A communication system is configured to be capable of executing an address assignment process including: a first process for detecting presence/absence of an identification current input by means of an identification current detection unit when a constant current supply has generated an identification current output with a switch and a second transistor in an off state; and a second process for repeatedly executing the first process while, with respect to a slave among the slaves that has had the identification current input detected therein, stopping generation of the identification current output thereafter, and assigning an address to a single slave among the slaves that has not had the identification current input detected therein, and is also configured to be capable of executing the address assignment process while excluding a slave among the slaves that has had the address assigned thereto.

In particular embodiments, a computing system may receive, by a processor in communication with an actuator of a vehicle, an instruction associated with an environment external to the vehicle and configured for controlling the actuator of the vehicle. The system may receive, by the processor, sensor data associated with the environment and generated by one or more sensors associated with the vehicle. The system may determine, by the processor, a state associated with an operation mode of the vehicle based on the received sensor data. The system may evaluate, by the processor, whether the instruction is invalid based on the state associated with the operating mode of the vehicle. The system may, subsequent to determining that the instruction is invalid, based on the evaluation, prevent transmission of the instruction to the actuator of the vehicle.

Methods and transceivers are provided for enabling fast-data messages on a local interconnect network (LIN) compatible bus. One illustrative slave transceiver embodiment includes: a comparator and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The comparator detects amplitude modulation of a bias voltage at a first baud rate on a serial bus line to receive a first LIN frame header having a frame identifier for a fast-data frame. The DAC responsively drives a fast-data response message having an expanded payload and/or a higher baud rate on the serial bus line.

A fieldbus coupler for coupling a local fieldbus network utilizing a first fieldbus protocol to a foreign field device or foreign fieldbus network through an interconnecting wired or wireless network transmission line that utilizes a second fieldbus protocol different from the first fieldbus protocol includes a first circuit configured to communicate over the local fieldbus network using the first fieldbus protocol, a second circuit configured to connect the fieldbus coupler with the interconnecting network transmission line and communicate over the interconnecting network transmission line using the second fieldbus protocol, and a third circuit configured to communicate with the first and second circuits and capable of transmitting data to and from the first and second circuits to enable communications between the local fieldbus network via the interconnecting network transmission line.

A method of configuring an automotive data communications network and a controller for the automotive data communications network are disclosed. The automotive data communications network comprises first and second controllers, each controller being operatively connected in use to a data bus and to a high-speed data communications channel. Each data bus is operatively connected to one or more electronic devices. The method comprises receiving a first data message over the high-speed data communications channel at the first controller; determining a network address associated with the second controller in dependence on the received first data message; and outputting a second data message from the first controller over the high-speed data communications channel, the second data message enabling the second controller to determine a network address associated with the first controller.

The present disclosure relates to an improved vehicle data communications network comprising controllers configured in accordance with a Service-Oriented Architecture, arranged to offer available services as subscription service on the vehicle data communications network. In particular, a controller for an automotive data communications network in a vehicle is disclosed. The controller may be operatively connected in use to a data bus and to a high-speed data communications channel. The data bus may comprise at least one first electronic device connected to it. The controller may comprise a first input, a processor, a second input and an output. The first input may be configured in use to receive a first data message from the data bus, the first data message comprising data associated with at least one first electronic device. The processor may be configured in use to identify at least one service associated with the received first data message. The output may be configured in use to output a second data message on the high-speed data communications channel, the second data message offering the at least one service as a subscription service. The second input may be configured in use to receive a subscription request for the service from a remotely located second electronic device operatively coupled to the automotive data network. Wherein the output is configured in use to output a third data message comprising data associated with the subscribed service to the remotely located second electronic device via the high-speed data communications channel.

A controller forming one node of a local interconnect network in a vehicle and implementing a function associated with the vehicle is provided along with a method for communicating within the network. The controller includes a serial communication interface configured to communicate with a single wire serial communication bus through a local interconnect network transceiver. A processor coupled to the interface is configured to implement a process for transmitting data on the bus including determining whether the bus is in use by another node, generating, when the bus is not in use, a signal on the bus indicative of a forthcoming transmission, transmitting a predetermined portion of a frame of data on the bus, determining whether a data collision exists on the bus, transmitting, when a data collision does not exist, another predetermined portion of the frame, and terminating, when a data collision does exist, further transmission of the frame.

A driver includes an open drain output transistor, a capacitor, a first current source, and first and second transistors. Upon assertion of a transmit signal to turn on the first transistor, a controller asserts a second control signal to turn on the second transistor responsive to a voltage of the capacitor being less than a threshold voltage of the open drain output transistor to thereby increase the gate voltage for the open drain output transistor at a first time rate. The controller deasserts the second control signal to turn off the second transistor responsive to the capacitor voltage exceeding the threshold voltage. Responsive to the capacitor's voltage exceeding the threshold, the first current source charges the capacitor to further increase the gate voltage at a second time rate that is smaller than the first time rate.

A vehicle module for a vehicle includes one or more sensors, which are configured to record sensor data in an operating mode of the vehicle module, and are configured to adopt a plurality of discrete states in an energy saving mode in order to provide a basic function of the vehicle module in the energy saving mode of the vehicle module. The vehicle module further has an interface for a data line to transmit the sensor data to a control device of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle module has an energy saving mode switch which is configured to connect the one or more sensors in the energy saving mode to the interface for the data line in such a way that information regarding a state of the plurality of discrete states can be transmitted to the control device via the data line.

A bus node is capable of performing a method, for the assigning of bus node addresses to bus nodes of a serial data bus. The method is performed with the aid of bus shunt resistors in the individual bus nodes in an assignment time period. After assigning bus node addresses to the bus nodes of the serial data bus system in the assignment time period, there follows an operating time period. For this purpose, the bus node comprises such a bus shunt resistor. The bus node is characterized by a bus shunt bypass switch which, prior to assigning a bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is opened and which after the assignment of bus node address to the bus node in the assignment time period is closed, and which is closed in the operating time period.