Bus Node Termination Connector for Reliable CAN End-Node Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing CAN bus termination configurations in vehicles face challenges in achieving identical series production of equitable bus nodes while minimizing production costs and avoiding mechanical complexity, particularly with software-controlled termination methods, which are prone to failures and require additional pins for shielded cables.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based bus termination configuration using a bus node with an interface circuit and a bus termination circuit arrangement, enabled by a jumper or switch mechanism, allowing termination activation/deactivation with only two pins, and optionally incorporating electronic switches for shielded cables, ensuring reliable and cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard termination with single resistor or split termination with two resistors and capacitor is used, then bus termination is achieved, but device complexity and production cost increase due to additional pins and components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the termination resistor and capacitor into a single integrated component mounted on the connector housing. This merging of components reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall structure, directly addressing the contradiction by maintaining termination functionality while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical connection, houses the termination components, and acts as the mounting structure for the capacitor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces the overall number of components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shielded cable with additional pins for termination is used, then signal interference is reduced, but manufacturing cost and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The termination resistor and capacitor are integrated into a single component that is mounted on the connector housing. This merging eliminates the need for additional pins and separate mounting structures, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the shielding benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The termination components are placed locally at the connector housing where they are most needed for signal termination. This localized placement optimizes the shielding effect while minimizing the overall complexity of the system, addressing both signal interference protection and ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If software-controlled termination is used, then flexibility is improved, but communication reliability decreases due to potential disruptions during CAN ID learning procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hardware-based termination components that are automatically activated based on the connector configuration. This self-service approach eliminates the need for software control, ensuring that termination is always properly configured without risking communication disruptions during the CAN ID learning procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The termination components are pre-configured in the connector housing and are automatically activated when the connector is mated. This preliminary configuration ensures that termination is in place before any communication occurs, preventing the reliability issues associated with software-controlled termination during the learning procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
Communication bus systems have at least one twisted wire pair cable used as a physical medium. Such communication bus systems require bus termination at least at the end point bus nodes. Often the communication bus system includes a plurality of equitable bus nodes which are connected to the communication bus. A bus node includes an interface circuit to a communication bus. The interface circuit includes a bus termination circuit arrangement which includes at least a connection arrangement to at least one configuration component. In this way, it is easy to activate/deactivate bus termination for the single bus node by placing the configuration component manually in the manufacturing process.