JP5458312B2 - Intelligent bus address self-configuration in multi-module systems - Google Patents

Description

  Multiple modules can be connected to the bus. In order for each of a plurality of modules to access individually, each module needs to have a unique ID, that is, an address. In some cases, multiple modules are initially manufactured identically, and in an additional manufacturing process, individual addresses are set for each module. For example, an address of a module may be set using an array of a plurality of switches. In another example, a resistor in an array of resistors is connected to VCC (eg, a positive voltage source) or VSS (eg, a ground potential, or a negative voltage source), respectively, and the module's An address may be set. In another example, the address of the module may be stored in memory before connecting the module to the bus.

  In all the above examples, the address is set on the module before connecting it to the bus at the manufacturing stage or at least individually. The process for setting the address increases the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, a plurality of modules having individual address sets must set addresses so that individuals can be identified, and two modules having the same address cannot be connected to the same bus. Therefore, the cost of inventory management is increased, and there is a risk that two modules having the same address are connected to the same bus. In these examples, changing the address of a module generally requires direct access to the module, which makes maintenance and system expansion difficult.

  It is desirable that the modules are manufactured identically to each other, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and manufacturing time. However, in operation, it is desirable to be able to access them individually, for example using the unique address of each module.

  According to one aspect, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first module, the first module receiving at least one bus port connecting the first module to the bus and an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module. A first configuration port that provides a second configuration port that provides an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module, a memory that stores a unique address identifying the first module, and a bus A control unit connected to the central management unit via the control unit. The control unit receives a unique address from the central management unit, determines whether address assignment is enabled for the first module, and A unique address if address assignment is enabled. And the second module enables or disables address assignment for the second module when the first module is connected, and the control unit is based at least in part on a message from the central management unit, Enable or disable address assignment for the second module.

  According to another aspect, a method for assigning unique addresses to a plurality of modules is disclosed. The method may comprise disabling address assignment for a plurality of modules, including a first module connected to the bus and connected to the second module, identified by one initial address. The method further includes enabling address assignment for the first module, storing a new address in the first module, disabling address assignment for the first module, and enabling address assignment for the second module. May be provided.

  According to another aspect, a system is disclosed. The system includes a first module connected to a second module and includes a plurality of modules connected to a bus, the first module including at least one bus port connecting the first module to the bus; A first configuration port that receives an input that indicates whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the module, and a second that provides an output that indicates whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module. A setting port, a memory for storing a unique address for identifying the first module, a unique address is received, it is determined whether address assignment is enabled for the first module, and address assignment is enabled for the first module Note the unique address Stored in, and a control unit to enable or disable the address allocation for the second module. The system further includes a central management unit connected to the bus, supplying a unique address to the controller, and supplying a message to the controller to enable or disable address assignment for the second module. Enables or disables address assignment for the second module based at least in part on the message from the central management unit.

  The effects of the claimed features of the present invention can be better understood with reference to the following description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a system according to the present disclosure. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation for assigning addresses to a plurality of modules connected to a bus according to the present disclosure.

  A system, apparatus and / or method according to the present disclosure is configured to assign an address to a plurality of modules connected to a bus. The system, apparatus and / or method according to the present disclosure can assign an address to a newly connected module after the first address is assigned, eg, a “hot swap” module. Composed. Each module is connected to a bus and is connected to the central management unit via the bus. Each module is further connected to at least one other module. For example, the first module is connected to the second module.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100 that includes circuitry according to the present disclosure. The system 100 includes a plurality of modules. Each of the modules 102 has a module circuit. For example, the system 100 includes a plurality of modules, a module 1, a module 2,. In order to simplify the description, the specific module is hereinafter referred to as “module x”, where x is 1, 2, or n. One module that may be any of the plurality of modules is hereinafter referred to as a “module 102”. Each module 102 is connected to the bus 106. The system 100 further comprises a central management unit (CMU) circuit 104 connected to the bus 106. The modules are connected to each other and also connected to the CMU 104 through the bus 106. The CMU 104 may be connected to the module 102 without using the bus 106 between the CMU 104 and the module 102. For example, the CMU 104 may be connected to the module 1. Each module 102 may be connected to at least one other module without passing through the bus 106. For example, the module 1 may be connected to the module 2.

The bus 106 is configured to provide communication between the CMU 104 and each module 102 and / or between two or more modules 102. Bus 106 may be a serial bus configured to provide serial communication. For example, buses are Controller Area Network (CAN), I ² C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), RS485, (EIA-485, TIA / EIA-485, “America Telecommunications” Industry / American Electronics Industry Association "standard", UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) and / or other bus technologies known to those skilled in the art. One or more messages are communicated between the CMU 104 and one or more modules 102 and / or between two or more modules 102 using the bus 106. The message may include commands, eg instructions, identifiers and / or data. For example, each message may include one identifier. The identifier may be, for example, a unique address corresponding to each individual module 102 or one identifier corresponding to a plurality of modules. The identifier may correspond to the module that receives the message and / or may correspond to the module that is requested to respond to the message. For example, the command may include an instruction that stores a unique address, and the unique address may be used to access the module. The data may include a unique address to be assigned to module 102. The command may include other instructions that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  Each of the modules 102 includes a control unit 112 and a memory 116. Each module 102 may also include an initial address 114 set, for example, at the manufacturing stage or prior to connecting module 102 to bus 106. The initial address 114 may correspond to a module identifier which is a specified value. The initial address 114 may be stored in the memory 116 and / or provided in the circuit as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Each module 102 may have multiple ports. The plurality of ports may include at least one bus port and a plurality of setting ports. For example, a bus port may include a bus input port “bus input” and a bus output port “bus output”. The setting port may include a first setting port En_In and a second setting port En_Out. The first configuration port En_In is configured to receive input indicating to the module 102 to enable or disable address assignment, as described below. The second configuration port En_Out is configured to provide an output indicating to enable or disable address assignment to the second module, as will be described below.

  The control unit 112 is connected to the bus 106 and communicates with the CMU 104 via the bus 106. For example, the control unit 112 may be connected to the bus 106 via “bus input” and “bus output” which are bus ports. The control unit may send a message via the bus port “bus output” and may receive a message via the bus port “bus input”. The CMU 104 assigns a unique address to each module. The control unit 112 may be configured to receive the unique address 118 of the module 102 from the CMU 104 and store the unique address 118 in the memory 116. After the unique addresses are assigned to the plurality of modules 102, the CMU 104 may send a message that includes a unique address corresponding to the module that is to receive the message. Each of the control units 112 may receive a message from the CMU 104 and respond only to the message directed to the unique address. That is, each module 102 may be assigned a unique address to each module connected to the bus 106.

  The memory 116 stores a unique module address 118. The control unit 112 accesses the memory 116 to store or read the unique module address 118. For example, the control unit 112 may read the module address to determine whether the message received at the “bus input” port is intended for the module 102 associated with the control unit 112. If the unique module address 118 is not stored in the memory 116, the control unit 112 may read the initial address 114 to determine the module identifier.

  The first configuration port En_In may receive an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the module 102. If address assignment is enabled, module 102 may receive and store the unique address. The control unit 112 may read the En_In port to determine whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the module 102. For example, the logical value 1 may be enabled and the logical value 0 may be disabled. For example, the logical value 1 may correspond to the first voltage, and the logical value 0 may correspond to the second voltage. The first setting state 120 corresponds to a state in which an input is received at the first setting port En_In. That is, the control unit may read the first setting state in order to determine whether the address assignment is enabled or disabled. The first setting state 120 has two possible values. The first value corresponds to an enable notification indicating that address assignment has been enabled for module 102. The second value corresponds to a disable notification indicating that address assignment has been disabled for module 102.

  The second configuration port En_Out provides an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module. The control unit 112 supplies the output to the second setting port En_Out. Similar to the first setting port En_In, the logical value 1 may correspond to the address assignment being enabled, and the logical value 0 may correspond to the address assignment being disabled. The second setting state 122 may correspond to a value being supplied to the second setting port En_Out. That is, the control unit 112 may set the second setting state to indicate that address assignment in the second module is enabled or disabled. The second setting state 122 has two possible values. The first value corresponds to an enable notification indicating that address assignment has been enabled for the second module. The second value corresponds to a disable notification indicating that address assignment has been disabled for the second module.

  Input to the module 102 received at the first configuration port En_In may be provided by another module or may be provided by the CMU 104. For example, the CMU 104 may supply a signal to the first setting port En_In of the module 1 to enable or disable address assignment for the module 1. The CMU may not use the bus 106 to supply this signal. In order to supply this signal, the CMU may be connected to the first setting port En_In of the module 1. Then, the control unit 112 of the module 1 determines the first setting state 120 of the module 1, that is, determines whether the address assignment is enabled or disabled for the module 1. May be read out. If the address is enabled, module 1 may receive and store a unique address from CMU 104 via bus 106 as described herein.

  The control unit 112 of the module 1 may provide the second setting port 122 of the module 1 to the second setting port En_Out indicating whether the address assignment is enabled or disabled for the module 2. In this example, the second setting port En_Out of the module 1 is connected to the first setting port En_In of the module 2. The control unit 112 of the module 2 may read the first setting port En_In of the module 2 and determine whether the address assignment for the module 2 is enabled or disabled. If address assignment is enabled for module 2, module 2 receives and stores a unique address from CMU 104 via bus 106 as described herein.

  In this way, each of the modules 102 communicates with the CMU and the module 102 via the bus 106. Each module 102 is further connected to at least one other module. The module-to-module connection is configured to enable or disable address assignment in the module. As used herein, the terms “first module” and “second module” refer to any two two states where the first setting port of the first module is connected to the first setting port of the second module. Corresponds to the module. A unique address may be provided from the CMU 104 to the module 102 via the bus 106.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 illustrating an example of an operation for assigning addresses to a plurality of modules according to the present disclosure. For example, the address may have any value between hexadecimal 000 and FFF. The program flow may start from initialization 205. In the initialization 205, it is assumed that the plurality of modules are connected to each other and are also connected to the bus 106 and the CMU 104 as shown in FIG. It is also assumed that each module 102 has an initial specified value address 114. Each of the modules 102 is set in a state where address assignment is disabled in the initialization stage. For example, the CMU 104 may send a message to the initial specified value address using a command for disabling the second module address assignment, and supply an address assignment disable signal to the first setting port En_In of the module 1. Good. Then, in a completion operation 205, for each module 102, the first setting state 120 is zero (ie, disabled) and the second setting state 122 is zero (ie, disabled).

  Operation 210 may include enabling address assignment for the first module, module 1. For example, the CMU 104 may enable address assignment for the module 1 by setting a value corresponding to the enabled state, for example, 1 in the first setting state 120 of the module 1. For example, the CMU 104 may supply a signal indicating that address assignment is enabled to the first setting port En_In of the module 1.

  In operation 215, it is determined whether there are any modules for which address assignment is enabled. For example, the CMU 104 may broadcast a message to all modules and request a response from a module that has the first configuration state 120 enabled. In the initial state, the address of each module 102 is the initial address 114. The message may be sent to the module with the initial address or, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the message may be broadcast to all modules using addresses corresponding to all modules. If there is a module with address assignment enabled, in operation 220 a new (unique) address may be stored in the module with the initial (default) address and with address assignment enabled. For example, module 1 may be the first module assigned a unique address based at least in part on the address assignment enabled for module 1 by CMU 104.

  In operation 225, address assignment may be disabled for the module to which a new address is assigned in operation 220. For example, for the module 1, the CMU 104 may set the first setting state 120 to disabled. That is, the CMU 104 may supply a signal indicating that the address assignment of the module 1 is disabled to the first setting port En_In of the module 1.

  In operation 230, address assignment may be enabled for the second module, eg, module 2. For example, the CMU 104 may supply a message to a module (first module, eg, module 1) to which a new address is assigned in operation 220 to change the second setting state of the module to an enabled state. Good. That is, the CMU 104 may supply a message to the control unit 112 of the module having the new address (first module) to set the value of the second setting state to be enabled. The second setting state corresponds to the output at the second setting port of the first module. When the first setting port En_In of the second module is connected to the second setting port En_Out of the first module (assigned a new unique address in operation 220), the first setting port En_In of the second module is Receive this value. As a result, address assignment is enabled in the second module.

  The program flow then proceeds again to operation 215 where it is determined whether there is a module 102 with address assignment enabled. Operations 215, 220, 225, and 230 may be repeated until a unique address is assigned to each module connected to the CMU 104 via the bus 106.

  For example, the address assignment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may proceed as follows. First, address assignment for each module 102 may be disabled, and an identifier associated with each module 102 may be used as the initial address 114. The CMU 104 may enable address assignment for 1 to the module by supplying a signal representing enabling address assignment to the first configuration port En_In of the module 1. Then, the CMU supplies a new unique address to the control unit 112 of the module 1, and the control unit 112 stores the new unique address 118 in the memory 116 in response to a message from the CMU 104, for example. Good. The control unit 112 may be configured to recognize a new address as the identifier of the module 1. The CMU 104 may disable address assignment for the module 1 by, for example, sending a message to the module having a new address, that is, the module 1. The CMU then sends a message to module 1 to enable address assignment for the second module. Module 1 enables address assignment for module 2 based on, for example, a message from CMU 104. In response to the message, the control unit 112 of the module 1 may change the second setting state of the module 1 to enable, and as a result, a value indicating that the second setting port En_Out of the module 1 is enabled. Is set, and a value indicating that the first setting port En_In of the module 2 is enabled is set. Then, the CMU may supply a new unique address to the control unit 112 of the module 2. The control unit 112 of the module 2 may store the new address 118 in the memory 116 based at least in part on the value indicating enable in the first setting port En_In of the module 2 corresponding to the first setting state of the module 2. Good. The control unit 112 may be set to recognize a new address as an identifier for the module 2. Then, the CMU 104 may disable address assignment for the module 2, for example, by sending a message to the module 1 using the unique address of the module 1, and disable the second setting state of the module 1. To do. This process may be repeated until a new address is assigned to each of the modules connected to the CMU via the bus 106. In this way, a new unique address may be assigned to multiple modules connected to the bus and at least one other module, as described herein.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after a new unique address has been assigned to each of the modules initially connected to the bus 106 and the CMU 104, in operation 250 whether another new module has been connected to the bus 106 or not. Is judged. If a new module is detected, an address may be assigned to the new module in operation 225. For example, the new module may be connected to the bus 106 and the module n. Module n may be understood as the last module to which an address is assigned during operations 215, 220, 225 and 230. That is, the second setting port En_Out of the module n may be connected to the first setting port En_In of the new module. The address of module n is known to the CMU 104 and the address of the new module may be the initial address. The CMU may then send a message to module n to enable address assignment for another module. Module n may enable address assignment in the new module based on, for example, a message from CMU 104. The CMU 104 may supply the message to a new module with an initial address, enable address assignment, and store the new address. The new module may store a new address based at least in part on the first setting state of the new module corresponding to the second setting state of the CMU 104 and module n. The program flow returns to operation 250 to determine whether another new module has been connected to the bus 106.

  Preferably, generic modules each having an initial address are manufactured. Before each module is assigned a unique address, these modules may be connected to the CMU and each other via a bus. A unique address may be assigned to each module. A new module may then be connected to the bus and another module. A unique address can also be assigned to each new module to provide a “hot swappable” module.

  Although FIG. 2 illustrates example operations according to some embodiments, in other embodiments, not all of the operations illustrated in FIG. 2 are necessary. As used herein, other embodiments of the present disclosure are also contemplated to include sub-combinations of operations and / or further operations illustrated in FIG. Thus, claims directed to operations and / or features not shown in one drawing are also within the scope and content of this disclosure.

  The memory 116 may include one or more memories such as semiconductor firmware memory, programmable memory, non-volatile memory, read only memory, electrically programmable memory, random access memory, flash memory, magnetic disk memory, and / or optical disk. Good. Additionally or alternatively, the memory 116 may include other and / or later developed types of computer readable memory.

  The method embodiments described herein may be implemented using processes and / or other programmable devices. In this regard, the methods described herein may be implemented on a tangible computer readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform the methods. The storage medium may include all kinds of tangible media, such as floppy (registered trademark) disk, optical disk, compact disk / read only memory (CD-ROM), rewritable compact disk (CD-RW), and magneto-optical disk. All kinds of disks, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM) such as dynamic RAM and static RAM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), flash Includes semiconductor devices including memory, magnetic or optical cards, and any other type of medium suitable for storing electrical instructions.

  Unless stated otherwise, as is clear from the above description, the terms “operation”, “processing”, “computing”, “calculation”, “judgment” etc. used throughout the specification are: Means the operation and / or processing of a computer or computing system, or data represented by a physical quantity, eg, an electronic quantity, in a register and / or memory of the computing system, Means to manipulate and / or convert to other similar data represented by physical quantities present in the register memory, register or information transmission of the computing system, other information storage devices such as display devices To do.

  Also, the term “circuit” as used in the embodiments herein stores instructions executed by, for example, a wired circuit, a programmable circuit, a state machine circuit, and / or a programmable circuit. Firmware alone or a combination thereof may be included.

  The words and expressions used herein are those used for explanation and not for limitation, and in the use of such words and expressions the features shown and described (or their It is clear that some equivalents are not intended to be excluded, and that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Therefore, the claims are not intended to cover all of these equivalents.

Claims (19)

A device comprising a first module,
The first module includes:
At least one bus port connecting the first module to a bus;
A first configuration port for receiving an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module;
A second configuration port that provides an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module;
A memory for storing a unique address identifying the first module;
A control unit connected to the central management unit via the bus,
The control unit receives the unique address from the central management unit via the bus port, and reads the first setting port to determine whether address assignment is enabled for the first module, and the first unit Storing the unique address in the memory if address assignment is enabled for the module, and enabling or disabling address assignment for the second module when a second module is connected to the first module;
The control unit receives an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module. The first setting port of the second module is the second setting port of the first module. And enabling address assignment for the second module by setting a second setting state in the second setting port of the first module based at least in part on a message from the central management unit. Or disable device.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module receives the input from another module indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first module receives the input from the central management unit indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module. The control unit determines whether address assignment is enabled for the first module based at least in part on a first setting state of the first module;
4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first configuration state is based on the input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first module further has an initial address. The first module receives a message including a module address via the bus port;
When the unique address is stored in the memory, the control unit determines whether the message is intended for the first module based on the unique address, and stores the unique address in the memory. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein if not, the apparatus determines whether the message is intended for the first module based on the initial address. A bus port, a first configuration port that receives an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled, and a second configuration port that provides an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled A method of assigning a unique address to a plurality of modules including a first module and a second module having :
It is connected to the bus, wherein the first module connected to the second module, for the plurality of modules identified by one initial address, the steps of disabling the address allocation,
Enabling address assignment for the first module by receiving a signal indicating that address assignment is enabled at the first configuration port of the first module;
Storing a new address received via the bus port in the first module;
Disabling address assignment for the first module by receiving an input indicating that address assignment is disabled for the first module at the first configuration port of the first module ;
Receiving a message at the bus port of the first module and, based at least in part on the message, an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module; Enabling or disabling address assignment for the second module by supplying from the second configuration port to the first configuration port of the second module.   The method of claim 7, wherein the new address is provided to the first module by a central management unit connected to the bus. 9. The method of claim 7 or claim 8 , further comprising determining whether address assignment is enabled in one of the plurality of modules. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising the step of determining whether a new module is connected to the bus.   The method further comprises assigning a new address to the new module when the new module is connected to the bus and the new module is connected to one of the plurality of modules. 10. The method according to 10. A system comprising a first module connected to a second module and comprising a plurality of modules connected to a bus,
The first module includes:
At least one bus port connecting the first module to the bus;
A first configuration port for receiving an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module;
A second configuration port that provides an output indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module;
A memory for storing a unique address identifying the first module;
Receiving the unique address via the at least one bus port and reading the first configuration port to determine whether address assignment is enabled for the first module and enabling address assignment for the first module A controller that stores the unique address in the memory and enables or disables address assignment for the second module,
A central management unit that is connected to the bus, supplies the unique address to the control unit, and supplies a message to the control unit to enable or disable address assignment for the second module; ,
The control unit receives an input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the second module. The first setting port of the second module is the second setting port of the first module. When connected to, based at least in part on the message from the central management unit, by setting the second setting state to the second set port of the first module, the address assignment for the second module System to enable or disable. A new module connected to the bus and one of the plurality of modules;
The system of claim 12 , wherein the central management unit further detects the new module. 14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the central management unit further assigns a new unique address to the new module. The central management unit sends a message to the one module to enable or disable address assignment in the new module to the one module;
The central management unit further provides the new unique address to the new module;
15. A system according to claim 13 or claim 14 , wherein when new address assignment is enabled in the new module, the new module receives and stores the new unique address. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the central management unit provides the input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled in the first module. 17. A system as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 , wherein another module provides the input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled in the first module. The control unit determines whether address assignment is enabled or disabled for the first module based at least in part on a first setting state in the first module;
18. A system according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the first configuration state is based on the input indicating whether address assignment is enabled or disabled. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the plurality of modules have one initial address.

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