Power Line Communication Mesh Network for Vehicle Wiring Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of sensors and actuators in motor vehicle on-board power systems leads to a significant increase in wiring requirements, as each device necessitates both a power supply line and a separate data line for communication, making the system cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle on-board power system that utilizes a meshed data network over power supply lines, where communication units act as repeaters to forward data signals between consumers and control devices, eliminating the need for separate data lines by leveraging existing power lines for data transmission through power line communication (PLC) technology and exploiting crosstalk effects between unshielded supply lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate data lines are provided for each sensor or actuator, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but wiring requirements and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data transmission and power supply functions into a single power supply line. By modulating data signals onto the power supply line using PLC technology, the system eliminates the need for separate data lines while maintaining reliable communication between control devices and consumers.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply line is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both electrical power and data communication pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of cables required in the on-board power system.
2Ease of operation
If separate data lines are provided for each consumer, then direct communication is ensured, but the number of cables and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple data communication pathways are merged into the existing power supply line infrastructure. The meshed network topology allows data to be transmitted between any consumers through the power lines without requiring direct point-to-point connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply line acts as an intermediary medium for data transmission. Communication units at each consumer modulate and demodulate signals on the power lines, enabling indirect communication between consumers without direct data cable connections.
3Device complexity
If power line communication with meshed network is implemented, then wiring requirements are reduced, but signal transmission reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The meshed network topology provides multiple redundant communication pathways between consumers. If one path experiences interference or failure, data can be transmitted through alternative routes, ensuring reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Communication units serve as intermediary nodes that actively manage signal transmission. These units can amplify, regenerate, or route signals through optimal paths in the meshed network, maintaining signal integrity despite the shared medium.
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 solution reduces the cabling and wiring requirements, enabling reliable data transmission between consumers and control devices without direct line connections, allowing for flexible communication across the system, cost savings, and easier modifications, while maintaining system reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The communication units are configured to modulate data signals to be transmitted onto the power supply lines and to demodulate data signals received from the power supply lines
Implementation Method 2
transfer the data signals from one another via crosstalk effects
Data Source
AI summary
In order to permit, in a motor vehicle on-board power system, data to be transmitted with low expenditure on cabling, even between multiple partial networks, a plurality of loads embodied, in particular, as sensors is respectively assigned a communication unit for transferring data. The communication units are embodied in such a way that, by utilizing the supply lines they set up a partially interlinked data network, and transfer data made available by the loads, with the result that communication via the partial networks is also made possible. As a result of the transmission of the data via the supply lines in combination with the setting up of a partially interlinked data network, signal transmission is made possible even if there is no direct connection between the respective sensor and a target unit.