EIB Bus Transmitter Stage Using Passive Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transmission stages in EIB networks are costly due to the use of numerous active electronic components, particularly in the circuit for generating the active pulse, and fail to efficiently recover and feed back energy to the bus line.

Innovation Solution

A transmission stage utilizing passive electronic elements, with a circuit design that replaces the complex Miller circuit with passive components, using a capacitor and resistors to maintain constant pulse depth and energy recovery through negative feedback, and employing a single control circuit for both active and compensation pulses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If numerous active electronic components are used in the transmission stage circuit, then the circuit can generate active pulses, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit functionalityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces active electronic components (transistors, operational amplifiers) with passive electronic components (capacitors, resistors, diodes). Specifically, the Miller circuit traditionally requiring multiple transistors and active elements is redesigned to use only passive components, thereby reducing circuit complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to generate active pulses with appropriate amplitude swing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive passive components (capacitors, resistors, diodes) instead of expensive active components. The passive components are simpler, more reliable, and significantly cheaper than the active components they replace, making the transmission stage more cost-effective while maintaining functional reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If active electronic components are used to generate active pulses, then the pulses can be generated with controlled amplitude, but energy is not efficiently recovered and fed back to the bus line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulse generationVSAvoidenergy recovery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the voltage drop across a capacitor during the active pulse is fed back through a diode to control the compensation pulse. This feedback ensures that the compensation pulse accurately replenishes the energy extracted during the active pulse, optimizing energy recovery and feeding it back to the bus line efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention recovers energy that would otherwise be lost during the active pulse by using the voltage drop across the capacitor to generate a compensation pulse. The compensation pulse replenishes the energy extracted during the active pulse, ensuring efficient energy recovery and feedback to the bus line, thereby reducing energy loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If the pulse depth is not regulated independently of the DC component, then the circuit is simpler, but the amplitude swing of the active pulse varies with bus voltage changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit simplicityVSAvoidsignal consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent regulates the pulse depth independently of the DC component by using a capacitor whose voltage drop during the active pulse determines the amplitude swing. This parameter change approach ensures that the active pulse amplitude remains consistent regardless of bus voltage variations, maintaining signal consistency and reliability while keeping the circuit relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design simplifies the circuitry, reduces costs, and ensures efficient energy recovery and feedback to the bus line, maintaining defined voltage conditions for subsequent bits.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitor and resistors to maintain constant pulse depth and energy recovery through negative feedback

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

a capacitor and resistors to maintain constant pulse depth and energy recovery through negative feedback

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2529521B1Transmitter stage in a node of a bus network for generating a bit signal corresponding to a transmit signal and corresponding method
Publication Date: 2013.10.09 TAPKO TECH
  • EP2529521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2529521B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP2529521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a transmitting stage in a bus node of a bus network, in particular in a bus node of an EIB network, which bus node is coupled to a bus line (Bus+, Bus-), for producing a bit signal that corresponds to a transmission signal that has a series of transmission pulses, which bit signal comprises an active pulse, which has a duration ?t = t1 - t0, wherein t0 indicates the beginning of the active pulse and t1 indicates the end of the active pulse, and which has a pulse depth Ua, and an equalizer pulse following the active pulse, for every transmission pulse, comprising a circuit (A) for producing the active pulse; optionally, a circuit (B) for producing the equalizer pulse; and at least one control circuit (C), which outputs the transmission signal (Utrans) at least to the circuit (A) to produce the active pulse; is characterized in that the pulse depth (Ua) of the active pulse is determined by a predefined reference voltage (Uref), which is independent of the magnitude of the direct-voltage component of the bit signal.