EP1516240A1

EP1516240A1 - Method and chip unit for addressing and/or activating a user of a serial data bus

Info

Publication number: EP1516240A1
Application number: EP03732771A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthias c/o Philips Intellectual Muth
Original assignee: Philips Intellectual Property and Standards GmbH; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Current assignee: NXP BV
Priority date: 2002-06-10
Filing date: 2003-06-05
Publication date: 2005-03-23
Also published as: CN1659498A; WO2003104959A1; CN1659498B; JP2005529393A; US20060168378A1; AU2003240156A1; DE10225578A1

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a chip unit (30) for addressing and/or activating at least one user (40) that is assigned to at least one serial data bus (10), particularly at least one controller area network (CAN) bus, and is scheduled to execute at least one application. The aim of the invention is to further develop said method and chip unit (30) such that individual users (40) of the network, i.e. individual users (40) on the data bus (10), can be selectively and specifically awakened so as to be able to form individual subnetworks as required without having to wake up the entire network. Said aim is achieved by initially applying voltage only to at least one protocol controller unit (42) which is assigned to the user (40) in case at least one message that is queued on the data bus (10) is received.

Description

METHOD AND CHIP UNIT FOR ADDRESSING AND / OR ACTIVATING A SUBSCRIBER ON A SERIAL DATA BUS

The present invention relates to a method for addressing and / or activating at least one subscriber assigned to at least one serial data bus, in particular at least one controller, which is intended for executing at least one application.

The present invention further relates to a chip unit, in particular a system chip unit, for addressing and / or activating at least one at least one serial data bus, in particular at least one controller assigned to a [rea] N [approximately] bus, for execution of an intended application.

With increasing complexity in serial networking, particularly of automobiles, the energy requirements of the electronic components used in serial networking are also increasing. In addition, there is the effect that more and more comfort functions are active even when the motor vehicle is parked, which then have to be operated directly from the vehicle battery.

Due to the serial networking of many functions via, for example, the controller A [rea] N [approximately] bus, the entire bus system is therefore always activated even when only a few vehicle functions are operated, because every participant on the bus is transferred by data transfer of a few Participants "woken up" or "kept awake"; this leads to an undesirably high and, in view of the operation of only a few vehicle functions, also no need for current consumption of the system.

According to the prior art, methods are now known in which all participants are initially woken up by global waking. Thereafter, any number of participants can be put back to sleep, from which they can only be woken up again using a separately defined wake-up symbol or using a special level scheme.

However, it is disadvantageous here that all nodes always have to be woken up before the subnet is established by switching off the nodes that are not required. This leads, at least for a short time, to high power consumption, which is very disruptive, particularly in the case of cyclical wake-up processes.

In a further method, each telegram on the bus is analyzed by special hardware in order to decide whether the message is relevant for the node that is sleeping and thus switched off. The application is only woken and started when the message is successfully compared with a previously defined message. However, it is disadvantageous here that a second permanently supplied bus protocol controller is required, which monitors the bus with a complex message filter and searches for relevant messages. Fig. 1 shows a for C [ontroller] A [rea] N [approximately] applications in the

Exemplary implementation provided by the automobile for such a CAN system according to the prior art:

The system chip B analyzes the data traffic on the serial CAN bus A by means of a CAN transceiver Bl and by means of its own CAN controller (including quartz) B.2, while the application microcontroller (including quartz) C.2 and the application hardware D are switched off can to save electricity in the system.

However, a second application CAN controller C.l is required here, which has to work with high accuracy (-> separate quartz and separate CAN controller) so that incorrect decisions caused by typical automotive malfunctions do not occur. When the message comparator B.3 has found the predefined wake-up message, the application D is activated and energized. However, such a complex implementation is usually very expensive.

On the basis of the disadvantages and inadequacies set out above, and in consideration of the outlined state of the art, the object of the present invention is to develop a method of the type mentioned at the beginning and a chip unit of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that individual participants in the network, that is to say individual participants can be selectively and selectively woken up on the data bus in order to be able to create individual subnetworks if necessary, without having to wake up the entire network.

This object is achieved by a method with the features specified in claim 1 and by a chip unit with the features specified in claim 8 solved. Advantageous refinements and useful developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective subclaims.

The present invention is therefore based on the principle of sub-network operation by selective waking. Here, according to the teaching of the present invention, the duplication of the protocol controller hardware, which is obligatory in the prior art, can be avoided by using in the application controller (hereinafter also

Application controller unit) already used protocol controller (hereinafter also called protocol controller unit) used and partially supplied by the system chip or by other hardware only when there is traffic in the serial data bus system. For the exchange of signals between the system chip and the

Application controllers use the existing connections, so that no additional external effort is required.

As far as the process sequence according to the present invention is concerned, the voltage supply to the protocol controller is provided by at least one upstream transceiver (hereinafter also referred to as transceiver unit) or by the system chip (also referred to above and hereinafter as chip unit or system chip unit) whenever messages are pending on the data bus ( the term “messages” is intended to include messages and / or telegrams pending on the data bus in addition to messages). In this context, it has an advantageous effect that the

Protocol controller, for example based on C [ontroller] A [rea] N [approximately], can be supplied separately within the application according to the system; the protocol controller itself can be designed separately ("stand alone") or can also be integrated in the microcontroller.

According to a particularly inventive development, the separately supplied protocol controller, which can expediently have its own clocking that meets the requirements, can carry out a comparison of the incoming messages with stored reference messages, at least one message filter unit being available for this message comparison within the protocol controller. The protocol controller then only provides feedback to the upstream

Transceiver or to the upstream system chip if the comparison is positive; the upstream transceiver or the upstream system chip then supplies the application and its microcontroller only in the event of such a corresponding, positive feedback from the protocol controller. The present invention further relates to a transceiver unit for performing the method according to the above-described type; the transceiver unit is connected to the data bus, is connected to the protocol controller unit and is connected to the application controller unit. According to a preferred development of the present invention, the

At least one control logic is assigned to the transceiver unit and / or at least one control logic is implemented in the transceiver unit.

The present invention further relates to a first voltage regulator connected to at least one battery unit and connected to at least one transceiver unit, in particular in accordance with the type set out above, for supplying voltage to at least one protocol controller unit assigned to at least one subscriber provided for executing at least one application an incoming message pending on at least one serial data bus, in particular on at least one controller A [rea] N [approximately] bus. The present invention further relates to at least one

Battery unit connected, connected to at least one transceiver unit, in particular in accordance with the above-described type, second voltage regulator for supplying voltage to at least one application controller unit assigned to at least one subscriber provided for executing at least one application in the event of correspondence and / or correspondence from at least one to at least one a serial data bus, in particular on at least one controller A [rea] N [approximately] bus, incoming message pending and at least one reference message stored in at least one protocol controller unit and assigned to the application. The chip unit, in particular system chip unit, according to the present

The invention comprises: at least one transceiver unit according to the type set out above; at least one first voltage regulator of the type set out above; and - at least one second voltage regulator according to that set out above

Kind of.

The present invention further relates to a protocol controller unit for comparing at least one incoming message pending on at least one data bus with at least one stored, at least one by at least one Reference message assigned to subscribers to be executed, in particular by means of at least one message comparator and / or message filter, in accordance with the type set out above; In the case of one or more incoming messages, the protocol controller unit must first be supplied with voltage. According to a preferred development of the present invention, the

Protocol controller unit has at least one clock generator unit, in particular quartz unit, so that the protocol controller unit can be suitably equipped with its own clocking, in particular quartz clocking.

The present invention further relates to an application controller unit according to the type set out above; the

Application controller unit is to be supplied with voltage only in the event of correspondence and / or correspondence of at least one incoming message pending on at least one data bus and at least one stored reference message assigned to at least one application to be executed by at least one subscriber. According to a preferred development of the present invention, the

Application controller unit can be activated by at least one transceiver unit, in particular in accordance with the type set out above.

The present invention further relates to a subscriber assigned to at least one data bus and provided for executing at least one application in accordance with the type set out above, with: at least one protocol controller unit in accordance with the type set out above; and at least one application controller unit of the type set forth above. The present invention further relates to a system of the type set forth above, comprising: at least one chip unit of the type set forth above; and at least one subscriber according to the type set out above, the chip unit and the subscriber being connected to one another. Finally, the present invention relates to the use of a

Method according to the type set out above and / or at least one chip unit according to the type set out above for addressing and / or activating at least one associated with at least one data bus, for executing at least one Application intended participant in automotive electronics, especially in the electronics of motor vehicles.

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities for advantageously designing and developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, on the one hand, reference is made to the claims subordinate to claims 1, 4, 9 and 11, and on the other hand, further refinements, features and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary implementation according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated by FIG. 2.

It shows:

1 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system with a chip unit and with a microcontroller unit according to the prior art; and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system based on the method according to the present invention with a chip unit and with a microcontroller unit according to the present invention.

A system 100 is schematically shown in FIG. 2, by means of which a subscriber 40, provided for executing an application and connected to a node 12 of a serial controller A [rea] N [approximately] data bus 10, is addressed and / or can be activated. The principle of operation of the system 100 is as follows: If message traffic is detected and is pending on the CAN data bus line 10, a transceiver unit 34 connected to the data bus 10 and equipped with control logic or the transceiver unit 34 receiving it switches

System chip unit 30, which is permanently supplied from the battery unit 20, has a first voltage regulator 32, which is connected to the transceiver unit 34 and is connected 92, 94, and which serves to provide a protocol controller unit 42, which is assigned to the application subscriber 40 and has its own clocking that meets the requirements to energize a connecting line 62. For this purpose, the first voltage regulator 32 is connected to the battery unit 20 via a feed line 22.

The bit stream is passed on to the protocol controller unit 42 and analyzed there via a reception line (= RXD line 52) which connects the transceiver unit 34 and the protocol controller unit 42. In the Protocol controller unit 42 then uses a message comparator or message filter to compare the received messages, messages or telegrams with stored reference messages, messages or telegrams. The availability of the quartz clock (<--> quartz unit in the protocol controller unit 42) and the protocol hardware make it possible to recognize certain ones

Messages, messages or telegrams are made with high precision; However, because the application itself, including the application microcontroller 44, is still de-energized, considerable electricity is saved here.

If the result of the comparison is positive, the protocol controller unit 42 sends a feedback signal to the transceiver unit 34 or to the system chip unit 30 via a transmission line (= TXD connection 54). Thereupon, a transceiver unit 34, which is also connected to the battery unit 20 via a feed line 26, is connected to the transceiver unit 34 96 the second voltage regulator 36 is switched on and the application is completely started via the connecting line 82, in that the application controller unit 44 assigned to the subscriber 40 is supplied with voltage by the second voltage regulator 36; As can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 2, a reset line 84 also runs between the second voltage regulator 36 and the application microcontroller unit 44.

If, on the other hand, no message, message or message is recognized, that is to say if the message, message or message coming in via the CAN data bus 10 does not correspond to any of the reference messages, messages or messages assigned to the application and stored in the protocol controller unit 42, the second message becomes the second Voltage regulator 36 not switched on.

As soon as bus quietness returns for a predetermined time in the system chip unit 30 or in the transceiver unit 34, the first voltage regulator 32 is also switched off and in this way maximum power is saved. The system chip unit 30 or the transceiver unit 34 now only lives from the battery unit 20 and waits for incoming messages from the CAN data bus 10 in order to then switch on the first voltage regulator 32 again. The system 100 can be configured and controlled via a mode control interface 70 between the transceiver unit 34 (or the system chip unit 30) and the application controller unit 44.

In addition, with regard to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 according to the present invention, it should also be noted that it is suitable for the Implementation is irrelevant whether an integrated system chip 30 or discrete components such as transceivers 34 and voltage regulators 32, 36 are used. Furthermore, it is irrelevant whether the protocol controller 42 is integrated in the microcontroller or is implemented as a "stand alone device". In summary, it can be stated that that shown in FIG. 2

System 100 is designed for addressing and activating subscribers 40 assigned to a serial data bus system 10 and each intended for executing an application, so that individual subscribers 40 in the network, that is to say individual subscribers 40 on data bus 10, can be selectively and specifically woken up to to be able to create individual subnetworks if necessary, without having to wake up the entire network.

For this purpose, the protocol controller unit 42 is advantageously used within the application for the response / activation analysis of the current bit stream. A separate power supply concept for the protocol controller unit 42 and for the application controller unit 44 enables a significant reduction in the power consumption of the system 100.

A simple "handshake mechanism" between the physical connection to the data bus 10 of the serial protocol controller unit 42 is used to make the decision whether the local system should wake up, that is to say be activated and activated or not.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

100 system

10 data bus, in particular controller A [rea] N [approximately] bus

12 nodes of the data bus 10

20 battery unit 22 connection between battery unit 20 and first voltage regulator 32

26 Connection between battery unit 20 and second voltage regulator 36

30 chip unit, in particular system chip unit

32 first voltage regulator of chip unit 30

34 transceiver unit of chip unit 30 36 second voltage regulator of chip unit 30

40 participants

42 Protocol controller unit

44 Application controller unit

52 first connection between transceiver unit 34 and protocol controller unit 42

54 second connection between transceiver unit 34 and

Protocol controller unit 42 62 Connection between the first voltage regulator 32 and

Protocol controller unit 42 70 Interface between transceiver unit 34 and application controller unit

44 82 Connection between second voltage regulator 36 and appl. controller unit

44 84 Reset line between second tension regulator 36 and application controller unit 44

92 first connection between the first voltage regulator 32 and the transceiver unit

34 4 second connection between the first voltage regulator 32 and

Transceiver unit 34 96 Connection between transceiver unit 34 and second voltage regulator 36

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Method for addressing and / or activating at least one subscriber (40) assigned to at least one serial data bus (10), in particular at least one controller [A], [rea] N [approximately] bus, provided for executing at least one application, characterized in that in the case of at least one incoming message pending on the data bus (10), at least one protocol controller unit (42) assigned to the subscriber (40) is initially supplied with voltage.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the protocol controller unit (42) is addressed by the incoming message; that the incoming message is compared with at least one reference message stored in the protocol controller unit (42) and assigned to the application; that if the incoming message and the reference message match and / or match, at least one reply is sent to at least one transceiver unit (34) upstream of the subscriber (40); and that the application, in particular at least one application controller unit (44) assigned to the subscriber (40), is activated by the transceiver unit (34).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Application, in particular the application controller unit (44), can be supplied with voltage only in the event that the incoming message and the reference message match and / or match.

4. transceiver unit (34) for performing a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transceiver unit (34): is connected to the data bus (10); is connected (52, 54) to the protocol controller unit (42); and is connected (70) to the application controller unit (44).

5. The transceiver unit according to claim 4, characterized by at least one control logic assigned to the transceiver unit (34) and / or implemented in the transceiver unit (34).

6. First voltage regulator (32) connected to at least one battery unit (20) and connected to at least one transceiver unit (34), in particular according to claim 4 or 5, in order to supply at least one at least one for executing at least one application The assigned protocol controller unit (42) assigned to the intended subscriber (40) with voltage in the case of at least one incoming message pending on at least one serial data bus (10), in particular on at least one controller [A] [rea] N [approximately] bus.

7. A second voltage regulator (36) connected to at least one battery unit (20) and connected to at least one transceiver unit (34), in particular according to claim 4 or 5, for supplying at least one subscriber provided for executing at least one application (40) assigned application controller unit (44) with voltage in the event of correspondence and / or correspondence of at least one on at least one serial data bus (10), in particular on at least one controller [A] [rea] N [approximately] bus incoming message and at least one reference message stored in at least one protocol controller unit (42) and assigned to the application.

8. Chip unit (30), in particular system chip unit, for addressing and / or activating at least one at least one serial data bus (10), in particular at least one controller assigned to a [rea] N [approximately] bus, for executing at least one Application intended subscriber (40), characterized by: at least one transceiver unit (34) according to claim 4 or 5; at least one first voltage regulator (32) according to claim 6; and - at least one second voltage regulator (36) according to claim 7.

9. Protocol controller unit (42) for comparing at least one incoming message pending on at least one serial data bus (10), in particular on at least one controller [A] [rea] N [approximately] bus, with at least one Stored reference message assigned to at least one application to be executed by at least one subscriber (40), in particular by means of at least one message comparator and / or message filter, characterized in that in the case of one or more incoming messages, the protocol controller unit (42) must first be supplied with voltage.

10. Protocol controller unit (42) according to claim 9, characterized by at least one clock generator unit, in particular quartz unit, so that the protocol controller unit (42) is equipped with its own clocking, in particular quartz clocking.

11. Application controller unit (44) which only arrive in the event of correspondence and / or correspondence of at least one on at least one serial data bus (10), in particular on at least one controller [A] [rea] N [approximately] bus Message and at least one stored reference message assigned to at least one application to be executed by at least one subscriber (40) is to be supplied with voltage.

12. Application controller unit (44) according to claim 11, characterized in that the application controller unit (44) by at least one

Transceiver unit (34), in particular according to claim 4 or 5, can be activated.

13. At least one serial data bus (10), in particular at least one controller [A] [rea] N [approximately] bus, assigned to a subscriber (40) provided for executing at least one application, characterized by: at least one protocol control unit (42) according to claim 9 or 10; and at least one application controller unit (44) according to claim 11 or

12th

14. System (100), characterized by at least one chip unit (30) according to claim 8; and at least one subscriber (40) according to claim 13, wherein the chip unit

(30) and the subscriber (40) are connected (52, 54; 62; 70; 82, 84).

15. Use of a method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3 and / or at least one chip unit (30) according to claim 8 for addressing and / or activating at least one at least one serial data bus (10), in particular at least one controller [A rea] N [ehork] bus, assigned subscriber (40) provided for executing at least one application according to claim 13 in automotive electronics, in particular in the electronics of motor vehicles.