JPS6054545A - Multiplex communication device for mobile body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain the reliability of a multiplex communication system for a mobile body, by using plural job units installed to each place of a mobile body for making transmission and reception only and a management unit for designating the transmitting order of the units and also for inhibiting the transmission of a defective unit. CONSTITUTION:A management unit 10 and each job unit 1-7 are connected with a common power supply line 9 and a common optical cable. Each job unit 1-7 is installed to each place of a mobile body and makes operational commands to prescribed loads 13 and 14 connected with each job unit 1-7, and then, fetches prescribed information from objects 15-17 to be detected. Each job unit 1-7 has transmission and reception functions and the order of transmission and reception is commanded from the management unit 10. Moreover, the management unit 10 inhibits a defective job unit from making transmission. The loads 13 and 14 are a lamp, cooling fan, etc., and objects 15-17 to be detected are brake liquid switch, compressor pressure switch, door condition, etc. When such an arrangement is used, the system can be maintained under a reliable condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multiplex communication device for a mobile body suitable as a signal transmission system in a mobile body such as an automobile.

In recent years, in automobiles, signal transmission has become more complex and larger due to the increase in functions based on various controls, and wiring harnesses have tended to become more complex and enlarged. Therefore, multiplex communication systems have been adopted to solve this problem.

In the above multiplex communication system, there is a central control type consisting of a transmission control circuit section and a plurality of reception control circuit sections disposed close to each load, and a central control type consisting of a transmission control circuit section and a plurality of reception control circuit sections disposed close to each load, and a central control type system consisting of a transmission control circuit section and a plurality of reception control circuit sections disposed close to each load. There is also a distributed control type, which consists of a plurality of control units disposed within each part of the vehicle body close to the load. According to a distributed control type multiplex communication system, each control unit usually transmits in a fixed order, thereby
Predetermined control is performed by transmitting and receiving control signals, and the transmission order is generally configured to be designated based on an address signal output from a higher management unit. In this case, the management unit takes in all the transmission data output by each control unit and monitors whether the transmission operation status of each control unit is normal or abnormal.

Incidentally, although a failure may occur in each control unit in a distributed control multiplex communication system, such a failure can be immediately detected by the management unit. It is undesirable to cause a control unit in a faulty state to continue to perform a transmission operation, as this may have an adverse effect on the entire system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a distributed control type multiplex communication device installed in a mobile object such as an automobile by arranging a plurality of control job units in each part of the mobile object, and to provide a separate management unit for the control job units. Based on the instructions from the management unit, each job unit sends and receives signals to each other in a fixed transmission order and at appropriate timing, and when an abnormality occurs in one of the job units, the signal is sent to the abnormal job unit. The objective is to prevent the failure from occurring, thereby eliminating the influence of a failed part on the entire system, and increasing the operational reliability of the system.

A feature of the present invention is that a plurality of control job units, which are disposed at appropriate locations within a moving body and are equipped with objects to be detected and electrical loads, are provided with exclusive transmission and reception functions; The present invention is configured such that a management unit is separately provided which specifies the transmission order of each job unit and, when a failure occurs in any of the job units, removes the job unit associated with the failure.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a block A indicated by a dashed line represents the outline of a vehicle body of a moving body such as an automobile, and the left side in FIG. 1 is the front of the vehicle and the right side is the rear of the vehicle. On block A representing a moving body, a multiplex communication device according to the present invention, which is a communication system for this moving body, is described, and this shows the arrangement location and connection relationship of the reverse control unit, each load, and the operating means. , the locations and connection relationships of detection means, display elements, etc. are clarified.

The control unit consists of one management unit 10 located in the center and located at the upper level, and seven job units 1 to 7 which are located at the lower level and are equivalent to each other and are disposed at necessary locations in each part of the vehicle body. 10 and job units 1 to 7 are formed of, for example, microcomputers, and each has full transmitting and receiving functions. As described above, the control unit of the mobile multiplex communication device according to the present invention is configured in a distributed control type. Management unit 10
The operational relationship between the job units 1 to 7 will be described later.

Job unit 1 is placed at the front right side, job unit 2 is placed at the front left side, job unit 3 is placed at the center right side, job unit 4 is placed at the center left side, and job unit 5 is placed at the rear left side. The job unit 6 is disposed approximately in the center of the vehicle body, and the job unit 7 is disposed near the display section of the driver's seat. The folded management unit 10 is disposed approximately at the center of the vehicle body. The positions of the job units 1 to 7 are determined by the positional relationships with the connected loads, operating means, detection means, display elements, and the like.

In the multiplex communication device according to the present invention, the signal line and the power line are separated and wired separately, and the signal line 8 employs a multiplex transmission method using, for example, an optical fiber, while the power line 9 is connected to a fuse. 11 to the battery 12 and each unit 1 to 7.
10'! z is connected.

In particular, in job units 1 to 7, the signal detecting means capable of detecting the states of various objects to be detected and the signal applying means capable of selectively driving various electrical loads are composed of optical switches, optical selectors, spectroscopic elements, etc. It is constructed from an optical processing circuit, and in this embodiment, multiplexed signals using light are used for signal processing as a whole. Therefore, the first
In the figure, signal lines made of optical fibers are shown by broken lines, and external power supplies are shown by solid lines, and are shown on either side.

Next, the functions of each job unit 1 to 7 will be described.

For example, the job unit 1 handles electrical loads such as the dump truck 13 and the cooling fan motor 14 on the front right side of the vehicle body.
It is operated by receiving and decoding command signals sent from other job units, and it also detects the status of objects to be detected, such as cooling fan switches, brake fluid switches, and compressor pressure switches, by corresponding sensors and light switches. It has a function of detecting the information by the detection means 15 and transmitting the information as a signal (data) to other job units, etc. The configurations and functions of the other job units 2-7 are also the same or similar to job unit 1, and each job unit operates according to its own program. However, each job unit has a specific load depending on its location, a detection means related to a specific object to be detected, and a display element.

The management unit 10 is provided separately for the job units 1 to 7, and is connected to the signal line 8 and the power line 9 in parallel to the job units 1 to 7. The management unit 10 reads all the transmission signal sounds of the job units 1 to 7 that perform transmission operations in a fixed order via the signal line 8, monitors all the operating states of the job units 1 to 7, and also monitors the operation states of the job units 1 to 7 that perform transmission operations.
4. Has the function of sending out a designated address signal.

The details of the function will be described later.

In the drawing, reference numerals 16 and 17 are door units that control the front and rear doors on the right side of the moving body, and are under the control of the job unit 3. Similarly, 18 and 19 are the door units of the left front and rear doors under the control of the job unit 4.

FIG. 2 is a drawing for the purpose of clarifying the entire system configuration of the multiplex communication device. Each job unit 1 to 7
Each of the sensors has a signal processing function for issuing operation commands regarding a predetermined load provided therein, and a function for extracting predetermined information from the detected object. The job units 1 to 7 and the management unit 10 are connected by a common signal line 8, and this signal line 8f
f: Various types of data are exchanged between job units 1 to 7 and management unit 10 via f:. In the figure, 8a... is a light distributor.

Next, the operation of the multiplex communication device regarding data transmission will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the data transmission operation, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the output to the signal lines of the management unit and job unit.

The main routine B-i will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, when the power is turned on to the system by turning on the power switch, it outputs the JU-1 address that instructs the transmission of data (command signals, detection information, etc.) for job unit 1 (denoted as JU-1 in the figure). It is determined whether or not it is the timing (decision 20), and when it is the output timing, the management unit 10 (denoted as MO in the figure)
'X processing 21) that outputs the U-1 address to the signal line 8).

After that, it is determined whether the output JU-1 address is regular or not (Judgement 22), and if it is, it is determined whether or not it is the output timing (Judgement 23), and then job unit 1 outputs the data. The data is output to the signal line 8 (data bus) (process 24) and transmitted to the other job units 2 to 7 and the management unit 10. The transmission time is a predetermined constant time tl. During this fixed period of time, the other job units 2 to 7 and the management unit 10 receive and process data from the job unit 1, and each job unit 2 to 7 controls each load according to a predetermined program, and the other management unit 10 monitors whether the state of the data output to the signal line is normal or abnormal (judgment 25). In the next step, repeat the same operation as above.
By returning the JU-
2 address is output to the signal line 8, and the job unit 2 outputs data to the signal line 8 based on this JU-12 address. The job units 1, 3 to 7 receive and process the data and perform necessary control, and the management unit 10 monitors the state of the data. Thereafter, the transmission operation is repeated in the order of job unit 3, 4, .

Through the series of operations of the multiplex communication device as described above, an output timing chart (transmission timing chart) of the management unit 10 and job units 1 to γ as shown in FIG. 4 is generated, and the signal line 8 is as shown in the figure. At the timing, the address signal 26 of the management unit 10..., the transmission data 5l of each job unit 1 to 7
-37 will be transmitted. Such transmitted data is received by all units other than the unit performing the transmitting operation. In FIG. 4, the interval t1 is the time for output (transmission), and the interval t2 is the time for reception (reception) and processing, and the transmission operation and reception operation are configured to occur exclusively.

Next, a subroutine cl for priority processing will be explained. In the main route/B, a determination 27 regarding priority acceptance is provided during the transition from the transmission operation of job unit 1 to the transmission operation of job unit 2. This decision 27 is interposed between the sending operations of each job unit. According to this judgment 21, for example, when the job unit 3 is in a hurry to transmit data immediately, the priority reception output by the job unit 3 is a process in which the management unit 10 receives a pulse and moves to subroutine C. Ru. This makes it possible to send signals related to operations from the job unit 3 to the job unit that distributes the load without any time interval, especially for loads that need to quickly respond to operations by the driver while driving. becomes. This means that in job units 1 to 7, there are job units that are equipped with a detection means that frequently generates a signal or a detection means that generates a signal that requires a quick response from a load, and those that are not, and each job unit has a different level of importance. This is because there are differences and it is necessary to adapt to the actual situation. In this sense, the job unit 3 is a job unit disposed near the driver's seat, and belongs to the former category.

When moving to subroutine C, when job unit 3 performs a transmission operation, the same operation as that performed in main routine B will be performed, and after the transmission operation of job unit 3 is completed, priority processing will be performed. Job unit 2 in the transmission order before being sent is processed 2
8) Return from subroutine C to main routine B.

This is illustrated in FIG. 4 as shown on the right side of FIG. That is, after the transmission data S1 of job unit 1 is output by the JU-1 address signal 26-1, the transmission data 26-2 of job unit 2 should originally be output, but following the transmission data S1, Since pulse 3a is generated for priority reception from job unit 3, management unit 10 receives this and accepts JU.
-3 address signal 26-3 is output, so that the transmission take S3 of the job unit 3 is output after the transmission data S1. After that, priority reception pulse 3a
The state returns to the state before receiving the transmission data S2. S3...
will be output as the 11th output according to the instructions from the management unit 10. In this way, job units 1 to 7
In the transmission operation of job unit 3, priority is given to the transmission operation of job unit 3 as necessary, and the number of transmission operations is greater than that of other job units, so that it is more appropriate to match the characteristics of the control signal. I am trying to have it perform transmission and control. This eliminates time delays when the horn is activated, and prevents the driver from feeling strange or unnatural while driving.

Figure 5 shows job unit 1. It is a timing chart figure which shows the control performed when abnormality arises in any of -(gamma). In this embodiment, a case is shown in which the job unit 2 is out of order. In the management unit 10, the contents of the address signal data 81 to S7 outputted by the management unit 10 are read into the management unit 10 each time they are output, and their normality or abnormality is monitored. and for example job units)
・When an abnormality is found in the transmission data S2 of the job unit 2 and it is determined that the job unit 2 is malfunctioning, the VC will prohibit the transmission of the job unit 2 in subsequent transmission operations. Ru. Examples of cases in which it is determined that an abnormality is occurring include cases in which a take is not output even at a normal output timing, cases in which an outputted take conforms to the cheater format, and so on.

The determination as to whether or not such a job unit is malfunctioning is made by the determination 25 in the main routine B in the flowchart shown in FIG. A process 29 for skipping the transmission operation is executed.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing control performed when an abnormality occurs in the management unit 10.

For example, if the JU-2 address signal 26-2 is not output at the specified timing, the job unit 2 automatically outputs the transmission data S22, and then the management unit 10 The address signals cannot be output completely, and the job units 1 to 7 themselves read the data transmitted immediately before, thereby sequentially executing the transmission operation in a loop. This is clear from the judgment 22 in FIG. 3, where each job unit 1 to 7
This means that it constantly monitors whether the operation of the management unit 1o is normal or not, and if it is abnormal, it shifts to data transmission using a loop method (process 30).

In the case of data transmission using the loop method, the above-mentioned priority processing is rarely performed.

Here, the loop type data transmission operation will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 7, the timing chart of FIG. 8, and the data format of FIG. 9.

In FIG. 7, job unit 1 performs processing 31) to output to the cheater signal line 8 and transmits it to other job units 2 to γ. The other job units 2 to 7 perform necessary control as described above. Thereafter, the transmission operation proceeds in the order of job units 2, 3, and so on, and this process is repeated again. Each process 3
1... is performed, it is determined whether the timing of the processing is appropriate each time (determination 32).

Through the series of operations described above, an output timing chart of each job unit as shown in FIG. 8 is generated.
As a result, transmission data S1 to S7 of each job unit 1 to 7 as shown flows through the signal line 8. In the sequential transmission operation of job units 1 to 7, each job unit decodes the order designation signal included in the transmission data by monitoring the data output by the job unit in the transmission state. It is done by

In other words, the next job unit to be transmitted is determined based on this order designation signal. Specifically, the formatter of the transmission data 81 to S7 of each job unit, the start bit 33 as shown in FIG.
, an address bit 34, a data bit 35, a parity bit 36, and a stop bit 37, and the stop bit 37 is formed with a different frequency or pulse code for each job unit, thereby providing the above-mentioned order designation signal.

Next, the detection means attached to each job unit 1-7, the mechanism for driving the load, the management unit 10, and the internal structure of the job units 1-7 will be explained.

In FIG. 10, 115... is a detection means, and 4
0... is a load drive unit. The detection means 115 is connected to an optical fiber 38 that transmits wavelength multiplexed signals, and a plurality of detection means are provided in series. Each detection means 115
An optical switch (not shown) that operates in conjunction with a spectroscopic element (filter) 115a and a target to be detected is provided inside, and the optical switch transmits or blocks light of a predetermined wavelength extracted by the spectroscopic element. This makes it possible to detect the operating state of the corresponding object to be detected. The load drive unit has a spectroscopic element 40a and a drive circuit 40b' inside, and the spectroscopic element 40a extracts a required signal from the optical fiber 48, and the signal extracts power from the power supply line 39, and the lamp is supplied via the drive circuit 40b. etc. load 41
operates to supply power to the In the figures, 8a is a light distributor, and 9a is a coupler.

FIG. 11 shows the inside of the management unit 10,
10a is a stabilized power supply circuit, and 10b is an O/E.

The conversion circuit 10C is a control circuit, and logical operations are performed in the control circuit 10c.

FIG. 12 shows the inside of the job unit, 42 is a stabilizing power supply circuit, 43, 44 is a supply and round conversion circuit, 45 is a control circuit, and 46 is a conversion circuit. Therefore, logic operations are carried out by the control circuit 45.
When transmitted as a signal, it is carried out in the form of light.

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in a distributed control type multiplex communication device consisting of a plurality of control job units whose transmission order is determined by a command from a management unit, a failure occurs in one of the job units. By prohibiting the transmission operation of the job unit when a problem occurs, the abnormal part can be quickly removed and the operational reliability of the entire system can be maintained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement state of a multiplex communication device according to the present invention in a mobile body, FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the multiplex communication device, FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram for explaining the operation, and FIG.
The figure is a timing chart related to the transmission operation, Figure 5 is a timing chart when a failure occurs in the job unit, Figure 6 is a timing chart when a failure occurs in the management unit, and Figure 7 is a loop method. FIG. 8 is a flowchart diagram related to the data transmission operation, FIG. 8 is a timing chart diagram related to the loop method data transmission operation, and FIG.
10 is a diagram showing the contents of the transmission signal, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the detection means of each job unit and the load driving cornit.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the management unit, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the job unit. In the drawing, 1 to γ are control job units, 8°38.4
8 is a signal line, 9.39 is a power supply line, 10 is a management unit, 26 is an address signal, 5l-87 is a transmission take of each job unit, tl is a transmission time, and t2 is a reception time. Patent applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney 8J Yobetsu Patent Attorney Kunihiko Ohashi Patent Attorney Yu Koyama

Claims (1)

[Claims] Each job unit is equipped with an object to be detected and an electrical load and is distributed at appropriate locations within the moving body, and outputs a signal generated based on the object to be detected to other job units. a plurality of control job units that have a transmission function and a reception function that drives the electrical load by inputting and decoding signals transmitted from other job units, and that performs the transmission and reception exclusively; It is connected to a signal wire that connects the job units in common, and outputs an address signal that specifies the transmission order of the job units, and also inputs the transmission signal of each job unit to check whether each job unit is normal or abnormal. A multiplex communication device for a mobile body, comprising a monitoring management unit, and when an abnormality is detected in any job unit, the management unit is configured not to output an address signal of the job unit.