I2C Status Encapsulation in Data Packets for In-Vehicle Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In intra-vehicle network scenarios, the long transmission distance between microcontrollers and peripheral devices, such as cameras, requires efficient encapsulation of I2C signals to reduce bandwidth and improve transmission efficiency in I2C bus communication.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves generating data packets with a packet header that includes a field to indicate I2C status, allowing I2C status information like start, continuation, stop, ACK, or NACK to be encapsulated alongside slave addresses and data, reducing the need for separate encapsulation and enabling efficient transmission over I2C interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If I2C status information is separately encapsulated into data packets, then transmission reliability is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases and transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges I2C status information with data payload into a single encapsulated data packet. The status bits are combined with slave address and data content in one packet structure, eliminating the need for separate status packets and reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The data packet structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it carries slave address identification, data payload, and I2C status information (start, stop, ACK, NACK) all in one unified packet format, improving transmission efficiency without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If I2C status information is separately encapsulated into data packets, then transmission reliability is improved, but transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple I2C interfaces transmit simultaneously, then communication capability is improved, but signal interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidsignal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the I2C communication into distinct packet types with clear identification fields. Each packet contains status bits that explicitly indicate its function (start, stop, ACK, NACK), allowing multiple interfaces to operate simultaneously without confusion or interference, as each interface can independently parse and respond to packet types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12182057B2Inter integrated circuit-based communication method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 YINWANG INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD

AI summary

An inter integrated circuit (I2C)-based communication method incudes when an I2C signal is encapsulated into a data packet for transparent transmission, an I2C status is indicated by a first field in a packet header of the data packet. The data packet may have no load part, or the data packet has a load part but the load part is used to carry a slave address, a read/write flag, or I2C data. Because the I2C status is indicated in the packet header of the data packet, the I2C status may be encapsulated in a same data packet together with the slave address, the read/write flag, or the I2C data. In other words, the I2C status may not need to occupy one data packet separately.