Energy detection for connection analysis and diagnosis of an automotive Ethernet connection

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for checking communication between two control units (1) of a vehicle connected via Automotive Ethernet, wherein a signal transmission on a communication channel (2) between the control units (1) is detected (S1), a course of a transmitted energy on the communication channel (2) is determined (S2) and compared with predetermined limit values ​​(S3), wherein different phases of a connection setup between the control units (1) are determined on the basis of the transmitted energy (S4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for verifying communication between two control units of a vehicle connected via Automotive Ethernet.

[0002] In modern motor vehicles, such as passenger cars, it is common practice to network individual control units, known as ECUs (short for "Electronic Control Unit"). While a bus system in a modern vehicle is often implemented as a CAN bus, the use of Automotive Ethernet remains common in modern vehicle manufacturing.

[0003] In this context, US 2007 / 0104124 A1 concerns a procedure for regulating a service, the procedure comprising the following: Detect, within a network adapter chip, a power level of an Ethernet connection that connects the network adapter chip to a network; and adjust the power supplied to the network adapter chip within the network adapter chip based on the detected power level.

[0004] Analyzing and diagnosing automotive Ethernet connections, such as 100BASE-T1, 1000BASE-T1, and MultiGBASE-T1, is particularly challenging. Such activities typically require direct access to internal device component registers and / or advanced external equipment like an oscilloscope and logging devices, which can prove impractical for performing rapid measurements in a vehicle. While the connection sequence could be viewed with a digital oscilloscope, and the connection sequence itself could be manually deduced from the signal amplitude, the drawback is that digital oscilloscopes are very expensive and large, making them cumbersome and unwieldy for in-vehicle use.

[0005] However, in vehicle development, it is important to determine that the various Ethernet-connected control units connect to each other as expected and are each ready to transmit data to other control units or receive data from other control units.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide an improved diagnostic capability for an Ethernet connection between two control units of a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, which does not require the use of an oscilloscope.

[0007] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for checking communication between two control units of a vehicle connected via Automotive Ethernet, wherein a signal transmission on a communication channel between the control units is detected, a course of a transmitted energy on the communication channel is determined and compared with predetermined limit values, wherein different phases of a connection setup between the control units are determined on the basis of the transmitted energy.

[0009] This solution is based on the principle of analog energy detection, specifically by detecting the amount of energy on a communication channel using discrete components and employing predefined thresholds for the different phases to trace the connection sequence. The communication channel is intercepted with a bidirectional directional coupler to separate the signal from each device. The output of this directional coupler is then connected to an energy detection circuit within an energy detection unit, which indicates the connection sequence in which the various thresholds were exceeded.

[0010] The key aspect here lies in the use of an analog energy detection unit. The decoupling device is required for signal separation, while the energy detection unit enables analysis that would otherwise only be possible with an oscilloscope. The combination of these two aspects allows for a fast and efficient analysis of link setups in an automotive Ethernet network between two or more vehicle control units.

[0011] A key advantage of the invention is that it provides a diagnostic capability for an automotive Ethernet connection, enabling the identification of communication problems within the automotive Ethernet network directly in the vehicle, without requiring additional equipment such as an oscilloscope. Furthermore, an initial diagnosis of a physical layer, according to the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model of the automotive Ethernet connection, can be performed without requiring additional expertise or support from specialists. A single measurement of an electronic control unit (ECU) is not sufficient, as the analysis focuses on the combined performance of both ECUs.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, a bidirectional directional coupler device is used to read the signals of the control units separately on the communication channel.

[0013] The bidirectional directional coupler device is necessary to distinguish between the directions of the signals on the communication channel.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment, a signal output of the bidirectional directional coupler device is transferred to an energy detection unit.

[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment, the energy detection unit determines a sequence in which the specified limit values ​​are exceeded.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, after an analysis of a sequence of an energy profile by the energy detection unit, a sequence of a connection setup is analyzed to determine which of the control units is causing a problem.

[0017] According to another advantageous embodiment, the energy detection unit is an analog energy detection unit.

[0018] Further advantages, features and details will become apparent from the following description, in which - possibly with reference to the drawing - at least one embodiment is described in detail.

[0019] They show: Fig. 1: A method for verifying communication between two control units connected via Automotive Ethernet according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2: A schematic setup comprising two exemplary control units for the execution of the procedure according to Fig. 1.

[0020] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0021] Fig. Figure 1 shows a method for verifying communication between two vehicle control units 1 connected via Automotive Ethernet. The method involves capturing a signal transmission on a communication channel 2 between the control units 1 (S1), determining the energy transmitted on the communication channel 2 (S2) and comparing it with predefined limits (S3), and identifying different phases of establishing a connection between the control units 1 based on the transmitted energy (S4). Furthermore, a bidirectional decoupling device 3 is used to separately read the signals from the control units 1 on the communication channel 2. A signal output from the bidirectional directional coupler 3 is fed to an energy detection unit 4. The energy detection unit 4 identifies a sequence in which the predefined limits are exceeded.

[0022] Fig.Figure 2 shows a simplified network in the Automotive Ethernet standard of a vehicle, where only two control units 1 (1a and 1b) of the vehicle are indicated for simplification and as an example. The two control units 1a and 1b are connected to each other via a communication channel 2. The signal transmission on the communication channel is tapped to enable network diagnostics. For this purpose, the signal transmitted between the at least two control units 1a and 1b is transmitted to a bidirectional directional coupler device 3, and its result is then transmitted to an analog energy detection unit 4.

[0023] Although the invention has been further illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned as examples are truly only examples and are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. Reference symbol list 1 control units 2 Communication channel 3 bidirectional directional coupler device 4 Energy detection unit S1 S2 Determine S3 Comparison S4 Determine QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2007 / 0104124 A1

[0003]

Claims

Method for checking communication between two control units (1) of a vehicle connected via Automotive Ethernet, wherein a signal transmission on a communication channel (2) between the control units (1) is detected (S1), a course of a transmitted energy on the communication channel (2) is determined (S2) and compared with predefined limit values ​​(S3), wherein different phases of a connection setup between the control units (1) are determined on the basis of the transmitted energy (S4). Method according to claim 1, wherein a bidirectional directional coupler device (3) is used to read the signals of the control units (1) separately on the communication channel (2). Method according to claim 2, wherein a signal output of the bidirectional directional coupler device (3) is transferred to an energy detection unit (4). Method according to claim 3, wherein the energy detection unit (4) determines a sequence with which the specified limit values ​​are exceeded. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, after an analysis of a sequence of an energy profile by the energy detection unit (4), a sequence of a connection setup is analyzed to determine which of the control units (1) is causing a problem. Method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the energy detection unit (4) is an analogous energy detection unit (4).

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