Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-01
2001-12-18
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C370S282000, C341S155000, C375S220000, C375S354000, C700S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331822
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication control apparatus for transmitting analog and digital data.
2. Description of Background Art
As an example of a communication control apparatus, a control system employed in a vehicle for controlling a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment mounted on the vehicle is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei6-276570. The disclosed vehicle control system comprises a plurality of input/output means and a central control means. The input/output means include: a sensor output reading means for fetching signals output by sensors installed on the electrical equipment; an input data generating means for generating input data from an output of the sensor output reading means; and 1st communication means each for converting an output of the input data generating means into a signal having a transmission format set in advance and outputting the signal to a data communication network as well as for extracting an energerization signal for energizing the electrical equipment from a signal received from the data communication network.
On the other hand, the central control means comprises a 2nd communication means connected to the data communication network and a control means for controlling the electrical equipment through the 2nd communication means. Connected to the data communication network, the 2nd communication means is used for exchanging data with each of the 1st communication means.
By virtue of the vehicle control system described above, the number of microcomputers in use can be reduced, allowing the manufacturing cost of the electrical equipment employed in the vehicle to be cut as well.
In addition, the number of I/O ports provided on the central control means and the number of lines connecting the I/O ports on the central control means to the input/output means can also be reduced, allowing the central control means to have a compact construction. Furthermore, a change in input/output means specification entailing a replacement can be implemented by adding or removing lines connecting the I/O ports to the input/output means. As a result, the development efficiency can also be improved as well.
The disclosure described above also reveals an embodiment wherein an analog signal output by a steering wheel angle sensor is converted into digital data by means of an A/D converter for carrying out analog to digital conversion and the digital data is then transmitted to the central control unit.
In the conventional communication control apparatus, if the number of sensors each for outputting an analog signal is increased, it is necessary to provide as many additional A/D converters as sensors newly added. It is thus desirable to provide a communication control apparatus which allows a common A/D converter of a common A/D conversion unit to be shared among a plurality of sensors.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a communication control apparatus is provided having input/output lines for connecting an input/output unit and a central control unit to each other; said central control unit used for carrying out processing of load control based on input data coming from said input/output lines and provided with an A/D conversion means; and said input/output unit wherein an input side of said input/output unit is connected to a plurality of sensors and an output side of said input/output unit is connected to loads such as actuators, said communication control apparatus wherein said input/output lines include a transmission line for transmission of digital data and a transmission line for transmission of analog data; said input/output unit is provided with a bus control means for transmitting specific data indicating a sensor type of analog data through said transmission line for transmission of digital data when transmitting said analog data; and said central control unit is provided with a control means for storing received analog data by associating said analog data with a sensor type of said analog data.
When an analog signal is transmitted through the transmission line for transmission of analog data, specific data indicating a sensor type of the analog signal is transmitted through the transmission line for transmission of digital data Thus, it is not necessary to physically distribute A/D converters among input units. As a result, it is necessary to merely convert an analog signal transmitted through the transmission line dedicated for transmission of analog data into digital data in the central control unit, allowing the communication control apparatus to be made compact and its cost to be reduced. In addition, when a new sensor generating an analog signal is added, the work to newly install an A/D converter for the sensor is not required anymore.
According to the present invention, said communication control apparatus is further characterized in that said input/output unit is provided with internal switches for switching pieces of analog data generated by the same plurality of sensors from a piece to another wherein an output side of said internal switches is connected to said transmission line for transmission of analog data; and said specific data indicating a sensor type of analog data is information identifying a channel of one of said internal switches.
By providing the input/output unit with a plurality of internal switches for switching pieces of analog data generated by the same plurality of sensors from a piece to another, the single transmission line for transmission of analog data is capable of transmitting the analog signals by passing on at a time only an output of one internal switch selected among the internal switches.
In addition, by transmitting specific data used for indicating a sensor type as information identifying a channel of one of the internal switches from the input/output unit to the central control unit through the transmission line for transmission of digital data, the central control unit is allowed to identify which of the sensors has generated the analog signal.
According to the present invention, said communication control apparatus is further characterized in that said transmission line for transmission digital data is a duplex transmission line for exchanging data as well as acknowledgments of reception of said data between said input/output unit and said central control unit.
As a result, it is possible to transmit data from the input/output unit to the central control unit and vice versa by using a single duplex transmission line, allowing the number of transmission lines between the input/output unit and the central control unit and, hence, the size as well as the cost of the communication control apparatus to be reduced.
According to the present invention, said communication control apparatus is further characterized in that said control means comprises: an A/D converter connected to said transmission line for transmission of analog data; a register for storing digital data resulting from conversion by said A/D converter; and a processing means for processing digital data read out from said register, wherein: said A/D converter is used for sequentially converting input analog signals coming from ports one signal after another into digital data; and upon activation of one of said internal switches in accordance with a request issued by said central control unit, said input/output unit transmits a signal for permitting said processing means to read out data from said register after a time it takes for a voltage of an input signal to sufficiently rise as an analog signal and a time it takes for said A/D converter to convert input analog signals from all said ports into digital data have lapsed.
As described above, upon activation of one of the internal switches in accordance with a request issued by the central control unit, the input/output unit transmits a signal for permitting the processing means to read out data from the register after a time it takes for a voltage of a signal generated by a
Ohuchi Katsuhiro
Sato Morio
Bangachon William
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Horabik Michael
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