EP0470056A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A system for transmitting signals, particularly in motor vehicles, and a method for its operation
Assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
•
Filing: 1991-07-23
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for transmitting signals, particularly between command-signals generating devices, sensor devices and actuator devices fitted in motor vehicles (A), includes: - a plurality of peripheral interface units (5, 6) each associated with at least one device, - a main unit (2) which can converse with the peripheral units (5, 6), and - communication lines (3) which branch out from the central unit (2) towards the peripheral units (5, 6). The peripheral units (5, 6) are connected to the communication lines (3) in a generally interchangeable manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Roberto Ferrari
- 👤 Antonella Lanati
- 👤 Walter Nesci
- 👤 Enrico Valacca
- 👤 Renato Librino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/44; H04L12/40; H04L12/403; B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/03; B60R16/0315
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for transmitting signals particularly between command-signal generating devices, sensor devices and actuator devices fitted in motor vehicles (A), characterised in that it includes: - a plurality of peripheral interface units (5, 6) each associated with at least one device, - a main unit (2) which can converse with the peripheral units (5, 6), and - communication lines (3) which branch out from the central unit (2) towards the peripheral units (5, 6), and in that the peripheral units (5, 6) are connected to the communication lines (3) in a generally interchangeable manner (as defined above).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for transmitting signals particularly between command-signal generating devices, sensor devices and actuator devices fitted in motor vehicles (A), characterised in that it includes: - a plurality of peripheral interface units (5, 6) each associated with at least one device, - a main unit (2) which can converse with the peripheral units (5, 6), and - communication lines (3) which branch out from the central unit (2) towards the peripheral units (5, 6), and in that the peripheral units (5, 6) are connected to the communication lines (3) in a generally interchangeable manner (as defined above).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the communication lines branch out from the main unit (2) in a generally star-like arrangement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that each communication line (3) includes: - a supply wire, - a signal-transmission wire, and - at least one earth wire.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
117 words
A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least some of the peripheral units (5, 6) are interposed between the main unit (2) and at least one other peripheral unit (5, 6) in a respective communication line (3), and in that the at least some peripheral units (5, 6) include means (32) for connection to the respective communication line (3), the means being selectively switchable between a first operative state in which they enable dialogue between the respective peripheral unit (5, 6) and the main unit (2), and a second state, in which the respective peripheral unit (5, 6) is transmissive to signals passing through the respective communication line (3).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main unit (2) transmits a synchronisation signal to the peripheral units (5, 6) substantially continuously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 4, characterised in that each peripheral unit (5, 6) includes timing control means (30, 31) connected to the means (32) for connecting the peripheral unit to the respective communication line (3) in order to activate the respective peripheral unit (5, 6) upon the detection of a signal by the connection means (32).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
44 words
A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each communication line (3) includes a wire for supplying the peripheral units (5, 6) so that the supply to the peripheral units (5, 6) is controlled by the central unit (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method of controlling the operation of a system according to Claim 1, characterised in that: - after dialogue with the main unit (2), each peripheral unit (5, 6) is made transmissive to communications, so as to enable the main unit (2) to converse cyclically with all the peripheral units (5, 6), - upon completion of its cycle for the interrogation of the peripheral units (5,6), the main unit (2) is disconnected from the system (1) for a given time interval, and - during the given time interval, the peripheral units (5, 6) are reset to the state in which they can communicate with the central unit (2).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to Claim 8, characterised in that it includes the step of deactivating the system (1) to bring it to a state (stopped) in which its energy consumption is low and reactivating the system (1), at least partially, upon the emission of a signal by at least one of the command-signal generating and/or sensor devices.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of organising the operation of a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 having a respective supply (22), characterised in that it includes the step of monitoring (21) the level of the supply, comparing the value detected with a range of acceptable supply values for the operation of the system and deactivating the system (1) when the supply level falls outside the range of acceptable values.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
44 words
A method of organising the operation of a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a "token passing" protocol (10 to 13) is used for the dialogue between the central unit (2) and the peripheral units (5, 6).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of organising the operation of a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the protocol used for the communications between the main unit (2) and the peripheral units (5, 6) includes: - a frame (11) for communications from the peripheral units (5, 6) to the main unit (2), and - a frame (12) for communications from the main unit (2) to the peripheral units (5, 6).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to Claim 12, characterised in that the protocol also includes a frame for the transmission of at least one transmission error-checking symbol from the main unit (2) to the peripheral units (5, 6) and at least one frame for the transmission of a symbol for confirming the correct receipt of the message (ACK) from the peripheral units (5, 6) to the main unit (2).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to Claim 13, characterised in that it includes the step of detecting a condition in which a particular peripheral unit (5, 6) has sent the central unit (2) a message (NACK) indicative of a failure to receive the correct message on a predetermined number of occasions and, in these circumstances, generating a fault warning signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to Claim 14, characterised in that the predetermined number of occasions selected is three.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to Claim 14 or Claim 15, characterised in that it includes the steps of deactivating the actuators associated with the peripheral unit (5, 6) in which the fault signal has been generated for at least one interrogation cycle of the central unit (2).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.