JP2012074761A - Communication device and communication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to switch whether a termination circuit is used or not with a simple structure without arranging a switch in a communication device which allows communication via a communication line by the communication device being connected to the communication line.SOLUTION: In a communication system 1, an ECU 10 comprises: termination circuits 13, 14 which are arranged inside the ECU 10 and which are not electrically connected to a transceiver 12 inside the ECU 10; termination terminals 23, 25 which are electrically connected to the termination circuits 13, 14 and which allow the termination circuits 13, 14 and a bus 9 to be electrically connected using wiring exposed outside the ECU 10; and an ECU side connector 45 which allows a vehicle side connector 50 to be attached. The vehicle side connector 50 comprises cables 58, 59 which electrically connect the termination terminals 23, 25 with the bus 9 when the vehicle side connector 50 is attached to the ECU side connector 45.

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication device capable of communicating via a communication line by being connected to the communication line, and a communication unit including the communication device.

  As the above-described communication device, one having a termination circuit formed of a resistor or the like therein is known so that the quality of communication using a communication line does not deteriorate. In particular, this type of communication device is configured to connect the termination circuit to the communication line by opening and closing the contact using an internal switch, or to separate the termination circuit and the communication line. Yes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-124123 A

  However, in the above communication device, since it is necessary to arrange a switch for each communication device, the configuration of the communication device is complicated and expensive. Also, if the switch malfunctions due to an impact on the communication device, the termination circuit may not be used properly.

  Therefore, in view of such a problem, whether or not to use a termination circuit with a simpler configuration in which a switch is not arranged in a communication device that enables communication via the communication line by being connected to the communication line. It is an object of the present invention to enable switching.

  A communication device configured to achieve such an object is not electrically connected to communication means in the communication device, and is electrically connected to the termination circuit disposed inside the communication device. And a termination terminal for enabling the termination circuit and the communication line to be electrically connected by using the wiring exposed to the outside of the communication device.

  According to such a communication device, since the termination circuit can function by connecting the termination terminal and the communication line outside the communication device, it is possible to switch whether to use the termination circuit with a simple configuration. it can.

In the present invention, the inside (outside) of the communication device means the inside (outside) of the housing containing the communication means and the termination circuit.
By the way, the communication device may include a connecting member that is exposed to the outside of the communication device and electrically connects the terminal terminal and the communication line (claim 2).

  According to such a communication device, since the connecting member is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the communication device, it is possible to easily remove or disconnect the connecting member. In this way, it is possible to easily switch whether to use the termination circuit.

The connecting member can be configured as a cable in which a metal wire is covered with an insulator, a pin for connecting the terminal terminal and the communication line, or the like.
Further, in the communication device, the connection member includes a pair of connection connectors disposed on the connection member, and when the connection connector is connected, the terminal terminal and the communication line are electrically connected. When separated, the terminal terminal and the communication line may be electrically disconnected (claim 3).

According to such a communication apparatus, whether to use the termination circuit can be switched depending on whether the connection connector is connected.
Next, in order to achieve the above object, a communication unit including a communication device and a mounting member may be used. Specifically, the communication device includes the above-described communication means, a termination circuit, and a termination terminal, and further includes a mounted portion on which a mounting member can be mounted. The mounting member includes a connection member that electrically connects the terminal terminal and the communication line when mounted on the mounted portion.

  According to such a communication unit, it is possible to select whether or not to electrically connect the terminal terminal and the communication line depending on whether or not the mounting member is mounted on the mounted portion of the communication device. Therefore, it is possible to switch whether to use the termination circuit with a simple configuration.

Further, in the communication unit, the connecting member of the mounting member may be disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the communication device and to the outside of the mounting member.
According to such a communication unit, it is possible to easily remove or disconnect the connection member. In this way, it is possible to easily switch whether to use the termination circuit.

In the communication unit, the mounted portion of the communication device may be configured as a connector that can be combined with a mounting member.
According to such a communication unit, since the mounted portion is configured as a connector, it can be easily attached to and detached from the mounting member.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment. It is a circuit diagram of a termination circuit. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication system 2 of a modification. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication system 3 of a modification. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication system 4 of a modification. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication system 5 of a modification.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Configuration of this embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the communication system 1. The communication system 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic control device (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 10 (communication device), a bus 9 (communication line), and a bus 9 A vehicle-side connector 50 (a mounting member) connected to the vehicle. Note that the ECU 10 and the vehicle-side connector 50 constitute a communication unit 60 in the present invention.

  The hardware configuration of the ECU 10 is a known configuration capable of performing communication as a CAN standardized in ISO11898-1. Specifically, the ECU 10 includes a microcomputer 11, a transceiver 12 (communication means), and an ECU-side connector 45 (attached part). Further, the ECU 10 includes a plurality (two in this embodiment) of termination circuits 13 and 14.

  The microcomputer 11 is configured as a known microcomputer (microcontroller) including a CPU, RAM, ROM, controller, and the like (not shown). The CPU of the ECU 10 controls the controller and the transceiver 12 by executing communication software stored in a memory such as a ROM, and controls the vehicle by executing vehicle control software.

  The ECU 10 can transmit / receive data to / from other ECUs 20, 30 and the like (see FIG. 2 and the like) connected to the bus 9 through the bus 9 using the transceiver 12 when connected to the bus 9. It becomes. As a communication protocol at this time, a protocol similar to CAN is used.

  Here, the bus 9 is composed of a pair (two) of buses, and the transceiver 12 performs communication by a differential transmission method. The differential transmission method is a communication method in which a potential whose phase is inverted is applied to each bus and a bit is discriminated by the differential voltage.

  Note that the differential transmission method may employ a configuration in which the signal level is detected based on whether or not the potential difference between the two buses is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The operation related to communication by the microcomputer 11 and the transceiver 12 has a well-known configuration, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Next, the termination circuits 13 and 14 are configured to function as a termination circuit for the bus 9. Here, the number of necessary termination circuits and the specifications of the bus 9 are determined by a protocol or the like, and in this embodiment, two termination circuits are required on the bus 9. The termination circuit A13 and the termination circuit B14 have the same configuration, and these may be configured as, for example, a known resistor 15 as shown in FIG.

  However, depending on the protocol to be used, the termination circuit A13 and the termination circuit B14 may have different configurations, and the termination circuits 13 and 14 include a plurality of resistors as shown in FIG. The structure provided with 16 and 17 and the capacitor | condenser 18 may be sufficient.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the termination circuits 13 and 14 arranged in the ECU 10 are not electrically connected to the transceiver 12 inside the ECU 10 (so as to be energized). However, as will be described later, when the vehicle-side connector 50 is connected to the ECU 10, the termination circuits 13 and 14 may be connected to the transceiver 12.

  Next, the ECU side connector 45 is configured as a connector that can be combined with the vehicle side connector 50. The ECU-side connector 45 includes a communication terminal 21 and a communication relay terminal 22 that are electrically connected to the transceiver 12, and a first termination terminal 23 and a termination relay terminal 24 that are electrically connected to the termination circuit A13. And a second termination terminal 25 electrically connected to the termination circuit B14.

  The vehicle-side connector 50 includes a vehicle-side terminal 51 connected to the bus 9, a first connection terminal 52 and a second connection terminal 53 connected to the cable 58 (connection member), and a cable 59 (connection member). And a third connection terminal 54 and a fourth connection terminal 55 connected to each other.

  In this configuration, when the ECU-side connector 45 and the vehicle-side connector 50 are combined, the vehicle-side terminal 51 and the communication terminal 21, the first connection terminal 52 and the communication relay terminal 22, the second connection terminal 53 and the first The termination terminal 23, the third connection terminal 54 and the termination relay terminal 24, and the fourth connection terminal 55 and the second termination terminal 25 are connected to be energized. As a result, the termination circuits 13 and 14 are connected to the bus 9 so that the termination circuits 13 and 14 function.

  Here, the cables 58 and 59 are exposed to the outside of the ECU 10 and the outside of the vehicle-side connector 50 (that is, the casing constituting the ECU 10 (the outside of the casing containing the transceiver 12 and the termination circuits 13 and 14)). It arrange | positions and it is comprised so that it can cut | disconnect easily from the exterior of ECU10. That is, the communication system 1 is configured to easily set whether or not the termination circuits 13 and 14 are connected to the bus 9 so that the number of termination circuits connected to the bus 9 is two.

[Effects of this embodiment]
In the communication system 1 described in detail above, the ECU 10 is not electrically connected to the transceiver 12 inside the ECU 10, and the termination circuits 13 and 14 disposed inside the ECU 10, and the termination circuits 13 and 14. Terminal terminals 23 and 25 for enabling the terminal circuits 13 and 14 and the bus 9 to be electrically connected using the wiring exposed to the outside of the ECU 10, and the vehicle-side connector. ECU-side connector 45 to which 50 can be mounted.

Further, the vehicle-side connector 50 includes cables 58 and 59 that electrically connect the terminal terminals 23 and 25 and the bus 9 when mounted on the ECU-side connector 45.
According to such a communication system 1, since the termination circuits 13 and 14 can function by connecting the termination terminals 23 and 25 and the bus 9 outside the ECU 10, the termination circuits 13 and 14 can be configured with a simple configuration. Whether to use or not can be switched. In particular, whether or not the terminal terminals 23 and 25 and the bus 9 are electrically connected can be selected depending on whether or not the vehicle-side connector 50 is attached to the ECU-side connector 45 of the ECU 10. That is, it is possible to set whether to use the termination circuits 13 and 14 in response to a change such as addition of a communication node such as another ECU without changing the setting of the ECU 10 and the internal configuration.

Further, in the communication system 1, the cables 58 and 59 of the vehicle-side connector 50 are arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the ECU 10 and the outside of the vehicle-side connector 50.
According to such a communication system 1, the cables 58 and 59 can be easily removed or disconnected. By doing in this way, it can be switched easily whether the termination circuits 13 and 14 are utilized.

In the communication system 1, the ECU-side connector 45 of the ECU 10 is configured as a connector that can be combined with the vehicle-side connector 50.
According to such a communication system 1, since the ECU-side connector 45 is configured as a connector, it can be easily attached to and detached from the vehicle-side connector 50.

[Other Embodiments]
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, the configuration of the above-described embodiment may be adopted when it is unclear whether the bus 9 is provided with other termination resistors, but when it is clear that other ECUs than the ECU 10 have termination resistors. Can be configured as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system 2 according to a modification. The communication system 2 includes a plurality of ECUs 10, 20, and 30. The hardware configuration related to communication of these ECUs 10, 20, and 30 is the same as that of the above-described ECU 10, and the ECUs 10, 20, and 30 have the same communication software as that of the above-described ECU 10. However, different vehicle control software may be used.

  In the communication system 2 shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle-side connector 70 that can be connected to the ECUs 10 and 30 disposed at both ends of the bus 9 includes a cable 59 as compared with the vehicle-side connector 50 of the above-described embodiment. The difference is that it is not configured. That is, the vehicle-side connector 70 is similar to the vehicle-side connector 50 in that the vehicle-side terminal 71, the first connection terminal 72, the second connection terminal 73, the third connection terminal 74, the fourth connection terminal 75, and the cable 78 (cable However, the third connection terminal 74 and the fourth connection terminal 75 are in an open state without being connected by a cable.

  Therefore, when the ECU side connector 45 and the vehicle side connector 70 are combined in the ECUs 10 and 30, the termination circuit A13 is connected to the bus 9, and the termination circuit A13 is in a functioning state, but the termination circuit B14. Are not connected to the bus 9 and do not function.

  Further, the vehicle-side connector 80 that can be connected to the ECU 20 disposed in the central portion of the bus 9 is configured such that the cables 58 and 59 are not provided, compared to the vehicle-side connector 50 of the above-described embodiment. Is different. That is, the vehicle side connector 80 includes the vehicle side terminal 81, the first connection terminal 82, the second connection terminal 83, the third connection terminal 84, and the fourth connection terminal 85, similarly to the vehicle side connector 50. The first connection terminal 82, the second connection terminal 83, the third connection terminal 84, and the fourth connection terminal 85 are in an open state without being connected by a cable.

Therefore, even if the ECU 20 is in a state where the ECU connector 45 and the vehicle connector 70 are combined, the termination circuits 13 and 14 are not connected to the bus 9 and do not function.
In such a communication system 2, since the two termination circuits of the termination circuit A 13 of the ECU 10 and the termination circuit A 13 of the ECU 30 are connected to the bus 9, good communication via the bus 9 can be performed.

  Further, the communication system may be configured as shown in FIG. That is, it is good also as the communication system 3 which connected the vehicle side connector 50 which has the cables 58 and 59 like the said embodiment with respect to all ECU10,20,30. In this communication system 3, it is only necessary to remove or cut off the cables that are energized to unnecessary termination circuits so that the termination circuits function one by one at both ends of the bus 9 as much as possible.

  In such a communication system 3, when a communication node such as an ECU is added on the bus 9, the position where the termination circuit is connected and the number of termination circuits connected to the bus 9 can be easily changed.

  Further, the communication system may be configured as shown in FIG. That is, instead of the cables 58 and 59, the communication system 4 may be configured with the conductive pins 91 and 92 having a hardness that can be inserted into each terminal. In such a communication system 4, it is possible to easily install and remove pins.

  Further, the communication system may be configured as shown in FIG. That is, a pair of connection connectors 96, 97 disposed on the cables 58, 59 are provided. When the connection connectors 96, 97 are connected, the terminal terminals 23, 25 and the bus 9 are electrically connected, and this connection You may comprise as the communication system 5 comprised so that the termination | terminus terminals 23 and 25 and the bus | bath 9 might be electrically disconnected when a connector is isolate | separated.

According to such a communication system 5, whether to use the termination circuits 13 and 14 can be switched depending on whether the connection connectors 96 and 97 are connected.
Further, in the ECU 10, the terminal terminals 23 and 25 and the bus 9 are electrically connected to the terminal terminals 23 and 25 by being directly exposed to the terminal terminals 23 and 25 without being connected to the vehicle-side connector 50. Connection members such as cables and pins (not shown) may be provided.

Even in this way, it is possible to easily switch whether or not the termination circuits 13 and 14 are used.
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration using the bus 9 configured as a differential communication line has been described as an embodiment that can be expected to be most effective. It can be applied to communication lines.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1-5 ... Communication system, 9 ... Bus, 10, 20, 30 ... ECU, 11 ... Microcomputer, 12 ... Transceiver, 13, 14 ... Termination circuit, 15-17 ... Resistor, 18 ... Capacitor, 21 ... Communication terminal, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 ... Communication relay terminal, 23 ... 1st termination terminal, 24 ... Termination relay terminal, 25 ... 2nd termination terminal, 45 ... ECU side connector, 50 ... Vehicle side connector, 51, 71, 81 ... Vehicle side terminal, 52, 72, 82 ... first connection terminal, 53, 73, 83 ... second connection terminal, 54, 74, 84 ... third connection terminal, 55, 75, 85 ... fourth connection terminal, 58, 59, 78 ... cable, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 60 ... Communication unit, 70 ... Vehicle side connector, 71 ... Vehicle side terminal, 72 ... 1st connection terminal, 73 ... 2nd connection terminal, 74 ... 3rd connection terminal, 75 ... 4th connection terminal, 80 ... Vehicle side connector , 91, 92 ... pins, 96 97 ... connector.

Claims (6)

A communication device comprising a communication means that enables communication via the communication line by being connected to a communication line,
Inside the communication device, a termination circuit arranged inside the communication device without being electrically connected to the communication means, and
A termination terminal that is electrically connected to the termination circuit, and that allows the termination circuit and the communication line to be electrically connected using wiring exposed to the outside of the communication device;
A communication apparatus comprising: The communication device according to claim 1,
A communication device, comprising: a connection member that is exposed to the outside of the communication device and electrically connects the terminal terminal and the communication line. The communication device according to claim 2,
The connection member includes a pair of connection connectors disposed on the connection member. When the connection connector is connected, the terminal terminal and the communication line are electrically connected, and the connection connector is separated. And the terminal terminal and the communication line are configured to be electrically disconnected. A communication unit comprising: a communication device; and a mounting member that connects the communication device and the communication line when connected to the communication device,
The communication device
A communication means capable of communicating through the communication line by being connected to the communication line;
Inside the communication device, a termination circuit arranged inside the communication device without being electrically connected to the communication means, and
A termination terminal that is electrically connected to the termination circuit, and that allows the termination circuit and the communication line to be electrically connected using wiring exposed to the outside of the communication device;
A mounted portion to which the mounting member can be mounted;
With
The mounting member is
A communication unit comprising a connection member that electrically connects the terminal terminal and the communication line when mounted on the mounted portion. The communication unit according to claim 4, wherein
The connection unit of the mounting member is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the communication device and to the outside of the mounting member. The communication unit according to claim 4 or 5,
A mounted unit of the communication device is configured as a connector that can be combined with the mounting member.

Images