DE102012207014B4 - INTERFACE FOR A CABLE TREE - Google Patents

Abstract

Interface (1) with an electronic component (5), wherein the component (5) has connections (4) which can be connected to at least one electrical line (7) of a cable harness and to at least one connection (6) of a circuit (8) wherein the device (5) is adapted to convert signals of a first physical signal used in the harness for transmitting data and / or signals into signals of a second physical signal used by the circuitry, the first physical signal Signal and the second physical signal represent different physical signals, wherein the second physical signal represents an internal bus protocol of a controller, wherein the conversion between the first signal and the second signal comprises a conversion of an electrical signal into an optical signal.

Description

In the prior art, interfaces for connecting a controller to a wiring harness of a vehicle are known. For data communication within a control device of a vehicle, an internal bus system is used, for. B. MOST. For data communication between ECUs via a cable harness also external bus systems are used, the internal and external bus systems may be the same or different. However, due to the physical conditions and requirements between the controller and the wiring harness, even with identical internal and external bus systems, the transmission systems, i. E. H. the physical signals.

In today's bus systems (CAN, MOST-POF Ethernet, etc.), the physical limit of the control unit simultaneously forms the physical and data transfer into the electrical system, which consists of a wiring harness and other non-electronic components. At the interface from the controller to the wiring harness, d. H. in the connector of the wiring harness changes the transmission technology, d. H. the type of bus system and / or the type of physical signal.

US 2005/0254518 A1 describes an interface with an electronic component, wherein the component has connections which can be connected to at least one electrical line of a cable harness and to at least one connection of a circuit. The module is designed to convert signals of the first signal and / or data of a first data protocol, which will be used in the cable harness for the transmission of data and / or signals, into data and / or signals of a second signal or of a second data protocol, respectively the circuit is used.

US 2006/0274467 A1 describes an interface with a device and a harness, wherein a circuit is provided which converts a control signal into a pulse-width modeled signal.

DE 10 2004 038 212 A1 describes a FlexRay communication module for coupling a FlexRay communication connection to a subscriber assigned to the FlexRay communication module in a FlexRay network via which messages are transmitted, wherein the FlexRay communication module contains the following components: a first arrangement for storing at least a part of the transmitted messages and a second arrangement for connecting the first arrangement with the subscriber, and a third arrangement for connecting the FlexRay communication connection with the first arrangement.

DE 10 2010 034 629 A1 describes a household meter interface device having an optical transceiver mechanically connected to an optical interface of an electronic household meter, and an optical device of the transceiver converting to electrical signals. A connection of several electronic household meters to a multi-utility communication controller is possible in that an interface device that converts signals received from the converting device into a bus protocol and transmits them to a communication bus, and signals received by the communication bus into signals for the conversion device and / or the Transceiver.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved interface and an improved wiring harness.

The object of the invention is achieved by the interface according to claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

An advantage of the interface is that there is increased flexibility with changes of the external bus system and / or external physical signals. This is accomplished by providing an interface having an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to receive signals of a first signal and / or data of a first data protocol used in the harness for transmitting data and / or signals to convert into data and signals of a second signal or a second data protocol, which is used by the circuit, in particular a control unit.

In this way, it is not necessary to replace the circuit when changing the external bus system, for example, in a change of electrical signals to optical signals. Rather, an exchange of the interface is sufficient in order to be able to continue using the same circuit, in particular the same control unit, despite a changed external physical signal or external bus system. An example of a change in the external data protocol can be the change from a CAN bus system to Ethernet or to Fast Ethernet. Even with a change of the external bus system, the same circuit, in particular the same control unit can continue to be used. It is only necessary to use the electronic component of the interface or to use another electronic device capable of processing the new physical signals and / or data protocols.

In addition, the described interface offers the advantage that, in the event of changes in the external bus system or in the case of the external physical signals, no new release processes for the control unit and measures for the verification of the design are incurred since this can be maintained unchanged. Typically, a change in the bus system is caused by an increasing bandwidth requirement for data transmission that occurs when a series of a vehicle changes to a new series. Due to the interface, the circuit, in particular the control unit is not a cost-efficient transfer part, but can be kept unchanged.

The module is designed to process an internal bus protocol of a control unit. The conversion between the first signal and the second signal includes conversion from an electrical signal to an optical signal.

In a further embodiment, the module is designed to process signals or data of an external bus protocol. In this way, the device not only converts the external bus protocol into a corresponding internal bus protocol, but can also be used to convert external physical signals used to transmit the data via the harness into physical signals received from the circuit , in particular the control unit are processed. Thus, a conversion of the data protocols and / or a conversion of the physical signals is made. Depending on the selected embodiment, the block may, for example, only perform a conversion of the data protocol or only a conversion of the physical signals.

In another embodiment, the wires of the wiring harness are mechanically fixed in the interface. This means that no plug connection between the cable harness and the interface is provided, but that a fixed connection, for example a screw connection or another mechanical attachment of the cables of the cable harness is provided at the interface. In this way it is ensured that the wires of the wiring harness are reliably in a fixed mounting position. This is particularly necessary for optical signals, but also for high-frequency electrical signals and electrical signals with a high data rate. In this way, it is ensured that the quality of the signal is as little as possible affected during the transition from the wiring harness to the interface.

In a further embodiment, the cable, in particular the cable of the wiring harness is firmly connected to the interface. This ensures further mechanical stability for connecting the cables of the cable to the interface.

In another embodiment, the cable is mechanically sealed to the interface. This means that mechanical means are provided which seal the cable to the interface. This can represent, for example, a gluing of the cable to the housing of the interface.

In another embodiment, a portion of the cable and the interface are embedded in a block. The block may for example be in the form of a foamed part, in particular of PU or other materials. In addition, the block may also be formed of adhesive material, in particular a hot melt adhesive.

In a further embodiment, the second signal or data protocol represents a status protocol in which defined states and no data words are transmitted. For example, as a state, a switching state such. B. "power on" or "voltage 5V" are transmitted. For example, the state log can then z. B. represent a control of a relay directly.

In another embodiment, the device is configured to convert a state to a data word and output via the first signal or data protocol.

In a further embodiment, the circuit is designed as a switchable power distributor, in particular as a relay. In this way, a simple power distribution can be controlled using the described interface.

The embodiment in which a state log is converted into a signal or data protocol by the device may also be used to inexpensively connect a power distributor to a controller through the interface.

In another embodiment, the device has an apparatus for converting various physical signals. It can be z. As a conversion of optical into electrical signals or a conversion of a modulation such. B. a conversion of an amplitude modulated signal into a frequency modulated signal. In addition, it is also possible to convert an amplitude-modulated signal into a signal with a direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). be converted, wherein the user data in direct sequence via exclusive-or linked with a spreading code and then modulated onto a carrier. The spreading code thus has the function of a crypto key.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. Show it:

1 a schematic representation of a wiring harness with an interface and a control unit and

2 shows a schematic representation of the transition from the external bus system to the internal bus system.

1 shows an interface 1 that with a cable 2 a harness of a vehicle is connected. The cable 2 has signal lines 3 on, with only one signal line 3 is shown. The signal line 3 is with a connection 4 the interface 1 coupled. The connection 4 stands with a building block 5 in connection. The building block 5 has an output terminal 6 on, to the one line 7 a circuit 8th connected. In the 1 is only one connection 4 and an output terminal 6 shown, but with multiple connections 4 and multiple output terminals 6 can be provided. In addition, only one component 5 shown, wherein the building block 5 can also be designed in the form of multiple components and / or circuits. The circuits may include data memories, programmable circuits, signal processors, etc.

The output terminal 6 and the line 7 are connected to each other, for example in the form of a plug connection. The circuit 8th can be in the form of a controller for lighting, a brake system or a motor or in the form of a circuit such. B. in the form of a power distributor such. B. a relay may be formed.

The building block 5 represents a link between an internal bus system BI with that of the circuit 8th Signals and data are received and exchanged, and an external bus BE, with which signals and data are transmitted via the cable 2 of the wiring harness are exchanged. 2 shows a schematic representation of the arrangement of the boundary between the internal data bus BI and the external data bus BE with respect to the interface 1 , The internal and the external bus system BI, BE have different data protocols and / or different physical signals for data transmission. The different data protocols can be, for example, CAN, MOST, Ethernet or Fast Ethernet. In addition, the different physical signals, optical signals, electrical signals, different coding or modulation of the signals such. B. Amplitude modulation, frequency modulation or DSSS-modulated signals represent.

The task of the building block 5 It now consists of converting the different signal types and / or the different data protocols between the internal bus system BI and the external bus system BE. For this purpose, the electronic component has appropriate circuits to make the conversion can. The building block 5 thus has corresponding circuits to convert the signals of the external bus BE into the signals of the internal bus BI and vice versa. For this purpose, for example, electro-optical converter or modulation converter can be provided. In addition, the block has 5 corresponding circuits in order to convert the data protocol of the external data bus BE in the data log of the internal data bus BI and vice versa.

In a simple embodiment, the signal lines 3 of the cable 2 to the connections 4 the interface 1 infected. In a further embodiment, the lines 3 mechanically fixed to the connections 4 attached, for example screwed. This will secure the lines 3 in terms of connections 4 reached.

In a further embodiment, the cable is 3 with a housing 11 the interface 1 mechanically firmly connected. The mechanical connection can take the form of a bond, in the form of a screw connection or in the form of an embedding in a block 12 be educated. The block 12 represents a mechanical unit between the housing 11 the interface 1 and the cable 2 The block may for example be formed from an adhesive or a foam. As a foam, a PU foam can be used. In particular, the block may be formed in such a way that not only a mechanical fixation of the lines 3 in relation to the housing 1 and in particular with regard to the connections 4 takes place, but that also a sealing of the cable connection at the interface 1 with respect to moisture and / or dust.

Thus, the interface provides 1 holding a plug for the circuit 8th represents a component of the cable 2 , in particular of the wiring harness.

In a further embodiment, the internal bus BI is not a conventional system for data transmission but a system for state transmission, ie the conversion of the external data bus BE to the internal data bus BI requires the interpretation of a data word in a switching state. A switching state can represent "current on" or "voltage at 10V". The internal bus can in this way directly control the circuit, in particular a power distribution such. B. a relay run. In the opposite direction then the transmission of a state in a data word is required. The transfer location is the building block 5 ,

The circuit 8th may represent a simple power distributor such as a relay in this embodiment. In this case, in one case the lines which transmit the states can be posted directly to the internal bus BI. In a second case, however, the interface includes 1 the technique to interpret and / or generate a bus signal and thus the states within the circuit 8th to capture or control.

Must z. B. in the first case too many lines are posted to the controller, a plug is placed on the existing interface, which takes over the information from a bus and implements. Instead of the control cables, the cable of the cable harness now only contains the cables that are needed for the bus system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

interface

2

electric wire

3

signal line

4

connection

5

building block

6

output port

7

management

8th

circuit

11

casing

12

block

Claims (9)

Interface ( 1 ) with an electronic component ( 5 ), where the building block ( 5 ) Connections ( 4 ) having at least one electrical line ( 7 ) of a wiring harness and with at least one connection ( 6 ) a circuit ( 8th ) are connectable, whereby the building block ( 5 ) is adapted to convert signals of a first physical signal used in the wire harness for transmitting data and / or signals into signals of a second physical signal used by the circuit, wherein the first physical signal and the second physical signal represent different physical signals, wherein the second physical signal represents an internal bus protocol of a controller, wherein the conversion between the first signal and the second signal comprises a conversion of an electrical signal into an optical signal. The interface of claim 1, wherein the first physical signal represents an external bus protocol. Interface according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the lines ( 7 ) of the wiring harness in the interface ( 1 ) are mechanically fastened. Interface according to claim 3, wherein the interface ( 1 ) firmly with a cable ( 2 ) of a wiring harness is connected. Interface according to claim 4, wherein the interface ( 1 ) and the cable ( 2 ) are mechanically sealed. Interface according to claim 5, wherein the interface ( 1 ) and a section of the cable ( 2 ) in a block ( 12 ) are embedded. Interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit is designed as a control unit. Interface according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the circuit is designed as a switchable power distributor, in particular as a relay. The interface of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conversion between the first signal and the second signal comprises a conversion from amplitude modulation to frequency modulation.

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