Peripheral Module Serial Bus UART Interface Pin Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle control units require a separate lead and pin for UART communication between the computing device and peripheral module, limiting the number of pins available on the peripheral module and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an asynchronous single-wire UART interface between the serial multiwire bus and the output stage, allowing data transfer via the existing serial multiwire bus, eliminating the need for a separate lead and pin by converting signals for the output stage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate lead and pin are provided for UART communication between the computing device and peripheral module, then data transfer functionality is ensured, but the number of pins on the peripheral module increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the UART communication function with the existing serial multiwire bus by implementing an asynchronous single-wire interface within the peripheral module. This allows data transfer between the computing device and output stage to occur through the existing bus infrastructure, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated UART lead and pin while maintaining full communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral module's existing serial multiwire bus is made multi-functional by adding an asynchronous single-wire interface that enables it to handle both its original functions and UART communication. This universal approach allows the same physical bus to serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for additional dedicated pins.
2Ease of operation
If a separate lead is provided for UART communication, then communication between computing device and peripheral module is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solution combines the UART communication path with the existing serial multiwire bus structure. By integrating an asynchronous single-wire interface within the peripheral module, the system enables full UART functionality without adding external leads or connections, thus maintaining ease of operation while reducing structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the number of pins on the peripheral module is reduced, then costs are reduced, but available pins for other functions decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the UART communication function into the existing serial multiwire bus infrastructure through an internal asynchronous single-wire interface, the patent eliminates the need for an additional pin. This freed pin can then be allocated to other functional requirements, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining or enhancing the module's versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the communication interface parameters by implementing an asynchronous single-wire protocol within the peripheral module. This parameter change allows data transfer to occur over the existing bus without requiring additional physical pins, thus reducing pin count and manufacturing cost while preserving adaptability for other functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit includes at least one computing device and at least one separate peripheral module which is connected to the computing device via a serial multiwire bus, the peripheral module including at least one output stage for transferring serial data to means outside of the control unit. In order to keep the number of pins required on a peripheral module to a minimum, thereby reducing costs for the entire control unit, the peripheral module has an asynchronous single-wire interface between one interface for the serial multiwire bus and the output stage. The asynchronous single-wire interface is preferably a UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) interface. The serial multiwire bus is preferably a microsecond bus.