Patent Application
20210334233
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application No. DE 102020205268.9 filed on Apr. 27, 2020, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a communication control device and a transceiver for a user station of a serial bus system, and a method for communicating in a serial bus system that operates with a high data rate and a high level of error robustness.
For the communication between sensors and control units, for example in vehicles, a bus system is frequently used in which data are transmitted as messages under the ISO 11898-1:2015 standard, as a CAN protocol specification with CAN FD. The messages are transmitted between the bus users of the bus system, such as the sensor, control unit, transducer, etc.
To allow data to be transmitted at a higher bit rate than with CAN, an option has been provided in the CAN FD message format for changing over to a higher bit rate within a message. The maximum possible data rate is increased beyond a value of 1 Mbit/s by using higher clocking in the area of the data fields. Such messages are also referred to below as CAN FD frames or CAN FD messages. With CAN FD, the useful data length of 8 bytes is increased up to 64 bytes, and the data transmission rates are much higher than with CAN.
In order to transmit data from the transmitting bus user to the receiving bus user more quickly than with CAN FD, a CAN FD successor bus system referred to as CAN XL is presently in development. In addition to a higher data rate in the data phase than with CAN FD, the intent is also to increase the useful data length of up to 64 bytes, achieved thus far with CAN FD. However, the intent is further to maintain the advantages of robustness of a CAN- or CAN FD-based communications network in the CAN FD successor bus system. The more quickly the data are transmitted on the bus, the greater are the demands to be imposed on the quality of the signal that the protocol controller of the user station receives from the bus. For example, if the edge steepness of the bits of the received signal is too low, this may result in bits with excessive asymmetry, and therefore the received signal may possibly not be decoded correctly.
Increasing the edge steepness of the bits of the received signal results in excessively high radiation. This results in costs elsewhere, for example on the circuit board and in the microcontroller for the user station.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control device and a transceiver for a user station of a serial bus system, and a method for communicating in a serial bus system, which solve the above-mentioned problems. In particular, the present invention provides a communication control device and a transceiver for a user station of a serial bus system, and a method for communicating in a serial bus system in which a high data rate and an increase in the quantity of the useful data per frame may be achieved with a high level of error robustness.
The object is achieved by a communication control device for a user station of a serial bus system in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the communication control device includes a communication control module for generating a transmission signal for controlling a communication of the user station with at least one other user station of the bus system, at least one first communication phase and one second communication phase being used in the bus system for exchanging messages between user stations of the bus system, a first terminal for transmitting the transmission signal to a transceiver that is designed to transmit the transmission signal onto a bus of the bus system, a second terminal for receiving a digital reception signal from the transceiver, a bidirectional terminal, and an operating mode switching module for switching the transmission direction of the bidirectional terminal as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver in the second communication phase, in order to carry out a differential signal transmission of the transmission signal in the second communication phase via the first terminal and the bidirectional terminal, or to carry out a differential signal transmission of the digital reception signal in the second communication phase via the second terminal and the bidirectional terminal.
By use of the communication control device it is possible to provide the required fast data transmission with very high bit symmetry for the CAN FD successor bus system, without additional costly terminals between the communication control device and the transceiver. For example, the terminal of the communication control device that is already present for switching the transceiver into the standby state may be utilized as a bidirectionally switchable terminal.
The communication control device is advantageously designed in such a way that the symmetry of the bits in a reception signal RxD, which the transceiver has generated from a signal received from the bus and transmits to the communication control device, is maintained. This applies for the transmission as well as the reception of CAN frames, and thus also for transmission signal TxD.
In addition, a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding may be maintained even during the differential transmission of reception signal RxD between the transceiver and the communication control device (microcontroller). As a result, terminals (pins) with slow edges may now be used for the data transmission between the transceiver and the communication control device (microcontroller). The resulting lower edge steepness of the bits of the received signal, in particular of reception signal RxD, greatly reduces the radiation of the system.
An edge steepness of the bits of the received and transmitted signal may thus be selected in such a way that the demands on the radiation may be easily met. In addition, the communication control device does not have to use complex line coding methods such as PWM encoding or Manchester encoding to maintain the symmetry of the signal. This reduces the complexity of the data transmission and the decoding of transmission signal TxD and reception signal RxD.
It is also advantageous that the described functionality of the differential transmission between the communication control device and the transceiver may be dispensed with in low-cost systems having a low bit rate. The described functionality or the additional bidirectional terminal is thus optional. It is used only with high bit rates when a very high symmetry of the transmission signal and of the reception signal is necessary.
In addition, by use of the communication control device in accordance with an example embodiment, in one of the communication phases, an arbitration that is available in CAN may be maintained while still increasing the transmission rate considerably compared to CAN or CAN FD. This may be achieved by using two communication phases having different bit rates, and making the start of the second communication phase, in which the useful data are transmitted at a higher bit rate than in the arbitration, clearly identifiable for the transceiver. The transceiver may thus reliably change over from a first communication phase into the second communication phase.
As a result, a substantial increase in the bit rate, and thus in the transmission speed from the transmitter to the receiver, is achievable. However, at the same time a high level of error robustness is ensured. This contributes toward achieving a net data rate of at least 10 Mbps. In addition, the quantity of the useful data may be greater than 64 bytes per frame, in particular up to 2048 bytes per frame, or some other arbitrary length as needed.
The method carried out by the communication control device may also be used when at least one CAN user station and/or at least one CAN FD user station that transmit(s) messages according to the CAN protocol and/or CAN FD protocol are/is present in the bus system.
Advantageous further embodiments of the communication control device in accordance with the present invention are disclosed herein.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode switching module, in a first operating mode of the second communication phase, may be designed to switch the bidirectional terminal to output and generate an inverse signal from the transmission signal, and to output the transmission signal to the first terminal and output the digital transmission signal inverse to the second terminal. Additionally or alternatively, the operating mode switching module, in a second operating mode of the second communication phase, may be designed to switch the bidirectional terminal to input, and from the differential digital reception signal received at the bidirectional terminal and the second terminal to generate a nondifferential reception signal and output it to the communication control module.
Optionally, the communication control device is designed to generate an operating mode signaling signal, and the bidirectional terminal is an STB terminal that is provided for transmitting the operating mode signaling signal. The communication control device may be designed to signal to the transceiver during the first communication phase, via the bidirectional terminal, as to whether or not the transceiver is to be switched into a standby operating mode.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode switching module is designed to signal to the transceiver via the first or second terminal that the transceiver is to change over its operating mode.
For example, the communication control module is designed to generate the transmission signal in the first communication phase, using bits having a first bit time that is greater by at least a factor of 10 than a second bit time of bits that the communication control module generates in the transmission signal in the second communication phase.
Moreover, the above-mentioned object may be achieved by a transceiver for a user station of a serial bus system in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the transceiver includes a transceiver module for transmitting a transmission signal onto a bus of the bus system, at least one first communication phase and one second communication phase being used in the bus system for exchanging messages between user stations of the bus system and for generating a digital reception signal from a signal that is received from the bus, a first terminal for receiving a transmission signal from a communication control device, a second terminal for transmitting the digital reception signal to the communication control device, a bidirectional terminal, and an operating mode switching module for switching the transmission direction of the bidirectional terminal as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver in the second communication phase, in order to carry out a differential signal transmission of the transmission signal in the second communication phase via the first terminal and the bidirectional terminal, or to carry out a differential signal transmission of the digital reception signal in the second communication phase via the second terminal and the bidirectional terminal.
The transceiver yields the same advantages as stated above with regard to the communication control device. Advantageous further embodiments of the transceiver are disclosed herein.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode switching module may be designed to switch the bidirectional terminal in a first operating mode of the second communication phase to input, and to generate a nondifferential transmission signal from the differential digital transmission signal received at the first terminal and the bidirectional terminal. Additionally or alternatively, the operating mode switching module, in a second operating mode of the second communication phase, may be designed to switch the bidirectional terminal to output and generate an inverse digital reception signal from the digital reception signal, and to output the digital reception signal to the second terminal and output the digital reception signal inverse thereto to the bidirectional terminal.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode switching module is designed to generate and output the two reception signals to the two terminals at the same level in the second operating mode of the second communication phase for a predetermined time period in order to signal to the communication control device additional pieces of information which are in addition to pieces of information of the signals which in the bus system are exchanged with the messages between user stations of the bus system.
The transceiver module is optionally designed to transmit the transmission signal onto the bus as a differential signal.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the operating mode switching module may be designed to select the transmission direction of the first and second terminals as a function of the operating mode into which the transceiver is switched.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the devices described above also possibly include a direction control block for controlling the transmission direction of the bidirectional terminal as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver, a coding block for encoding the differential signals, a decoding block for decoding the differential signal at the bidirectional terminal and the first terminal, or the differential signal at the bidirectional terminal and the second terminal, into a nondifferential signal, and a multiplexer for outputting the nondifferential signal generated by the decoding block, when the transceiver is switched into an operating mode of the second communication phase.
According to one option, the signal received from the bus in the first communication phase is generated with a different physical layer than the signal received from the bus in the second communication phase.
It is possible that in the first communication phase, it is negotiated which of the user stations of the bus system in the subsequent second communication phase obtains, at least temporarily, exclusive, collision-free access to the bus.
The above-described communication control device and the above-described transceiver may be part of a user station of a bus system which also includes a bus and at least two user stations that are connected to one another via the bus in such a way that they may communicate serially with one another. At least one of the at least two user stations includes an above-described communication control device and an above-described transceiver.
Moreover, the object stated above may be achieved by a method for communicating in a serial bus system according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, the method is carried out using a user station for a bus system in which at least one first communication phase and one second communication phase are used for exchanging messages between user stations of the bus system, the user station including an above-described communication control device and an above-described transceiver, and the method including the steps: switching, via an operating mode switching module for the communication control device, the transmission direction of the bidirectional terminal of the communication control device as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver in the second communication phase; switching, via an operating mode switching module for the transceiver, the transmission direction of the bidirectional terminal of the transceiver as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver in the second communication phase; and carrying out a differential signal transmission between the communication control device and the transceiver in the second communication phase, the differential signal transmission being carried out as a function of the operating mode of the transceiver in the second communication phase, either via the first terminal and the bidirectional terminal of the devices, or via the second terminal and the bidirectional terminal of the devices.
The method may yield the same advantages as stated above with regard to the communication control device and/or the transceiver.
Further possible implementations of the present invention also include combinations, even if not explicitly stated, of features or specific embodiments described above or discussed below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as enhancements or supplements to the particular basic form of the present invention, in view of the present disclosure.
The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the figures, and based on exemplary embodiments.
Unless stated otherwise, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.
In
As shown in
In each user station 10, 20, 30, messages 45, 46 are encoded in the form of frames via a TXD line and an RXD line, and are exchanged bit-by-bit between particular communication control device 11, 21, 31 and associated transceiver 12, 22, 32. This is described in greater detail below.
Communication control devices 11, 21, 31 are each used for controlling a communication of particular user station 10, 20, 30 via bus 40 with at least one other user station of user stations 10, 20, 30 connected to bus 40.
Communication control devices 11, 31 create and read first messages 45, which are modified CAN messages 45, for example, and also referred to below as CAN XL messages 45. CAN XL messages 45 are built up based on a CAN FD successor format, described in greater detail with reference to
Communication control device 21 may be designed as a conventional CAN controller according to ISO 11898-1:2015, in particular as a CAN FD-tolerant conventional CAN controller or a CAN FD controller. Communication control device 21 creates and reads second messages 46, for example conventional CAN messages or CAN FD messages 46. CAN FD messages 46 may include a number from 0 to up to 64 data bytes, which in addition are transmitted at a much faster data rate than that of a conventional CAN message. In the latter case, communication control device 21 is designed as a conventional CAN FD controller.
Except for the differences described in greater detail below, transceivers 12, 32 may be designed as CAN XL transceivers. Additionally or alternatively, transceivers 12, 32 may be designed as a conventional CAN FD transceiver. Transceiver 22 may be designed as a conventional CAN transceiver or as a CAN FD transceiver.
A formation and then transmission of messages 45 having the CAN XL format, in addition to the reception of such messages 45, is achievable by use of the two user stations 10, 30.
In arbitration phase 451, for example at the start a bit is transmitted, which is also referred to as an SOF bit and which indicates the start of frame. An identifier including 11 bits, for example, for identifying the transmitter of message 45 is also transmitted in arbitration phase 451. During the arbitration, with the aid of the identifier, bit-by-bit negotiation is carried out between user stations 10, 20, 30 concerning which user station 10, 20, 30 would like to transmit message 45, 46 having the highest priority, and therefore for the next time period for transmitting in changeover phase 452 and subsequent data phase 453, obtains exclusive access to bus 40 of bus system 1.
In the present exemplary embodiment, in first changeover phase 452 preparation is made for the changeover from arbitration phase 451 into data phase 453. Changeover phase 452 may include a bit that has bit duration T_B1 of a bit of arbitration phase 451, and that is transmitted, at least in part, with the physical layer of arbitration phase 451. First changeover phase 452 logically belongs to arbitration phase 451. In particular, in this changeover phase 452, transceiver 12, 32 is signaled that device 12, 32 is to change into a different mode or operating mode, namely, into the physical layer of data phase 453.
In data phase 453, the bits of frame 450 having the physical layer of data phase 453 are transmitted which have a bit duration T_B2 that is shorter than bit duration T_B1 of a bit of arbitration phase 451. The useful data of CAN XL frame 450 or of message 45, among other things, are transmitted in data phase 453. The useful data may also be referred to as a data field of message 45. For this purpose, in data phase 453 a data length code that is 11 bits long, for example, may be transmitted after a data field identifier that identifies the type of content in the data field. The code may take on, for example, values from 1 to up to 2048, or some value by an increment of 1.
Alternatively, the data length code may include fewer or more bits, so that the value range and the increment may take on other values. The data length code is followed by further fields, for example the header check sum field. The useful data of CAN XL frame 450 or of message 45 are subsequently transmitted. At the end of data phase 453, a check sum of the data of data phase 453 and of the data of arbitration phase 451 may be contained in a check sum field, for example. The transmitter of message 45 may insert stuff bits as an inverse bit into the data stream in each case after a predetermined number of identical bits, in particular 10 identical bits. In particular, the check sum is a frame check sum F_CRC via which all relevant bits of frame 450 up to the check sum field are verified. For example, stuff bits in data phase 453 are not verified, because these bits verify frame 450 itself and therefore are used for the error detection.
In the present exemplary embodiment, in second changeover phase 454 preparation is made for the changeover from data phase 453 into frame end phase 455. This means that a switch is made back into the transmission operating mode according to arbitration phase 451. Changeover phase 454 may include a bit that has bit duration T_B1 of a bit of arbitration phase 451, and that is transmitted, at least in part, with the physical layer of data phase 453. However, distinguishing between a CAN XL frame or CAN frame or CAN FD frame is not necessary. Second changeover phase 454 logically belongs to frame end phase 455, in which the same transmission operating mode is used as in arbitration phase 451. In particular, in this second changeover phase 454, transceiver 12, 32 is signaled that device 12, 32 is to be changed into a different mode or operating mode, namely, into the physical layer of arbitration phase 451.
In frame end phase 455, after two bits AL2, AH2 at least one acknowledge bit ACK may be contained in an end field. This may be followed by a sequence of 7 identical bits that indicate the end of CAN XL frame 450. By use of the at least one acknowledge bit ACK, a receiver may communicate whether or not it has correctly received CAN XL frame 450 or message 45.
A physical layer, similarly as with CAN and CAN FD, is used at least in arbitration phase 451 and frame end phase 455. In addition, in changeover phases 452, 454 a physical layer, similarly as with CAN and CAN FD, may be used at least in part, i.e., during first changeover phase 452 at the start and during second changeover phase 454 at the end. The physical layer corresponds to the bit transmission layer or layer one of the conventional Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.
An important point during these phases 451, 455 is that the conventional CSMA/CR method is used, which allows simultaneous access of user stations 10, 20, 30 to bus 40 without destroying higher-priority message 45, 46. It is thus possible to add further bus user stations 10, 20, 30 to bus system 1 in a relatively simple manner, which is very advantageous.
Consequently, the CSMA/CR method must provide so-called recessive states on bus 40, which may be overwritten by other user stations 10, 20, 30 with dominant states on bus 40.
The arbitration at the start of a frame 450 or of message 45, 46, and the acknowledgement in frame end phase 455 of frame 450 or of message 45, 46 is possible only when the bit duration or bit time is much more than twice as long as the signal propagation time between two arbitrary user stations 10, 20, 30 of bus system 1. Therefore, the bit rate in arbitration phase 451 and in frame end phase 454 is selected to be slower than in data phase 453 of frame 450. In particular, the bit rate in phases 451, 455 is selected as 500 kbit/s, resulting in a bit duration or bit time of approximately 2 μs, whereas the bit rate in data phase 453 is selected as 5 to 10 Mbit/s or greater, resulting in a bit time of approximately 0.1 μs and shorter. The bit time of the signal in the other communication phases 451, 452, 454, 455 is thus greater than the bit time of the signal in data phase 453 by at least a factor of 10.
A transmitter of message 45, for example user station 10, starts a transmission of bits of changeover phase 452 and of subsequent data phase 453 onto bus 40 only after user station 10, as the transmitter, has won the arbitration, and user station 10, as the transmitter, thus has exclusive access to bus 40 of bus system 1. The transmitter may either switch to the faster bit rate and/or the other physical layer after a portion of changeover phase 452, or may switch to the faster bit rate and/or the other physical layer only with the first bit, i.e., at the start, of subsequent data phase 453.
In general, in the bus system with CAN XL, in comparison to CAN or CAN FD in particular the following deviant properties may be achieved:
User station 30 has a design similar to that shown in
Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for block 16 to not be integrated into transceiver 12, but, rather, provided separately from communication control device 11 and transceiver 12.
Transceiver 12 is connected to bus 40, or more precisely, to its first bus wire 41 for CAN_H and its second bus wire 42 for CAN_L. During operation of bus system 1, transceiver 12 converts a transmission signal TxD of communication control device 11 into corresponding signals CAN_H and CAN_L for bus wires 41, 42, and transmits these signals CAN_H and CAN_L onto bus 40. Even though signals CAN_H and CAN_L are mentioned for transceiver 12, with regard to message 45 they are to be understood as signals CAN XL_H and CAN XL_L, which in data phase 453 differ from conventional signals CAN_H and CAN_L in at least one feature, in particular with regard to the formation of the bus states for the various data states of signal TxD and/or with regard to the voltage or the physical layer and/or the bit rate.
A difference signal VDIFF=CAN_H−CAN_L is formed on bus 40. With the exception of an idle or standby state, transceiver 12 with its receiver during normal operation always listens to a transmission of data or messages 45, 46 on bus 40, in particular regardless of whether or not user station 10 is the transmitter of message 45. Transceiver 12 forms a reception signal RxD from signals CAN_H and CAN_L that are received from bus 40, and passes it on to communication control device 11, as described in greater detail below.
The construction of user station 10 described below provides a robust, simple option for symmetrically transmitting bits between communication control device 11 and transceiver 12 with the aid of signals, i.e., without the duration of the bits changing. This is a major advantage, in particular during the transmission of data during data phase 453 of a frame 450.
According to
TRxD terminals 110, 120 are bidirectionally operable, namely, either as an output or an input, with the aid of modules 15, 16 and corresponding signals, as described below.
Communication control device 11 is designed as a microcontroller or includes a microcontroller. Communication control device 11 processes signals of an arbitrary application, for example a control unit for a motor, a safety system for a machine or a vehicle, or other applications. Not shown, however, is a system application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which alternatively may be a system base chip (SBC) on which multiple functions necessary for an electronics assembly of user station 10 are combined. Among other things, transceiver 12 and an energy supply device (not illustrated) that supplies transceiver 12 with electrical energy may be installed in the system ASIC. The energy supply device generally supplies a voltage CAN Supply of 5 V. However, depending on the requirements, the energy supply device may supply some other voltage having a different value and/or may be designed as a power source.
Communication control module 113 is a protocol controller that implements the CAN protocol, in particular the protocol for CAN XL or CAN FD. Communication control module 113 is designed to output the following output signals or to receive the following input signals.
Signal TxD_PRT is an output signal that corresponds to transmission signal TxD. Signal RxD_PRT is an input signal that corresponds to reception signal RxD.
In addition to these signals, communication control module 113 is designed to generate and output the following control signals: TX_DM, RX_DM.
Control signal TX_DM is an output signal, and indicates whether or not transceiver 12 is to operate in operating mode TX data phase mode. The operating mode is also referred to as FAST_TX mode or first operating mode. In operating mode TX data phase mode, user station 10 has won the arbitration in arbitration phase 451, and in subsequent data phase 453 is the transmitter of frame 450. In this case user station 10 may also be referred to as a transmitting node. In operating mode TX data phase mode, transceiver 12 is to use the physical layer for data phase 453, and in the process, to drive bus wires CAN_H and CAN_L.
Control signal RX_DM is an output signal, and indicates whether or not transceiver 12 is to operate in operating mode RX data phase mode. The operating mode is also referred to as FAST_RX mode or second operating mode. In operating mode RX data phase mode, user station 10 has lost the arbitration in arbitration phase 451, and in subsequent data phase 453 is only the receiver, i.e., not the transmitter, of frame 450. In this case user station 10 may also be referred to as a receiving node. In operating mode RX data phase mode, transceiver 12 is to use the physical layer for data phase 453, but is not to drive bus wires CAN_H and CAN_L.
When the transceiver is neither in TX data phase mode nor in RX data phase mode, it is in the so-called arbitration phase mode, i.e., the mode that is used in arbitration phase 451 and frame end phase 455. In this mode, the physical layer via which dominant and recessive bus states may be transmitted is used.
The switching for signaling to transceiver 12 the operating mode that is to be switched on is not illustrated here. The signaling likewise takes place in particular via TxD terminal 111 and/or RxD terminal 112. To allow the signaling to be carried out, input terminal 112 and output terminal 122 alternatively may each have a bidirectional design.
Operating mode switching module 15 includes a direction control block 151, a coding block 152, a decoding block 153, and a multiplexer 154. First operating mode switching module 15 receives the above-mentioned signals that are output by communication control module 113.
Direction control block 151 generates switching signal DIR_PRT for TRxD terminal 110 from control signals TX_DM, RX_DM of communication control module 113. Switching signal DIR_PRT controls direction DIR, more precisely, the transmission direction of bidirectionally switchable TRxD terminal 110 of communication control device 11. In other words, switching signal DIR_PRT controls the direction of TRxD terminal 110 of device 11. TRxD terminal 110 is used only during the time in which signals TX_DM or RX_DM are set, i.e., in the phase in which transmission is carried out at an increased bit rate and only one transmitter exists or transmits at bus 40. Thus, switching signal DIR_PRT has to be generated predominantly only for data phase 453 of a frame 450 only for the duration of the fast data transmission. Accordingly, direction control block 151 may be designed, for example, to generate no switching signal DIR_PRT in the other communication phases, when neither signal RX_DM nor TX_DM is set. Regardless, the transmission direction of TRxD terminal 110 in communication phases 451, 455 is arbitrarily selectable.
Alternatively, TRxD terminal 110 may also be used, for example, for a differential data transmission during the communication phase with a low bit rate. However, it must be determined whether TRxD terminal 110 in this case is always used as an output or as an input. For example, when TX_DM=0, TRxD terminal 110 may always be operated as an output for the differential transmission of transmission signal TxD_PRT, TxD2.
If signal TX_DM is set, in particular if its signal value is equal to 1, direction control block 151 generates switching signal DIR_PRT in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 110 is switched to output. As a result, communication control module 113 may transmit a frame 450, to be transmitted onto bus 40, as a differential signal via terminals 110, 111, as described in greater detail below. In particular, communication control module 113 transmits a frame 450, and if signal TX_DM is set in the process, the direction of TRxD terminal 110 is switched to output.
If signal RX_DM is set, in particular if its signal value is equal to 1, direction control block 151 generates switching signal DIR_PRT in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 110 is switched to input. As a result, communication control module 113 may receive a frame 450, transmitted via bus 40, as a differential signal via terminals 110, 112, as described in greater detail below. In particular, communication control module 113 receives a frame 450, and if signal RX_DM is set in the process, the direction of TRxD terminal 110 is switched to input.
Coding block 152 generates a signal TxD2 from signal TxD_PRT, i.e., transmission signal TxD. Signal TxD2 is an inverse signal with respect to signal TxD_PRT. Coding block 152 outputs signal TxD2 to TRxD terminal 110. If terminal 110 is switched to output as described above, communication control device 11 may output signals TxD_PRT, TxD2 as a differential output signal to transceiver 12 via terminals 110, 111. In the simplest case, coding block 152 is an inverter that inverts signal TxD_PRT.
Decoding block 153 at its input is connected to terminals 110, 112. When TRxD terminal 110 is switched to input as described above, decoding block 153 receives from terminals 110, 112 a differential input signal made up of a signal RxD1 and a signal RxD2. Decoding block 153 decodes signals RxD1, RxD2 to form nondifferential signal RxD_PRT. Decoding block 153 outputs signal RxD_PRT to multiplexer 154.
Communication control module 113 controls multiplexer 154 using control signal RX_DM. Depending on the signal value of control signal RX_DM, a selection is made as to whether communication control module 113 is provided with the signal that is decoded by decoding block 153, or with signal RxD1 from terminal 112, as signal RxD_PRT.
In transceiver 12, transceiver module 123 is designed to transmit and/or receive messages 45, 46 according to the CAN protocol, in particular messages according to the protocol for CAN XL or CAN FD as described above. Transceiver module 123 carries out the connection to the physical medium, i.e., the connection of bus 40 to bus wires 41, 42. Transceiver module 123 drives and decodes signals CAN_H and CAN_L for bus wires 41, 42 or bus 40. Transceiver module 123 is also designed to output subsequent output signals or to receive subsequent input signals.
Signal RxD_TC is an output signal that corresponds to a digital reception signal which transceiver module 123 generates from differential signal CAN_H, CAN_L from bus 40. Signal TxD_TC is an input signal that corresponds to transmission signal TxD, i.e., the signal that has been generated by communication control module 113 for transmission onto bus 40.
In addition to these signals, transceiver module 123 is designed to generate and output the following control signals: TX_DM_TC, RX_DM_TC.
Control signal TX_DM_TC is an output signal, and indicates whether or not transceiver 12 is to operate in or be switched into operating mode TX data phase mode in order to act in data phase 453 as a transmitter of frame 450, as described above. This is an operating mode in which transceiver module 123 transmits bits on bus 40, i.e., drives bus 40, in data phase 453.
Control signal RX_DM_TC is an output signal, and indicates whether or not transceiver 12 is to operate in or be switched into operating mode RX data phase mode in order to act in data phase 453 only as a receiver, i.e., not as a transmitter, of frame 450, as described above. This is an operating mode in which transceiver module 123 only receives bits from bus 40, i.e., does not drive bus 40, in data phase 453.
Second operating mode switching module 16 includes a direction control block 161, a coding block 162, a decoding block 163, and a multiplexer 164. Second operating mode switching module 16 receives the above-mentioned signals, which are output by transceiver module 123.
Direction control block 161 generates switching signal DIR_TC from control signals TX_DM_TC, RX_DM_TC of transceiver module 123 for TRxD terminal 120. Switching signal DIR_TC controls direction DIR, more precisely, the transmission direction of bidirectionally switchable terminal 120 of transceiver 12. In other words, switching signal DIR_TC controls the direction of TRxD terminal 121 of device 12. The same as for TRxD terminal 110 of communication control device 11, TRxD terminal 120 is also used only during the time in which signals TX_DM_TC or RX_DM_TC are set, i.e., in the phase in which transmission is carried out at an increased bit rate and only one transmitter exists at bus 40. Switching signal DIR_TC has to be generated only for the duration of the fast data transmission, i.e., predominantly only for data phase 453 of a frame 450. Accordingly, direction control block 161 may be designed, for example, to generate no switching signal DIR_TC in the other communication phases, when neither signal RX_DM_TC nor TX_TX_DM_TC is set. Regardless, the switching of the transmission direction of TRxD terminal 120 in communication phases 451, 452, 454, 455 is arbitrary.
Alternatively, TRxD terminal 120 may also be used, for example, for a differential data transmission during the communication phase with a low bit rate. However, it must be determined whether TRxD terminal 120 in this case is always used as an output or as an input. For example, when RX_DM_TC=0, TRxD terminal 120 may always be operated as an output for the differential transmission of reception signal RxD_TC, RxD2_TC.
If signal RX_DM_TC is set, in particular if its signal value is equal to 1, direction control block 161 generates switching signal DIR_TC in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 120 is switched to output. As a result, transceiver module 123 may transmit a frame 450, transmitted from a different user station via bus 40, as a differential signal to communication control device 11 via terminals 120, 122, as described in greater detail below. In particular, transceiver module 123 receives a frame 450, and if signal RX_DM_TC is set in the process, the direction of TRxD terminal 120 is switched to output.
If signal TX_DM_TC is set, in particular if its signal value is equal to 1, direction control block 161 generates switching signal DIR_TC in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 120 is switched to input. As a result, transceiver module 123 may receive a frame 450, to be transmitted onto bus 40, from communication control device 11 as a differential signal via transceiver terminals 120, 122. In particular, transceiver module 123 transmits a frame 450 onto bus 40, and if signal TX_DM_TC is set in the process, the direction of TRxD terminal 120 is switched to input.
Coding block 162 generates a signal RxD2_TC from signal RxD_TC, i.e., reception signal RxD. Signal RxD2_TC is an inverse signal with respect to signal RxD_TC. Coding block 162 outputs signal RxD2_TC to terminal 120. When terminal 120 is switched to output as described above, transceiver 12 may output signals RxD2_TC, RxD_TC, as a differential output signal, to communication control device 11 via terminals 120, 122. In the simplest case, coding block 162 is an inverter that inverts signal RxD_TC.
Decoding block 163 at its input is connected to terminals 120, 121. When terminal 120 is switched to input as described above, decoding block 163 receives from terminals 120, 121 a differential input signal made up of a signal TxD1_TC and a signal TxD2_TC. Decoding block 163 decodes signals TxD1_TC, TxD2_TC to form nondifferential signal TxD_TC. Decoding block 163 outputs signal TxD_TC to multiplexer 154.
Transceiver module 123 controls multiplexer 164 using control signal TX_DM_TC. Depending on the signal value of control signal TX_DM_TC, a selection is made as to whether transceiver module 123 is provided with the signal that is decoded by decoding block 163, or with signal TxD1_TC from terminal 121, as signal TxD_TC.
Consequently, in operating mode TX data phase mode as described above, communication control device 11 transmits the bit stream of serial transmission signal TxD as a differential signal via TRxD and TxD terminals 110, 111. Transceiver 12 receives this differential signal at its TRxD and TxD terminals 120, 121, and decodes this differential signal to form a nondifferential signal TxD_TC.
According to
In the faster operating mode of transceiver 12, user station 10 transmits solely as a transmitting node, so that, due to signal TX_DM that is now set (
Thus, due to signal RX_DM which is now set (
According to a first modification of the above-mentioned embodiment of modules 15, 16, it is possible for at least one of modules 15, 16 to allow switching only into operating mode TX data phase mode. Such a variant may be advantageous, for example, for a user station 10, 20 of bus system 1 which itself only has to transmit signals, but does not have to receive signals from bus 40, in order to carry out its function. One example of the design of such a user station is a strict actuator whose control is transmitted via bus 40, but which receives or generates the event for the control independently of the communication at the bus.
According to a second modification of the above-mentioned embodiment of modules 15, 16, it is possible for at least one of modules 15, 16 to allow switching only into operating mode RX data phase mode. Such a variant may be advantageous, for example, for a user station 10, 20 of bus system 1 which itself does not have to transmit signals, but instead only has to receive signals from bus 40, in order to carry out its function. One example of the design of such a user station is a transmitter, in particular a rev transmitter, an actuator, etc.
Of course, the above-described functions of devices 11, 12 are also usable for some other modification of CAN FD and/or CAN, at least for transmitting the useful data.
As a result of the design of user station 10, a galvanic connection via an additional terminal in each case at communication control device 11 and transceiver 12 connected thereto ensures the symmetry of the data transmission between devices 11, 12. This means that an additional terminal, which is not available at a standard housing of devices 11, 12, is advantageously not necessary. Changing to another housing that is larger and expensive in order to provide an additional terminal is thus not necessary.
Due to the described design of device(s) 11, 12, 32, 35, much higher data rates may be achieved in data phase 453 than with CAN or CAN FD. In addition, the data length in the data field of data phase 453 may be arbitrarily selected, as described above. As a result, the advantages of CAN with regard to the arbitration may be retained, yet a higher volume of data may be transmitted very reliably and thus effectively, in a shorter time period than previously.
According to a second exemplary embodiment, it is possible for the TRxD terminal to be the standby (STB) terminal. Via the STB terminal, communication control device 11 may signal to transceiver 12, in particular its transceiver module 123, that no communication is presently taking place on bus 40. Transceiver 12, in particular its transceiver module 123, may thus switch into a standby operating mode or wait mode in order to conserve energy.
For this purpose, direction control block 151 generates switching signal DIR_PRT in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 110 is switched toward output, since no fast data transmission takes place, i.e., neither RX_DM nor TX_DM is set. In addition, direction control block 161 generates switching signal DIR_TC in such a way that the direction of TRxD terminal 120 is switched toward input, since no fast data transmission takes place, i.e., neither RX_DM_TC nor TX_DM_TC is set. The STB terminal or TRxD terminal 110 of communication control device 12 outside the time with fast data transmission is thus an output, and during the same time, the STB terminal or TRxD terminal 120 of transceiver 12 is an input.
As a result, communication control device 11 may signal to transceiver 12, in particular its transceiver module 123, with a particularly long “1” phase in a signal via terminals 110, 120 that transceiver 12, in particular its transceiver module 123, is to change into the standby operating mode. This “1” phase has a length that cannot occur during the CAN communication during transmission of a frame. This is ensured due to the stuff bits with CAN.
Otherwise, the communication in user stations 10, 30 and in bus system 1 may take place as described for the first exemplary embodiment.
According to a third exemplary embodiment, it is possible for communication control device 11 to signal to transceiver 12 when transceiver 12 is to change its operating mode. The signaling of the operating mode change from the arbitration phase mode into one of operating modes RX data phase mode, TX data phase mode of transceiver 12 may take place via RxD terminal 112, for example. In addition, the signaling of the operating mode change back into the arbitration phase mode, i.e., the operating mode in arbitration phase 451 and frame end phase 455, may take place via RxD terminal 122, 112. For this purpose, communication control device 11 drives RxD terminal 112 for a short period for the purpose of signaling the operating mode change more strongly than transceiver 12 drives its RxD terminal 122. This avoids the situation of the value of the RxD line possibly being indeterminate when communication control device 11 drives its RxD terminal 112 and transceiver 12 also drives its RxD terminal 122, resulting in a superimposition of the two signal sources at terminals 112, 122. In the event of such a superimposition of the two signal sources at terminals 112, 122, communication control device 11 thus always prevails. The value of the RxD line is therefore always certain.
Otherwise, the communication in user stations 10, 30 and in bus system 1 may take place as described for the first and/or second exemplary embodiment.
According to a fourth exemplary embodiment, transceiver 12 and/or transceiver 32, in particular operating mode switching module 16, may be designed to signal something to communication control device 11, in particular communication control module 113, upon receipt in operating mode RX data phase mode. This signaling may take place via RxD terminal 122, 112 and TRxD terminal 120, 110. For this purpose, transceiver 12, 32 transmits a nondifferential signal via TRxD and RxD terminals 120, 122 in an additional operating mode of data phase 453. For example, as signaling S, transceiver 12, 32 may transmit the following levels at terminals 120, 122: TRxD=RxD=1.
Signaling S to transceivers 12, 32 may contain or be additional pieces of information which are in addition to pieces of information of the signals which in bus system 1 are exchanged with messages 45, 46 between user stations 10, 30 of bus system 1. The additional pieces of information allow an internal communication of devices 11, 12 or of devices 31, 32.
Otherwise, the communication in user stations 10, 30 and in bus system 1 may take place as described for at least one of the preceding exemplary embodiments.
All of the above-described embodiments of devices 11, 12, 31, 32, of modules 15, 16, 35, 36, of user stations 10, 20, 30 of bus system 1, and of the method carried out therein may be used alone or in any possible combination. In particular, all features of the above-described exemplary embodiments and/or modifications thereof may be arbitrarily combined. Additionally or alternatively, in particular the following modifications are possible.
Although the present invention is described above with the example of the CAN bus system, the present invention may be employed for any communications network and/or communication method in which two different communication phases are used in which the bus states, which are generated for the different communication phases, differ. In particular, the above-described principle of the present invention is usable for interfaces which for various communication phases require a changeover signal from a protocol controller or module 113, and/or that require a data exchange between devices 11, 12.
Above-described bus system 1 according to the exemplary embodiments is described with reference to a bus system based on the CAN protocol. However, bus system 1 according to the exemplary embodiments may also be some other type of communications network in which data are serially transmittable at two different bit rates. It is advantageous, but not a mandatory requirement, that in bus system 1, exclusive, collision-free access of a user station 10, 20, 30 to a shared channel is ensured, at least for certain time periods.
The number and arrangement of user stations 10, 20, 30 in bus system 1 of the exemplary embodiments is arbitrary. In particular, user station 20 in bus system 1 may be dispensed with. It is possible for one or more of user stations 10 or 30 to be present in bus system 1. It is possible for all user stations in bus system 1 to have the same design, i.e., for only user station 10 or only user station 30 to be present.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102020205268.9 | Apr 2020 | DE | national |
