Method for controlling the execution of lighting effects, corresponding system and vehicle

Abstract

A method (300) for controlling the execution of lighting effects in the cabin of a vehicle (10) by means of a control system (100) is described, comprising performing the steps of: receiving (301) in a primary control unit (110) one or more instructions (800) originating from a processing system (50) coupled to the primary control unit (110), the instructions (800) comprising commands for controlling one or more lighting effects; associating (302) in the primary control unit (110) the received instructions (800) with one or more parameters (810) comprising an indication of deferred execution (815) of one or more lighting effects; composing (303) in the primary control unit (110) one or more messages (820) comprising said one or more parameters (810), transmitting the one or more messages (820), preferably in broadcast mode, and sending a start message (840) in response to completing the sending of one or more messages (820) comprising an asserted deferred execution parameter (815); receiving (304) in one or more secondary control units (130) said one or more messages (820) comprising said parameters (810); determining (306) for each received message (820) based on said deferred execution parameter (815) whether to execute the instructions associated with the one or more messages (820) immediately, or in a deferred manner; in response to determining (306) that the deferred execution parameter (815) is de-asserted, executing (308) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the instructions associated with the one or more messages (820); in response to determining (306) that the deferred execution parameter is asserted, programming (307) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the deferred execution of the instructions associated with the message (820), storing the message (820) in a FIFO queue (830), and verifying (309) the reception of said start message (840), and in response to receiving the start message (840) executing (310) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the instructions associated with the one or more messages (820) according to the order established in the FIFO queue (830).

Description

[0001] "Method for controlling the execution of lighting effects, corresponding system and vehicle"

[0002] ****

[0003] TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0004] Field of the invention

[0005] The description relates to devices and systems for interior lighting of vehicles.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] The most recent developments in the automotive field highlight a growing interest from manufacturers towards cabin lighting systems characterized by complex and technologically advanced designs. For example, cabin lighting systems provided in modern vehicles include lighting devices based on LEDs and / or OLEDs, facilitating precise control of lighting, reducing energy consumption and offering numerous possibilities for color customization.

[0008] In general, research and development activities in this field are aimed at intelligent ambient lighting systems, capable of dynamically adapting to driving conditions, the mood of the driver and passengers, and are capable of interacting with other vehicle systems. This can be seen from the growing interest in modular and configurable lighting systems, with particular attention to the integration of electronic and software components that allow increasingly refined controls, thus enabling the implementation of solutions that combine aesthetics, functionality and sustainability.

[0009] The increasing complexity of cabin lighting systems poses new challenges concerning the interconnection of lighting devices and control devices within the vehicle by means of a suitable communication system. As is well known, the most established communication systems in the automotive field include the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) system, the CAN (Controller Area Network) system, and the Automotive Ethernet system, each of said systems being characterized by respective advantages and disadvantages.

[0010] The LIN system represents an embedded serial communication protocol widely used in the automotive sector to manage secondarysubsystems at low transmission speeds. In the field of cabin lighting control, the LIN system offers an economical and simple communication architecture, characterized by a master-slave topology with a master node coordinating communication over a single wire.

[0011] Typically, the LIN system offers a relatively limited transmission speed, between 1 kbps and 20 kbps, with an average latency between 10 and 50 milliseconds. These limits become evident when fast and uniform transitions in lighting are required, such as in dynamic lighting effects or driver comfort interfaces.

[0012] For these reasons, the transm ission of signals to a plurality of devices connected to a LIN bus might require a long time. For example, the transmission of messages, with the associated transmission of respective acknowledgment signals, having a size of 8 Bytes to 10 control units connected to the LIN system would require at least 200 ms, 10ms for each packet of information transmitted and received, causing visible delays in the case where such a system is used to manage the cabin lighting of a vehicle, thus limiting the implementation possibilities, and in particular limiting the number and type of implementable lighting effects.

[0013] Indeed, in the landscape of automotive communication systems, LIN is positioned as an entry-level solution compared to more advanced protocols. Protocols such as CAN (Controller Area Network) offer greater reliability and speed, while Automotive Ethernet represents the most modern solution for managing complex and high-bandwidth communication requirements.

[0014] Automotive Ethernet, in particular, solves many of LIN's limitations. It supports transmission speeds up to 1 Gbps, extremely low latencies and the ability to handle complex multimedia data streams. This system uses a standard network architecture, allowing faster, more precise and richer communication between the different vehicle subsystems.

[0015] The latency problems and limited complexity of LIN are therefore overcome by more expensive and technologically advanced solutions. For example, the Automotive Ethernet system allows more sophisticated lighting controls, facilitating instantaneous transitions, synchronization and the possibility of implementing dynamic and customizable lighting scenarios. This technological evolution reflects the growing complexity ofautomotive communication systems, where the need for speed, reliability and information richness becomes increasingly central in the design of modern vehicles.

[0016] However, the adoption of more complex communication systems such as, for example, CAN or Automotive Ethernet, entails a significant increase in production costs, accompanied by more complex wiring. Therefore, there is a need to implement cabin lighting systems using a simple, economical, and reliable communication system, such as the LIN system, without sacrificing aesthetics, functionality, and customization possibilities of the cabin lighting.

[0017] Object and summary

[0018] The present solution aims to provide solutions for controlling the execution of lighting effects in a vehicle cabin that overcome the problems of the prior art.

[0019] According to the present solution, this object is achieved by a method for controlling the execution of lighting effects in a vehicle cabin, comprising performing the steps of composing in a primary control unit one or more messages comprising one or more parameters comprising an indication of deferred execution of one or more lighting effects, and sending a start message in response to completing the sending of the messages; receiving in one or more secondary control units the one or more messages comprising said parameters; determining based on said execution parameters whether to execute the instructions associated with the one or more messages immediately, or in a deferred manner; in response to determining that the deferred execution parameter is de-asserted, executing in the one or more secondary control units the instructions associated with the one or more messages; in response to determining that the deferred execution parameter is asserted, programming in the one or more secondary control units the deferred execution of the instructions associated with the message, storing the message in a FIFO queue, and verifying the reception of said start message, and executing in the one or more secondary control units the instructions associated with the one or more messages in response to receiving the start message.

[0020] The present solution also relates to a control system for controllingthe execution of lighting effects that implements the method described above.

[0021] Finally, the present solution also relates to a vehicle comprising a control system for controlling the execution of lighting effects in accordance with the solution described herein.

[0022] Brief description of the figures

[0023] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, provided by way of non-limiting example only, in which:

[0024] - Figure 1A shows a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a control system according to the solution described herein;

[0025] - Figure 1B shows a block diagram depicting a further embodiment of a control system according to the solution described herein;

[0026] - Figure 2A shows a block diagram of a primary control unit according to the solution described herein;

[0027] - Figure 2B shows a block diagram of a secondary control unit according to the solution described herein;

[0028] - Figure 3A shows a flow chart representing an embodiment of a method for controlling lighting devices according to the solution described herein; and

[0029] - Figure 3B shows a flow chart representing a further embodiment of a method for controlling lighting devices according to the solution described herein.

[0030] Detailed description

[0031] In the following description, one or more specific details are illustrated, for the purpose of providing an in-depth understanding of examples of embodiments of this description. The embodiments can be obtained without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known operations, materials or structures are not illustrated or described in detail so that certain aspects of the embodiments are not obscured.

[0032] A reference to "an embodiment" within the context of the present description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure,or characteristic described with reference to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as "in one embodiment" that may be present in one or more points of the present description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

[0033] Furthermore, particular configurations, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in one or more embodiments.

[0034] The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

[0035] In the following, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish one element from another and do not indicate a sequential order, unless otherwise indicated.

[0036] Figure 1A illustrates a control system 100 according to the solution proposed herein usable for controlling the cabin lighting in a vehicle 10 and comprising a primary control unit 110, one or more secondary control units 130, and a system bus 105. As illustrated, the primary control unit 110 is coupled to a processing system 50 provided externally to the control system 100 by means of a second bus, or communication system, 60. For example, in various embodiments the processing system 50 is included in a humanmachine interface system provided in the vehicle 10 such as, for example, an on-board computer.

[0037] The primary control unit 110 is coupled to each secondary control unit 130 by means of the system bus 105. In various embodiments, the system bus, or first communication system, 105 is implemented using a LIN (Local Interconnect Network) bus, while the second bus, or communication system, is implemented using a CAN, CAN-FD, or Automotive Ethernet bus. In this regard, the primary control unit 110, each secondary control unit 130, and the processing system 50 comprise respective transceivers configured for transmitting and receiving data through the system bus 105 and / or the bus 60.

[0038] The one or more secondary control units 130 are coupled to respective lighting devices 150 via driving circuits 140. In various embodiments, each driving circuit 140 can be incorporated into the same circuit that implements the secondary control unit 130.

[0039] The driving circuit 140 is configured for controlling the one or morelighting devices 150 under the control of the secondary control unit 130 to which it is coupled. In particular, in various embodiments the driving circuit 140 is configured for implementing a plurality of lighting effects such as, for example, transitions from a first color to a second color, turning on, turning off and / or varying the light intensity of the lighting devices 150 according to predetermined sequences and timings.

[0040] Furthermore, in alternative embodiments the primary control unit 110 can also be coupled to a driving circuit 140, which in turn is coupled to one or more lighting devices 150, thus allowing the primary control unit 110 to directly control the one or more lighting devices 150 coupled to it. An exemplary embodiment of this type is illustrated in Figure 1 B.

[0041] Specifically, according to the solution described herein, embodiments are possible wherein the primary control unit 110 is dedicated to controlling and coordinating the secondary control units 130, or wherein the control unit 110 is configured for controlling and coordinating the secondary control units 130, and for controlling one or more lighting devices 150 by means of the driving circuit 140 coupled to it.

[0042] For this purpose, the primary control unit 110 can be implemented by means of a vehicle control unit such as a microcontroller, having complexity and / or computational capabilities generally greater than the secondary control units 130, which entails greater complexity and a larger footprint. Furthermore, the primary control unit 110 is configurable for implementing additional vehicle functionalities. For example, the control unit 110 can be implemented in a body computer, or Body Control Module, of the vehicle 10. This configuration of the primary control unit 110 and the secondary control units 130 advantageously allows for simplifying the secondary control units 130, thus reducing the footprint, required wiring, and costs of the solution proposed herein.

[0043] Figure 2A is illustrative of a block diagram depicting the primary control unit 110. As illustrated, the primary control unit 110 comprises a processor 111, a system memory 112, a non-volatile memory 113, a serial interface 114, and a transceiver 115. The processor 111 , the system memory 112, the non-volatile memory 113, and the serial communication interface 114 are coupled by means of a bus through which they can exchange data and control instructions.The serial communication interface 114 is coupled to the transceiver 115, which in turn is coupled to the system bus 105, so as to allow the primary control unit 110 to transmit and receive data with other devices connected to the system bus 105 such as, for example, the secondary control units 130. In particular, in various embodiments the transceiver 115 supports communications on a LIN bus.

[0044] Furthermore, the transceiver 115 is coupled to the second bus 60 to allow the exchange of data between the processing system 50 and the primary control unit 110. For this purpose, the transceiver 115 further supports communications in accordance with the CAN, CAN-FD, and / or Automotive Ethernet protocols.

[0045] In various embodiments, the primary control unit 110 is configured as a master device on the LIN bus 105, and is therefore configured for managing access to the system bus 105 by the secondary control units 130, which are configured as slave devices.

[0046] The non-volatile memory 113 comprises a plurality of programs executable by means of the processor 111 and the system memory 112. For example, in various embodiments the programs resident in the non-volatile memory 113 include a LIN master process 710, a lighting effects lookup table 730, a lighting effects library 740, a transitions library 750, and a blinking patterns library 760.

[0047] The LIN master process 710 implements functionalities for the operation of the LIN communication system 105. In a LIN network, the master device, i.e., the primary control unit 110, sends headers to initiate communication with slave devices, i.e., the secondary control units 130, managing synchronization and timing to facilitate the correct sending and receiving of messages.

[0048] In various embodiments, the LIN master process 710 maintains one or more schedule tables, Schedule Table, to define when each slave node must respond, facilitating deterministic and collision-free communication, thus allowing the master device to effectively control and coordinate communication within the LIN network, facilitating fluidity and reliability of the application. In particular, a specific schedule table is chosen based on the type of desired effects and the number of secondary control units to be controlled.The lighting effects lookup table 730 comprises information usable for decoding instructions received from the processing system 50. In particular, the information contained in the lighting effects lookup table 730 allows associating an instruction received from the processing system 50 with a routine that implements a specific lighting effect, one or more types of transition from a first lighting effect to a second lighting effect, and one or more types of blinking with which to configure the one or more lighting devices 150.

[0049] The routines that implement respective lighting effects are stored in the lighting effects library 740. Similarly, the types of transition are stored in the transition effects library 750, and the blinking patterns are stored in the blinking patterns library 760.

[0050] In Figure 2B, a block diagram depicting a secondary control unit 130 according to the present solution is illustrated. As illustrated, the secondary control unit 130 comprises a processor 131, a system memory 132, a nonvolatile memory 133, a serial communication interface 134, and a transceiver 135.

[0051] A communication bus interconnects the processor 131, the system memory 132, the non-volatile memory 133, and the serial communication interface 134, allowing the exchange of data and control instructions. The transceiver 135 is coupled to the serial communication interface 134 so as to allow access to the system bus 105, to which the transceiver 135 is coupled.

[0052] The driving circuit 140 is coupled to the serial communication interface 134, thus allowing the secondary control unit 130 to transmit and receive data with the driving unit 140 for controlling the one or more lighting devices 150 coupled to it.

[0053] The non-volatile memory 133 comprises a plurality of programs executable by means of the processor 131 and the system memory 132. In various embodiments, the programs resident in the non-volatile memory 133 include a LIN slave process 720, the lighting effects library 740, the transitions library 750, and the blinking patterns library 760.

[0054] The LIN slave process 720 implements functionalities complementary to the LIN master process 710 useful for the operation of the LIN communication system 105. In a LIN network, the slave devices,i.e., the secondary control units 130, respond to requests from the master device, i.e., the primary control unit 110, by sending requested data or executing instructions. Specifically, the LIN slave process 720 comprises procedures for sending, receiving, or ignoring messages received from the system bus 105 based on a received frame ID.

[0055] In this way, the instructions included in messages sent from the primary control unit 110 to the secondary control units 130 are interpreted and executed using the information contained in the lighting effects library 740, the transition library 750, and the blinking patterns library 760.

[0056] As anticipated, the control system 100 allows controlling the lighting devices 150 provided in the cabin of the vehicle 10 by means of the exchange of data and instructions on the system bus 105. In particular, in various embodiments the data and instructions are exchanged on the system bus 105 in accordance with the LIN ISO 17987-3 protocol, according to what is implemented by the LIN master 710 and LIN slave 720 processes executed on the primary 110 and secondary 130 control units.

[0057] In this regard, the primary control unit 110 and the secondary control units 130 implement, by means of specific software code resident in the respective non-volatile memories 113 and 133, and executed by means of the respective processors 111, 131 and the system memories 112, 132, a method for controlling lighting devices 150 in a vehicle 10.

[0058] In Figure 3A, a flow chart representing a method 300 for controlling lighting devices 150 in a vehicle 10 executable by means of the control system 100 described above is illustrated.

[0059] After a start step, executed for example upon startup of the control system 100 concurrently with the ignition of the vehicle 10 in which the control system 100 is provided, the primary control unit 110 receives, in a first phase 301 , one or more instructions 800 from the processing system 50. For example, the received instructions 800 contain information concerning the execution of one or more procedures for implementing lighting effects in the cabin of the vehicle 10 by means of the lighting devices 150 provided therein.

[0060] The first phase 301 of receiving instructions from the processing system 50 can be executed concurrently with the detection of one or more signals transmitted by means of the second communication system 60. Forexample, in various embodiments the processing system 50 can notify the primary control unit 110 of the transmission of control instructions by means of an interrupt. Alternatively, the primary control unit 110 can read at regular intervals, for example by polling, one or more pieces of information transmitted periodically by the control system 50.

[0061] Subsequently, in a phase 302 the primary control unit 110 decodes the control instructions 800 received from the processing system 50 so as to define a plurality of parameters 810 for each received control instruction 800. The decoding is performed using the information stored in the lookup table 730, which allows associating the received instructions 800 with one or more parameters 810 described below. For example, in various embodiments the parameters 810 comprise at least one of:

[0062] - destination secondary control unit 130811;

[0063] - type of lighting effect 812;

[0064] - temporal duration of the lighting effect 813;

[0065] - intensity of the lighting effect 814;

[0066] - indication of deferred execution of the lighting effect 815;

[0067] - type of transition 816;

[0068] - color coordinates 817;

[0069] - type of blinking 818; and

[0070] - day / night indication 819.

[0071] As will be made clearer in the following of the present description, in various embodiments, the parameters 810 are transmitted via the system bus 105 to the secondary control units 130. In particular, in various embodiments the parameters 810 are stored in the payload of one or more packets that are transmitted in broadcast mode by the primary control unit 110, and which are consequently received by all the secondary control units 130.

[0072] For example, in embodiments comprising a system bus 105 implemented by means of a LIN bus, wherein data is exchanged by means of LIN message frames comprising a header and a payload, the parameters 810 are transmitted in the payload of a LIN message frame, while the header of the same message frame comprises instructions for transmitting the message frame in broadcast mode, i.e., so that it is received by all slave devices connected to the system bus 105.As is well known, the header of the LIN message frame comprises a Protected ID (PID) field for identifying one or more recipients of the message frame, a synchronization field, Sync Break Field, with a dominant condition (low bus) of at least 13 bits, and a synchronization byte, Sync Field to allow the slave nodes to determine the transmission rate.

[0073] Specifically, the Protected ID Field (PID) of the header, which includes the frame identifier and parity bits, is populated by the primary control unit 110 with a frame identifier (Frame ID) that is accepted by all slave devices.

[0074] The parameter indicating the destination secondary control unit 130 811 is indicative of one or more secondary control units 130 to which a specific control instruction is destined. For this purpose, the primary control unit 110 can transmit a message on the system bus 105 comprising an identifier of one or more slave devices, i.e., secondary control units 130, designated as recipients of the message.

[0075] As anticipated, in embodiments of the solution described herein that employ a LIN-type bus, the parameters 810 are transmitted by the primary control unit 110 in broadcast mode, so that all secondary control units 130 receive the message frame containing these parameters 810, which consequently can use or discard based on the value of the destination unit identifier 811 contained in the payload of the message frame together with the rest of the parameters 810. For this purpose, the secondary control units 130 are configured to determine based on the destination unit parameter 811 whether to accept or ignore the command contained in the received message frame.

[0076] Specifically, in various embodiments each destination secondary control unit 130, i.e., each slave device, is indicated by an integer number that represents a specific power of 2 and is used as a unique identifier, i.e., as a possible value of the destination unit parameter 811. In this way, it is possible to address more than one slave device 130 at a time by transmitting a sum of multiple powers of 2.

[0077] For example, the value 6, which in binary is expressed as 110, is composed of the sum of 22and 21, therefore in binary 100 + 010, and is therefore used to address transmissions from the master device to the slave devices associated with the identifiers having a value equal to 4 (100 inbinary) and to 2 (010 in binary). In this way, based on this unique identifier each slave device can determine if it is designated as a recipient of a message by decomposing the bits of the received signal comprising the unique identifier.

[0078] The parameter of type of lighting effect 812 comprises an identification code uniquely associable to a routine for implementing a specific lighting effect, which is stored in one or more secondary control units 130 and optionally in the primary control unit 110, in particular in the respective lighting effects libraries 740.

[0079] In various embodiments, a routine associated with a specific lighting effect comprises information concerning a timing for turning on and off specific lighting devices associated with a given secondary control unit 130.

[0080] The parameter of temporal duration of the lighting effect 813 determines the temporal duration of the execution of the command of a lighting effect. In various embodiments, the secondary control units 130, and optionally the primary control unit 110, are configured to determine the execution time of each step included in a command of a lighting effect based on the overall temporal duration of the lighting effect. In particular, the secondary control unit 130 is configured to determine the duration of each phase of the lighting effect routine in a manner proportional to the overall duration of the routine.

[0081] For example, when a variation in light intensity is requested to reach 100% brightness in a time interval of 1000 milliseconds, determined by a respective value associated with the parameter of temporal duration of the lighting effect 813, the secondary control unit 130 performs a progressive variation of the light intensity, starting from the intensity value present at an initial time instant until reaching the target value of 100% at the specified final time.

[0082] Light transitions can be implemented according to different predefined operating modes. By way of non-limiting example, one of the possible operating modes provides for the sequential activation of the lighting elements 150 according to a directional pattern, proceeding from left to right, thus achieving a progressive filling effect of the lighting apparatus, allowing to obtain a controlled and customizable light transition, ensuring the possibility of selecting different activation routines of the lightingelements based on specific application needs.

[0083] In alternative embodiments, the parameter of temporal duration of the lighting effect 813 can further comprise an indication of the temporal duration of the transition which defines the duration of the transition. Similarly to the parameter of temporal duration of the lighting effect 813, the indication of the temporal duration of the transition determines the temporal duration of the transition from a first lighting effect to a second lighting effect. For this purpose, the secondary control units 130 are configured to determine the execution time of each step included in respective transition routines based on the overall temporal duration of the transition. For example, the secondary control unit 130 is configured to determine the duration of each phase of the transition effect routine in a manner proportional to the overall duration of the routine.

[0084] This allows managing separately the temporal duration of the lighting effect and the temporal duration of the color and intensity transition. It is noted that the inclusion of the indication of the temporal duration of the transition in the temporal duration parameter 813 requires a greater use of bits, imposing limitations on the transmission speed of the system bus 105, and is therefore usable in embodiments of the solution proposed herein that have system buses 105 with high bandwidth. Conversely, in embodiments where the bandwidth of the system bus 105 is limited, a similar effect is achievable by sending multiple lighting effect commands to the same secondary control unit 130.

[0085] The lighting effect intensity parameter 814 establishes an intensity value for the associated lighting effect, so as to allow the adjustment of the light intensity of the lighting devices 150 by the coupled driving circuits 1 0.

[0086] The deferred execution indication 815 of the lighting effect establishes whether a routine implementing a given lighting effect is to be executed as soon as it is received by the respective one or more secondary control units 130, or whether a deferred execution of the routine is required. In that case, the one or more secondary control units 130 that receive the message with the deferred execution indication, store the received message in the system memory 132 in a specific data structure such as, for example, a FIFO queue, and consequently execute the routine associated with the message in response to receiving a start signal from the primary control unit110.

[0087] In various embodiments, the secondary control units 130 receive a command addressed to them comprising the deferred execution parameter 815 having a value indicative of immediate execution of the command.

[0088] In response to receiving a message indicating the immediate execution of a first routine while the execution of a second routine is still in progress, the secondary control unit 130 schedules the execution of the first routine as soon as the execution of the second routine ends, inserting the command into the FIFO queue.

[0089] Alternatively, in various embodiments, in response to receiving a message indicating the immediate execution of a first routine while the execution of a second routine is still in progress, the secondary control unit 130 empties the FIFO queue so as to immediately execute the received immediate execution command, for example to switch to a request for an effect different from the one previously stored in the FIFO queue, and never executed.

[0090] In this regard, the one or more secondary control units 130 are configured to implement one or more types of transition in the passage from a first lighting effect to a second lighting effect, so as to make the change of lighting effect pleasant for the occupants of the vehicle 10. For example, a type of transition comprises a gradual attenuation of the light emitted by the lighting devices 150 during a final phase of a first lighting effect, and a consequent gradual intensification of the light during an initial phase of a second lighting effect.

[0091] The transition type parameter 816 can comprise one or more values associated with a function according to which a transition is implemented to determine the manner in which the light intensity varies during the transition time 813, the values associated with each phase of respective transition routines being stored in the transitions libraries 750.

[0092] In particular, the transition type parameter 816 determines a conversion function such as, for example, a function with a linear, exponential, or step trend, determining target intensity points to be reached as a function of time during the execution of a given lighting effect, without however varying the total execution time of the effect.

[0093] The implementation of the transition type parameter 816advantageously allows optimizing the lighting effects for the perception by the occupants of the vehicle 10, since the human eye does not perceive different light variations in the same way, therefore by adapting the reproduction of each effect based on the implemented transition type it is possible to obtain a more effective implementation of the lighting effects.

[0094] The color coordinates parameter 817 comprises information concerning a desired color with which to configure a lighting device 150. Specifically, the desired color is expressed as a function of a specific color space. For example, the color coordinates parameter 817 is preferably expressed using a CIE 1931 (xy) colorimetric space, or alternatively an ISO RGB or HSB (Hue Saturation Brightness) space.

[0095] In various embodiments, the secondary control units 130 are configured to transmit a configuration signal to the respective driving circuit 140, so as to allow the configuration of the respective lighting device 150 with the desired color, expressed in the color parameter 817.

[0096] The blinking type parameter 818 is indicative of a blinking pattern of the lighting devices 150. Similarly to the lighting effect type parameter 812, the blinking types parameter 818 comprises an identification code uniquely associable to a routine for implementing a specific pattern or pattern according to which the one or more lighting devices coupled to the respective secondary control unit 130 are made to blink, i.e., are turned off and on in a cyclic manner. In other words, the lighting devices 150 are controllable alternately in an on configuration and an off configuration. In various embodiments, the blinking types stored in respective routines can comprise different timings for the on or off phases, so as to implement complex patterns.

[0097] The day / night indication parameter 819 indicates environmental conditions to which the vehicle 10 is subjected, in particular indicating whether it is day or night. In various embodiments, the secondary control units 130 are configured to modify the execution of lighting effects in response to detecting that it is day by means of a respective value of the day / night indication parameter 819, and similarly modify the execution of lighting effects in response to detecting that it is night by means of a respective value of the day / night indication parameter 819.

[0098] For example, in response to detecting that it is day a secondarycontrol unit 130 can modify the light intensity of the lighting devices 150 coupled to it, or can vary the color tone so as to improve the visibility of the lighting effect in the presence of daylight. Similarly, in response to detecting that it is night a secondary control unit 130 can modify the light intensity of the lighting devices 150 coupled to it, and / or can vary the color tone so as to reduce eye strain for the occupants of the vehicle 10 and improve the visibility of the lighting effect under low light conditions, favoring greater safety.

[0099] Referring again to the method 300 illustrated in Figure 3A, following the execution of the phase 302 described above, in a phase 303 the primary control unit 110 composes a message 820 comprising the parameters 810 described above, i.e., destination secondary control units 811, the lighting effect type 812, the temporal duration of the lighting effect 813, the intensity of the lighting effect 814, the deferred execution indication of the lighting effect 815, the transition type 816, the colorimetric coordinates 817, the blinking type 818, and the day / night indication 819, and consequently sends the message 820 to one or more secondary control units 130 by means of the first communication system 105. In various embodiments where the system bus 105 is implemented by means of a LIN bus, the message 820 comprises a LIN message frame.

[0100] As is well known, a LIN message frame is a communication structure used in the LIN network to transmit data between the master device and the slave devices. The transmission of a LIN message frame such as, for example, the message 820, is typically followed by a request from the master for a response message frame 850 from each slave device, wherein the response 850 can contain data or be empty, and is typically used for determining the operating status of the slave control units, i.e., the secondary control units 130. For example, the control system 100 can be configured to interrupt the reproduction of lighting effects in case of anomalies and signal any malfunctioning secondary control units 130.

[0101] As anticipated, systems based on the LIN protocol comprise one or more Schedule Tables, or planning tables, which define the organization of the data traffic transmitted on the bus such as, for example, the system bus 105. Each Schedule Table consists of a data structure that establishes the timing sequence of the messages exchanged between the master node andthe slave nodes, specifying for each frame the relative identifier, the data size, the communication direction and the transmission times. This tabular organization, configurable for example during the design phase according to the application needs, ensures deterministic and predictable communication between the different electronic devices of the vehicle, a characteristic that has contributed to the diffusion of the LIN protocol in the automotive industry.

[0102] For the purposes of the present application, it is preferable to employ deterministic communication based on Schedule Table that allows unidirectional data transmission, from the master device to the slave devices, to favor more dynamic communication between the nodes of the LIN network. This design choice, although apparently in contrast with the traditional approach, allows obtaining superior performance in terms of data throughput, allowing the nodes of the LIN network to communicate in a more flexible manner and reducing the latency times typically associated with the rigid execution of a Schedule Table that provides for the sending of response messages by the slave devices, while maintaining a sufficient level of reliability.

[0103] In this regard, in various embodiments the control system 100 is configured to disable the sending and receiving of status messages 850 so as to increase the available bandwidth on the system bus 105. In particular, in such cases the primary control unit 110 is configured to omit the check for successful reception of one or more status messages 850 sent by respective secondary control units 130.

[0104] Specifically, in various scenarios, such as the execution of complex light shows, the primary control unit 110 is configured so as not to request status messages 850 from the secondary control units 130, temporarily using a first Schedule Table S1 stored in the primary control unit 110, specifically in the system memory 112, to omit the detection of the status of the secondary control units 130, at least until the primary control unit 110 is reconfigured to return to a second Schedule Table S2, in which the sending and receiving of status messages 850 is enabled again. The Schedule Tables, i.e. , the first Schedule Table S1 and the second Schedule Table S2, are implemented by means of specific software code stored in the nonvolatile memory 113 and executed by means of the processor 111 and thesystem memory 112, and included in the LIN master process 710. As said above, this configuration advantageously allows increasing the data transmission frequency from the master device to the slave devices.

[0105] In other words, in the embodiments of the solution described herein that adopt the first Schedule Table S1 for omitting the detection of the status of the secondary control units 130, the control system 100 is configured to allow exclusively the propagation of messages, such as the command messages 820 and the start messages 840, from the primary control unit 110 to the one or more secondary control units 130, wherein the transmission of one or more messages from the primary control unit 110, and the reception of the one or more messages in the secondary control units 130 are performed in the absence of transmissions of status messages 850 from the secondary control units 130 to the primary control unit 110.

[0106] Subsequently, in a phase 304 the one or more destination secondary control units 130 receive the message 820 from the primary control unit 110 by means of the system bus 105 and the respective transceivers.

[0107] Specifically, each secondary control unit 130 is configured, for example by means of the LIN slave process 720, to determine whether to accept a message 820, or to discard it, based on the destination unit parameter 811 included in the message 820.

[0108] In an optional phase 305, the secondary control unit 130 sends by means of the transceiver 135 a status message 850 to the primary control unit 110. The status message 850 is sent in response to a request transmitted by the primary control unit 110. Specifically, this optional phase 305 is executed in embodiments of the present solution wherein the LIN master process 710 of the primary control unit 110 employs the second Schedule Table S2 which provides for the sending of status messages from the secondary control units 130 to the primary control unit 110.

[0109] It is also noted that this phase 305 is generally executable at any instant during the execution of the method 300, and not necessarily in response to the completion of phase 304, since the primary control unit 110 can request a status message 850 from one or more secondary control units 130 at any time, provided it is in conformity with the second Schedule Table S2, therefore the example illustrated in Figure 3B, wherein phase 305 is executed after phase 304, is to be understood as a purely exemplary andnon-limiting case.

[0110] Specifically, in various embodiments of the method 300 described herein, wherein phase 305 is not present, and therefore the first Schedule Table S1 is used, the control system 100 supports the sending of new messages 820 from the primary control unit 110 to the one or more secondary control units 130 immediately after sending a first message 820, without therefore having to wait for the reception of status messages 850, allowing a higher transfer speed on the system bus 105. In fact, as anticipated, on a LIN bus such as, for example, the system bus 105, the transmission of an 8-byte message requires approximately 10 ms. Therefore, to send a first request message and obtain a status message 850 from all receivers, i.e., the secondary control units 130, it will take 10ms for the sending and 10ms for each receiver from which feedback is requested.

[0111] Furthermore, for the transmission of 8-byte messages to multiple control units, the more time will be required the more control units are connected to the bus. For example, in an embodiment wherein the second Schedule Table S2 is used, therefore allowing bidirectional communication on the system bus 105, the primary control unit 110 can request, consequently to sending a command message 820, a feedback message 850 from a first secondary control unit 130, consequently send a further command message 820 and request a status message 850 from a second secondary control unit 130, and similarly send further command messages 820 and request status messages 850 from the remaining secondary control units 130, until obtaining the status 850 of all the secondary control units 130 provided in the control system 100, thus requiring approximately 200 ms to obtain the status messages 850 in an exemplary embodiment with 10 secondary control units 130 coupled to the system bus 105.

[0112] In a further exemplary embodiment, the primary control unit 110 can transmit in a first phase one or more control messages 820 to the secondary control units 130, and consequently request the status messages 850 from each involved secondary control unit 130.

[0113] In summary, the sending of the status message 850 performed in phase 305 allows implementing bidirectional communication on the LIN bus 105, obtained by means of the second Schedule Table S2, while theomission of the sending of the status message 850 allows obtaining greater bandwidth on the LIN bus 105, allowing unidirectional communication and implementable by means of the first Schedule Table S1.

[0114] Therefore, including phase 305 of sending a status message 850 allows for greater robustness of the application, while embodiments wherein the secondary control units 130 do not send any status message 850 favor the performance of the system bus 105, allowing the implementation of more sophisticated lighting effects and greater fluidity of the application.

[0115] In other words, in the embodiments of the solution described herein that adopt a Schedule Table that allows the detection of the status of the secondary control units 130, such as the second Schedule Table S2, the control system 100 is configured to allow the propagation of messages, such as messages 820, 840, and 850, from the primary control unit 110 to the one or more secondary control units 130 and vice versa, the primary control unit 110 can transmit, in conformity with what is provided by the second Schedule Table S2, a status message request to the one or more secondary control units 130, and consequently the one or more secondary control units 130 that receive this request transmit, preferably in a LIN response message frame, a status message 850 to the primary control unit 110 indicating the respective operating status.

[0116] Subsequently, in a phase 306 the secondary control unit 130 determines whether the received message 820 comprises an asserted deferred execution parameter 815.

[0117] In response to detecting an asserted deferred execution parameter, the control unit 130 programs, in a phase 307, the deferred execution of the lighting effect. For this purpose, each secondary control unit 130 comprises a queue 830 in which it stores the messages 820 received in response to determining that the deferred execution indication 815 is asserted. In particular, the queue 830 is a FIFO (First In First Out) type queue so as to allow the deferred execution of the lighting effects to occur in conformity with the order of reception. In various embodiments the queue 830 is initialized in the system memory 132 and is implemented by means of specific data structures such as, for example, arrays or linked lists.

[0118] Conversely, in response to detecting a de-asserted deferred execution parameter, the control unit 130 executes, in a phase 308, thelighting effect indicated in the message 820 immediately, or as soon as the execution of a current lighting effect ends. For this purpose, each secondary control unit 130 can comprise a second FIFO-type queue for organizing the execution of the lighting effects according to the order of reception of the messages 820.

[0119] In light of the above, it becomes evident that the solution described herein advantageously allows flexible scheduling of the execution of lighting effects in the cabin of the vehicle 10, which can be achieved by combining the use of LIN Schedule Tables S1 or S2, command messages 820 with immediate execution, and / or command messages 820 with deferred execution based on the type of desired light show.

[0120] Subsequently, in a phase 309 the secondary control unit 130 determines whether a start message 840 is received. In various embodiments, the primary control unit 110 transmits a start message 840 in response to the completed transmission of all messages 820 necessary to implement a specific lighting effect defined by the instruction 800 received from the processing system, in conformity with phase 304 described above.

[0121] Subsequently, in a phase 309 the primary control unit 110 transmits a start message 840 in response to the completed transmission of all messages 820 required to implement a specific lighting effect, according to what is indicated in the lookup tables 730, in the lighting effects libraries 740, in the transition effects libraries 750, and in the blinking patterns libraries 760.

[0122] In this regard, each lighting effect indicated by a respective control instruction 800, which is consequently decoded into one or more messages 820 comprising values of the parameters 810 determined based on the data stored in the lighting effects libraries 740, transitions 750, and blinking patterns 760, can be implemented by transmitting a variable number of messages 820 depending on the complexity of the desired lighting effect.

[0123] For example, to implement a lighting effect in which all lighting devices 150 provided in the cabin of the vehicle 10 are configured to emit dim red light with a "fade-in" type effect, it is sufficient to transmit a single message 820 to all secondary control units 130.

[0124] Instead, to implement a more complex effect such as, for example, a gradient of color tones in the cabin of the vehicle 10, in which each lightingdevice 150 emits a different color, as many messages 820 are needed as the different colors intended to be displayed in the cabin.

[0125] In this way, the primary control unit 110 can transmit the messages 820 comprising respective parameters 810 to each secondary control unit 130, and then transmit a start message 840 and start the execution of the received routines in each secondary control unit 130 simultaneously. Alternatively, the primary control unit 110 can send a start message 840 to each secondary control unit 130 separately, i.e., by means of different values of the destination unit parameter 811, so as to offer greater control over the timing of the execution of the lighting effects.

[0126] Furthermore, in various embodiments the start message 840 can comprise further instructions, such as commands for the execution of lighting effects that include the parameters 810, which are executed concurrently with the reception of the start message 840, therefore before the commands received in the messages 820, or according to a predetermined priority indication. In this way it is possible to transmit multiple commands to the secondary control units 130 and subsequently execute said commands according to a priority indication associated with each command. For example, in various embodiments the commands included in a start message 840 are executed with a higher priority than the commands included in the messages 820.

[0127] In response to detecting the reception of the start message 840, the secondary control unit 130 executes, in a phase 310, one or more routines to implement lighting effects following the execution order indicated in the queue 830.

[0128] Subsequently, the execution of the method 300 ends. In various embodiments, the method 300 can be executed cyclically, so as to allow an exchange of messages via the system bus 105 continuously and without interruptions.

[0129] As stated above, in various embodiments the primary control unit 110 is configured to associate with an instruction 800 indicative of a request for one or more lighting effects and transmitted by the processing system 50, one or more routines for the implementation of lighting effects indicated by means of the messages 820.

[0130] In particular, for the implementation of complex lighting effects, theprimary control unit 110 can associate an instruction 800 with multiple messages 820, requiring the recipient secondary control units 130 to perform deferred execution. In this way, the control system 100 can use the FIFO queues 830 of each secondary control unit 130 to perform buffering of the instructions to be executed, which will be processed in response to receiving a start message 840 destined for each secondary control unit 130, thus facilitating the implementation of complex lighting effects, and simultaneously minimizing delays in execution.

[0131] In an exemplary embodiment of the solution described herein, it is possible to implement an example complex lighting effect as follows. In the considered example, there are five secondary control units 130 coupled to the primary control unit 110 by means of the system bus 105, wherein only the secondary control units are configured to control lighting devices 150, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 A.

[0132] Initially, the primary control unit 110 receives an instruction 800 from the processing system 50, and based on the lookup table 730, associates the instruction 800 with a plurality of parameters 810, in accordance with phases 301 and 302 of the method 300 described above. Specifically, the primary control unit associates a number of instances of each parameter 810 equal to the number of secondary control units 130, which are used subsequently to generate respective messages 820, therefore, in accordance with the present example, 45 different parameters are instantiated, i.e., 9 parameters for each secondary control unit 130 coupled to the system bus 105.

[0133] Subsequently, in accordance with phases 303 and 304 of the method 300 described above, the primary control unit 110 composes and transmits a plurality of messages 820 destined for respective secondary control units 130. In particular, the primary control unit 110 designates in each message 820 the recipient secondary control unit 130 by indicating a respective unique identifier in the destination unit parameter 811.

[0134] The parameters 810 included in a first message 820, destined for a first secondary control unit 130, indicate for example to configure the lighting devices 150, coupled to the first secondary control unit 130, to emit red light, defined in the color coordinates parameter 817, with a relative intensity of 100%, defined in the intensity parameter 814, using a linear transition witha duration of 3 seconds, defined in the transition type 816 and duration 813 parameters, with a fade-in effect, defined in the effect type parameter 812, executing said command immediately, defined in the deferred execution parameter 815.

[0135] Similarly, the parameters 810 included in a second message 820, destined for a second secondary control unit 130, indicate to configure the lighting devices 150, coupled to the second secondary control unit 130, to emit red light, defined in the color coordinates parameter 817, with a relative intensity of 60%, defined in the intensity parameter 814, using an exponential transition with a duration of 3 seconds, defined in the transition type 816 and duration 813 parameters, with an effect of the type "fill to the middle", defined in the effect type parameter 812, storing said command for execution at a later time, as defined in the deferred execution parameter 815.

[0136] For the third secondary control unit 130, the parameters 810 included in the respective third message 820 indicate to configure the lighting devices 150, coupled to the third secondary control unit 130, to emit yellow light, defined in the color coordinates parameter 817, with a relative intensity of 30%, defined in the intensity parameter 814, using a linear transition with a duration of 1 second, defined in the transition type 816 and duration 813 parameters, with a basic blinking, defined in the blinking parameter 818, storing said command for execution at a later time, defined in the deferred execution parameter 815.

[0137] The fourth secondary control unit 130 and the fifth secondary control unit 130 respectively receive a fourth message 820 addressed to both and comprising parameters 810 that indicate to configure the lighting devices 150, respectively coupled to the fourth and fifth secondary control unit 130, to emit blue light, defined in the color coordinates parameter 817, with a relative intensity of 20%, defined in the intensity parameter 814, using a step transition with a duration of 0 seconds, defined in the transition type 816 and duration 813 parameters, with an effect of the type "fill from the middle", defined in the effect type parameter 812, storing said command to execute it at a later time, defined in the deferred execution parameter 815.

[0138] In accordance with phase 307 of the method 300 described above, the secondary control units 130 from the second to the fifth store thereceived messages 820 in respective FIFO queues 830 awaiting reception of a start message 840 while the first control unit 130 immediately executes the requested effect for the example duration of 3 seconds.

[0139] Once the transmission of all messages 820 to the respective secondary control units 130 has occurred, the primary control unit 110 transmits, in accordance with phase 304 described above, a start message 840 addressed to the control units from the second to the fifth, and devoid of further requests for effects, color or light intensity.

[0140] As anticipated, to increase the data transmission speed on the system bus 105, the primary control unit 110 can be configured not to request the status message 850 from the secondary control units 130, in particular by selecting the first Schedule Table S1, thus facilitating a rapid loading of messages into the receiving secondary control units 130, therefore in the discussed example step 305 is not executed, in accordance with the embodiment of the method 300 illustrated in Figure 3A.

[0141] Essentially, based on the desired lighting animation, it is possible to combine multiple lighting effect routines, sending in series multiple messages 820 to each secondary control unit 130 to generate more complex lighting effects. For example, while the secondary control units 130 are executing a deferred effect, it is possible to prepare another effect to be executed in a deferred manner or to be executed as soon as the execution of the first effect ends.

[0142] In fact, as shown in the present example, while a first lighting effect is being executed via the first secondary control unit 130, provided for example near the dashboard of the vehicle 10, a further effect is prepared and executed on other secondary control units 130, arranged for example near the doors and front footwells of the vehicle 10, in such a way as to overlap at a specific instant in time with the lighting show in execution. Therefore, it becomes evident how the present solution advantageously allows achieving the desired synchronization between the various commands being executed via the respective secondary control units 130.

[0143] Furthermore, in the case where simpler lighting animations are to be implemented, the control system 100 advantageously offers the possibility of configuring with a single message 820 transmitted in broadcast mode, which is therefore received simultaneously by all the secondary control units130 connected to the system bus 105. For example, the primary control unit 110 can send in a broadcast message 820 an indication to configure all the lighting devices 150 of the control system 100 to emit red light at a relative intensity of 100%, and with a linear transition lasting 3 seconds.

[0144] It will be evident from the foregoing that the control system according to the solution described herein allows implementing lighting animations in a vehicle cabin in a simple and effective manner, reducing the required wiring and electronic control units, lowering costs, and minimizing delays in the execution of the animations.

[0145] Naturally, without prejudice to the underlying principle, the construction details and embodiments of the control system may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated, purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present solution. The scope of protection is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method (300) for controlling the execution of lighting effects in a cabin of a vehicle (10) by means of a control system (100), comprising performing the steps of:receiving (301) in a primary control unit (110) one or more instructions (800) originating from a processing system (50) coupled to the primary control unit (110), the instructions (800) comprising commands for controlling one or more lighting effects;associating (302) in the primary control unit (110) the received instructions (800) with one or more parameters (810) comprising an indication of deferred execution (815) of one or more lighting effects;composing (303) in the primary control unit (110) one or more messages (820) comprising said one or more parameters (810), transmitting the one or more messages (820), preferably in broadcast mode, and sending a start message (840) in response to completing the sending of one or more messages (820) comprising an asserted deferred execution parameter (815);receiving (304) in one or more secondary control units (130) said one or more messages (820) comprising said parameters (810);determining (306) for each received message (820) based on said deferred execution parameter (815) whether to execute the instructions associated with the one or more messages (820) immediately, or in a deferred manner;in response to determining (306) that the deferred execution parameter (815) is de-asserted, executing (308) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the instructions associated with the one or more messages (820);in response to determining (306) that the deferred execution parameter is asserted, programming (307) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the deferred execution of the instructions associated with the message (820), storing the message (820) in a FIFO queue (830), and verifying (309) the reception of said start message (840), and in response to receiving the start message (840) executing (310) in the one or more secondary control units (130) the instructions associated with the oneor more messages (820) according to the order established in the FIFO queue (830).

2. Method (300) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more parameters (810) further comprise a destination unit parameter (811), and at least one of:type of lighting effect (812), temporal duration of the lighting effect (813), intensity of the lighting effect (814), type of transition (816), colorimetric coordinates (817), type of blinking (818), and day / night indication (819).

3. Method (300) according to claim 2, wherein each secondary control unit (130) comprises a unique identifier, and wherein said step of receiving (304) in the one or more secondary control units (130) said one or more messages (820) comprises executing in each secondary control unit (130) the steps of:receiving the one or more messages (820) sent by said primary control unit (110), the one or more messages being transmitted in broadcast mode,determining for each received message (820) an identifier associated with the destination unit parameter (811) included in the message (820); for each received message (820), comparing the value of the identifier associated with the destination unit parameter (811) with the unique identifier of the secondary control unit (130);in response to determining that said value of the identifier associated with the destination unit parameter (811) comprises the unique identifier of the secondary control unit (130), accepting the received message (820); andin response to determining that said value of the identifier associated with the destination unit parameter (811) does not comprise the unique identifier of the secondary control unit (130), discarding the received message (820).

4. Method (300) according to claim 3, wherein the control system (100) comprises a system bus (105) of the LIN, Local Interconnect Network, type, and is configured to allow exclusively the propagation of messages (820, 840) from the primary control unit (110) to the one or more secondary control units (130), the primary control unit (110) being a LIN master device,and the one or more secondary control units (130) being LIN slave devices, and wherein said steps of composing and transmitting (303) the one or more messages (820) in the primary control unit (110), and receiving (304) the one or more messages (820) in the secondary control units (130) are performed in the absence of transmissions of status messages (850) from the secondary control units (130) to the primary control unit (110), the status messages (850) comprising data indicative of the operating status of respective secondary control units (130).

5. Method (300) according to claim 3, wherein the control system (100) comprises a system bus (105) of the LIN, Local Interconnect Network, type, and is configured to allow the propagation of messages (820, 840, 850) from the primary control unit (110) to the one or more secondary control units (130) and vice versa, the primary control unit (110) being a LIN master device, and the one or more secondary control units (130) being LIN slave devices,said method (300) further comprising a step of transmitting (305) a status message request (850) from the primary control unit (110) to one or more secondary control units (130), and consequently transmitting one or more status messages (850) from the one or more secondary control units (130) recipients of the status message request (850) to the primary control unit (110).

6. Control system (100) for controlling the execution of lighting effects in a cabin of a vehicle (10), comprising:a primary control unit (110);one or more secondary control units (130) coupled to lighting devices (150) via respective driving circuits (140); anda system bus (105);wherein the primary control unit is couplable with a processing system (50) to exchange data and instructions, and wherein the primary control unit (110) and the one or more secondary control units (130) are configured to implement the method (300) for controlling the execution of lighting effects according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Control system (100) according to claim 6, wherein the primary control unit (110) and the one or more secondary control units (130) comprise:a processor (111, 131),a system memory (112, 132),a non-volatile memory (113, 133),a transceiver (115, 135);and wherein said system bus (105) is implemented by means of a LIN, Local Interconnect Network, bus.

8. Control system (100) according to claim 7, wherein the non-volatile memory (113, 133) of the primary control unit (110) and of the one or more secondary control units (130) comprises software code that implements respectively a process for configuring the primary control unit (110) as a master device (710) and a process for configuring the one or more secondary control units (130) as slave devices (720) in accordance with the LIN protocol.

9. Control system (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said processing system (50) is couplable to the primary control unit by means of a CAN, CAN-FD, or Automotive Ethernet bus.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising a control system (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, and a processing system (50).

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