JP2007145116A - On-vehicle equipment, and its communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide on-vehicle equipment applicable to both a vehicle having an in-cabin communication network and a vehicle having an analog accessory line. <P>SOLUTION: An in-cabin communication network 14 is connected to a communication port of a microcomputer 25 for communication control of an on-vehicle equipment via a communication IC, and an analog accessory line 18 is connected to an interruption port of the microcomputer 25 for communication control. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device and a communication method, and more particularly to an in-vehicle device that performs communication through an in-vehicle communication network or an accessory signal line and a communication method thereof.

  An audio device for a vehicle is mounted on the instrument panel or console panel at the left front of the driver seat of the automobile. The vehicular audio apparatus includes a radio receiver, a reproduction tape deck, an optical disc recording / reproduction apparatus such as a CD (Compact Disc) player and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player. Audio signals obtained from these sound source sources are output as audio by a speaker provided in, for example, a door in the passenger compartment, thereby enabling driving while listening to radio or music.

  Such an audio device for a vehicle is connected to an accessory signal line drawn from an ignition key box into which an ignition key is inserted, and transmits and receives information through the accessory signal line, and also from a battery mounted on the vehicle. Power is being supplied. Therefore, the audio device cannot be operated unless the ignition key is switched to the ON state of the accessory signal line.

  In accordance with such a purpose, the control unit of the in-vehicle audio apparatus is usually provided with a connection terminal for connecting to the accessory signal line connected to the ignition key box.

  On the other hand, various electronic devices are provided in the vehicle, and a microcomputer (microcomputer, μCOM) is used as a control means (ECU Electric Control Unit) of these electronic devices. That is, the vehicle is equipped with a large number of electronic devices equipped with a microcomputer. In order for ECUs including microcomputers of these electronic devices to perform high-function and high-precision control, a lot of information is required, and information from existing electronic devices and newly provided sensors is used as electrical signals. It tends to be transmitted to the microcomputer of the ECU of the vehicle-mounted device, or conversely, a control command is transmitted to each device as an electric signal from the microcomputer of the ECU. More recently, terminals that communicate with external devices such as media information equipment represented by car navigation, road traffic information communication system (VICS Vehicle Information and Communication System), nonstop automatic toll collection system (ETC Electronic Toll Collection), etc. This information is linked to improve safety and comfort. Therefore, it is impossible to control such in-vehicle devices and terminals without an in-vehicle communication network.

  In order to link such an in-vehicle communication system and an in-vehicle device such as a car audio device, it cannot be supported only by the connecting means with the accessory signal line. That is, the accessory signal line is an analog signal line and cannot be adapted to an in-vehicle communication system such as an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network).

In-vehicle devices include devices such as genuine car audio devices that are installed in the state of a new vehicle, and aftermarket-type in-vehicle devices that are freely installed by the user after purchasing the vehicle. And as for genuine in-vehicle devices, there are an increasing number of devices that are compatible with the in-vehicle network unique to the automobile manufacturer in which the device is installed, and even if the genuine in-vehicle device is a car of another manufacturer or the same manufacturer, There is a problem that is not consistent with other in-vehicle devices. Similarly, there is a problem that aftermarket devices cannot be attached to vehicles of certain car manufacturers or specific vehicle types. Alternatively, correct operation may not be expected even after installation. That is, even if the ignition key is switched to the accessory ON state, there may be a problem that the in-vehicle audio device does not start up.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-68087 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-239058

  The subject of this invention is providing the vehicle-mounted apparatus which can be connected with an in-vehicle communication network, and also can connect with an analog accessory signal line, and its communication method.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device that can be widely applied to various vehicles and a communication method thereof.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device and a communication method therefor that do not require replacement of the in-vehicle device when the vehicle is replaced.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device that can be equipped as an in-vehicle device for a new vehicle and that can be optionally installed in a vehicle by a user after purchasing the new vehicle, and a communication method therefor.

  The above-described problems and other problems of the present invention will be clarified by the technical idea of the present invention described below and the embodiments thereof.

The main invention of the present application is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle.
A first connection means for connecting to the in-vehicle communication network;
A second connecting means for connecting to an analog accessory signal line of the vehicle;
Selecting means for selecting communication by the first connecting means and the second connecting means;
It is related with the vehicle equipment which has.

  Here, this in-vehicle device may be a car audio device. Further, this in-vehicle device may be a car navigation device. Or this vehicle equipment may be a monitor which has a display means. Alternatively, the in-vehicle device may be a disc type recording / reproducing device that performs recording and / or reproduction with a disc-shaped recording medium.

  The first connection means may be connected to a communication port of a communication control microcomputer of the in-vehicle device. The second connection means may be connected to an interrupt port of a communication control microcomputer of the in-vehicle device. Further, the selection means may switch the in-vehicle device to a corresponding mode in response to a power supply voltage generated in the first connection means or the second connection means. The in-vehicle communication network may detect a differential voltage generated between two signal lines as a signal level.

The main invention related to a communication method is a communication method for an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle.
First connection means for connecting to the in-vehicle communication network, and second connection means for connecting to the analog accessory signal line in the vehicle,
By selecting the first connection means and the second connection means, the communication method for an in-vehicle device is characterized by communicating with the in-vehicle communication network or communicating with the analog accessory signal line. is there.

  Here, the in-vehicle communication network may detect a differential voltage generated between two signal lines as a signal level. The in-vehicle communication network may be a CAN (Controller Area Network) that supplies control signals to various devices of the vehicle. Further, when the activation trigger for the first communication means and the activation trigger for the second communication means compete, the communication control microcomputer may be switched to the sleep state as an error. When the activation trigger for the first communication means and the activation trigger for the second communication means compete, communication may be performed by the communication means corresponding to the preceding trigger. Further, when the activation trigger for the first connection means and the activation trigger for the second communication means compete, communication may be performed by a predetermined communication means.

  A preferred aspect of the present invention is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle such as a car audio device, a navigation system, a monitor, a CD player, a DVD player, or the like, and an analog accessory signal line interface; It is provided with a communication network interface so that it has a wider versatility than in-vehicle devices for aftermarket and genuine in-vehicle LAN devices.

  According to such a configuration, since the number of vehicles that can be handled by a single set of in-vehicle devices increases, the risk of having to replace the in-vehicle devices during vehicle transfer or replacement is reduced. . In addition, depending on the vehicle manufacturer, it is necessary to limit the in-vehicle devices that can usually be selected by the manufacturer option or the car dealer option because there are some vehicle types that are not compatible with the in-vehicle network depending on the vehicle type. According to the aspect, since any in-vehicle device can be used, the applicable range is not limited. Therefore, the vehicle manufacturer, car dealer, or user does not need to check a complicated correspondence table. In-vehicle equipment manufacturers will be able to handle a large number of vehicle types in one set, so they can expect an increase in sales volume.

  The main invention of the present application is a first connection means for connecting to an in-vehicle communication network, a second connection means for connecting to an analog accessory signal line of the vehicle, and a first connection means in an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle. And selecting means for selecting communication by the second connecting means.

  Therefore, according to such an in-vehicle device, it is possible to connect to the in-vehicle communication network by the first connecting means, and to connect to the analog accessory signal line by the second connecting means. Therefore, it is possible to connect at least one or both of them, and when both are connected, it is possible to appropriately select communication by the first connecting means and the second connecting means by the selecting means. It can be used as a high-in-vehicle device.

  A main invention related to a communication method is a communication method for an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle, including a first connection means for connecting to an in-vehicle communication network and a second connection means for connecting to an analog accessory signal line in the vehicle. Then, by selecting the first connection means and the second connection means, communication with the in-vehicle communication network or communication with the analog accessory signal line is performed.

  Therefore, according to such a communication method for an in-vehicle device, it is possible to connect to the in-vehicle communication network by the first connecting means and exchange information through the in-vehicle communication network. Further, when connected to the analog accessory signal line by the second communication means, communication can be performed by the same communication method as that of the conventional in-vehicle device.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) to which the in-vehicle device of the present embodiment is applied. A large number of in-vehicle devices 11 installed in the automobile 10 are connected to, for example, a car audio device 12 via an in-vehicle communication network 14. Such a network is a suitable system for various in-vehicle devices 11 and 12 to perform high-function and high-accuracy control, and each in-vehicle device 11 and 12 has information from other devices and information from sensors. Through the in-vehicle communication network 14. In this case, a CAN (Controller Area Network) communication network is shown. The CAN network is a high-speed distributed real-time in-vehicle information network system developed by BOSCH of Germany, and is particularly suitable for information transmission between in-vehicle devices having a large number of computers.

  This CAN system employs a system in which a computer of each device detects a differential voltage generated between two wires as a signal level, and has a characteristic that it is not affected by external noise. Further, even if noise enters the signal line, the co-potential increases for both the two lines, that is, both the H line and the L line, and the potential difference between the two wires does not change. The CAN is divided into two, Hi-SpeedCAN and Low-SpeedCAN, with a communication speed (baud rate) of 125 Kbps as a boundary.

  The features of the CAN method are high communication speed, high noise resistance, excellent communication arbitration, precise synchronization by bit stuffing, etc., and excellent error detection and handling properties. ing.

  Such a communication system using the in-vehicle communication network 14 using the CAN system in-vehicle LAN is connected to the ignition key box 15 through the network 14 as shown in FIG. 2A. The ignition key box 15 includes a microcomputer. The ignition key 16 is inserted and rotated to start the engine and control various on-vehicle devices 11 and 12. Moreover, the car audio apparatus 12 can be connected not only to the in-vehicle communication network 14 but also to the analog accessory line 18 as shown in FIG. 2B. In this case, it is connected to an analog key box 19. Here, the ignition key box 19 is rotated by inserting the ignition key 20.

  The in-vehicle LAN is not limited to the above-mentioned CAN system, but can be replaced with various other in-vehicle communication networks such as the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) system, the Flex Ray system, and the MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transfer) system. be able to. CAN adopts a bus type as a network topology and a multi-master method as a communication method. LIN is a bus topology network topology and a multi-slave communication system. In the Flex Ray system, the network topology is any of bus type, star type, and hybrid type, and the communication system is time share. In MOST, the network topology is a ring type and the communication system is a timing master system. These are shown in the following table.

  Next, the configuration of the car audio device 12 that can be connected by the in-vehicle communication network 14 as shown in FIG. 2A and can be connected by the analog accessory line 18 as shown in FIG. 2B is shown. This will be described with reference to FIG. This car audio apparatus includes a disc type recording / reproducing apparatus 23 capable of reproducing a CD or a DVD and a master microcomputer 24. The master microcomputer 24 controls the entire car audio device 12. Further, a communication control microcomputer 25 is connected to the master microcomputer 24. The in-vehicle communication network 14 is connected to a signal port of the communication control microcomputer 25 via a communication IC 26. In contrast, the analog accessory line 18 is connected to the interrupt port of the communication control microcomputer 25.

  That is, this car audio apparatus includes a connection terminal of an accessory signal line 18 that constitutes an aftermarket interface, and further includes an IC 26 for communication with the in-vehicle communication network 14 that constitutes a genuine interface. In this way, it is designed to have a wider range of versatility than just in-vehicle equipment for the aftermarket and genuine in-vehicle equipment.

  Considering a car stereo as an example of an in-vehicle device, an aftermarket car stereo has a power source, an ACC (accessory), a speaker output, a light output, and the like as a normal interface. The interface of a genuine car audio device differs depending on the vehicle manufacturer and vehicle type, but here, an accessory signal line is usually transmitted as a data message of an in-vehicle network to an aftermarket model. In such a case, the operation is performed by detecting the accessory signal line at the interrupt port of the microcomputer for communication control. On the other hand, the accessory data message generated via the in-vehicle network operates by detecting it at the signal port of the microcomputer 25 via the communication IC 26 of the communication control microcomputer 25.

  The car audio device 12 operates by using the communication control microcomputer 25 as a trigger by detecting the voltage by the accessory signal line 18 or the accessory data message via the in-vehicle communication network 14. At this time, it is preferable to optimize the internal processing depending on which trigger is used to start the operation. According to such a configuration, the vehicle manufacturer, the car dealer, and the user can simply install the car audio device 12 without connecting to the in-vehicle communication network 14 and / or the analog accessory signal line 18 without any special setting. Ends.

  Although the car audio device 12 has been described as an example here, the in-vehicle device 12 can be applied not only to the car audio device but also to various in-vehicle devices such as a car navigation system, a monitor, and a CD / DVD player. .

  FIG. 4 shows how to start the operation when the car audio apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the in-vehicle communication network 14 and the analog accessory line 18. That is, the communication control microcomputer 25 determines whether the power of the in-vehicle LAN is ON or not, and if it is ON, the car audio device 12 is operated in the in-vehicle LAN mode. Accordingly, the car audio device 12 exchanges information with other in-vehicle devices via the in-vehicle communication network 14. On the other hand, when the power source of the in-vehicle LAN does not exist as a trigger, it is determined whether or not the accessory power line is ON. If it is ON, the analog accessory mode is operated.

  In FIG. 4, when the communication control microcomputer 25 operates in the in-vehicle LAN mode, for example, the operation is performed as shown in FIG. That is, when the driver operates the ignition key 16, the microcomputer of the ignition key box 15 transmits accessory ON information through the in-vehicle communication network 14. Accordingly, the communication control microcomputer 25 transmits and receives signals from the terminals of the in-vehicle communication network 14. Further, the accessory information of the microcomputer 25 is received by the communication IC 26. Further, the microcomputer 25 activates the master microcomputer 24 of the car audio device 12 in the in-vehicle network mode.

  On the other hand, when the mode is switched to the analog accessory mode in FIG. 4, when the driver operates the ignition key 20 to the accessory position, the ignition key box 19 causes the analog accessory line 18 to conduct and generates the accessory ON voltage. Let Then, the communication control microcomputer 25 receives the voltage from the terminal for the analog accessory line 18 and the microcomputer 25 detects the accessory voltage. Accordingly, the communication control microcomputer 25 activates the entire master microcomputer 25 of the car audio apparatus 12 in the analog accessory mode.

  Next, a description will be given of contention processing when a trigger is generated from both the in-vehicle communication network 14 and the analog accessory line 18. When triggers are generated from both the in-vehicle network 14 and the analog accessory line 18, the mode may be switched to the mode in which the trigger has been generated first, or the preferentially operating mode may be determined in advance. It is also possible to switch the operation mode in the internal processing state.

  FIG. 7A shows a process of prohibiting competition, and when a trigger is entered from the analog accessory line 18 and then from the in-vehicle communication network 14, the competition is detected when a later trigger is detected. In this case, an error is displayed and the communication control microcomputer 25 is set in the sleep state. That is, the operation is stopped as an error here.

  The system shown in FIG. 7B switches to the analog mode when a trigger signal is supplied from the analog accessory line 15, for example, and when a trigger is subsequently applied from the in-vehicle communication network 14, the subsequent trigger is ignored. Operate in mode. This is the same even if the order is reversed. When the trigger is first applied from the in-vehicle communication network 14, the competition from the analog accessory line 18 added later is ignored, and the in-vehicle communication network is ignored. Is processed.

  FIG. 7C shows a method for setting a priority trigger in advance. For example, when priority is given to the in-vehicle LAN mode, even if the trigger is first entered from the analog accessory line 18 and activated in the analog accessory mode, When a trigger is entered by the in-vehicle communication network 14, restart is started in a mode corresponding to the trigger of the in-vehicle communication network 14.

  If the operation mode of the set is changed depending on whether the analog voltage line 18 is activated with a trigger or the CAN message data via the in-vehicle network 14 is activated with a trigger, the following can be performed. That is, for example, when activated by an in-vehicle network, it is conceivable that data is sent to other in-vehicle devices to link display and illumination. In addition, when an analog voltage line is activated as a trigger, information cannot be acquired from the in-vehicle network. For example, a clock adjustment menu, a lighting adjustment menu, or the like may be added.

  FIG. 8 specifically shows such an operation. When the communication control microcomputer 25 receives an activation trigger from the outside, it is determined whether or not this trigger is a trigger from the in-vehicle communication network 14. Do. In the case of a trigger from the in-vehicle communication network 14, the operation button illumination of the car audio device 12 is initialized to the network interlocking mode. In addition, the backlight of the liquid crystal display unit of the car audio device 12 is initialized in the interlock mode.

  On the other hand, when it is not the in-vehicle network trigger, that is, when the trigger is applied from the analog accessory line 18, the brightness of the operation button of the car audio device 12 is set to the manual adjustment mode, and the brightness is set in advance. Reset to set value. Further, the brightness of the liquid crystal display of the car audio device 12 is set to the manual adjustment mode and is reset to a preset setting value. This is because the in-vehicle communication network 14 cannot automatically adjust the brightness of the operation buttons and the brightness of the backlight of the display.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of the invention included in the present application. For example, although the above embodiment relates to a car audio device, the present invention can be widely applied to various other in-vehicle devices. Also, the in-vehicle communication network system is not necessarily limited to the CAN system, and can be widely applied to various other in-vehicle communication network systems.

  The present invention can be applied to in-vehicle devices such as a car audio device.

1 is a block diagram of an in-vehicle communication network system including a car audio device. It is a block diagram (A) which shows the connection of the vehicle equipment via an in-vehicle communication network, and the block diagram (B) which shows the connection of the vehicle equipment via an analog accessory line. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of a car audio apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of selection of the mode of a car audio apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the specific operation | movement in in-vehicle LAN mode. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific operation in an analog accessory mode. It is a diagram which shows the operation | movement of the process of a competition when the competition of the trigger from an in-vehicle communication network and an analog accessory line occurs. It is a flowchart which shows each specific operation | movement of in-vehicle LAN mode and analog accessory mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Automobile, 11 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 12 ... Car audio apparatus, 14 ... In-vehicle communication network, 15 ... Ignition key box, 16 ... Ignition key, 18 ... Analog accessory line, 19 ... Ignition key box, 20 ... Ignition key, 23 ... Disc type recording / reproducing apparatus, 24... Master microcomputer, 25.

Claims (15)

In in-vehicle equipment mounted on vehicles,
A first connection means for connecting to the in-vehicle communication network;
A second connecting means for connecting to an analog accessory signal line of the vehicle;
Selecting means for selecting communication by the first connecting means and the second connecting means;
In-vehicle equipment having   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, which is a car audio device.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, which is a car navigation device.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the on-vehicle device is a monitor having display means.   2. The in-vehicle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle apparatus is a disk type recording / reproducing apparatus that performs recording and / or reproduction with a disk-shaped recording medium.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the first connection means is connected to a communication port of a communication control microcomputer of the in-vehicle device.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the second connection means is connected to an interrupt port of a communication control microcomputer of the in-vehicle device.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit switches the in-vehicle device to a corresponding mode in response to a power supply voltage generated in the first connection unit or the second connection unit.   The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle communication network detects a differential voltage generated between two signal lines as a signal level. In a communication method of an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle,
First connection means for connecting to the in-vehicle communication network, and second connection means for connecting to the analog accessory signal line in the vehicle,
A communication method for an in-vehicle device, wherein communication with the in-vehicle communication network or communication with the analog accessory signal line is performed by selecting the first connection means and the second connection means.   The in-vehicle communication method according to claim 10, wherein the in-vehicle communication network detects a differential voltage generated between two signal lines as a signal level.   11. The in-vehicle device communication method according to claim 10, wherein the in-vehicle communication network is a CAN (Controller Area Network) that supplies a control signal to various devices of the vehicle.   11. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 10, wherein when the activation trigger for the first communication means and the activation trigger for the second communication means compete, the microcomputer for communication control is switched to a sleep state as an error. Device communication method.   11. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 10, wherein when an activation trigger for the first communication means and an activation trigger for the second communication means compete, communication is performed by communication means corresponding to the preceding trigger. Device communication method. 11. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 10, wherein when an activation trigger for the first connection means competes with an activation trigger for the second communication means, communication is performed by a predetermined communication means. Communication method.

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