JP2002122042A - Driver and its driving method for peripheral element by processor module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize cost reduction and flexibility of a driver for peripheral elements. SOLUTION: A coprocessor provided with input interfaces and output interfaces is provided for the driver. When a second number of the peripheral elements is larger than a first number of selected interfaces, a preset third number of selected interfaces are connected to the same third number of input interfaces of the coprocessor, and a preset fourth number of peripheral elements are driven via corresponding fourth number of output interfaces of the coprocessor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device and a method for driving peripheral elements in controlling an engine in a vehicle, comprising a processor module having a predetermined number of selection interfaces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A specialized magazine "Electronic Engineering"
g) ", Vol. 58, No. 714, No. 36, June 1986.
KJ Whiteley's article, "EPROM Decoder for Device Selection (EP
ROM Decoder for device se
"Lection" generally discloses a microprocessor system that uses or drives at least one component. The above system requires module selection logic to work on such components, but typically requires some T
The TL-module is fixedly wired.

In the above paper, selection or driving of each peripheral module is realized by an EPROM. EP
If the number of selection outputs of the ROM is too small compared to the number of peripheral modules to be driven, various selection output signals are converted to address codes by a decoder module (eg, 4: 16-decoder) connected in the middle. Used for
The selectivity is expanded by the decoder activating the coding for module selection.

As described above, by using the decoder, a larger number of peripheral modules than the maximum possible number of peripheral modules corresponding to the number of selected outputs in the case of direct wiring can be provided.
It can be selected or driven via an EPROM.

Therefore, an increase in the number of selection conductors can be achieved by a decoder module or a decoder circuit. At this time, the input of the decoder module is
It is connected to the selection interface of the processor module, and similarly, the output of the decoder is connected to the peripheral module.

[0006] According to the truth table, the bit combination or coding for the decoder must also cover the condition that "any of the peripheral modules connected to the decoder are not working" (usually: low drive Is selected, all inputs are high), and one output of the decoder cannot be used as a select conductor. Thus, the maximum number of subscribers is undesirably reduced by one.

[0007] The structure of address decoding by such a TTL-module is similar to that of Claus 1993 in 1993.
Klaus Dembowsky's technical book "PC-controlled measurement technology (PC-gesteu)
erte Messtechnik) (this is Markt & Technik Buch-u).
nd Softwareverlag GmbH & C
o. ISBN number 3-87779-516-7). Pages 58 to 65 show the structure of the decoder circuit for which the logic module is used.

[0008]

However, in the above publication, from the viewpoint of cost, each TTL for a fixed address area (that is, a fixed number of peripheral modules) is used.
-Since decoding must be constructed from the module, it is not possible to flexibly cope with a case where the address of the peripheral element or the number of peripheral elements needs to be changed. On the other hand, when trying to respond flexibly, TTL-
Module or PAL (Programmable
Array Logic) —The use of the module in combination with the comparator module is cited, but there is a problem that the cost increases.

Further, in order to optimize the above situation between flexible measures and cost reduction, a costly fixed wiring logic module must be omitted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved system which can flexibly cope with a case where the address of a peripheral device or the number of peripheral devices needs to be changed without increasing the cost. And a method of driving the peripheral device.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine in a vehicle comprising a processor module having a first predetermined number of selection interfaces. In a control device for a peripheral device in control, the drive device is provided with a coprocessor having an input interface and an output interface, and a second number of the peripheral devices is the first number of the selected interface. If so, a predetermined third number of selection interfaces is connected to the same third number of input interfaces of the coprocessor, and a predetermined fourth number of peripheral elements are connected to the coprocessor. Driving the peripheral elements through the corresponding fourth number of the output interfaces. Location is provided.

In the above described invention, a potential cost reduction can be realized because a coprocessor is used instead of a fixedly wired logic, for example in the form of a TTL module.

The third number of the selection interfaces may be set in advance according to a difference between the first number of the selection interfaces and the second number of the peripheral elements.

Further, the fourth number of the output interfaces of the coprocessor is set in advance according to a difference between the first number of the selected interfaces and the second number of the peripheral elements. Can be configured.

The coprocessor may be integrated within the processor module and the output interface of the coprocessor may be used as the selected interface of the processor module, so that the coprocessor increases processor power. It is effective because it can help. At this time, the corresponding output interface of the coprocessor also functions as a selection interface, so that a larger number of peripheral elements can be operated or selected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a processor module having a predetermined first number of selection interfaces. The method of driving, wherein the coprocessor having an input interface and an output interface, wherein the second number of peripheral elements is greater than the first number of the selected interface, the coprocessor having a predetermined fourth number. Peripheral elements are driven by the signal through the fourth number of output interfaces, and the signal is transmitted through the same third number of the coprocessors through the preset third number of the selection interfaces.
The number of input interfaces is transmitted to the number of input interfaces.

In the above described invention, a potential cost reduction can be realized because a coprocessor is used instead of a fixedly wired logic, for example in the form of a TTL module.

The coprocessor may be configured to drive the peripheral element in accordance with the correspondence of the signal at the input interface to the signal at the output interface. The co-processor capability or the total processor capability is not compromised in any way because the implementation is implemented. This is because the effort for forming the selection signal from the coprocessor input signal is extremely small.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the following description and the accompanying drawings, components having the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

(First Embodiment) First, an electronic control unit according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the electronic control device according to the first embodiment.

In the electronic control unit according to the present embodiment (for example, an engine control unit, a transmission control unit, and a brake control unit in a vehicle), a serial interface is used to exchange data and signals with peripheral elements. The provided processor module is used.

At this time, the interface module 1
1 and a coprocessor module (or coprocessor) 102 are shown. The original processor (or the main processor of the processor module) is denoted by reference numeral 10.
Indicated at 8.

The five peripheral elements 103, 104, 105, 106,
107 is also shown. At this time, the peripheral element 103 indicates, for example, a stabilizing circuit having a watchdog. Other peripheral elements 104, 105, 106, 107
Corresponds to, for example, an output stage circuit for injection, a serial EEPROM, another monitoring circuit (for example, a watchdog), and the like.

The interface module 101 of the processor module 100 includes a clock line SCK and each data line MSO (Mod) for exchanging data in each direction.
ulSignal Out) and MSI (Modul S
signal In, and a plurality of wires or interfaces to act on or select each peripheral module (selection). These selection interfaces or chip selection conductors CS1 to CS4
Can typically work on the maximum number of peripheral elements (eg, four) when the peripheral elements are directly connected.

At this time, the connection end for the clock conductor SCK of the processor module 100 or the interface module 101 and all the peripheral modules 103 to 103 are connected.
The connection ends for the clock conductor SCK 107 are connected to each other.

The same applies to data lines related to MSO and MSI. In order to make the drawing easy to see, the data lines in the peripheral modules 103 to 107 or the connection ends of the data lines are similarly connected from the viewpoint of the processor module 100 to SO (SignalOut) and SI (Signa).
l In).

In a normal case (that is, when no decoder module or coprocessor is used), the selection signals of the selection interfaces CS1 to CS4 are sent from the processor module or the interface module 101 therein to each of the peripheral elements 103 to 107. Be guided.

At this time, the conductors of the MSO and the MSI are connected to, for example, a bus (for example, SPI (Serial Periphere)).
ral Interface)). The SPI functionality related to the peripheral elements corresponds to, for example, initialization, watchdog communication, output stage diagnosis, input, reading of an identifier, reading and writing of data, and the like.

Peripheral elements are selected or actuated (selected), for example, when a low signal is applied on a select conductor. At this time, in order to prevent a failure, a low signal can be applied to only one selected lead wire or selected interface at the maximum. This allows for trouble-free communication.
Similarly, the reverse logic with selection by a high signal can be used.

Preferably, the interface module of the processor module 100 operates independently of the main processor. As a result, even when the bus load is high, the calculation capability of the main processor is not limited.
A command sequence to be transmitted via a serial interface can be stored in a special memory area. The interface module 101 automatically sends such a command, stores the received data again in a special memory area, and the main processor can access it. The main processor only needs to perform write access or read access on a predetermined memory area.

Comparison with the Prior Art The increase in the number of selection conductors can be achieved, for example, by a decoder module or a decoder circuit. At this time, the input of the decoder module is connected to the selection interfaces CS1 to CS4 of the processor module. Similarly, the output of the decoder is connected to a peripheral module.

Therefore, based on the prior art, 2: 4-
When a decoder is used, for example, two selection interfaces CS3 and CS4 are connected to the input of the decoder module. Also, the decoder output can be used to drive a total of four peripheral elements in principle.

According to the truth table, the bit combination for the decoder must also cover the condition "None of the peripheral modules connected to the decoder has been activated" (usually: all inputs are high),
One output of the decoder is not available as a select line. Thus, the maximum number of subscribers is reduced by one.

The coprocessor 102 provided in the processor module and operating independently of the main processor 108 is used as a decoder.

As shown in the figure, when four selection conductors CS1 to CS4 of the interface module 101 are provided, the number of possible subscribers (that is, the number of peripheral elements) is determined.
In order to increase the value by one, two
One input CI1 and CI2 and three outputs CO1 to CO3
is necessary.

If the coprocessor has a plurality of inputs and outputs in principle from the beginning, the number or response of the peripheral elements depends on the connection between the coprocessor inputs CI1 to CIn and the individual selection interfaces CS1 to CS4. Can be adapted very flexibly.

The coprocessor 102 always reads the input signal, and sets at most one of the three outputs CO1 to CO3 to "low" according to the bit combination of each output. In that case, the following truth table can be considered for the combination of the input and output signals.

[0038]

[Table 1]

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the four selection interfaces CS using the coprocessor 102 are used.
1 to CS4 can act on a maximum of five peripheral elements. At this time, it is possible to work on more peripheral devices by increasing the number of input and output interfaces of the coprocessor.

If four input interfaces CI are used for 16 output interfaces CO in the coprocessor, the decoder can be completely replaced. Nevertheless, it is possible to flexibly respond to the number of peripheral elements to be connected.

The required number of inputs and outputs, related to the number of subscribers (ie, in particular, the SPI-bus-number of peripherals as subscribers), is shown in Table 2 in four select interfaces (ie,
(Chip select output of the processor module).

[0042]

[Table 2]

As shown in Table 2, the required input or input interface of the coprocessor and the output or output interface and the associated use of the coprocessor according to the extra peripheral elements to the output interface of the provided processor module. It can be seen that the total number of pins to be set can be set in advance.

If the coprocessor is already provided in the processor module 100, this embodiment has the advantage that the number of peripheral elements for the serial interface can be increased without additional hardware costs. . Therefore, additional costs such as hardware for the decoder module and its mounting or inspection are omitted. Similarly, the cost of additional conductor plate surfaces is eliminated.

Compared to other pure software solutions, which correspond to the simulation of the interface module by the coprocessor or the driving of the standard output pins via the main processor as other selection signals, the solution presented is also very Very little software cost and very little processor power are sufficient.

Since the interface module and the coprocessor are each independent of the main processor,
It has the advantage that no information flow between these independent modules is required. This prevents an additional burden on the module.

Code requirements for decoder simulation by coprocessors are extremely low. Thus, the coprocessor itself is not burdened at all and can be used mainly for other tasks, in particular for supporting the main processor.

For example, in this embodiment, MSO and M
Although the configuration employing the SI interface has been described as an example, a bidirectional connection, for example, a bus I / O, and a bus input / output interface having a pendant corresponding to the peripheral element side can also be used.

Wait time between selection via the adjustable bus (or MSI and MSO) in interface module 101 (ie, driving of peripherals) and start of communication (eg, start of clock signal in SCK). Can be adapted so that the selection or driving of peripherals by the coprocessor can be performed without obstacles.

Although the preferred embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
Those skilled in the art can envisage various modified examples and modified examples within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and those modified examples and modified examples are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood to be included in.

[0051]

The potential cost savings can be realized by using coprocessors instead of hardwired logic, for example in the form of TTL modules.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic control device according to a first embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 100 Processor module 101 Interface module 102 Coprocessor 103 Peripheral element

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A drive device for a peripheral element in controlling an engine in a vehicle, comprising a processor module having a first number of selection interfaces set in advance, wherein the drive device has an input interface and an output interface. A co-processor is provided, wherein if a second number of said peripheral elements is greater than said first number of said selection interfaces, a third predetermined number of selection interfaces is provided by said co-processor. Connected to the same third number of input interfaces,
A peripheral device driving device, wherein a predetermined fourth number of peripheral devices are driven via a corresponding fourth number of the output interfaces of the coprocessor. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third number of the selection interfaces is preset according to a difference between the first number of the selection interfaces and the second number of the peripheral elements. 2. The driving device for a peripheral element according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said fourth number of said output interfaces of said coprocessor is preset according to a difference between said first number of said selected interfaces and said second number of said peripheral elements. The driving device for a peripheral element according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The processor of claim 1, wherein the coprocessor is integrated within the processor module, and the output interface of the coprocessor is used as the selection interface of the processor module. 3. A driving device for a peripheral element according to claim 1. 5. A method for driving a peripheral element in controlling an engine in a vehicle, comprising a processor module having a first predetermined number of selection interfaces, the coprocessor having an input interface and an output interface. , If the second number of peripheral elements is greater than the first number of the selected interface,
A fourth predetermined number of peripheral elements are driven by a signal through the fourth number of output interfaces, and the signal is transmitted through a third predetermined number of the selection interfaces. A method of driving a peripheral device, wherein the method is transmitted to a same third number of input interfaces of a processor. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the coprocessor drives the peripheral element according to a correspondence between a signal at an output interface and a signal at an input interface.