JP2009290409A - Address setting device, communication unit, communication system and address setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an address setting device capable of eliminating erroneous connection of a communication unit such as a relay connector and suppressing a cost increase, a communication unit, a communication system and an address setting method. <P>SOLUTION: A slave 3 is provided with a switch 35 for restricting the transmission of a frame from a master 2 to a slave in downstream from the slave 3 itself. When the frame transmitted from the master 2 is a frame for resetting an address, a communication transceiver 36 resets an address set inside, and a control part 37 controls to open the switch 35. In addition, when the frame transmitted from the master 2 is a telegraphic message for setting its own address, the communication transceiver 36 sets an address, and the control part 37 controls to close the switch 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an address setting device and an address setting method for setting an address of a communication unit or the like connected to a bus-type communication line, and a communication unit and a communication system including the address setting device.

  In recent years, with the increase in the number of electronic parts (electrical units) in automobiles, it has been provided corresponding to multiple electrical units in order to eliminate the enlargement and complexity of wire harnesses used as wiring for communication lines connecting electrical units. There is a method in which the communication units are connected to a common communication line and communication is performed between the electrical units via each communication unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the communication method as described above, a relay connector may be used as a communication unit. In this relay connector, in order to relay between the communication line and the electrical unit, the communication data (telegram) from the communication line to the connected electrical unit is discriminated, and the telegram to other communication units is transmitted to the communication line. The function to output to is built in.

Since a plurality of relay connectors described above are connected to the same communication line, it is necessary to set a dedicated ID (address) for each. Therefore, conventionally, it has been necessary to set (store) addresses in advance in each relay connector using an external component or a semiconductor memory.
JP-A-8-275268

  However, in the case of the method for setting the address in advance, if the external shape of each relay connector is the same, there is a possibility of erroneous connection during manufacture of the automobile. If it is erroneously connected, regular control cannot be performed on the electrical unit, resulting in a manufacturing failure.

  In order to avoid this erroneous connection, for example, if the external shape of each relay connector is changed, there is a problem in that the relay connector having a different external shape corresponding to the required address must be manufactured, resulting in an increase in cost.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an address setting device, a communication unit, a communication system, and an address setting method capable of eliminating erroneous connection of a communication unit such as a relay connector and suppressing an increase in cost while paying attention to the above problems. The task is to do.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an address setting device for setting an address of a communication unit connected to a bus-type communication line, which is arranged from upstream to downstream of the communication line. A switch for restricting transmission of a message, switch control means for controlling opening and closing of the switch, and address setting for extracting and setting an address of a communication unit to be set from a message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line And the switch control means closes the switch after the address setting means sets an address.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an address resetting unit for resetting an address set by the address setting unit based on a message transmitted from upstream of the communication line, The switch control means opens the switch after the address reset means resets the address.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the communication unit includes the address setting device according to the first or second aspect.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3, wherein the first terminal connected to the upstream side of the communication line, the second terminal connected to the downstream side of the communication line, It is characterized by having.

  The invention according to claim 5 is a communication system comprising: a communication device that is connected to the uppermost stream of the communication line and serves as a master; and a plurality of communication units that are slaves of the communication device. The slave or master located upstream of the slave is connected to the first terminal of the slave, and the slave located downstream of the slave is connected to the second terminal. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an address setting method for setting an address of a communication unit connected to a bus-type communication line, comprising a switch for restricting transmission of a message from upstream to downstream of the communication line. The address of the communication unit to be set is extracted and set from the message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, and then the switch is closed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the set address is reset based on a message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, and then the switch is controlled to open. It is characterized by.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the address setting means includes the switch for restricting transmission of the message from the upstream to the downstream of the communication line, and the address setting means from the message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line. The address is set, and the switch control means controls the switch to close. Since it is configured in this way, after the address is set from the upstream, the switch can be closed for the first time and a message can be sent downstream, so it is not necessary to set the address in advance in the communication unit itself and connect to the communication line Since an address is set later, manufacturing defects due to erroneous connection are eliminated, and addition of functions can be limited to the circuit portion, so that an increase in cost can be suppressed as compared to changing the external shape.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the address reset unit resets the address set by the address setting unit based on the message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, and then the switch control unit controls the opening of the switch. Therefore, it is possible to set the address by resetting the address by a message from upstream.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the communication unit includes the address setting device, the address setting device can be configured integrally with the circuit in the communication unit, which further increases the cost by adding the address setting device. Can be suppressed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the first terminal connected to the upstream side of the communication line and the second terminal connected to the downstream side of the communication line are provided, the connection is made upstream. The wiring to be connected and the wiring connected to the downstream side can be separated.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of slaves are connected in a daisy chain, the configuration of the communication system is simplified, and branch lines and branches from the communication line are performed as in the conventional bus connection. These parts are unnecessary.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the switch includes a switch for restricting transmission of the message from the upstream to the downstream of the communication line, and the address setting means sets the address from the message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, Set the address and control the switch to close. For this reason, after the address is set from the upstream, the switch can be closed for the first time and a message can be sent downstream, so it is not necessary to set the address in the communication unit in advance, and the address is set after connecting to the communication line. Manufacturing failure due to erroneous connection is eliminated, and addition of functions can be limited to the circuit portion, so that an increase in cost can be suppressed as compared with changing the external shape.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the address reset means resets the address based on the message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, and then controls the opening of the switch. It is possible to reset and enter an address setting state.

  A communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The communication system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a master 2, a slave 3, a slave 4, a slave 5, a slave 6, and a slave 7, as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the communication system 1, the communication terminal 21 of the master 2 and the communication terminal A31 of the slave 3 are connected by a communication line 81, and the communication terminal B32 of the slave 3 and the communication terminal A41 of the slave 4 are connected by a communication line 82. Communication terminal B42 of slave 4 and communication terminal A51 of slave 5 are connected by communication line 83, communication terminal B52 of slave 5 and communication terminal A61 of slave 6 are connected by communication line 84, and communication of slave 6 The terminal B62 and the communication terminal A71 of the slave 7 are connected by a communication line 85. That is, each slave is connected in a daisy chain.

  The master 2 is a communication unit serving as a master of the communication system 1, and outputs communication data (telegram) to each slave and inputs communication data from each slave. In this embodiment, the address of each slave is set.

  Slave 3, slave 4, slave 5, slave 6, and slave 7 all have the same configuration, outputting a message sent from master 2 to an adjacent slave, or analyzing a message sent from master 2 The data output to the electrical unit (not shown) connected to each slave and the data input from the electrical unit are output to the communication line 81 as a message. The slave 3, the slave 4, the slave 5, the slave 6, and the slave 7 are set with different addresses from the master 2.

  The configuration of slave 3, slave 4, slave 5, slave 6, and slave 7 as communication units will be described with reference to FIG. Although FIG. 2 shows the slave 3, as described above, the slave 4, the slave 5, the slave 6, and the slave 7 have the same configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slave 3 includes a communication terminal A31, a communication terminal B32, a GND terminal 33, a power supply terminal 34, a switch 35, a communication transceiver 36, a control unit 37, an I / F 38, an external And a terminal 39.

  The communication terminal A31 as a first terminal is a terminal for transmitting and receiving a message to the upstream side of the communication line (master 2 side, that is, the communication line 81). The communication terminal B32 as the second terminal is a terminal for transmitting and receiving a message to and from the downstream side of the communication line (slave side, that is, the communication line 82).

  The GND terminal 33 is a connection terminal for connecting to a ground line (not shown). The power supply terminal 34 is a connection terminal for connecting to a power supply line to which a power supply voltage (not shown) is supplied.

  The switch 35 is configured by a contactless switch such as a transistor, and restricts the telegram input from the communication terminal A31 from being output from the communication terminal B32. That is, transmission of a message from upstream to downstream of the communication line is restricted. Of course, the switch 35 may be a contact type switch. The switch 35 is controlled to be opened and closed by a control unit 37 described later. Note that when the switch 35 is controlled to open, a message input from the communication terminal A31 cannot be output from the communication terminal B32 (the reverse direction, that is, the direction from the communication terminal B32 to the communication terminal A31 is the same). A message input from the communication terminal A31 can be output from the communication terminal B32 (the reverse direction is the same).

  The communication transceiver 36 as an address setting unit and an address reset unit analyzes a message input from the communication terminal A31, and in the case of a message for setting an address, stores the address in a storage area such as an internal memory, and resets the address. In the case of a message, the address stored in the storage area such as the internal memory is reset. In addition, a control signal is output to the control unit 37 according to the address setting or reset. In addition, after the address is set, the data that is output from the message indicating its own address to the electrical unit (not shown) connected to the external terminal 39 of the slave 3 is extracted and the data input from the electrical unit is configured in a message format. Output.

  Based on a control signal from the communication transceiver 36, the control unit 37 serving as a switch control unit controls the switch 35 to be closed when the address is set, and controls the switch 35 to be opened when the address is reset. Further, input / output control of data with an electrical unit (not shown) connected to the external terminal 39 of the slave 3 is performed via an I / F 38 described later.

  The I / F 38 performs an interface operation for inputting / outputting data to / from an electrical unit (not shown) connected to the external terminal 39 of the slave 3.

  The external terminal 39 is a terminal to which wiring or the like with an electrical unit (not shown) connected to the slave 3 is connected.

  In the present embodiment, the switch 35, the communication transceiver 36, and the control unit 37 described above constitute an address setting device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slave 3 is connected to the communication terminal A31 and the communication terminal B32 via the communication transceiver 36 and the switch 35. The communication transceiver 36 is functional as shown in FIG. 1 is configured to pass the input message as it is and fetch it into the inside and process only the message addressed to its own address in the internal processing circuit. Therefore, the communication system 1 shown in FIG. It becomes.

  Next, the address setting operation in the communication system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows the operation up to the slave 5 for the sake of space, but the same applies to the slave 6 and the slave 7.

  In the present embodiment, LIN (Local Interconnect Network) is adopted as a communication method used in the communication system 1. LIN is a type of communication protocol for in-vehicle LAN, and is used in a master / slave configuration, and is often used mainly for controlling automobile wipers, door switches, power windows, door mirrors, and the like.

  First, the master 2 outputs a frame R for resetting (resetting) the address set in each slave as a message after the normal operation or after the initial operation. At this time, each slave switch is closed. As shown in FIG. 4, the frame to be reset is composed of a break, a delimiter (denoted as A in FIG. 4), a sync, ID0, an address reset, and a checksum, and a sync, ID0, an address reset, and a checksum. Are respectively appended with a start bit (described as B in FIG. 4) and a stop bit (described as C in FIG. 4). Of these, data up to Break and Sync are data for synchronizing the master 2 and each slave, and ID0 is data indicating that it is a frame R for address reset (reset). The address reset is data for instructing the received slave to reset the set address, and the checksum is data added for error detection of the frame data.

  When the master 2 outputs the frame R for resetting the address, since the switches of the slaves are controlled to be closed, the frame R for resetting the address arrives at each slave almost at the same time. The communication transceiver 36 resets the address set inside after a lapse of some time from the normal checksum, and then outputs a control signal to the control unit 37. The switch 35 is controlled to open. This operation is performed not only in the slave 3 but also in all slaves, and the switch is controlled to be opened. At this time, the address of each slave is surely reset and the switch 35 is also controlled to open, so that the master 2 and the slave 3 are connected.

  Next, a frame AD1 for setting an address in the slave 3 as a message is output from the master 2. As shown in FIG. 4, this frame is composed of a break, a delimiter, a sync, ID1, an address setting 1, and a checksum. The sync, ID1, address setting 1, and checksum are preceded and followed by a start bit and a stop bit, respectively. Added. Among these, from Break to Sync, the checksum has the same meaning as the frame R whose address is reset. ID1 is data indicating that the frame is for address setting. Address setting 1 is data including an address to be set for the slave 3.

  When the master 2 outputs the frame AD1 for setting an address to the slave 3, only the slave 3 receives it, and the slave 4 and later are not reached because the switch 35 is controlled to be opened. In the slave 3, the communication transceiver 36 recognizes that it is a frame for setting an address in itself, extracts a new address from the address setting 1 of the frame, sets it inside, and subsequently sends a control signal to the control unit 37. The control unit 37 controls the switch 35 to be closed. At this time, only the address of the slave 3 is set and the switch 35 is controlled to be closed, so that the master 2, the slave 3, and the slave 4 are connected.

  Next, a frame AD2 for setting an address in the slave 4 is output from the master 2 as a message. As shown in FIG. 4, this frame is composed of a break, a delimiter, a sync, ID1, an address setting 2, and a checksum. The sync, ID1, address setting 2, and the checksum are preceded and followed by a start bit and a stop bit, respectively. Added. Among these, from Break to Sync, ID1 and checksum have the same meaning as the frame AD1 for setting an address in the slave 3. Address setting 2 is data including an address to be set for the slave 4.

  When the master 2 outputs the frame AD2 for setting the address to the slave 4, the slave 3 and the slave 4 receive it. The slave 5 and later do not reach the switch because the switch is controlled to open. In the slave 4, as in the address setting of the slave 3, the communication transceiver recognizes that it is a frame for setting an address in itself, extracts a new address from the address setting 2 of the frame, and sets it internally. Subsequently, a control signal is output to the control unit, and the control unit controls the switch to close. At this time, the address up to the slave 4 is set and the switch of the slave 4 is controlled to be closed, so that the master 2 and the slave 3 to the slave 5 are connected. On the other hand, the slave 3 recognizes that it is not addressed to its own address set earlier from ID1 of this frame, and thereafter does not perform any processing for this frame.

  Next, a frame AD3 for setting an address to the slave 5 is output from the master 2 as a message. As shown in FIG. 4, this frame is composed of a break, a delimiter, a sync, ID1, an address setting 3, and a checksum. The sync, ID1, address setting 3, and checksum are preceded and followed by a start bit and a stop bit, respectively. Added. Among these, from Break to Sync, ID1 and checksum have the same meaning as a frame for setting an address in the slave 3. Address setting 3 is data including an address to be set for the slave 5.

  When the master 2 outputs the frame AD3 for setting the address to the slave 5, the slave 3, the slave 4, and the slave 5 receive it. Since the switch is controlled to open after the slave 6, it does not reach. In the slave 5, similarly to the address setting of the slave 3 and the slave 4, the communication transceiver recognizes that it is a frame for setting an address in itself, extracts a new address from the address setting 3 of the frame, and internally Then, a control signal is output to the control unit, and the control unit controls the switch to be closed. At this time, the address up to the slave 5 is set and the switch of the slave 5 is closed, so that the master 2 and the slave 3 to the slave 6 are connected. On the other hand, the slave 3 and the slave 4 recognize that they are not addressed to their own addresses set from the ID1 of this frame, and thereafter do not perform any processing for this frame.

  The slaves 6 and 7 are also set in the same manner, although not shown in FIG. When all the slave addresses are set, the switches included in all the slaves are controlled to be closed, so that the communication system 1 can function as a bus communication system.

  According to the present embodiment, the slave 3 connected to the master 2 in a bus format includes the switch 35 that restricts transmission of frames from the master 2 to the slave downstream from itself, and has been transmitted from the master 2. If the frame is a frame R for resetting the address, the communication transceiver 36 resets the address set inside, and the control unit 37 controls the switch 35 to open. When the frame transmitted from the master 2 is the frame AD1 for setting its own address, the communication transceiver 36 extracts and sets the address from the frame, and the control unit 37 controls the switch 35 to be closed. To do. Since it is configured in this way, after the address is reset, until the address is set from the master 2 by the frame for setting the address, the switch 35 is controlled to open so that the frame is not transmitted downstream. After the address is set, the switch can be closed for the first time and the frame can be transmitted downstream, so that a different address can be reliably set for each slave, and there is no need to set the address in advance, and the communication lines 81, 82, 83 , 84 and 85, the address is set after connection, so that there is no manufacturing failure due to erroneous connection, and the addition of functions can be limited to the circuit portion, so that an increase in cost can be suppressed compared to changing the external shape.

  In addition, since the communication system 1 is configured by connecting the master 2 and the slave 3, the slave 4, the slave 5, the slave 6, and the slave 7 in a daisy chain, the configuration of the communication system 1 is compared with the conventional bus connection. This simplifies and eliminates the need for branch lines from the communication line, parts for branching, and the like as in the conventional bus connection.

  In the embodiment described above, the slave (communication unit) is provided with the address setting device. However, as shown in FIG. 5, in the conventional bus connection, the address setting device 100 may be provided at the branch point of the communication line. The address setting device 100 only needs to include a switch, a control unit for the switch, and a block for analyzing the received frame and setting an address. The block which analyzes the received frame and sets the address extracts necessary data only when the received frame is a frame addressed to the corresponding slave (communication unit) and outputs it to the slave (communication unit). Alternatively, the address setting device 100 may be provided with only a switch, and the switch may be controlled from a slave (communication unit).

  However, since the configuration of FIG. 5 is provided with the address setting device 100 at the branch point, the number of parts increases as in the case of the conventional bus connection. Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. This is preferable.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the LIN employed in the above-described embodiment, but can be applied to any protocol that can be applied to a bus communication system. For example, a method in which the master 2 does not control all such that the slave 3 generates a frame for setting the address of the slave 4 after setting the address and outputs the frame generated after the switch 35 is closed to the slave 4 may be used.

  In short, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram of the communication system concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the slave containing the address setting apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is an internal function block diagram of a communication transceiver. 3 is a timing chart showing an address setting operation of the communication system shown in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram of the communication system concerning other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Communication system 3-7 Slave (communication unit)
31 Communication terminal A (first terminal)
32 Communication terminal B (second terminal)
35 switch 36 communication transceiver (address setting means, address reset means)
37 Control unit (switch control means)

Claims (7)

An address setting device for setting an address of a communication unit connected to a bus communication line,
A switch for restricting transmission of messages from upstream to downstream of the communication line;
Switch control means for controlling closing and opening of the switch;
Address setting means for extracting and setting the address of a communication unit to be set from a message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line,
The address setting device, wherein the switch control means controls the switch to be closed after the address setting means has set an address. An address reset means for resetting the address set by the address setting means based on a message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line,
2. The address setting device according to claim 1, wherein the switch control means opens the switch after the address reset means resets the address.   A communication unit comprising the address setting device according to claim 1.   The communication unit according to claim 3, further comprising: a first terminal connected to the upstream side of the communication line; and a second terminal connected to the downstream side of the communication line. A communication device connected to the most upstream of the communication line and serving as a master;
A plurality of communication units according to claim 4, which are slaves of the communication device;
A communication system comprising:
A slave or a master located upstream of the slave is connected to the first terminal of the slave, and a slave located downstream of the slave is connected to the second terminal. Communications system. An address setting method for setting an address of a communication unit connected to a bus communication line,
A switch for restricting transmission of messages from upstream to downstream of the communication line;
An address setting method comprising: extracting and setting an address of a communication unit to be set from a message transmitted from an upstream side of the communication line, and then closing the switch.   The address setting method according to claim 6, wherein the set address is reset based on a message transmitted from the upstream of the communication line, and then the switch is controlled to be opened.

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