives the detection signal from the detection means and the signal from any one of the multiplex nodes, the transmission control means controls the responsiveness of the network transmitting the signal, for example, according to the transmission speed or the like. The transmission is controlled and transmitted to the multiplex node of each network.

Therefore, it is possible to connect networks having different signal responsiveness via the above-mentioned predetermined multiplex node, and to exchange data between multiplex nodes of the networks. And the same effect as in the multiplex transmission system in which is connected by one network.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings of FIG. 1 and FIG.

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a configuration when a multiplex transmission system according to the present invention is used in a vehicle such as an automobile. In the figure, each multiplex node such as a brake control computer 11, a steering control computer 12, an engine control computer 13, a transmission computer 14, a suspension computer 15, etc. ECUs 11a to 15a are high-speed LAN controllers
Multiplexed transmission lines (buses) 10 common to each via 11b to 16b
And form a powertrain / chassis control system. The bus 10 is a bus having a relatively high transmission speed (100 Kbps or more), and each of the multiplex nodes 11 to 15 transmits a control signal and the like related to travel control via the bus 10.

Note that, for example, a sensor signal from a steering sensor (not shown) is input to the ECU 12a, and the ECU 12a outputs a control signal for performing steering control according to the sensor signal. The ECUs 13a and 14a receive, for example, sensor signals from a throttle position sensor (not shown), and the ECUs 13a and 14a output control signals for performing engine control and transmission control according to the sensor signals. For example, a sensor signal or the like from a vehicle height sensor (not shown) is input to the ECU 15a, and the ECU 15a outputs a control signal for performing suspension control according to the sensor signal. Each ECU mentioned above is based on various sensor values etc.
Internally, it generates fault diagnosis information and the like, and outputs a control signal to, for example, an electronic meter.The meter stores the fault diagnosis information in a memory, and when a user issues an instruction to start fault diagnosis, the Display fault diagnosis information on the meter.

The switch group such as the air conditioner switch 21 and the combination switch 22 handled by the user, and the multiplex nodes such as the electronic meter 23 and the air conditioner computer 24 can accept relatively low-speed signal transmission due to their control characteristics. ECUs 21a to 24a have low-speed LAN controllers 21b to 24b, etc., and each ECU 21a to 24a has a low-speed LAN controller.
Multiplexed transmission lines (buses) 20 common through 21b to 24b
To form a body control system. The bus 20 is a bus having a relatively low transmission speed. Each of the multiplex nodes 21 to 24 transmits, for example, an air conditioner switch signal, an air conditioner operation state display signal, a warning display signal of an electronic meter, and the like via the bus 20. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the body computer 30 includes an ECU 30a, which is an electronic control processing unit, and a high-speed LAN controller 30b.
, A low-speed LAN controller 30c, an input / output interface 30d which is a joint box connected to a plurality of sensors and actuators, and the like. The ECU 30a is connected to the common multiplex transmission paths 10, 20 via the high-speed LAN controller 30b and the low-speed LAN controller 30c, respectively, to realize a gateway function. Therefore, signals can be transmitted between the buses of the multiplex transmission lines 10 and 20.

In a vehicle, when the gateway function is provided, for example, in a joint box at a branch point of a wiring harness wiring path, there is an effect that the path length and the number of circuits of each bus are minimized, which is excellent.

Signals that need to be transmitted from the multiplex transmission lines 10 to 20 include, for example, engine warning, transmission mode display, and suspension control state display signals. Are, for example, an air conditioner operation signal, a headlamp lighting signal (both for controlling the engine speed), and the like.

The ECU 30a is a collection of functions such as a timer function (eg, an intermittent wiper relay) in the vehicle and a call / alarm function (eg, an R range alarm, a speed alarm, etc.). By driving and controlling a plurality of actuators for
The above functions are realized.

As a result, multiple nodes of the high-speed bus network
During operation, as shown in FIG. 3, an ID which is provided between the first SOM and the last EOM and indicates an identification address indicating a function of the multiplex node or the like of the embodiment and data having a data structure of a plurality of data 1 to 4 When the signal is transmitted to the body computer 30 via the multiplex transmission line 10, the body computer 30
The data signal from the high-speed bus network is taken in via the LAN controller 30b, and the data signal is converted into data suitable for low-speed response by the gateway function,
The signal is transmitted to the multiplex node connected to the multiplex transmission line 20 via the low-speed LAN controller 30c.

When a multiplex node of the low-speed bus network transmits a data signal to the body computer 30 via the multiplex transmission path 20, the body computer 30 takes in the data signal from the low-speed bus network via the low-speed LAN controller 30c, The gateway function converts the above data signal into data suitable for high-speed response, and
The signal is transmitted to the multiplex node connected to the multiplex transmission line 10 via the controller 30b.

Further, the body computer 30 determines whether the captured data signal is data necessary for controlling the actuator to be controlled directly connected to its own ECU based on the ID or the like. A corresponding control signal is output via the input / output interface 30d, and predetermined drive control of the actuator (for example, intermittent operation control of the wiper) is performed.

Upon receiving the above data signal, the receiving multiplex node of each network determines whether the received data is necessary for controlling the actuator to be controlled directly connected to its own ECU based on the ID and the like, and if necessary. The operation control is performed by outputting a control signal corresponding to the different data signal to the actuator (for example, in a multiplex node of a low-speed bus network, transmission mode display, suspension control state display, etc., and high-speed bus network multiplexing). The node performs engine speed control, transmission control, suspension height control, and the like.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the high-speed bus network and the low-speed bus network can be connected via the body computer provided with the gateway function, so that the network is configured for each multiplex node transmitting signals having the same responsiveness. By constructing a system having a simple network configuration, the production cost can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, since the body computer is on the joint box, the wiring in the vehicle is a part where the wiring is concentrated, and the bus line is also concentrated. Therefore, if the body computer is provided with the gateway function, the wiring is reduced. Further, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced.

In the present embodiment, each network is divided into a high-speed bus network and a low-speed bus network according to the responsiveness of signal transmission speed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, each network is adapted to each network. It is also possible to design the system at a reliability level, and there is an effect on reliability that transmission on the low-speed side does not disturb transmission on the high-speed bus network of the travel control system.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, a network is configured for each of multiple nodes transmitting signals having the same responsiveness, and each network is arranged at a joint box position corresponding to a branch point of a wiring harness wiring route. The simple configuration of connection via the connected gateway nodes enables data transmission between multiple nodes having different responsiveness, etc., and minimizes the path length of each bus and the number of circuits, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration when the multiplex transmission system according to the present invention is used in a vehicle such as an automobile, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the body computer shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a data signal used in the high-speed bus network. 10, 20: Multiple transmission path (bus), 11 to 15, 21 to 24: Multiple nodes, 30: Body computer (multiple nodes), 11
a to 15a, 21a to 24a, 30a ... ECU, 11b to 15b, 30b ... High-speed LA
N controller, 21b to 24b, 30c: Low-speed LAN controller, 30d: Input / output interface.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-32549 (JP, A) JP-A-1-143533 (JP, A) JP-A-62-104299 (JP, A) 155240 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04L 12/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of multiplex nodes mutually connected via a common signal transmission line and having at least one detecting means and a driving means, and at least two systems of signals connected to the plurality of multiplex nodes. A transmission path, and when the multiplex node receives any one of the detection signal from the detection means and the signal from any of the multiplex nodes, the multiplex node is connected to each of the multiplex nodes according to the signal. In a multiplex transmission system for generating a control signal for driving and controlling a predetermined drive unit, a gateway node connected to the transmission line and arranged at a joint box corresponding to a branch point of a wiring harness wiring path, and the gateway Control means provided in the node for performing signal transmission between signal transmission paths, wherein the gateway node is A multiplex transmission system, wherein when a signal from any one of the multiplex nodes is input via the transmission control means, a signal whose transmission is controlled according to the signal is transmitted to each of the multiplex nodes. 2. At least one signal transmission line of the at least two systems of signal transmission lines comprises a signal transmission line for controlling running of a vehicle, and at least one other signal transmission line includes: 2. The multiplex transmission system according to claim 1, comprising a signal transmission line of a body control system.