Timestamp Unit for CAN Bus Time Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of synchronizing time bases in serial communication networks, such as CAN bus systems, due to the growing number of electronic control units, leads to hardware and software challenges, especially since not all CAN controllers support the necessary functions for precise time synchronization as per the CiA 603 standard, and existing systems lack hardware support for synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A separate timestamp unit and communication control unit are introduced, which can be retrofitted or used alongside existing systems, featuring a memory for storing timestamps, an address counter, and interfaces for capturing and sending timestamp signals, allowing for flexible integration and reducing silicon surface area, enabling time synchronization without interrupting existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of electronic control units in the communication network increases, then the network functionality and coverage are improved, but the complexity of time base synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the synchronization function into separate timestamp units that can be independently deployed. Each timestamp unit handles timestamp generation and storage independently, allowing the system to scale by adding more timestamp units rather than increasing the complexity of a centralized synchronization mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timestamp units as intermediary components between the communication control units and the synchronization process. These timestamp units act as mediators that standardize the timestamp generation interface, allowing different numbers and types of control units to synchronize without direct complex interactions between them.
2Measurement precision
If CAN controllers include additional functions for detecting synchronization messages and storing time stamps, then measurement precision is improved, but hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timestamp generation and storage functions from the CAN controller into separate timestamp units. This allows the CAN controller to remain simple and compatible with existing standards, while the precision timestamping functionality is implemented in dedicated hardware modules that can be selectively added.
Solution Approach 2:
The timestamp unit is designed as a universal module that can be used with any CAN controller, whether it has native timestamp support or not. The timestamp unit provides a standardized interface for timestamp generation, making the precision capability available across different hardware configurations without requiring changes to the CAN controller itself.
3Measurement precision
If changes are made to CAN controller functions to support CiA 603 standard, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases due to software changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex timestamp management logic from the software layer into dedicated hardware timestamp units. This eliminates the need to modify existing CAN controller software to implement CiA 603 compliance, as the hardware timestamp units provide the required functionality through their physical design rather than software interpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The timestamp unit implements a standardized interface that copies the essential timestamp generation and storage functionality required by CiA 603, without requiring implementation of the full standard in software. This allows systems to achieve CiA 603 compliance through hardware design rather than complex software implementation.
4Device complexity
If a separate timestamp unit is introduced, then device complexity is reduced for existing systems, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timestamp functionality into a separate, standalone unit that interfaces with the CAN controller through standardized connections. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the main control unit while providing precise timestamping capability, as the timestamp unit handles all timestamp-related operations independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The timestamp unit serves as an intermediary component that adds functionality without requiring deep integration into the existing control unit architecture. It connects through simple interfaces, adding timestamp capability while maintaining the independence and simplicity of the original CAN controller design.
Data Source
AI summary
A timestamp unit and a communication control unit for a user station. The timestamp unit includes a memory, which cyclically stores a timestamp of a message, which is transmitted via a communication network, an address counter, which is incrementable with each storing of a timestamp of a message, so that the value of the address counter corresponds to an address at which the timestamp is stored in the memory, a first interface to a host control unit via which the timestamp of a message is capturable, and a second interface to a communication control unit, which creates or reads at least one message for/from the user station, the interface including a connection for receiving a trigger signal from the communication control unit, which prompts the capturing of a timestamp, and a connection for transmitting a signal to the communication control unit, which includes the value of the address counter.