JPH0423455B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmission system, and more particularly to a data transmission system capable of performing balanced transmission and unbalanced transmission using a common transmission line.

Conventional technology Conventionally, electronic meter controllers, engine controllers, CRT controllers, etc. require sophisticated data processing, so they are each configured as a unit with advanced processing functions, and are generally called electronic control units (hereinafter referred to as "electronic control units").
It is called ECU).

On the other hand, as a control system for automobile electrical components,
Control data is transmitted from one master station (hereinafter referred to as MS) to each remote station (hereinafter referred to as MS).
A system is known in which each RS drives electrical equipment in its vicinity. like this
For data transmission of control systems of ECUs and electrical components,
Balanced transmission systems and unbalanced transmission systems are used depending on the communication content and purpose.

Therefore, conventional automobiles have been provided with two separate and independent data transmission systems: a balanced transmission system and an unbalanced transmission system.

Problems with the Prior Art In the conventional automobile system described above, the balanced transmission system and the unbalanced transmission system were separate and independent, so there was a problem in that two types of transmission lines had to be installed.

Another problem was that data handled by the balanced transmission system and data handled by the unbalanced transmission system could not be mutually exchanged.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a data transmission system in which data transmission in a balanced transmission system and an unbalanced transmission system can be performed on a common transmission line, and data can also be exchanged mutually. Our goal is to provide the following.

Configuration of the Invention The data transmission system of the present invention includes (a) a transmission line having a first transmission line, a second transmission line, and a reference line; (b) a first transmission line connected to the first transmission line; a second transmission terminal connected to the second transmission line; and communication masking means for masking a communication function for a predetermined period after detecting a notification signal carried on the first and/or second transmission line. and a reference terminal connected to the reference line; (c) a receiving terminal connected to the first transmission line; a transmitting terminal connected to the second transmission line; and/or an unbalanced transmission station having a communication masking means for masking a communication function except for a predetermined period after detecting an activation signal carried on a second transmission line, and a reference terminal connected to the reference line; (d) a first connection terminal connected to the first transmission line, a second connection terminal connected to the second transmission line, first and second transmission terminals for balanced transmission; A transmission terminal for balanced transmission, a transmission terminal, and the first transmission terminal or the transmission terminal are alternatively selected and connected to the first connection terminal, and the second transmission terminal or the reception terminal is connected to the first connection terminal. selection switching means for selectively selecting and connecting to the second connection terminal; and a selection switching means for selectively connecting to the second connection terminal; notification signal sending means for sending out a notification signal; and the first
and/or a start signal sending means for sending a start signal to the second transmission line, an unbalanced transmission selection means for selecting the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal for a predetermined period after sending the start signal, and connected to the reference line. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a balanced/unbalanced transmission convertible station having a reference terminal.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail below based on examples shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main part of a data transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a time chart explaining the operation of the system shown in FIG. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures.

The data transmission system 50 shown in FIG. 1 is a system installed in an automobile, and includes ECUs for electronic meter control, engine control, CRT control, suspension control, etc., as well as ECUs for left side lamp control, right side lamp control, etc. Each RS for lamp control, wiper motor control, oil level detection, etc., and MS for general control are connected by a common transmission line.

The transmission line consists of a first transmission line 1, a second transmission line 2, and a reference line 3, and is installed inside the automobile.

There are many ECUs, but Figure 1 shows ECU10, 1
Only 0' is shown and the others are omitted.

The ECU 10 has a communication function using a balanced transmission method, and includes a balanced transmission receiver 14, a balanced transmission transmitter 15, and line switches 16, 1.
7, connected to the first transmission line 1 at a first transmission terminal 11, connected to the second transmission line 2 at a second transmission terminal 12, and connected to the reference line 3 at a reference terminal 13. ing. ECU 10' also has a similar configuration.

Although there are many RSs, only one RS20 is shown in FIG. 1, and the others are omitted.

The RS 20 has an unbalanced transmission type communication function, and includes a line receiver 24, a line driver 25, and a line switch 26. It also has an activation signal detection circuit 27 that turns on the line switch 26 only for a predetermined period after the two inputs become "low, low". Further, the receiving terminal 21 is connected to the first transmission line 1, the transmitting terminal 22 is connected to the second transmission line 2,
A reference terminal 23 is connected to the reference line 3 .

Although a plurality of MSs may be provided, there is usually one MS, which is shown as MS 30 in FIG.

The MS 30 has both a balanced transmission communication function and an unbalanced transmission communication function, and includes a balanced transmission transmitter 34, a balanced transmission receiver 35, a line driver 36, a line receiver 37, and line switches 38, 39, and 40. have. It also includes a line driver 41 and a line switch 42 for sending out a start signal. Further, a first connection terminal 31 is connected to the first transmission line 1, and a second connection terminal 32 is connected to the second transmission line 2.
and is connected to the reference line 3 at a reference terminal 33.

Next, the operation of the data transmission system 50 will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in the initial state, the balanced transmission receivers 14, 14' of the ECUs 10, 10' are connected to the transmission lines 1, 2, and the balanced transmission transmitters 15, 15' are connected to the transmission lines 1, 2.
are separated from transmission lines 1 and 2. In other words, the ECUs 10 and 10' are in a receiving state.

RS20 is disconnected from transmission lines 1 and 2 and is in a masked state. However, the activation signal detection circuit 27 is connected to the transmission lines 1 and 2 and monitors the signals on the transmission lines.

In the MS 30, a balanced transmission receiver 35 is connected to the transmission lines 1 and 2, and a balanced transmission transmitter 34, a line driver 36 for unbalanced transmission, and a line receiver 37 are separated from the transmission lines 1 and 2. Further, the line driver 41 for sending out the activation signal is also separated from the transmission lines 1 and 2.

Therefore, in this initial state, the transmission line is in balanced transmission mode, and the ECU that wants to transmit connects its balanced transmission transmitter to transmission lines 1 and 2.
By connecting the two ECUs to each other, the ECUs are in a state where data can be transmitted between them using a balanced transmission method.
The part in Figure 2 represents this.

Now, when the MS 30 wants to perform data transmission with the RS 20, it sets each line switch to the state shown in FIG. 1, and the MS 30 becomes a transmitting station in balanced transmission and sends a notification signal to each ECU. This is shown in Figure 2.

Upon receiving the notification signal, the ECU 10, 10' separates from the transmission lines 1, 2 by turning off the line switches 16, 17, 16', 17' and enters the mask state. Then, as will be described later, it returns after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

After transmitting the notification signal, the MS 30 turns off the line switches 38 and 39 to disconnect the balanced transmission transmitter 34 and the balanced transmission receiver 35 from the transmission lines 1 and 2, while turning on the line switches 40 and 42. , line driver 36,
A line receiver 37 and a line driver 41 for sending a start signal are connected to the transmission lines 1 and 2.

Since the activation signal sending line driver 41 always outputs "low", the second transmission line 2 becomes "low". Here, when the MS 30 sends out "low" from the line driver 36, the first transmission line 1 also becomes "low". The diagram shown in FIG. 2 represents this state.

The MS30 switches the line switch 42 after a certain period of time.
line driver 41 for sending start signals.
disconnect from transmission line 2.

Since the two input signals are "low, low" for a predetermined period of time, the activation signal detection circuit 27 of the RS 20 turns on the line switch 26 and turns on the line receiver 2.
4 and a line driver 25 are connected to the first transmission line 1 and the second transmission line 2.

Therefore, the transmission line becomes an unbalanced transmission mode, and the MS 30 and RS 20 can perform unbalanced data transmission. The diagram shown in FIG. 2 represents this state.

When a predetermined period of time has elapsed after entering the unbalanced transmission mode, the activation signal detection circuit 27 activates the line switch 2.
6 is turned off to disconnect the RS20 from the transmission lines 1 and 2 and return to the masked state.

Further, the MS 30 turns off the line switch 40 and turns on the line switch 39 to return to the balanced transmission mode.

On the other hand, the ECUs 10 and 10' also turn on the line switches 16 and 16' after a predetermined period of time and return to the transmission lines 1 and 2, so that the balanced transmission mode is again established. FIG. 2 shows this state.

Thus, according to this data transmission system 50, data transmission using a balanced transmission method and data transmission using an unbalanced transmission method can be performed using a common transmission line, and the burden of installing the transmission line is reduced. .

Also, via MS30, RS20 and ECU10,
10' can now exchange data, and for example, it is now possible to display a "bulb burnout warning" on the CRT control ECU based on the lamp bulb burnout information obtained from the RS. Become.

Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example;
It is also possible to mask the communication functions in the ECUs 10, 10' and RS 20, and to switch the transmission method in the MS 30 using software. Furthermore, it is also possible to omit the line switch by using a wired OR. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a high frequency signal with a constant frequency as the activation signal.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, (a) a transmission line having a first transmission line, a second transmission line, and a reference line;
(b) a first transmission terminal connected to the first transmission line, a second transmission terminal connected to the second transmission line, and a notification signal carried on the first and/or second transmission line; (c) a balanced transmission station having a communication mask means for masking a communication function for a predetermined period after detection; a reference terminal connected to the reference line; (c) a reception terminal connected to the first transmission line; a transmission terminal connected to the second transmission line; a communication mask means for masking the communication function except for a predetermined period after detecting the activation signal carried on the first and/or second transmission line; an unbalanced transmission station having a reference terminal connected thereto, and (d) a first connection terminal connected to the first transmission line, and a second connection terminal connected to the second transmission line; the first and second transmission terminals for balanced transmission, the transmission terminal and reception terminal for unbalanced transmission, and the first connection terminal by selectively selecting the first transmission terminal or the transmission terminal; selection switching means for connecting the first transmission terminal and the second transmission terminal to the second connection terminal and selectively selecting the second transmission terminal or the reception terminal to connect the first transmission terminal and the second transmission terminal; notification signal sending means for sending a notification signal to the first and/or second transmission line in a selected state;
starting signal sending means for sending a starting signal to the transmission line; unbalanced transmission selection means for selecting the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal for a predetermined period after sending the starting signal; and a reference terminal connected to the reference line. Provided is a data transmission system characterized by comprising a balanced/unbalanced transmission convertible station having a balanced/unbalanced transmission convertible station, whereby data transmission using a balanced transmission method and an unbalanced transmission method can be performed on a common data transmission line. Therefore, the burden of installing transmission lines is reduced. Furthermore, it becomes possible to exchange data between stations having communication functions of different systems.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a data transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the system shown in FIG. (Explanation of symbols), 1...first transmission line, 2...
...Second transmission line, 3...Reference line, 10,1
0'...ECU, 11...First transmission terminal, 12...
...Second transmission terminal, 13...Reference terminal, 14...
Balanced transmission receiver, 15... Balanced transmission transmitter, 16, 17... Line switch, 20...
Remote station, 21... Receiving terminal, 22
... Transmission terminal, 23 ... Reference terminal, 24 ... Line receiver, 25 ... Line driver, 26 ...
Line switch, 27...Start signal detection circuit, 3
0...Master station, 31...First connection terminal, 32...Second connection terminal, 33...Reference terminal, 34...Balanced transmission transmitter, 35...
...Balanced transmission receiver, 36...Line driver,
37...Line receiver, 41...Line driver for sending start signal, 38, 39, 40, 42...
Line switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 (a) A first transmission line, a second transmission line,
(b) a first transmission terminal connected to the first transmission line; and a second transmission terminal connected to the second transmission line;
a transmission terminal, communication masking means for masking a communication function for a predetermined period after detecting a notification signal carried on the first and/or second transmission line, and a reference terminal connected to the reference line. a balanced transmission station, (c) detecting a reception terminal connected to the first transmission line, a transmission terminal connected to the second transmission line, and an activation signal carried on the first and/or second transmission line; (d) an unbalanced transmission station having a communication mask means for masking a communication function for a period other than a predetermined period after the transmission, and a reference terminal connected to the reference line; and (d) a first transmission station connected to the first transmission line. and a second connection terminal connected to the second transmission line.
, the first and second transmission terminals for balanced transmission, the transmission terminal and reception terminal for unbalanced transmission, and the first transmission terminal or the transmission terminal. selection switching means that connects to the first connection terminal and selectively selects the second transmission terminal or the reception terminal to connect to the second connection terminal; notification signal sending means for sending a notification signal to the first and/or second transmission line in a state where the second transmission terminal is selected; and a start signal sending unit for sending a start signal to the first and/or second transmission line. a balanced/unbalanced transmission convertible station having means, unbalanced transmission selection means for selecting the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal for a predetermined period after sending the activation signal, and a reference terminal connected to the reference line. A data transmission system characterized by: