Patent EP0396090A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0396090A2
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EP
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System for communication 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 communication system of the multiplex type between a master processing unit (5) incorporating a microprocessor (6) and slave units (27) associated in particular 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 of the corresponding device (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33), the slave units (27) being connected in groups to the master unit (5) by means of corresponding communication channels (11), and in which these slave units (27) include logic means for the exchange of communication messages with the master unit (5) and are capable of independently initiating transmission towards the master unit (5); such messages in particular include a first field for identification of the slave unit (27) which is sending or is to receive the communication, a second data field, and a preliminary field used to activate such units (27, 5) from a resting state of minimum power consumption.
Inventors
- 👤 Arturo Wolfsgruber
- 👤 Sandro Storti
- 👤 Alberto Coen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:46
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; B60R16/0315; B60R2016/0322
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A communication system between at least one master unit (5) and slave units (27) which are connected to the said master unit (5) by means of at least one communication channel (11) which can be accessed by a plurality of said units (27), characterised in that the said slave units (27) include logical means (43, 45, 44) capable of exchanging communication messages with the said master unit (5), and capable of independently initiating transmission towards the said master unit (5).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A communication system between at least one master unit (5) and slave units (27) which are connected to the said master unit (5) by means of at least one communication channel (11) which can be accessed by a plurality of said units (27), characterised in that the said slave units (27) include logical means (43, 45, 44) capable of exchanging communication messages with the said master unit (5), and capable of independently initiating transmission towards the said master unit (5).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the said communication messages exchanged by the said slave units (27) with the said master unit (5) comprise a first field (51) identifying a said slave unit (27) and a second data field (52).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 2, characterised in that the said first field (51) identifies the said slave unit (27) which sent the said communication in the event of transmission towards the master unit (5) and identifies the said slave unit (27) which is to receive the said communication in the case of transmission towards the said slave unit (27).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the said second data field (52) includes activation or control data for the said slave unit (27) and/or the said master unit (5).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
33 words
A system according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the said first field (51) consists of six bits and that the said second field (52) consists of four bits.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
65 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) by means (41) which force the said channel (11) to a different logical level when the said channel (11) is occupied by one of the said units (27, 5) in order to send a communication message.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 6, characterised in that the said units (27, 5) detect that the said channel (11) is in a free condition for the forwarding of a communication message by means (43) for detecting the said logical level of the said channel (11).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
40 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said communication message has a preliminary field (50) which can be used to activate the said units (27, 5) from a resting state of minimum power consumption.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 8, deriving from claim 7, characterised in that the said preliminary field (50) produces a different logical level in the said channel (11).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
46 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said logical means include at least one block (43) which detects data signals on the said communication channel (11), and at least one block (45) transmitting data signals on the said channel (11).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
26 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said communication message transmission is effected by means of an asynchronous serial protocol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 11, characterised in that the said transmission is effectuated by constant pulse height duration modulation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
34 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that groups of the said slave units (27) are connected to corresponding communication lines (7, 7′,...) connected to the said master unit (5).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 13 characterised in that the said slave units (27) are some ten in number.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the said master unit (5) includes means (6) for controlling the exchange of data signals between the said communication lines (7, 7′,...).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
21 words
A system according to one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the said master unit (5) includes a microprocessor (6).
Claim 18
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 activating or controlling at least one electrically functioning member in the said device (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
155 words
A system according to claim 17, characterised in that a first (27 A) of the said slave units is by means of the said logical means (43, 44, 45) capable of sending the said master unit (5) a first communication message to actuate one (18) of the said devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) controlled by a second (27 B) of the said slave units, that the said master unit (5) is capable of sending a second actuation command message for the said second (27 B) of the said slave units, that the said second slave unit (27 B) is capable of sending the said master unit (5) a third message providing information about the said actuation, and that the said master unit (5) is capable of sending the said first slave unit (27 A) a fourth message confirming receipt of the actuation command from the said second slave unit (27 B).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the said peripheral units (27) include at least one integrated circuit providing means for the distribution of electrical power for operation of the said component, and/or means for the treatment of data signals relating to the functioning of the said component.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
75 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) comprising a first conductor (10) with a positive electrical power supply, a second conductor (11) for the transmission of data signals and a third conductor (12) which is connected to earth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 20, characterised in that it includes a single said electrical connection 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 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 21, characterised in that the said devices applied to the said door (2, 2′, 3, 3′) include at least one window winding device (18), a door locking device (17) and a manual control switch device (14).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 22, characterised in that the said devices applied to the said door (2, 2′) also include a device (15) for electrical control of an outside rear-view mirror (16).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
A motor vehicle (1) including a plurality of devices (14, 15, 17, 18, 28, 28′, 32, 33) comprising at least one electrically functioning member, characterised in that it includes a communications 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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