JP2002353985A - Data communication method and data communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data communication method and a data communication system that can attain high-speed data communication. SOLUTION: Each of slave communication units CS1 to CSn of the data communication system sequentially outputs data signals to a data communication line DL, by using a WAKE signal received from a ring line RL as a trigger, and a master communication unit BM receives the data signals by correlating them with each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn. Thus, ID is no longer required for a signal sent/received through the data communication line DL. Furthermore, since the master communication unit BM has only to transmit a command signal to the data communication line DL to have all the slave communication units CS1 to CSn simultaneously receive the command signal and return a data signal in response to the command signal, the system can reduce the transmission reception quantity of data compared to that in the conventional system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data communication method and a data communication system for performing data communication between one master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional data communication system. For example, slave communication units C1 to Cn are provided corresponding to a plurality of secondary batteries BT1 to BTn provided in an electric vehicle. The slave communication units C1 to Cn and one master communication unit B1 are connected to a data communication line DL. Further, each of the communication units C1 to Cn is provided with, for example, a dip switch (not shown) for setting an ID for distinguishing them, and a unique ID is set for each of the communication units C1 to Cn. I have.

When the master communication unit B1 requests data transmission from a predetermined slave communication unit C1 to Cn, the master communication unit B1 requests the ID of the predetermined slave communication unit and requests the communication unit. The command signal including the type of data is transmitted as a serial signal to the data communication line DL. Then, all the slave communication units C1 to Cn receive the command signal and check the ID, and the slave communication unit having the same ID as the command signal returns a data signal responding to the command signal to the master communication unit B1.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional configuration, when the master communication unit B1 requests data transmission from all the slave communication units C1 to Cn, a command signal whose ID has been changed is transmitted. Since the number of units is transmitted and the command signal includes the ID one by one, the data length becomes longer, and there is a problem that the amount of data transmission / reception becomes enormous. In addition, each of the slave communication units C1 to Cn must collate the ID included in each command signal with its own ID, and the data processing capability of each communication unit must be high. However, there is a problem that the data communication time becomes long. In the conventional device, each slave communication unit C requires hardware (such as a dip switch) for setting an ID,
There is also a problem that setting work and management are required.
In particular, when such a communication system is applied to, for example, a communication system in a battery device including a large number of battery modules, a problem in data processing capacity occurs due to a large number of battery modules, and ID setting and management work becomes enormous. There is a problem.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a data communication method and a data communication system capable of increasing the speed of data communication.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data communication method for achieving the above object.
One master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units are connected to a data communication line, and separately from the data communication line, a master and slave communication unit is provided with a ring line connected in a ring,
Each communication unit receives the trigger signal at a different timing in the order of one direction of the ring line, and each slave communication unit sequentially receives the trigger signal and sends the trigger signal to the data communication line in response to the trigger signal. , And the master communication unit receives the data signals in association with each slave communication unit. A data communication method according to a second aspect of the present invention is obtained by applying the data communication method of the first aspect to data communication in a battery management device, and a slave communication unit is provided for each battery module constituting the battery device.

In a data communication system according to a third aspect of the present invention, one master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units are connected to a data communication line, and each slave communication unit outputs to the data communication line. The data signal, the master communication unit, for each slave communication unit, in the data communication system to receive, in each of the master and slave communication units, with a trigger input terminal and a trigger output terminal,
It is characterized in that a ring line connecting a trigger input terminal and a trigger output terminal is provided so as to connect each communication unit in a ring shape.

In a data communication system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, one master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units are connected to a data communication line, and each slave communication unit outputs a data signal output to the data communication line. In a data communication system in which the master communication unit distinguishes each slave communication unit and receives data, the master and slave communication units each include a trigger input terminal and a trigger output terminal, and ring each communication unit. A ring line connecting the trigger input terminal and the trigger output terminal is provided so that the slave communication unit receives the trigger signal at the trigger input terminal. Output, then output the trigger signal to the ring line at the trigger output terminal. The master communication unit outputs a trigger signal to the ring line at the trigger output terminal, and then receives the data signal sequentially output to the data communication line by each slave communication unit in association with each slave communication unit. It has a feature in the configuration.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system according to the third or fourth aspect, when the master communication unit outputs a command signal to the data communication line, all the slave communication units receive the command signal. When the master communication unit outputs the first trigger signal following the command signal to the ring line, the slave communication units sequentially trigger. Receiving a signal and outputting a data signal in response to the command signal to a data communication line, wherein the master communication unit
When the second trigger signal is output after the second trigger signal, each slave communication unit sequentially receives the trigger signal and releases the reception inhibition state.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the data communication system according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, after the master communication unit outputs a trigger signal to the ring line after activation, each slave communication unit outputs the trigger signal. The slave communication unit outputs an address signal for setting an address for identifying the unit to the data communication line.When the slave communication unit is started, the slave communication unit is in a reception prohibited state in which reception of a signal from the data communication line is prohibited, and when a trigger signal is received. The receiving prohibition state is released, an address signal is received from the data communication line, a self-address is set based on the address signal, and a trigger signal is output to the ring line. An address signal for setting an address is output to a data communication line. Having.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the data communication system of the third to sixth aspects is applied to data communication in a battery management device, and a slave communication unit is provided for each battery module constituting the battery device. .

[0012]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, each of the communication units sequentially receives a trigger signal at a shifted timing in an order around one direction of the ring line. As a trigger, data signals are sequentially output to the data communication line. Then, since the master communication unit receives these data signals in association with each slave communication unit, signals transmitted and received on the data communication line include I / O signals for distinguishing each communication unit.
D becomes unnecessary, the data length is shortened, and the total amount of transmitted / received data is also reduced, so that the communication speed is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, all the slave communication units need only transmit the command signal once.
Since the command signal is received and the data signal in response to the command signal is sequentially returned in response to the reception of the trigger signal, the data signal is transmitted as compared with the conventional case where the command signal is transmitted to each slave communication unit. The amount of transmission and reception is reduced,
The communication speed is improved. In addition, since each slave communication unit is prohibited from receiving while the slave communication unit receives the trigger signal and transmits the data signal, there is no need to process the received data. Another advantage is that the unit does not require a high-performance data processing capability.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, different addresses are automatically set in each of the slave communication units sequentially, so that a conventional address setting DIP switch or the like becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, the work of setting the address can be eliminated.

According to the invention of claim 7, since the data communication system of claims 3 to 6 is applied to a communication system in a battery management device, the battery device is composed of a large number of battery modules. Under the circumstances, there is no need to provide an ID for distinguishing each battery module, so that the setting and management work are extremely simplified, and an excellent effect that the communication speed is improved can be obtained.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The data communication system of the present embodiment is used, for example, to manage a plurality of secondary batteries (battery modules) BT1 to BTn that constitute a battery device of an electric vehicle. Each secondary battery BT1 to BTn
Comprises a plurality of cells W connected in series, and each of these secondary batteries BT1-BTn has a slave communication unit CS1-Cn.
Sn is provided.

These slave communication units CS1 to CS
n, together with one master communication unit BM, a power line PL, a data communication line DL and a ring line RL
To form the data communication system of the present embodiment. Then, each slave communication unit CS1
To CSn detect the voltage between terminals of each cell W,
It takes in detection signals of the temperature sensors ST provided for each of the secondary batteries BT1 to BTn, converts these detection results into serial signals, and outputs them to the data communication line DL. In addition, the master communication unit BM detects and takes in the current of a predetermined line of the electric vehicle with the current sensor SC.

More specifically, a power output terminal (P in FIG. 1) provided on the master communication unit BM is connected to the power line PL.
powerOUT) and each of the slave communication units CS1 to CS1.
Power input terminal provided for CSn (PowerIN in FIG. 1)
When the master communication unit BM is activated by receiving power from an external power supply (not shown), the slave communication units CS1 to CS1 are connected via the power line PL.
Power is also supplied to CSn. That is, by operating a start switch (not shown), all the communication units BM and CS1 to CSn according to the present data communication system are started.

The data communication line DL is connected to data communication terminals (TxD / RxD in FIG. 1) provided in each of the communication units BM and CS1 to CSn. In addition, for example, a voltage of a predetermined level is applied to the data communication line DL, and each of the communication units BM and CS1 to CS1
The transmission / reception circuit (not shown) connected to the data communication terminal of CSn is provided with, for example, a switch capable of connecting the data communication line DL to the ground. And
By driving a switch of the transmission / reception circuit of any of the communication units BM, CS1 to CSn, the voltage level of the data communication line DL is switched to, for example, a predetermined level and a ground level. The serial signal as a signal is transmitted to each communication unit BM, CS
1 to CSn.

The ring line RL connects the communication units BM and CS1 to CSn in a ring shape. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, each communication unit BM, CS1 to CSn is provided with a trigger input terminal 14 and a trigger output terminal 15, and a trigger output terminal of the master communication unit BM. Fifteen, the first
Input terminal 14 of slave communication unit CS1
And the trigger input terminal 14 of the second slave communication unit CS2 is connected to the trigger output terminal 15 of the slave communication unit CS1. As described above, the trigger output terminal 15 and the trigger input terminal 14 of the two slave communication units CSm and CSm + 1 are sequentially connected, and the trigger output terminal 15 of the last slave communication unit CSn is connected to the master communication unit. Connect to the trigger input terminal 14 of the BM. Thereby, each communication unit B
M, CS1 to CSn are connected in a ring shape by a ring line RL, and a signal is transmitted around one direction of the ring line RL.

The master communication unit BM runs a predetermined program by a built-in CPU, for example,
It works as follows. That is, the master communication unit B
M is W to the ring line RL at the output terminal 15 for trigger.
After outputting the AKE signal (corresponding to the "trigger signal" of the present invention), the data signals sequentially transmitted to the data communication line DL are transmitted to the slave communication units CS1 to CS.
Received in association with Sn. Further, the master communication unit BM outputs a WAKE signal to the ring line RL after activation, and then outputs the slave communication units CS1 to CS1.
An address signal for setting an address for identifying n is output to the data communication line DL.

Each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn
Operates as follows, for example, by running a predetermined program by a CPU incorporated therein. That is, when each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn receives a command signal from the data communication line DL, the slave communication units CS1 to CSn enter a reception prohibited state in which reception of a signal from the data communication line DL is prohibited. In this state, when the first WAKE signal following the command signal is received, a data signal responsive to the command signal is output to the data communication line DL, and then the ring line RL is output from the trigger output terminal 15. WA
Outputs the KE signal. Further, each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn performs a second WAKE following the first.
When a signal is received, the reception inhibition state is released and the reception is enabled, and thereafter, a WAKE signal is output from the trigger output terminal 15 to the ring line RL.

The slave communication units CS1 to CS
n is in the reception prohibited state at the time of startup, and receives the WAKE signal from the ring line RL and switches to the reception permitted state. Then, in this state, the data communication line D
When an address signal is transmitted to L, its own address is set based on the address signal, and a WAKE signal is output to the ring line RL. Then, to your own address,
A new address is generated by incrementing a predetermined number (for example, +1), and an address signal for setting the new address is output to the data communication line DL.

As described above, each communication unit BM, C
By operating S1 to CSn, the entire data communication system of the present embodiment operates as shown in the time charts of FIGS.

First, FIG. 2 shows an operation of setting an ID in each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn.
Each time the data communication system of the present embodiment is started,
The ID of each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn is set. To start the data communication system, for example, a power switch (not shown) provided in the master communication unit BM is turned on. Then, power is also supplied to each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn via the power line PL, and all the communication units B according to the present data communication system are connected.
M, CS1 to CSn are activated (S1 in FIG. 2).

Each slave communication unit CS1 to CSn
Is in a state in which transmission / reception to the data communication line DL is prohibited after activation (S2 in FIG. 2). In this state,
The master communication unit BM outputs a WAKE signal to the ring line RL at the trigger output terminal 15. Then, the first slave communication unit CS1 receives the WAKE signal at the trigger input terminal 14 (S1 in FIG. 2).
3), the transmission and reception of the data communication line DL are permitted (S4 in FIG. 2).

In this state, the master communication unit BM
Outputs a command signal for setting the first ID to the data communication line DL (S5 in FIG. 2). Then
The first slave communication unit CS1 receives the command signal related to the first ID, and stores the first ID as its own address (S6 in FIG. 2).

Next, the first slave communication unit CS
1 is a signal from the trigger output terminal 15 to the ring line RL.
An AKE signal is output (S7 in FIG. 2). Then, the second slave communication unit CS2 sets the trigger input terminal 14
Receives this WAKE signal (S8 in FIG. 2) and enters a state where transmission and reception to the data communication line DL are permitted (S9 in FIG. 2). Then, in this state, the first slave communication unit CS1 outputs a command signal for setting the second ID to the data communication line DL (S5 in FIG. 2). Then, the second slave communication unit CS
1 receives the command signal related to the second ID and stores it as its own address (S11 in FIG. 2).

In this way, the ID is sequentially set to each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn, and when the IDn of the last slave communication unit CSn is set, the WAKE signal and the first signal are output from the slave communication unit CSn. A command signal for setting the n + 1 ID is output (S12 in FIG. 2). Then, the WAKE signal and the command signal are received by the master communication unit BM, and when the ID setting is completed and the slave communication units CS1 to CS1 are received.
The total number of CSn is recognized.

As described above, according to the data communication system of the present embodiment, each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn
In addition, since different addresses are automatically set in sequence, a conventional DIP switch for setting an address becomes unnecessary, so that manufacturing cost can be suppressed and an address setting operation can be eliminated.

FIG. 3 shows the master communication unit B
The operation when M collects detection data on each secondary battery from each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn is shown. First, when the setting of the ID is completed, each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn is in the reception permission state. In this state, the master communication unit BM outputs a command signal to the data communication line DL. here,
The command signal is transmitted, for example, to each slave communication unit CS
1 to CSn, the detection results such as the temperature of each of the secondary batteries BT1 to BTn, the voltage between the terminals of each cell W, etc.
The content is output to L.

When a command signal is transmitted from the master communication unit BM, all the slave communication units CS
1 to CSn receive this command signal and enter the reception prohibited state, and the transmission is permitted (FIG. 3).
S21). And all slave communication units CS
1 to CSn simultaneously analyze the contents of the command signal,
The data signal responding to the command signal is prepared for transmission and stands by (S22 in FIG. 3).

Next, the master communication unit BM connects the WAKE to the ring line RL at the trigger output terminal 15.
A signal is output (S23 in FIG. 3). Then, the first slave communication unit CS1 receives the WAKE signal at the trigger input terminal 14 (S24 in FIG. 3), and uses the reception of the WAKE signal as a trigger to transmit the prepared data signal. , To the data communication line DL (S25 in FIG. 3). Then, this data signal is received by the master communication unit BM (S26 in FIG. 3). At this time,
Since each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn is in the reception prohibited state, the first slave communication unit CS1
And no data signal is received, so that unnecessary data processing is not required as in the related art.

Next, the first slave communication unit CS
1 is a signal from the trigger output terminal 15 to the ring line RL.
An AKE signal is output (S27 in FIG. 3). Then, the second
Slave communication unit CS2 is connected to the trigger input terminal 1
At 4, the WAKE signal is received (S28 in FIG. 2),
With the reception of the WAKE signal as a trigger, the prepared data signal is output to the data communication line DL (S29 in FIG. 3). Then, the data signal is received by the master communication unit BM (S30 in FIG. 3).

In this way, each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn outputs the data signal prepared in sequence to the data communication line DL, which is sequentially received by the master communication unit BM. At this time, since the master communication unit BM receives the data signals in the order of the ID set as described above, which data signal is
Of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn. Then, the master communication unit BM transmits each data signal to each slave communication unit CS.
Data processing is performed in association with 1 to CSn.

The master communication unit BM receives the WAKE signal from the last slave communication unit CSn (S31 in FIG. 3), so that the transmission of the data signals from all the slave communication units CS1 to CSn is completed. And outputs a WAKE signal from the trigger output terminal 15 to the ring line RL (S32 in FIG. 3). Then, the first slave communication unit CS1 receives this (S33 in FIG. 3) and returns to the reception permission state (S33 in FIG. 3).
34), the next second slave communication unit CS2
An AKE signal is output (S35 in FIG. 3).

The slave communication units CS1 to CS1
CSn sequentially returns to the reception permission state, and when the WAKE signal that has made one round of the ring line RL is received by the master communication unit BM (S36 in FIG. 3), all the slave communication units CS1 to CSn receive the signal. It is recognized that the state has returned to the permission state. Based on the recognition, the master communication unit BM outputs the command signal again after a predetermined time, and the same operation as described above is repeated.

As described above, according to the data communication system of the present embodiment, each of the slave communication units CS1 to CSn
, Triggered by the reception of the WAKE signal from the ring line RL, sequentially outputs data signals to the data communication line DL, and the master communication unit BM applies these data signals to the slave communication units CS1 to CSn. Since the signal is transmitted and received on the data communication line DL, an ID for identifying each of the communication units CS1 to CSn is not required, and the data length is shortened.
Moreover, without discriminating the slave communication units CS1 to CSn, the master communication unit BM only transmits a command signal to the data communication line DL, and all the slave communication units CS1 to CSn simultaneously transmit the command signal. Since a data signal is received and a response is returned, a data transmission / reception amount is reduced as compared with a conventional case where a command signal is transmitted for each slave communication unit. As a result, according to the data communication system of the present embodiment, the data communication speed can be improved as compared with the conventional one.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In addition to the following, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the data communication system according to the present invention is used for managing the secondary battery. However, the present invention is not limited to the management of the secondary battery. As long as data communication is performed between the unit and a plurality of slave communication units, the present invention may be applied to, for example, management of factory facilities, a building security system, and the like. (2) In the data communication system of the embodiment, the ID of each slave communication unit is automatically set, but the ID may be set by a dip switch one by one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing an ID setting operation of the data communication system.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a data collection operation of the data communication system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional data communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14: Trigger input terminal 15: Trigger output terminal BM: Master communication unit CS1 to CSn: Slave communication unit DL: Data communication line PL: Power line RL: Ring line

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Konishi 1 Kishijoin Nishinosho Inobamabacho, Minami-ku, Kyoto F-term in Nippon Battery Co., Ltd. (reference) 5K031 AA01 CB19 DA02 DA14 5K032 AA01 CA15 CC01 CC13 DA01 DA14 DB24 5K034 AA01 DD02 EE08 EE10 FF02 FF12 GG06

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A communication system comprising: a master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units connected to a data communication line, and a ring line connected in a ring shape separately from the data communication line; Units are arranged in such a manner that each communication unit receives a trigger signal at a different timing in an order around one direction of the ring line, and each of the slave communication units triggers the reception of the trigger signal to generate the data. A data communication method, wherein data signals are sequentially output to a communication line, and the master communication unit receives the data signals in association with the slave communication units. 2. A data communication method in a battery management device for managing a state of each battery module in a battery device including a plurality of battery modules, wherein a slave communication unit provided for each battery module and one master communication unit are provided. And to the data communication line, and provided a ring line connected in a ring separately from the data communication line, the communication units of the master and the slave in the order around one direction of the ring line,
Each communication unit is configured to receive a trigger signal at a shifted timing, and each of the slave communication units sequentially outputs a data signal to the data communication line with the reception of the trigger signal as a trigger. A data communication method in a battery management device, wherein a unit receives the data signals in association with each of the slave communication units. 3. One master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units are connected to a data communication line,
In the data communication system in which each of the slave communication units receives a data signal output to the data communication line, the master communication unit distinguishes the data signal for each of the slave communication units and receives the data signal. A trigger input terminal and a trigger output terminal, and a ring line connecting the trigger input terminal and the trigger output terminal so as to connect the communication units in a ring. Data communication system. 4. A method for connecting one master communication unit and a plurality of slave communication units to a data communication line,
In the data communication system in which each of the slave communication units receives a data signal output to the data communication line, the master communication unit distinguishes the data signal for each of the slave communication units and receives the data signal. A trigger input terminal and a trigger output terminal, and a ring line connecting the trigger input terminal and the trigger output terminal so as to connect the communication units in a ring shape. The unit, when receiving the trigger signal at the trigger input terminal, outputs the data signal to the data communication line, and then outputs the trigger signal to the ring line at the trigger output terminal. The master communication unit is connected to the ring line at the trigger output terminal. From the output of the trigger signal,
The data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the data signals sequentially output from the slave communication units to the data communication line are received in association with the slave communication units. 5. When the master communication unit outputs a command signal to the data communication line, all the slave communication units receive the command signal and prohibit reception of a signal from the data communication line. When the master communication unit outputs the first trigger signal next to the command signal to the ring line, the slave communication units sequentially receive the trigger signal and receive the command signal. Outputting a data signal responsive to the signal to the data communication line, wherein the master communication unit has a second
5. The data communication according to claim 3, wherein each of the slave communication units sequentially receives the trigger signal when the second trigger signal is output, and releases the reception inhibition state. system. 6. The master communication unit, after starting, outputs the trigger signal to the ring line, and then sends an address signal for setting an address for identifying each of the slave communication units to the data communication line. When the slave communication unit is activated, the slave communication unit is in a reception prohibited state in which reception of a signal from the data communication line is prohibited, and when the trigger signal is received, the reception prohibited state is released and the slave communication unit is disconnected from the data communication line. Receiving the address signal, setting its own address based on the address signal, outputting the trigger signal to the ring line, and further setting an address signal for setting an address different from its own address. 6. An output device for outputting data to a data communication line. Data communication system according to any one. 7. The data communication system according to claim 3, wherein the slave communication unit is used for a battery management device that manages a state of each battery module in a battery device including a plurality of battery modules. Is provided for each of the battery modules and transmits the data to the master communication unit.