Communication Equipment

Abstract

To make it possible to reduce processing load in a communication apparatus configured to perform SPI communication.SOLUTION: One aspect of the present disclosure is a communication apparatus 10 configured to perform SPI communication with a plurality of destination devices serving as communication partners. The communication apparatus 10 includes a plurality of registers 151 to 154. The plurality of registers 151 to 154 are arranged corresponding to a plurality of ICs 21 to 24 as a plurality of transmission destination devices to which transmission data to be transmitted by the communication device 10 is provided. The plurality of registers 151 to 154 are also configured to record the transmission data from the plurality of ICs 21 to 24 for each of the plurality of ICs 21 to 24. Receiving a data transfer request as a trigger, the communication apparatus 10 reads the transmission data recorded in the plurality of registers 151 to 154 in a preset order and transfers them to a communication unit 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device configured to perform SPI communication. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a communication device that performs SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication. However, the following Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific configuration for receiving transmission data from multiple sources (e.g., each IC constituting a RAM). In general, the communication device is configured to align data received from multiple sources in a register and send the aligned transmission data in order to a transmission buffer of a transceiver. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-304011 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, after detailed consideration by the inventors, it was found that the technology of Patent Document 1 requires a process of matching and adjusting the order in a register when a communication device collects transmission data from multiple sources, which results in a large processing load on the communication device.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is to enable a reduction in the processing load in a communication device configured to perform SPI communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a communication device (10) configured to perform SPI communication with multiple destination devices as communication partners. The communication device includes multiple recording units (151, 152, 153, 154) and a transmission control unit (S140, S150).

[0007] The plurality of recording units are arranged corresponding to a plurality of destination devices (21, 22, 23, 24) to which the transmission data that the communication device is to transmit is to be provided. The plurality of recording units are configured to record the transmission data from the plurality of sources for each of the plurality of destination devices.

[0008] The transmission control unit, when triggered by receipt of a data transfer request, reads out each of the transmission data recorded in the multiple recording units in a preset order and transfers them to the transmission unit (14). This operation is configured to cause the transmission unit to transmit the transmission data to multiple destination devices in order.

[0009] According to this configuration, the transmission data is transferred directly from the multiple recording units to the transmission unit in response to a data transfer request, so the transmission data recorded in the multiple recording units can be read out and transmitted in sequence, without the need to align or adjust the transmission data in a register, thereby reducing the processing load on the communication device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic control device. [Diagram 2] 13 is a flowchart of a communication process. [Diagram 3] 4 is a timing chart of SPI asynchronous communication in the embodiment. [Figure 4] 13 is a timing chart of SPI asynchronous communication in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. Embodiment] [1-1. Correspondence between the configuration of the embodiment and the configuration of the present disclosure] The registers 151, 152, 153, and 154 in the embodiment correspond to a plurality of recording units in the present disclosure, and the communication unit 14 transmission unit in the embodiment corresponds to the communication device 10 in the present disclosure. The ICs 21, 22, 23, and 24 in the embodiment correspond to the destination devices in the present disclosure.

[0012] Furthermore, among the processes executed by the communication device 10 in the embodiment, the process of S110 corresponds to the functions of a priority change unit and a destination setting unit in the present disclosure, and the processes of S140 and S150 correspond to the functions of a transmission control unit in the present disclosure.

[0013] [1-2. Configuration] 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car and has a function of controlling an arbitrary control target such as an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The electronic control device 1 includes a communication device 10 and a plurality of ICs (Integrated Circuits) 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 (hereinafter also referred to as ICs 21 to 25).

[0014] The communication device 10 is configured to perform SPI communication with multiple ICs 21-25 as communication partners, and functions as a master in the SPI communication. Each of the ICs 21-25 is capable of performing SPI communication with the communication device 10, and functions as a slave in the SPI communication. The communication device 10 and the ICs 21-25 perform asynchronous SPI communication, which is SPI communication that does not require confirmation of data reception. With this configuration, the process for confirmation of reception can be omitted, which further reduces the processing load on the communication device 10.

[0015] The ICs 21 to 25 each have a function as, for example, any sensor, and transmits a sensor value to the communication device 10 by SPI communication. The communication device 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a communication unit 14, a first register 15, and a second register 16. The CPU 11, the ROM 12, and the RAM 13 constitute a microcomputer. Various functions of the microcomputer are realized by the CPU 11 executing a program stored in a non-transitive substantial recording medium. In this example, the ROM 12 corresponds to the non-transitive substantial recording medium storing the program. Furthermore, the execution of this program causes a method corresponding to the program to be performed.

[0016] It should be noted that some or all of the functions executed by the CPU 11 may be configured as hardware using one or more ICs, etc. The CPU 11 performs various processes such as communication processes, which will be described later, based on programs.

[0017] The communication unit 14 is configured as a communication module for implementing SPI communication. The communication unit 14 has a function as a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data between the communication device 10 and the multiple ICs 21 to 25. The communication unit 14 has terminals CLK, Tx, and Rx that are common terminals to the multiple ICs 21 to 24. The functions of the terminals CLK, Tx, and Rx are similar to those of well-known SPI communication.

[0018] The communication unit 14 also has terminals CS1 to CS4 for each of the multiple ICs 21 to 24. The signal level of any one of CS1 to CS4 can be set to LO, and at this time, the signal levels of the other signals are maintained at HI. The communication unit 14 transmits and receives data only to ICs 21 to 24 whose signal levels are set to LO. The communication unit 14 also has independent terminals CLK, Tx, Rx, and CS5 as terminals for IC 25.

[0019] The RAM 13 includes a plurality of recording sections 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 (hereinafter also referred to as 131 to 135). The plurality of recording sections 131 to 135 are configured as, for example, data ICs (Data_ICs) each having a recording area.

[0020] The first register 15 includes a plurality of registers 151 to 154. The plurality of registers 151 to 154 includes a register 151 for CS1, a register 152 for CS2, a register 153 for CS3, and a register 154 for CS4. In other words, the plurality of registers 151 to 154 are arranged in a one-to-one relationship with ICs 21 to 24 that are communication counterparts. The second register 16 includes a register for IC5 (not shown).

[0021] The plurality of registers 151-154 are arranged in the same number as the plurality of ICs 21-24 to which the transmission data is provided. The plurality of registers 151-154 are configured to record the transmission data to be transmitted to the plurality of ICs 21-24 for each of the plurality of ICs 21-24.

[0022] Moreover, the multiple registers 151-154 are arranged in the same number as the multiple recording units 131-134 of the RAM 13 that is the source of the transmission data. That is, for example, the register 151 is associated with the recording unit 131, and the data stored in the recording unit 131 is sent to the register 151. Similarly, the register 152 is associated with the recording unit 132, and the data stored in the recording unit 132 is sent to the register 152. Similarly, the registers 153 and 154 are associated with the recording units 133 and 134.

[0023] The CS1 register 151 has within it recording areas for priority information (OrderReg1) 151A, a transmission data area (TxReg1) 151B in which transmission data is stored, a reception data area (RxReg1) 151C in which reception data is stored, setting information (BitrateReg1) 151D, and communication necessity information (CS1) 151E.

[0024] The CS2 register 152 has within it recording areas for priority information (OrderReg2) 152A, a transmit data area (TxReg2) 152B in which transmit data is stored, a receive data area (RxReg2) 152C in which receive data is stored, setting information (BitrateReg2) 152D, and communication necessity information (CS2) 152E.

[0025] The CS3 register 153 has within it recording areas for priority information (OrderReg3) 153A, a transmit data area (TxReg3) 153B in which transmit data is stored, a receive data area (RxReg3) 153C in which receive data is stored, setting information (BitrateReg3) 153D, and communication necessity information (CS3) 153E.

[0026] The CS4 register 154 has within it recording areas for priority information (OrderReg4) 154A, a transmission data area (TxReg4) 154B in which transmission data is stored, a reception data area (RxReg4) 154C in which reception data is stored, setting information (BitrateReg4) 154D, and communication necessity information (CS4) 154E.

[0027] Values ​​for determining the order of data transmission are written in the priority information 151A to 154A. The communication device 10 compares the priority information 151A to 154A in the respective registers 151 to 154, and sets the registers 151 to 154 to read data in order starting from the one with the highest priority.

[0028] The setting information 151D to 154D stores information about settings for data transmission and reception, such as bit rate, interval time, and data size. The communication necessity information 151E-154E stores information on whether data transmission / reception is necessary after the next SPI start until the end of data transmission / reception in the registers 151-154, in other words, whether data transmission / reception is necessary after the next SPI start until the next SPI start. The communication necessity information 151E may be set according to the interval time in the setting information 151D, or may be set regardless of the interval time.

[0029] The second register 16 also has a register and a data area corresponding to CS5, but these are not shown in FIG. [1-3. Processing] Next, the communication process executed by the communication device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 2. The communication process is, for example, a process that is started at preset time intervals.

[0030] In the communication process, first, in S110, the communication device 10 generates data for each of the recording units 131-135 of the RAM 13 and updates the RAM 13. The data for each of the recording units 131-135 includes data to be written to the priority information 151A-154A, the setting information 152D-154D, and the communication necessity information 151E-154E. The communication device 10 generates data for each of the recording units 131-135 and sets the data in the RAM 13, thereby setting the data based on the settings in the RAM 13 to be written to the registers 151-154.

[0031] That is, the communication device 10 is configured to change the value of the priority information in S110, and to set one or more ICs 21-25 to which transmission data is to be transmitted, among the multiple ICs 21-25.

[0032] Next, in S120, the communication device 10 executes a register setting request. In this process, the communication device 10 performs advance preparations such as refreshing the recording area so that data can be written to the registers 151-155.

[0033] Next, in S130, the communication device 10 sets the transmission data stored in each of the recording units 131-135 in each of the registers 151-155. At this time, the transmission data is stored only in the registers 151-155 associated with each of the recording units 131-135.

[0034] Next, in S140, the communication device 10 issues an SPI start. The SPI start is also called a data transfer request, and functions as a trigger to start data transfer from the registers 151 to 155 to the ICs 21 to 25. The SPI start can be configured as a signal that is issued within the communication device 10 after the storage of data in the registers 151 to 155 is completed.

[0035] When the SPI start is issued, in S150, the communication device 10 starts data transfer by DMA (Direct Memory Access). That is, the communication device 10 sequentially reads out the transmission data separately stored in the multiple registers 151-155 and sends it to the communication unit 14 without arranging a large amount of data for SPI communication. At this time, the transmission data is read out from the registers 151-154 in the order of the values ​​of the priority information 151A-154A and sent to the communication unit 14.

[0036] The communication device 10 omits reading of transmission data from the registers 151 to 154 in which the communication necessity information 151E to 154E indicates that communication is unnecessary. When this process is completed, the communication process in FIG.

[0037] For example, an operation example in which the priority information 151A, 152A, 153A, and 154A are set in the order of IC21, IC22, IC24, and IC23 will be described with reference to FIG. First, when an SPI start is issued, the CS1 signal switches from HI to LO, and communication, i.e., data transmission and reception, begins between the communication device 10 and the IC 21. When communication is completed for the number of bits of data described in the setting information 151D, the CS1 signal switches from LO to HI, and communication between the communication device 10 and the IC 21 ends.

[0038] Next, the CS2 signal switches from HI to LO, and communication between the communication device 10 and IC 22 begins. When communication is completed for the number of bits of data described in the setting information 152D, the CS2 signal switches from LO to HI, and communication between the communication device 10 and IC 22 ends. Similarly, when communication with ICs 23 and 24 ends, the device waits until the next SPI start.

[0039] [1-4. Effects] According to the first embodiment described above in detail, the following effects are achieved. (1a) One aspect of the present disclosure is a communication device 10 configured to perform SPI communication with a plurality of destination devices that are communication partners. The communication device 10 includes a plurality of registers 151-154.

[0040] The multiple registers 151-154 are arranged corresponding to the multiple ICs 21-24 as multiple destination devices to which transmission data is to be provided by the communication device 10. The multiple registers 151-154 are configured to record the transmission data from the multiple ICs 21-24 for each of the multiple ICs 21-24.

[0041] When the communication device 10 receives a data transfer request, the communication device 10 reads out the transmission data recorded in the multiple registers 151-154 in a preset order and transfers the data to the communication unit 14. This operation causes the communication unit 14 to transmit the transmission data to the multiple ICs 21-24 in order.

[0042] According to this configuration, the transmission data is transferred directly from the multiple registers 151-154 to the communication unit 14 in response to a data transfer request, so that the transmission data recorded in the multiple registers 151-154 can be read out and transmitted in sequence. At this time, there is no need to align or adjust the transmission data within the registers 151-154. This reduces the processing load on the communication device 10.

[0043] (1b) In one aspect of the present disclosure, priority information indicating a transmission order of data is recorded together with the transmission data in the multiple registers 151 to 154. The communication device 10 is configured to select and read the transmission data in descending order of priority based on the priority information. According to this configuration, the transmission order of the transmission data can be managed using the priority information.

[0044] (1c) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the communication device 10 is configured to change priority information, and each time a data transfer request is received, the communication device 10 is configured to select data to be transmitted in an order based on the changed priority information. With this configuration, the transmission order can be changed in response to changes in the external environment.

[0045] (1d) In one aspect of the present disclosure, the communication device 10 is configured to set a plurality of ICs 21 to 24 to which transmission data is to be sent, among the plurality of ICs 21 to 24. The communication device 10 is configured to transmit the transmission data only to the ICs 21 to 24 set as destinations of the transmission data. According to this configuration, a plurality of ICs 21 to 24 can be set as destinations, and data can be prevented from being transmitted to the ICs 21 to 24 to which data transmission is not required.

[0046] (1e) In one embodiment of the present disclosure, communication between the communication device 10 and the multiple ICs 21 to 24 is performed by asynchronous SPI communication, which is SPI communication that does not require confirmation of data reception. According to such a configuration, the communication device 10 and the ICs 21-24 omit the data reception confirmation process, so that the processing load on the communication device 10 and the ICs 21-24 can be further reduced.

[0047] 2. Other embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented in various modified forms.

[0048] (2a) In the above embodiment, an example in which the transmission of one piece of data is completed in one time slot has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the size of the transmission data to be read exceeds the upper limit of the amount of data that can be transmitted in one time slot, the communication device 10 may divide and allocate the transmission data to multiple time slots so that the amount of data does not exceed the upper limit. In this case, the divided transmission data may be transmitted continuously.

[0049] For example, as shown in Fig. 4, when the amount of data exchanged with IC 21 at one time exceeds a preset upper limit, the transmission data is divided into multiple time slots and transmitted. Communication device 10 can determine whether or not to divide the transmission data into multiple time slots depending on whether or not the number of bits of data described in setting information 151D exceeds the upper limit.

[0050] 4, a portion of the transmission data to be sent to IC21 is sent up to the upper limit, and the remaining transmission data is sent immediately after. At this time, the communication device 10 transmits the divided multiple transmission data with the CS1 signal kept LO. Note that when the communication device 10 continuously transmits multiple undivided transmission data to the same ICs 21 to 24, it temporarily returns the CS1 signal to HI each time one transmission data is transmitted, switches it back to LO, and then transmits the second and subsequent transmission data. According to such a configuration, even if the transmission data cannot be transmitted in one time slot, the transmission data can be transmitted satisfactorily by using multiple time slots.

[0051] (2b) In the above embodiment, the multiple registers 151-154 and the multiple ICs 21-24 are arranged in a one-to-one relationship, but this is not limited to the configuration. If multiple registers 151-154 are provided, for example, data sent to the multiple ICs 21-24 may be stored in multiple registers 151-154 that are provided in a number less than the number of ICs 21-24. Specifically, if only registers 151 and 152 are provided as multiple registers, data may be transmitted from register 151 to ICs 21 and 22, and data may be transmitted from register 152 to ICs 23 and 24. In this case, the communication device 10 needs to set the data transmission order depending on the situation, but the processing load can be reduced compared to when only one register 151, 152 is provided.

[0052] (2c) In the above embodiment, the multiple registers 151-154 and the multiple recording units 131-134 in the RAM 13 are arranged in a one-to-one relationship, but this is not limited to the configuration. If multiple registers are provided, for example, data sent from the multiple recording units 131-134 may be stored in multiple registers 151-154 that are provided in a number less than the number of recording units 131-134. Specifically, if only registers 151 and 152 are provided as multiple registers, data from the multiple recording units 131 and 132 may be stored in register 151, and data from the multiple recording units 133 and 134 may be stored in register 152.

[0053] (2d) In the above embodiment, the ICs 21 to 24 are given as examples of destination devices of data from the communication device 10, but this is not a limitation. For example, the destination device of data may be any device, such as an electronic control device having an SPI communication function, or a sensor.

[0054] (2e) The communication device 10 and the method implemented by the communication device 10 described in the present disclosure may be realized by a dedicated computer provided by configuring a processor and a memory programmed to execute one or more functions embodied in a computer program. Alternatively, the communication device 10 and the method described in the present disclosure may be realized by a dedicated computer provided by configuring a processor with one or more dedicated hardware logic circuits. Alternatively, the communication device 10 and the method described in the present disclosure may be realized by one or more dedicated computers configured by a combination of a processor and a memory programmed to execute one or more functions and a processor configured with one or more hardware logic circuits. In addition, the computer program may be stored in a computer-readable non-transitory tangible recording medium as instructions executed by a computer. The method for realizing the functions of each unit included in the communication device 10 does not necessarily need to include software, and all of the functions may be realized using one or more hardware.

[0055] (2f) Multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0056] (2g) In addition to the communication device 10 described above, the present disclosure can be realized in various forms, such as a system including the communication device 10 as a component, a program for causing a computer to function as the communication device 10, a non-transient physical recording medium such as a semiconductor memory on which the program is recorded, and a communication method. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1...electronic control device, 10...communication device, 11...CPU, 12...ROM, 12...RAM, 14...communication section, 15...first register, 16...second register, 21-25...IC, 131-135...recording section, 151...register, 151A-154A...priority information, 151B-154B...transmission data area, 151C-154C...reception data area, 151D-154D...setting information, 151E-154E...communication necessity information.

Claims

1. A communication device (10) configured to perform SPI communication with a plurality of communication destination devices, a plurality of recording units (151, 152, 153, 154) arranged corresponding to a plurality of destination devices (21, 22, 23, 24) to which transmission data to be transmitted by the communication device is to be provided, the plurality of recording units being configured to record transmission data from a plurality of sources for each of the plurality of destination devices; a transmission control unit (S140, S150) configured to read out the transmission data recorded in the plurality of recording units in a preset order and transfer the read out data to a transmission unit (14) in response to a data transfer request, thereby causing the transmission unit to transmit the transmission data to the plurality of destination devices in order; Equipped with the plurality of recording units are arranged in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of destination devices, In each of the plurality of recording units, transmission data to be transmitted to a corresponding one of the plurality of destination devices is recorded; When the size of the transmission data to be read exceeds an upper limit of the amount of data that can be transmitted in one time slot, the transmission control unit divides and allocates the transmission data to a plurality of time slots so as not to exceed the upper limit. A communication device configured as follows.

2. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, The plurality of recording units are configured to record priority information indicating a transmission order of data together with the transmission data, The transmission control unit selects and reads the transmission data in descending order of priority based on the priority information. A communication device configured as follows.

3. 3. The communication device according to claim 2, A priority change unit (S110) configured to change the priority information, The transmission control unit selects the transmission data in an order based on the changed priority information every time the data transfer request is received. A communication device configured as follows.

4. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a destination setting unit (S110) configured to set a plurality of destination devices to which the transmission data is to be sent, among the plurality of destination devices; Further equipped with The transmission control unit transmits the transmission data only to a plurality of destination devices set as destinations of the transmission data. A communication device configured as follows.

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