JP2006270878A - Data converter and data conversion method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data converter and a data conversion method whereby an electronic apparatus can simply be fitted to a vehicle and the cost of the electronic apparatus itself can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The data converter is provided with an output system for converting communication data received from an on-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to the electronic apparatus to be fitted to the vehicle and outputting the converted signal so as to simplify the fitting of the electronic apparatus, eliminates the need for a special connection interface or the like for the electronic apparatus and reduces the cost of the electronic apparatus itself. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data conversion device and a data conversion method, and more particularly to a technique applied when attaching a commercially available automotive product to be retrofitted to a vehicle.

  With the recent development of an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network), for example, information on sensors and various switches mounted in advance in the vehicle is transmitted as communication data via the in-vehicle LAN (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle LAN in which a plurality of electronic control devices (abbreviated as ECUs) are electrically connected. The data structure of communication data that is serially and centrally input from such an in-vehicle LAN varies depending on the automobile manufacturer, vehicle type, and the like.

JP 2003-46536 A

  In the conventional technology including the in-vehicle LAN, for example, when a retrofit commercial automobile article (electronic device) is attached to the vehicle, it is difficult to obtain a signal directly from the conventional ECU connector. Therefore, not only the work man-hours for installing commercially available automobile supplies increase, but also a connection interface dedicated for each vehicle type is required. Therefore, the burden on the user for installing commercially available automobile supplies increases. In other words, the cost of the commercial automobile supplies themselves increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a data conversion device and a data conversion method capable of simplifying the mounting of an electronic device and reducing the cost of the electronic device itself.

The present invention provides a data conversion apparatus provided in a construction target in which an information communication network is constructed.
A data conversion device comprising an output system for converting communication data input from the information communication network into a signal specific to an electronic device to be attached to the construction target and outputting the signal.

Further, the present invention provides a data converter connected to an in-vehicle LAN constructed in a vehicle.
A data conversion apparatus comprising an output system for converting communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to an electronic device to be attached to the vehicle and outputting the signal.

  In addition, the present invention includes a computer including an input unit, a calculation unit, and an output unit, and the computer has a function of converting the communication data into a signal unique to an electronic device.

  According to the present invention, the computer is configured to be rewritable with a function of converting the communication data into a signal unique to the electronic device.

  The present invention further includes storage means for storing the type of communication data and a signal unique to the electronic device in association with each other.

Further, the present invention provides a data conversion method for a data converter connected to an in-vehicle LAN constructed in a vehicle.
A data conversion method comprising an output step of converting communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to an electronic device to be attached to the vehicle and outputting the signal.

  According to the present invention, an information communication network is constructed on a construction target. Communication data is input to the data converter from the information communication network. The input communication data is converted into a signal specific to the electronic device and output to a corresponding output system. Since the output system corresponding to various electronic devices is provided, the mounting of the electronic device is simplified, and the dedicated connection interface of the electronic device is not necessary, and the cost of the electronic device itself can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, communication data is input from the in-vehicle LAN to the data converter. The input communication data is converted into a signal specific to the electronic device and output to a corresponding output system. Since the output system corresponding to various electronic devices is provided, the mounting of the electronic device is simplified, and the dedicated connection interface of the electronic device is not necessary, and the cost of the electronic device itself can be reduced. Since the output system corresponding to other various electronic devices is provided, the versatility of the vehicle with respect to the electronic devices can be enhanced.

  According to the invention, the data conversion device includes a computer such as a general-purpose microcomputer. This computer converts communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to the electronic device.

  According to the present invention, the computer can rewrite the function of converting communication data into a signal unique to the electronic device. Therefore, the versatility of attaching various electronic devices to the vehicle can be further enhanced. In the data conversion apparatus, the hardware scale can be minimized. Since various electronic devices can be attached to the vehicle without incorporating new devices and parts, the cost of the electronic device itself can be further reduced.

  According to the present invention, the storage means stores the communication data type and the electronic device-specific signal in association with each other. After determining whether or not the input communication data is existing communication data, the communication data is reliably converted into a signal unique to the electronic device and output based on the associated relationship.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the output step, communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN is converted into a signal specific to the electronic device to be attached to the vehicle and output. A dedicated connection interface for the device becomes unnecessary, and the cost of the electronic device itself can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding forms in each form are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described in the preceding section. Not only the combination of the parts specifically described in each embodiment, but also the embodiments can be partially combined as long as the combination does not hinder.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a conversion box 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the relationship between communication data and signals unique to an electronic device. A conversion box 1 (corresponding to a data conversion device) according to the present embodiment is electrically connected to, for example, an in-vehicle LAN constructed in a vehicle. However, the conversion box may be electrically connected to an information communication network constructed in an aircraft other than a vehicle and a ship. The following description also includes a description of the data conversion method.

  The conversion box 1 according to this embodiment mainly includes a general-purpose microcomputer 2, a digital output circuit 3, an analog output circuit 4, a pulse output circuit 5, and a CAN circuit 6 (CAN: Controller Area Network). Have. The “general-purpose microcomputer” is referred to as a “general-purpose microcomputer” in FIGS. 1 and 2. The general-purpose microcomputer 2 includes a central processing unit 7 (abbreviated as CPU: Central Processing Unit), ROM 8 (ROM: Read Only Memory), RAM 9 (RAM: Random Access Memory), bus 10, input / output interface 11 and an unillustrated one. Including drive circuit. A CAN circuit 6, a digital output circuit 3, an analog output circuit 4, and a pulse output circuit 5 are electrically connected to the input / output interface 11, respectively. In the present embodiment, the CAN circuit 6 is applied as a communication protocol, but is not necessarily limited to the CAN circuit 6. Specifically, for example, other communication protocols such as MOST, IEEE1394, or FlexRay can be applied.

  The RAM 9 as a storage means stores a conversion table for converting communication data into a signal specific to the electronic device to be attached to the vehicle. An electronic device is sometimes referred to as an automobile article. As shown in FIG. 2, an external RAM 9 </ b> A that can store such a conversion table can be connected to the input / output interface 11 of the general-purpose microcomputer 2. In this case, the external RAM 9A corresponds to the storage means. The control body for converting communication data into the signal, that is, the control body of the data conversion program is the CPU 7 in both the forms of FIG. 1 and FIG. The ROM 8 stores a data conversion program to be described later. In general, communication data is input to the conversion box 1 with a period of, for example, 100 ms, and a communication protocol is established by the CAN circuit 6. Then, for example, the water temperature data (ID111) in the communication data is converted into data (IDXXX) specific to the additional meter 12 which is an electronic device by the data conversion program. Thereafter, the data is converted into an analog water temperature value by the analog output circuit 4 and output.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the relationship among the automobile article 13, the conversion box 1, and the in-vehicle LAN 14. As shown in FIG. For example, communication data including vehicle speed, rudder angle, gear position, engine speed, and the like is serially and centrally input to the conversion box 1 from an in-vehicle LAN 14 in which ECU A, ECU B, ECU C, and the like are electrically connected. To do. Then, in the conversion box 1, it is converted into an engine rotation signal, a steering angle signal, and a vehicle speed signal, respectively, and is output by independent output systems 15, 16, and 17. Each automobile article 13 obtains a necessary signal from the plurality of output systems 15, 16, and 17 and is used.

  According to the conversion box 1 described above, communication data is input from the in-vehicle LAN 14 to the conversion box 1 serially and centrally. The input communication data is converted into a signal unique to the automobile article 13 and output to a corresponding output system. Since the output system corresponding to various automobile supplies 13 is provided, the installation of the automobile supplies 13 is simplified, the dedicated connection interface of the automobile supplies 13 is not required, and the cost of the automobile supplies 13 itself can be reduced. it can. Since the output system corresponding to various other automobile supplies 13 is provided, the versatility of the vehicle with respect to the automobile supplies 13 can be enhanced.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the function change of the conversion box by software rewriting, FIG. 4 (a) is a block diagram before the function change, and FIG. 4 (b) is a block diagram after the function change. In the above embodiment, the data conversion program is stored in the ROM 8, but in this embodiment, the data conversion program can be rewritten in the nonvolatile memory. This will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the conversion box 1A according to the present embodiment (referred to as a software rewritable conversion box 1A) mainly includes a microcomputer 2, a digital output circuit 3, an analog output circuit 4, a pulse output circuit 5, and a CAN circuit 6. And have. The nonvolatile memory is electrically connected to the input / output interface 11 of the microcomputer 2. This nonvolatile memory can be realized by, for example, a flash ROM. However, it is not limited to the flash ROM.

  Before the data conversion program is rewritten, that is, before the function is changed, as shown in FIG. 4A, communication data including vehicle speed, rudder angle, gear position, engine speed, and the like is transmitted from the in-vehicle LAN 14 to the conversion box 1A. Input serially and centrally. Then, in the conversion box 1A, it is converted into an engine rotation signal, a steering angle signal, and a vehicle speed signal, respectively, and output by independent output systems 15, 16, and 17. Each automobile article 13 obtains a necessary signal from the plurality of output systems and is used. Users including the operator can download the change specification data to the non-volatile memory, for example, by wireless communication in order to change to a desired function. Other users or the like can also read the modified specification data and rewrite the data conversion program in the nonvolatile memory based on information recorded on the recording medium, for example.

  In the state after the data conversion program of the nonvolatile memory is rewritten, that is, after the function is changed, as shown in FIG. 4B, communication data including, for example, an interior lamp signal, a door state, and the own vehicle position from the in-vehicle LAN 14 Are input serially and centrally into the conversion box 1A. The own vehicle position is synonymous with the current position of the vehicle. Then, in the conversion box 1A, the signals are converted into the interior light signal, the door state, and the vehicle position, respectively, and output by independent output systems 15, 16, and 17, respectively. Each automobile article 13 obtains a necessary signal from the plurality of output systems and is used.

  According to the software rewritable conversion box 1A described above, since the data conversion program is rewritable in the nonvolatile memory, the following effects can be obtained. The versatility of attaching various automobile supplies 13 to the vehicle can be further enhanced. It is also possible to minimize the hardware scale in the conversion box 1A. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the software rewritable conversion box 1A, and to reduce the ratio of the installation space of the software rewritable conversion box 1A in the vehicle, in other words, the occupation ratio. Since various automobile supplies 13 can be attached to the vehicle without incorporating new devices, parts, etc., it is possible to further reduce the cost of the automobile supplies 13 themselves. In addition, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the data conversion method according to the embodiment of the present invention step by step. For example, this process is started under a start condition for turning on the ignition switch. However, it is not limited to this starting condition. The control subject of this process is the CPU 7 unless otherwise specified. After the start of this process, in step s1, it is determined whether there is water temperature or oil temperature data in the communication data. If “Yes” is determined, the process proceeds to step s 2, and the water temperature and oil temperature data are converted into data specific to the additional meter 12 based on the conversion table. If it is determined that there is no water temperature or oil temperature data, the process proceeds to step s4. After step s2, water temperature and oil temperature analog values are output in step s3, and the process proceeds to step s4.

  In step s4, it is determined whether there is vehicle speed data among the communication data. If “Yes” is determined, the process proceeds to step s 5, and the vehicle speed data (for example, ID 222) is converted into data (for example, IDYYY) unique to the navigation system 18, which is an electronic device, based on the conversion table. If there is no vehicle speed data, the process proceeds to step s7. After step s5, a vehicle speed pulse is output in step s6, and the process proceeds to step s7. In step s7, it is determined whether communication data includes other arbitrary data. If “Yes” is determined, the process proceeds to step s8 to convert other data into data specific to the electronic device. Next, in step s9, a signal specific to the electronic device is output, and then this process is terminated. Steps s3, s6 and s9 correspond to an output process. In addition, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the conversion box 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the relationship between communication data and the signal intrinsic | native to an electronic device. It is a block diagram which shows roughly the relationship between the automotive goods 13, the conversion box 1, and the vehicle-mounted LAN14. FIG. 4A is a block diagram for explaining a function change of the conversion box 1A by software rewriting, FIG. 4A is a block diagram before the function change, and FIG. 4B is a block diagram after the function change. It is a flowchart which shows the data conversion method which concerns on embodiment of this invention in steps.

Explanation of symbols

1,1A conversion box 2 general-purpose microcomputer 7 CPU
9 RAM
9A External RAM
13 Automotive 14 Automotive LAN

Claims (6)

In the data conversion device provided in the construction target where the information communication network is constructed,
A data conversion device comprising an output system for converting communication data input from the information communication network into a signal specific to an electronic device to be attached to the construction target and outputting the signal. In a data converter connected to an in-vehicle LAN constructed in a vehicle,
A data conversion apparatus comprising an output system for converting communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to an electronic device to be attached to the vehicle and outputting the signal.   3. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a computer including an input unit, a calculation unit, and an output unit, wherein the computer has a function of converting the communication data into a signal unique to an electronic device.   4. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the computer is configured to be rewritable with a function of converting the communication data into a signal unique to an electronic device.   5. The data conversion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for storing the type of the communication data and a signal specific to the electronic device in association with each other. In a data conversion method of a data conversion device connected to an in-vehicle LAN constructed in a vehicle,
A data conversion method comprising: an output step of converting communication data input from the in-vehicle LAN into a signal unique to an electronic device to be attached to the vehicle and outputting the signal.

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