CAN Transceiver Driver Path Isolation for Bus-Safe Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing the operability of CAN transceivers in a CAN bus network results in a significant load on the network and time delay, as well as potential generation of unintended CAN bus signals due to faulty or erroneous data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A CAN transceiver design with switch units and a control unit that allows for the deactivation of driver paths and control signal paths to prevent the generation of unwanted CAN bus signals by interrupting the transmission of faulty or erroneous data, thereby maintaining network integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If test messages are transmitted through the CAN bus to test transceiver operability, then the transceiver functionality can be verified, but the network experiences significant load and time delays due to arbitration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transceiver from the CAN bus network by opening the driver path using switch units, physically removing it from the network during testing. This allows the transceiver to be tested in isolation without affecting network arbitration and communication, thereby reducing testing time and network load while maintaining verification reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transceiver's driver path into controllable sections using multiple switch units that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the driver path to be opened or closed as needed, enabling efficient testing by isolating the transceiver from the network without requiring full network arbitration protocols
2Reliability
If test messages are transmitted through the CAN bus, then transceiver functionality can be tested, but the network experiences significant load due to arbitration during message transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver is extracted from the active network by opening its driver path through controlled switch units. This removal prevents the transceiver from participating in network arbitration and message transmission, eliminating the performance degradation and load issues while still allowing functionality verification in isolation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the driver path using switch units that can change the connectivity state of the transceiver. The driver path can be dynamically opened during testing to prevent network load, and closed during normal operation to maintain network connectivity, thus optimizing network productivity while enabling reliable testing
3Reliability
If the transceiver is faulty, then testing can identify the problem, but unintended CAN BUS signals may be generated during the testing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by opening the driver path before testing begins. This preventive measure ensures that even if the transceiver is faulty and attempts to generate signals, the opened driver path blocks these signals from reaching the CAN bus, preventing harmful unintended signals while still allowing fault detection
Solution Approach 2:
The switch units act as intermediaries between the transceiver and the CAN bus. They provide a controlled connection point that can be opened or closed, allowing the system to safely isolate the transceiver during testing. This intermediary mechanism enables fault detection while preventing faulty transceivers from generating harmful signals on the network
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a CAN transceiver, comprising: a transmit data, TXD, interface, a receive data, RXD, interface, a CAN BUS interface, a first control interface, a transmitter, a receiver, and a control unit, wherein the transmitter comprises a first driver path comprising a first series circuit comprising a first switch unit and a second switch unit, wherein the transmitter comprises a second driver path comprising a second series circuit with a third switch unit and a fourth switch unit, wherein the first driver path is coupled to a first terminal of the CAN BUS interface and the second driver path is coupled to a second terminal of the CAN BUS interface, wherein the transmitter comprises a driver unit configured to control the first switch unit and the third switch unit based on the TXD signal, wherein the control unit is coupled to the first control interface for receiving a first control signal, wherein the control unit is coupled to at least one switch unit of the first driver path and to at least one switch unit of the second driver path to control the switch units coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured, if the first control signal represents a deactivation message, to deactivate at least one switch unit of each driver path. The present disclosure also relates to a method for the CAN transceiver.