EP0396089A2
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EP
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Connection system between a master and slave processing units
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL
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Filing: 1990-04-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A connection system of the multiplex type between at least one master processing unit (5) and slave units (27), in particular associated with electrical devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) in a vehicle (1) for activating or controlling at least one electrically functioning component in the corresponding device (14, 15, 17, 15, 28, 28′, 32, 33), the said slave units (27) being connected in groups to the master unit (5) by means of corresponding communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) common to the units (27) of each group, and in which the master unit (5) includes logical means (6) for controlling the exchange of communications between the various channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...); in particular these logical means include a microprocessor (6) and control corresponding first blocks enabling transmission on such communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) and corresponding second blocks enabling communication between the abovementioned channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Inventors
- 👤 Franco Consiglieri
- 👤 Arturo Wolfsgruber
- 👤 Sandro Storti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; B60R16/0315; B60R2016/0322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A connection system between at least one master processing unit (5) and slave units (27), characterised in that the said slave units (27) are connected to the said master unit (5) in groups by means of corresponding communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...,) common to the units (27) in each group, and that the said master unit (5) includes logical means (6) for controlling the exchange of communications between the said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A connection system between at least one master processing unit (5) and slave units (27), characterised in that the said slave units (27) are connected to the said master unit (5) in groups by means of corresponding communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...,) common to the units (27) in each group, and that the said master unit (5) includes logical means (6) for controlling the exchange of communications between the said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the said logical means (6) control corresponding first blocks (60, 60′, 60˝,...) enabling transmission on the said communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
33 words
A system according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the said logical means (6) control corresponding second blocks (62, 62′, 62˝,...) enabling communication between the said communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
50 words
A system according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the said logical means (6) include means (86) for detecting a communication signal on one of the said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) and means (80) for controlling the said first (60, 60′, 60˝,...) and/or second (62, 62′, 62˝,...) blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system according to claim 4, characterised in that the said logical means (6) are capable of detecting a communication signal on one of the said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) by means of the said detection means (86) and are able to control transmission on the other said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) by means of the said control means (80), apart from the channel receiving the said communication signals.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
70 words
A system according to claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the said logical means (6) are capable of detecting a logic level of the signal on one of the said channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...) which is anomalous in its value and/or duration by means of detector means (86) and is able to command the interruption of communication on the said channel by means of the said control means (80).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said logic means (6) include a microprocessor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said principal unit (5) includes a block (38) detecting data signals and a block (61) transmitting communication signals for each of the said communication channels (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said slave (27) and master (5) units are connected to the said common communication channel (11, 11′, 11˝,...) by means (41, 41′, 41˝,...) imposing a different logic level on the said channel (11, 11′, 11˝,...) in the situation where the said channel (11, 11′, 11˝,...) is occupied by one of the said units (27, 5) in order to send a communication message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 9, characterised in that the said units (27, 5) detect that the said channel (11, 11′, 11˝,...) is free to send a communication message by means (43) for detecting the said logic level of the said channel (11, 11′, 11˝,...).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
27 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said transmission of communication messages is performed by means of an asynchronous serial protocol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 11, characterised in that the said transmission is performed by modulating the duration of pulses of constant height.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
22 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said slave units (27) are some ten in number.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
33 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it includes at least two of the said master units (5 ) connected together by means of a communication channel (11).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said slave units (27) are associated with electrical devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) in a vehicle (1) for commanding or controlling at least one electrically functioning component in the said device (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 15, characterised in that the said slave units (27) include at least one integrated circuit providing means for the distribution of electrical power of a power to operate the said component and/or means for processing data signals relating to the operation of the said component.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
71 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said communication channel between the said slave units (27) and the said master unit (5) is provided by means of at least one electrical connection cable (7, 7′, 8, 8′, 9) including a first conductor (10) for a positive electrical power supply, a second conductor (11) for transmitting data signals and third conductor (12) for connection to earth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 17, characterised in that it includes a single said electrical connecting cable (7, 7′, 8, 8′) for at least the devices (14, 15, 17, 18) applied to one door (2, 2′, 3, 3′) of a vehicle (1).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 18, characterised in that the said devices applied to the said door (2, 2′, 3, 3′) include at least a window winding device (18), a door locking device (17) and a manual command switch device (14).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 19, characterised in that the said devices applied to the said door (2, 2′) also include a device (15) for the electrical control of an outside rear-view mirror (16).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A motor vehicle (1) comprising a plurality of devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) including at least one electrically operating component, characterised in that it includes a connection system between at least one master processing unit (5) and slave units (27) associated with the said devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) according to one of the foregoing claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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