Decoupling unit for bus systems that blocks abnormal dominant signals from passing between connected bus systems

1. A decoupling unit for two bus systems connected with each other, comprising:

a connecting circuit;

a first interface circuit including a bidirectional bus port for one of said bus systems and a bidirectional data port for said connecting circuit;

a second interface circuit including a bidirectional bus port for the other of said bus systems and a bidirectional data port for said connecting circuit;

the connecting circuit comprising filter means for blocking abnormal dominant signals and passing normal signals between said bus systems, wherein abnormal dominant signals of a bus system indicate a failure therein and occur during a period incompatible with a bus protocol of said bus system.

2. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein interface circuits convert bus signals into logic levels and logic levels into bus signals.

3. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said filter means contain a monoflop.

4. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said connecting circuit comprises gate means which, at least for a period of passage of a signal from a transmitting bus system to a receiving bus system, eliminates any feedback of said signal to said transmitting bus system.

5. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said gate means has an OR gate with a first input to which a signal from a data port of one interface circuit is applied, and a second input to which an inverted signal from a data port of said other interface circuit is applied.

6. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said inverted signal is delayed at said second input of said OR gate by an RC combination.

7. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said connecting circuit is symmetrical between said interface circuits.

8. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 1 , characterized by being used in a motor vehicle, where the integrity of one bus system is susceptible of being affected by an accident and said other bus system is allocated to functions of a higher priority.

9. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 8 , wherein an internal CAN bus is connected with a peripheral CAN bus.

10. A decoupling unit for two interconnected two-wire bus systems, comprising:

a switch that, when activated, electrically disconnects said bus systems;

a DC voltage detector providing a control signal when a DC voltage is detected between said wires of the same bus system;

a signal failure detector providing a control signal in case no signals occur on one of said bus systems which indicates a disturbance of said one bus system; and

a driving circuit that activates said switch in response to said control signals.

11. The decoupling unit as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said DC voltage detector comprises an integrator and an input signal of said integrator is derived by a voltage divider connected across said two wires of one of said bus systems.

12. A decoupling unit for two interconnected two-wire bus systems, comprising:

a switch that, when activated, electrically disconnects said bus systems;

a DC voltage detector providing a control signal when a DC voltage is detected between said wires of the same bus system;

a signal failure detector providing a control signal in case no signals occur on one of said bus systems which indicates a disturbance of said one bus system; and

a driving circuit that activates said switch in response to said control signals,

wherein said signal failure detector comprises a retriggerable monoflop, the input signal of which is taken between said two wires of the one bus system.

13. A decoupling unit for two interconnected two-wire bus systems, comprising:

a switch that, when activated, electrically disconnects said bus systems;

a DC voltage detector providing a control signal when a DC voltage is detected between said wires of the same bus system;

a signal failure detector providing a control signal in case no signals occur on one of said bus systems which indicates a disturbance of said one bus system; and

a driving circuit that activates said switch in response to said control signals,

wherein said control signals of said DC voltage detector and said signal failure detector are applied to a pair of inputs of an OR gate an output of which is connected to an input of said driver circuit.