Multi-channel synchronous control circuit

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a multi-channel synchronous control circuit, including more than two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and a power supply VCC; the microcontroller MCU of each group of micro-control circuits is respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs a high-frequency signal of a certain frequency; wherein the high-frequency signal output by VCC, D1, D2, C1, C2 and GPO2 constitutes a bootstrap and filtering circuit to ensure that the N-channel MOS tube is in a bidirectional conduction state. Alternatively, the microcontroller MCU of each group of micro-control circuits is respectively provided with only GPO1, and the frequency output by GPO1 is a high-frequency signal. The present invention can solve the risk in the prior art that when any of the redundant controllers fails, the other controllers cannot normally control or monitor peripherals.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of control circuits, and in particular to a multi-channel synchronous control circuit. Background Art

[0002] Currently, assisted driving, unmanned driving and drones are in a stage of rapid development, and these fields have very high requirements for safety performance. In order to meet higher-level functional safety requirements, redundant design solutions are usually required in circuit design. For example, for the same or the same type of external equipment (such as cameras, lidars, ultrasonic radars, millimeter-wave radars, etc.), two controllers are required to monitor and control. When one of the controllers is damaged or abnormal, the other can still work to ensure that the vehicle or drone has time to safely dock.

[0003] In the existing solution, each controller directly controls and monitors peripherals through an "OR gate" or "AND gate". When one of the controllers is damaged, there is a risk that the other controller cannot normally control or monitor the peripherals, because when the controller is damaged or abnormal, its GPO state is uncertain, which may be a "high level" state or a "low level" state. For example Figure 1 When MCU1 is abnormal, if GPO is in "low level" state, the "high level" output of GPO of MCU2 is also invalid; similarly, for example Figure 2 When MCU1 is abnormal, if GPO is in "high level" state, the "low level" output of GPO of MCU2 is also invalid. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a multi-channel synchronous control circuit, which has a scientific and reasonable structural design and can solve the risk in the prior art that when any one of the redundant controllers fails, other controllers cannot normally control or monitor peripherals.

[0005] The multi-channel synchronous control circuit includes more than two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and a power supply VCC;

[0006] The microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency; or, the microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with only GPO1, and the frequency output by GPO1 is a high-frequency signal;

[0007] In each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the source S of the N-channel MOS tube Q, the GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1, the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2, the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q, and the Pin 2 is grounded; or, in each microcontroller circuit, the VCC power supply is connected to the anode of the diode D1; the cathode of the diode D1 is connected to the anode of the diode D2; the source S of the N-channel MOS tube Q and the pin 2 of the capacitor C1 are connected in parallel and then connected to the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU, the pin 1 of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the cathode of the diode D1 and then connected to the anode of the diode D2, the cathode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the pin 1 of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q, and the pin 2 of the capacitor C2 is grounded;

[0008] The drains D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q of each group of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the DEVICE device.

[0009] Each group of micro-control circuits further includes a capacitor C3 and a resistor R1; the capacitor C3 and the resistor R1 are connected in parallel with the capacitor C2 respectively.

[0010] The capacity of the capacitor C1 is 1-47 μF.

[0011] The capacity of the capacitor C2 is 1-47 μF.

[0012] The capacitance of the capacitor C3 is 0.01-1 μF.

[0013] The resistance value of the resistor R is 10-470KΩ.

[0014] The working principle of the present invention is as follows:

[0015] 1. For solution 1, the microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is provided with GPO1 and GPO2 respectively, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency; the working principle is as follows:

[0016] For the N-channel MOS tube Q to be bidirectionally conductive, the condition of Vgs>Vgs(th) must be met. Therefore, when selecting VCC, Vgs(th)<(VCC-2*Vf) is required, where Vf is the forward voltage drop of diodes D1 and D2. Whether the N-channel MOS tube Q in each micro-control circuit is bidirectionally conductive or unidirectionally conductive is controlled by the "clock" signal of its GPO2: only when the MCU is normal can the MCU control GPO2 to output a "clock" signal of a certain frequency. Once the MCU is abnormal, it cannot output the "clock" signal, but will become a single state such as "high", "low", or "high impedance". The "clock" signal output by GPO2 in each micro-control circuit and diodes D1, D2, C1, and C2 form a bootstrap and filtering circuit, satisfying Vgs>Vgs(th) so that Q1 is always in a bidirectional conductive state. Once the MCU is abnormal, GPO2 cannot output the "clock" signal, the bootstrap circuit stops working, and the Vgs>Vgs(th) condition of Q1 cannot be met, and it becomes unidirectional.

[0017] In each microcontroller circuit, the S pole of the N-channel MOS tube Q is connected to the MCU, and the D pole is connected to the DEVICE, that is, when Q becomes unidirectional, only the "high level" output by GPO1 can be delivered to the DEVICE through the body diode inside Q, and the "low level" output by GPO1 cannot be delivered to the DEVICE because Q is in the "off" state. And because the two switches Q are in an "AND" relationship, if one of the MCUs is abnormal and the corresponding GPO1 outputs a "high level", it will not affect the control system, and the "low level" that can affect the control system has been intercepted and cannot pull down the "high level" output by the normally working MCU, and the "high level" can still be smoothly delivered to the DEVICS. In other words, the abnormal MCU will not affect the control system regardless of whether GPO1 changes to "high" or "low";

[0018] If the MCU of any one or more microcontroller circuits is abnormal and the corresponding GPO1 is always at a "low level", because this "low level" is intercepted and has no effect on the DEVICE, the "high level" output by the GPO1 of the MCU of other normal microcontroller circuits can still be delivered to the DEVICE normally. If the MCU of any one or more microcontroller circuits is abnormal and the GPO1 of the MCU of this group is always at a "high level", it will not affect the DEVICE, because the MCUs of other microcontroller circuits are still working normally, and the "clock" signal generated by the GPO2 of the corresponding MCU and the bootstrap and filtering circuit composed of D1, D2, C1, and C2 are still working normally, so that the N-channel MOS tube controlled by it is always in a bidirectional conduction state, so the "low level" output by the GPO1 of the normally working MCU can be smoothly delivered to the DEVICE.

[0019] For the second solution, that is, each microcontroller MCU of each microcontroller circuit is only equipped with GPO1, and the frequency of GPO1 output is a high-frequency signal, it corresponds to another application scenario, that is, when the control signal required by the DEVICE device is a high-frequency signal, and the frequency of GPO1 meets the normal operation of the bootstrap circuit, GPO1 can be directly used to control the N-channel MOS switch, and GPO2 is omitted. The circuit connection is changed to: Pin 2 of C1 is directly connected to GPO1, and the other connections are the same as the first solution.

[0020] Solution 2, the working principle is as follows:

[0021] For the N-channel MOS tube Q to be bidirectionally conductive, the condition of Vgs>Vgs(th) must be met. Therefore, when selecting VCC, Vgs(th)<(VCC-2*Vf) is required, where Vf is the forward voltage drop of diodes D1 and D2. Whether the N-channel MOS tube Q in each microcontroller circuit is bidirectionally conductive or unidirectionally conductive is controlled by the high-frequency "clock" signal of its GPO1: only when the MCU is normal can the MCU control GPO1 to output a high-frequency "clock" signal. Once the MCU is abnormal, it cannot output the "clock" signal, but will become a single state such as "high", "low", or "high impedance". The high-frequency "clock" signal output by GPO1 in each microcontroller circuit and diodes D1, D2, C1, and C2 form a bootstrap and filtering circuit, satisfying Vgs>Vgs(th) so that Q1 is always in a bidirectional conductive state. Once the MCU is abnormal, GPO1 cannot output a high-frequency "clock" signal, the bootstrap circuit stops working, and the Vgs>Vgs(th) condition of Q1 cannot be met, and it becomes unidirectional.

[0022] In each microcontroller circuit, the S pole of the N-channel MOS tube Q is connected to the MCU, and the D pole is connected to the DEVICE. That is, when Q becomes unidirectional, only the "high level" output by GPO1 can be delivered to the DEVICE through the body diode inside Q, and the "low level" output by GPO1 cannot be delivered to the DEVICE because Q is in the "off" state. And because the two switches Q are in an "AND" relationship, if one of the MCUs is abnormal and the corresponding GPO1 outputs a "high level", it will not affect the control system, and the "low level" that can affect the control system has been intercepted and cannot pull down the "high level" output by the normally working MCU. The "high level" can still be smoothly delivered to the DEVICE. In other words, the abnormal MCU will not affect the control system regardless of whether GPO1 changes to "high" or "low";

[0023] If the MCU of any one or more microcontroller circuits is abnormal and the corresponding GPO1 is always at a "low level", because this "low level" is intercepted and has no effect on the DEVICE, the "high level" output by the GPO1 of the MCU of other normal microcontroller circuits can still be delivered to the DEVICE normally. If the MCU of any one or more microcontroller circuits is abnormal and the GPO1 of the MCU of this group is always at a "high level", it will not affect the DEVICE, because the MCUs of other microcontroller circuits are still working normally at this time, and the high-frequency "clock" signal generated by the GPO1 of the corresponding MCU and the bootstrap and filtering circuit composed of D1, D2, C1, and C2 are still working normally, so that the N-channel MOS tube controlled by it is always in a bidirectional conduction state, so the "low level" output by the GPO1 of the normally working MCU can be smoothly delivered to the DEVICE.

[0024] The multi-channel synchronous control circuit structure design of the present invention is scientific and reasonable, and can solve the risk in the prior art that when any one of the redundant controllers fails, other controllers cannot normally control or monitor peripherals.

[0025] The invention has the characteristics of simple structure, low cost, easy realization, wide applicability and the like, and has high practicality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the existing multi-channel synchronous control circuit realized by "AND gate" is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the existing multi-channel synchronous control circuit realized by "OR gate" is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the multi-channel synchronous control circuit of Example 1;

[0029] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the multi-channel synchronous control circuit of Example 2;

[0030] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the multi-channel synchronous control circuit of Example 3;

[0031] Figure 6 The schematic diagram of the multi-channel synchronous control circuit of Example 4;

[0032] Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the multi-channel synchronous control circuit of Example 5; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Example 1

[0034] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, the multi-channel synchronous control circuit includes two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and VCC;

[0036] The microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency;

[0037] In each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q, the GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1, the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2, the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate electrode G of the N-channel MOS tube Q1, and the 2nd pin of the capacitor C2 is grounded;

[0038] The drain electrodes D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q of the two sets of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the instrument DEVICE.

[0039] Example 2

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, it includes more than two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and a power supply VCC;

[0041] The microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with only GPO1, and the frequency output by GPO1 is a high-frequency signal;

[0042] In each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q and the 2nd foot of the capacitor C1 are connected in parallel and then connected to the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU; the 1st foot of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st foot of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q; the 2nd foot of the capacitor C2 is grounded;

[0043] The drains D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q of each group of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the DEVICE device.

[0044] Example 3

[0045] like Figure 5As shown, the multi-channel synchronous control circuit includes two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and VCC;

[0046] The microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency;

[0047] In each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q; the GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1; the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2, the 1st pin of the capacitor C3, and the 1st pin of the resistor R1 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q1; the 2nd pin of the capacitor C2, the 2nd pin of the capacitor C3, and the 2nd pin of the resistor R1 are grounded;

[0048] The drain electrodes D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q of the two sets of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the instrument DEVICE.

[0049] Example 4

[0050] Examples of actual use cases:

[0051] like Figure 6 As shown, the multi-channel synchronous control circuit includes two groups of micro-control circuits, the microcontroller MCU1 and the microcontroller MCU2 are powered by 3.3V respectively; the microcontroller MCU1 and the microcontroller MCU2 are respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency;

[0052] The 3.3V VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrodes of the diodes D1 and D3 respectively; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the negative electrode of the diode D3 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D4; the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU1 is connected to the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q1, the GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU1 is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1, the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2, the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2, the 1st pin of the capacitor C3, and the 1st pin of the resistor R1 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q1, the 2nd pin of the capacitor C2, the 2nd pin of the capacitor C3, and the 2nd pin of the resistor R1 are grounded;

[0053] GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU2 is connected to the source S of the N-channel MOS tube Q2, GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU2 is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C5, the 1st pin of the capacitor C5 is connected in parallel with the cathode of the diode D3 and then connected to the anode of the diode D4, the cathode of the diode D4 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C6, the 1st pin of the capacitor C7 and the 1st pin of the resistor R2 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q2, the 2nd pin of the capacitor C6, the 2nd pin of the capacitor C7 and the 2nd pin of the resistor R2 are grounded;

[0054] The drain electrodes D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q1 / Q2 of the two sets of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the instrument DEVICE.

[0055] Example 5

[0056] Examples of actual use cases:

[0057] like Figure 7 As shown, it is suitable for the occasion where the control signal output by GPO1 to the DEVICE device is a high-frequency signal. The high-frequency clock characteristics of GPO1 can be used to directly control the "switch" of the N-channel MOS tube and omit GPO2. The circuit connection is changed to connect the 2nd pin of capacitor C1 / C5 directly to GPO1, and the other connection methods are the same as those of embodiment 5. Figure 6 same.

Claims

1. A multi-channel synchronous control circuit, characterized in that: It includes more than two groups of micro-control circuits, each group of micro-control circuits includes a microcontroller MCU, an N-channel MOS tube Q, a diode D1, a diode D2, a capacitor C1, a capacitor C2, and a power supply VCC; The microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with GPO1 and GPO2, GPO1 outputs the control signal required by the DEVICE device, and GPO2 outputs the clock signal of the set frequency; in each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q, the GPO2 of the microcontroller MCU is connected to the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1, the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2, the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate electrode G of the N-channel MOS tube Q, and the 2nd pin of the capacitor C2 is grounded; Alternatively, the microcontroller MCU of each group of microcontroller circuits is respectively provided with only GPO1, and the frequency output by GPO1 is a high-frequency signal; in each group of microcontroller circuits, the VCC power supply is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D1; the negative electrode of the diode D1 is connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2; the source electrode S of the N-channel MOS tube Q and the 2nd pin of the capacitor C1 are connected in parallel and then connected to the GPO1 of the microcontroller MCU, the 1st pin of the capacitor C1 is connected in parallel with the negative electrode of the diode D1 and then connected to the positive electrode of the diode D2, the negative electrode of the diode D2 is connected in parallel with the 1st pin of the capacitor C2 and then connected to the gate G of the N-channel MOS tube Q, and the 2nd pin of the capacitor C2 is grounded; The drains D of the N-channel MOS tubes Q of each group of micro-control circuits are connected in parallel and then connected to the DEVICE device.

2. The multi-channel synchronous control circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each group of micro-control circuits further includes a capacitor C3 and a resistor R1; the capacitor C3 and the resistor R1 are connected in parallel with the capacitor C2 respectively.

3. The multi-channel synchronous control circuit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The capacity of the capacitor C1 is 1-47 μF.

4. The multi-channel synchronous control circuit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The capacity of the capacitor C2 is 1-47 μF.

5. The multi-channel synchronous control circuit as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The capacitance of the capacitor C3 is 0.01-1 μF.

6. The multi-channel synchronous control circuit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The resistance value of the resistor R1 is 10-470KΩ.

Images