Communication network for an automobile
A “segmented” CAN bus is provided that extends the cabling scheme of a CAN network to permit isolation of individual nodes of identical type when needed and the ability for a host to determine the network topology. In addition, the CAN bus cabling scheme automatically assigns unique addresses to nodes and guarantees that the network will always be properly terminated. This eliminates the need for jumpers, DIP switches, pre-installation programming, or other hardware requiring human intervention to uniquely identify the nodes on the network. Furthermore, because the physical node topology is determinable, equipment installation and anomaly diagnostics are facilitated.
1. A system for controlling a plurality of electronic devices in an automobile, the system comprising:
a processor;
a communication medium in communication with the processor, the communications medium being divided into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments is connected directly to the processor; and
a plurality of interface modules, each of the plurality of interface modules connected to the processor by at least one of the plurality of segments, and
wherein the plurality of interface modules communicate control messages to the plurality of electronic devices, and
wherein the processor is configured to execute program code to assign a segment identifier and a module identifier to uniquely identify each of the plurality of segments and each of the plurality of interface modules.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a serial driver interface module.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a relay output interface module.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a vehicle status interface module for monitoring the operating status of the automobile.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications medium is a segmented controller area network.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interface modules further comprises a controller area network transceiver and a computer memory.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computer memory further comprises EEPROM.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a human machine interface in communication with the processor.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the human machine interface is a switch module.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the human machine interface is a fingerprint reader.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the human machine interface is a head up display.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the human machine interface is a liquid crystal display.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communications medium further comprise a hub for connecting the plurality of segments to each other.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the hub is a multi-segmented repeater in communication with the processor.
15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database in communication with the processor for communicating device specific control information to the plurality of interface modules.
16. A method for controlling a plurality of electronic devices in an automobile, the method comprising:
generating control signals using a processor;
transmitting the control signals over a communications medium in communication with the processor;
receiving the control signals with a plurality of interface modules in communication with the communications medium, the communications medium being divided into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments is connected to the processor and each of the plurality of interface modules is connected to the processor by at least one of the plurality of segments;
assigning a segment identifier to uniquely identify each of the plurality of segments;
assigning a module identifier to uniquely identify each of the plurality of interface modules; and
controlling the plurality of electronic devices by communicating the control signals through the plurality of interface modules in communicate with each of the plurality of electronic devices.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a serial driver interface module for controlling a serial device.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a relay output interface module for controlling a plurality of electronic devices having relays.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising monitoring the operating status of the automobile using a vehicle status interface module.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising communicating device specific control information to the plurality of interface modules wherein the device specific control information is stored in a database in communication with the processor.
21. A system for controlling a plurality of electronic devices in an automobile, the system comprising:
a processor;
a communications means in communication with the processor, the communications means being divided into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments is connected directly to the processor; and
a plurality of interface modules, each of the plurality of interface modules connected to the processor by at least one at the plurality of segments, and
wherein the plurality of interface modules communicate control messages to the plurality of electronic devices and
wherein the processor assigns a segment identifier to uniquely identify each of the plurality of segments; and
wherein the processor assigns a segment identifier to uniquely identify each of the plurality of interface modules.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a serial driver interface module.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a relay output interface module.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interface modules is a vehicle status interface module for monitoring the operating status of the automobile.
25. The system of claim 21 , wherein the communications means is a segmented controller area network.
26. The system of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of interface modules further comprises a controller area network transceiver and a computer memory.
27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the computer memory further comprises EEPROM.
28. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a human machine interface in communication with the processor.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the human machine interface is a switch module.
30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the human machine interface is a fingerprint reader.
31. The system of claim 28 , wherein the human machine interface is a head up display.
32. The system of claim 28 , wherein the human machine interface is a liquid crystal display.
33. The system of claim 28 , wherein the communications means further comprise a hub for connecting the plurality of segments to each other.
34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the hub is a multi-segmented repeater in communication with the processor.
35. The system of claim 21 , further comprising a database in communication with the processor for communicating device specific control information to the plurality of interface modules.