CAN Ethernet Gateway Merging Multiple Buses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controller Area Network (CAN) bus resources in autonomous vehicles are limited, leading to complex and resource-intensive hardware setups for communication between various vehicle components, which can be costly and occupy significant physical space.

Innovation Solution

A Controller Area Network (CAN) Ethernet Gateway (CEG) is introduced to convert CAN messages into User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets, enabling the transmission of data from multiple CAN buses over a single Ethernet connection, thereby overcoming resource limitations and simplifying the hardware setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple CAN buses are used for communication between vehicle components, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and physical space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidhardware setup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple CAN bus communication channels into a single Ethernet connection using a CAN-to-Ethernet gateway. The gateway aggregates data from multiple CAN buses and transmits it over one Ethernet link, reducing the number of physical connections and simplifying the hardware architecture while maintaining communication reliability through protocol conversion and data packaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The CAN-to-Ethernet gateway serves as an intermediary device that bridges the CAN bus network and Ethernet network. It performs protocol conversion, data formatting, and intelligent routing between the two communication protocols, enabling seamless integration without requiring direct connections between all CAN devices and the Ethernet network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple CAN buses are used for data transmission, then data coverage is improved, but physical space and design costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata coverageVSAvoidphysical space

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway consolidates data from multiple CAN buses into single Ethernet packets, transmitting aggregated information over one physical connection. This merging approach maintains comprehensive data coverage from all sensor and actuator networks while requiring minimal physical space for cabling and connectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If CAN messages are transmitted directly between components, then communication speed is adequate, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway performs preliminary data processing, filtering, and aggregation before transmitting information over the Ethernet network. By pre-packaging multiple CAN messages into optimized Ethernet packets and eliminating redundant data, it maximizes bandwidth utilization while maintaining real-time communication capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11539621B2Controller area network messages in an autonomous vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 MOTIONAL AD LLC

AI summary

Embodiments herein relate to a controller area network (CAN) Ethernet gateway (CEG) is communicatively coupled with a first CAN bus and a second CAN bus, and configured to generate a user datagram protocol (UDP) packet. The UDP packet includes a packet header, a first data portion that includes a CAN header and CAN data related to the first CAN bus, and a second data portion that includes a CAN header and CAN data related to the second CAN bus. Other embodiments are described and/or claimed.