METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION, RECEIVER DEVICE, SENSOR DEVICE, AND SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for communicating information, wherein two sensor devices each have a sensor test value generator with a variable value and with a calculation rule. The variable values and/or the calculation rules are different, and wherein a receiver device has a receiver test value generator with the two variable values and/or with the two calculation rules. The method includes: calculation of the sensor test value, generation of a data packet with the calculated sensor test value, receiving, by the receiver device, of the data packet from the sensor device, selection of the variable value and/or selection of the calculation rule, calculation of a receiver test value, and checking of the received sensor measurement information for a transmission error based on the received sensor test value and the calculated receiver test value.

Claims

1. A method for a vehicle to communicate information between a sensor device of a system and a receiver device of the system, wherein the system has at least two sensor devices, wherein the two sensor devices each have a sensor test value generator with at least one variable value and with a calculation rule for calculating a sensor test value from respective sensor measurement information to be communicated, wherein the variable values of the sensor test value generators and/or the calculation rules of the sensor test value generators of the two sensor devices are different, and wherein the receiver device has a receiver test value generator with at least the two variable values of the sensor test value generators and/or with at least the two calculation rules of the sensor test value generators of the two sensor devices, the method comprising: calculating by the sensor test value generator, the sensor test value as a function of the variable value and/or as a function of the calculation rule from at least the sensor measurement information to be communicated; generating a data packet, wherein the data packet has at least a data section with the sensor measurement information to be communicated and a test section with the calculated sensor test value; sending the data packet through a transmission channel to the receiver device; receiving, by the receiver device, the data packet from the sensor device; selecting, by the receiver device, the variable value of the sensor test value generator as a function of the sensor device and/or selection by the receiver device of the calculation rule of the sensor test value generator as a function of the sensor device; calculating, by the receiver test value generator, a receiver test value with the selected variable value and/or with the selected calculation rule from at least the received sensor measurement information to be communicated of the data section of the data packet; and checking the received sensor measurement information of the data section of the data packet for a transmission error based on the received sensor test value and the calculated receiver test value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the variable value of the sensor test value generator and/or the calculation rule of the sensor test value generator reproduce or represent at least one piece of information and/or at least one status of the sensor device or at least one piece of information and/or at least one status of a sensor of the sensor device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver device sends a query to at least one of the two sensor devices to request at least one data packet from the at least one sensor device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two sensor devices automatically sends a data packet to the receiver device, at least at times.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two sensor test value generators of the at least two sensor devices and the receiver test value generator of the receiver device have the same calculation rule for calculation of the sensor test value or for calculation of the receiver test value, and wherein the receiver test value generator has only the one calculation rule.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two sensor devices each send at least one data packet to the receiver device in time alternation, at least at times.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two sensor devices each send at least one data packet to the receiver device substantially simultaneously at least at times or overlapping in time at least at times.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two sensor devices generates and/or sends a data packet with the data section with the test section and with a count section with a counter value, wherein the counter value is changed or increased for each sending of a data packet by the at least one sensor device, and/or with a status section for transmitting a status of the sensor device or a fault condition of the sensor device and/or with a serial section for serial transmission of sensor auxiliary information from the sensor device.

9. A receiver device for the method according to claim 1, wherein the receiver device has a receiver test value generator with at least two variable values and/or with at least two calculation rules for calculation of a receiver test value.

10. The receiver device according to claim 9, wherein the receiver device has a selection unit to select a variable value as a function of a sensor device and/or to select a calculation rule as a function of a sensor device.

11. The receiver device according to claim 9, wherein the receiver device has an error detection unit for checking received sensor measurement information of a data section of a data packet from a sensor device based on a received sensor test value of a test section of the data packet from the sensor device and a calculated receiver test value.

12. A sensor device for the method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device has a sensor test value generator with a variable value and with a calculation rule for calculating a sensor test value, and wherein the sensor test value generator has multiple variable values and/or multiple calculation rules.

13. A system for a vehicle, the sensor comprising: a receiver; and at least two sensors to communicate information between the sensors and the receiver through a transmission channel of the system, wherein the system is configured to carry out the method according to claim 1.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the transmission channel has at least two electrical conductors, wherein the transmission channel has a supply signal conductor for supplying the at least two sensor devices with electric power and for transmitting information that is to be communicated or for transmitting a data packet, as well as a ground conductor, or wherein the transmission channel has at least three electrical conductors, wherein the transmission channel has a supply conductor for supplying the at least two sensor devices with electric power, a ground conductor, and at least one signal conductor for transmitting information that is to be communicated or for transmitting a data packet (70a, 70b).

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system has a common transmission channel for the receiver and the at least two sensors, and wherein the receiver and the at least two sensors each have a direct communication connection to the transmission channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 is an example of a method according to the invention,

[0049] FIG. 2 is an example of a receiver device according to the invention,

[0050] FIG. 3 is an example of a sensor device according to the invention,

[0051] FIG. 4 is an example of a system according to the invention,

[0052] FIG. 5 is another example of a system according to the invention,

[0053] FIG. 6 is an example of a data packet, and

[0054] FIG. 7 is an example of a sensor test value generator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a method according to the invention for communicating information between a sensor device 10a according to the invention of a system 100 and a receiver device 50 according to the invention of the system 100, wherein the system 100 has at least two sensor devices 10a, 10b. As one step, the method has a calculation 210 of a sensor test value 28a by a sensor test value generator 12a of the sensor device 10a, as a function of a variable value 30a and/or as a function of a calculation rule 32a, from at least sensor measurement information 24a to be communicated. As another step, a generation 212 of a data packet 70a takes place, wherein the data packet 70a has, at a minimum, a data section 72 with the sensor measurement information 24a to be communicated and a test section 74 with the calculated sensor test value 28a. A sending 214 of the data packet 70a through a transmission channel 102a to the receiver device 50 takes place as another step. Furthermore, a receiving 216 by the receiver device 50 of the data packet 70a from the sensor device 10a takes place as another step. In addition, a selection 218a by the receiver device 50 of the variable value 30a of the sensor test value generator 12a as a function of the sensor device 10a and/or selection 218b by the receiver device 50 of the calculation rule 32a of the sensor test value generator 12a as a function of the sensor device 10a takes place as another step. Furthermore, a calculation 220 by the receiver test value generator 52 of a receiver test value with the selected variable value 30a and/or with the selected calculation rule 32a from at least the received sensor measurement information 24a to be communicated of the data section 72 of the data packet 70a takes place as a step, as well as a checking 222 of the received sensor measurement information 24a of the data section 72 of the data packet 70a for a transmission error based on the received sensor test value 28a and the calculated receiver test value. In particular, the method can have, as an additional step, the sending 208 of a query by the receiver device 50 to at least one of the two sensor devices 10a, 10b to request at least one data packet 70a from the at least one sensor device 10a, 10b. It is furthermore also possible, in particular, that at least one of the two sensor devices 10a, 10b automatically sends a data packet 70a, 70b to the receiver device 50, at least at times, which is to say without a prior query from the receiver device 50.

[0056] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a receiver device 50 according to the invention, wherein the receiver device 50 has a receiver test value generator 52 with at least two variable values 30a, 30b and/or with at least two calculation rules 32a, 32b for calculating a receiver test value. Furthermore, the receiver device 50 can additionally have a selection unit 53 for selecting a variable value 30a, 30b as a function of a sensor device 10a, 10b and/or for selecting a calculation rule 32a, 32b as a function of a sensor device 10a, 10b. Moreover, the receiver device 50 can additionally have an error detection unit 56 for checking received sensor measurement information 24a, 24b of a data section 72 of a data packet 70a, 70b from a sensor device 10a, 10b based on a received sensor test value 28a, 28b of a test section 74 of the data packet 70a, 70b from the sensor device 10a, 10b and a calculated receiver test value. Also, the receiver device 50 can have at least one receiving unit 54 for receiving data packets 70a, 70b.

[0057] FIG. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of a sensor device 10a according to the invention, wherein the sensor device 10a has a sensor test value generator 12a with a variable value 30a, 30b and with a calculation rule 32a for calculating a sensor test value 28a. Moreover, the sensor device 10a can additionally have a data packet generator 14a for generating a data packet 70a. Furthermore, the sensor device 10a can additionally include a transmitting unit 16a, wherein the transmitting unit 16a is designed to send the data packet 70a to the receiver device 50.

[0058] FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention, wherein the system has a receiver device 50 according to the invention and at least two sensor devices 10a, 10b according to the invention for communicating information between the sensor devices 10a, 10b and the receiver device 50 through a transmission channel 102a, 102b of the system 100. In FIG. 4, each sensor device 10a, 10b has a separate communication connection to the receiver device through a transmission channel 102a or 102b, preferably (only) by means of a supply conductor, a ground conductor, and a signal conductor in each case.

[0059] FIG. 5 schematically shows another embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention, wherein the system has a receiver device 50 according to the invention and at least two sensor devices 10a, 10b according to the invention for communicating information between the sensor devices 10a, 10b and the receiver device 50 through a transmission channel 102a of the system 100. The system 100 here has a common transmission channel 102a for the receiver device 50 and the at least two sensor devices 10a, 10b, wherein the receiver device 50 and the at least two sensor devices 10a, 10b each have a direct communication connection to the transmission channel 102a.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a data packet 70a, wherein the data packet 70a includes a data section 72 with the sensor measurement information 24a to be communicated, a test section 74 with the sensor test value 28a, a count section 76 with a count value 77 (so-called rolling counter), and a status section 78/serial section 80. Preferably, the status section 78/serial section 80 is 4 bits long. Furthermore, the data section 72 is preferably 24 bits long, wherein, in particular, 12 bits of the 24 bits of the data section 72 are associated with sensor measurement information of a first sensor of the sensor device 10a and the remaining 12 bits of the 24 bits of the data section 72 are associated with sensor measurement information of another sensor of the sensor device 10a. In particular, the count section 76 is 8 bits long. In like manner, the test section 74, in particular, is 8 bits long.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows, by way of example, an embodiment of a sensor test value generator 12aat least partly in hardwareof a sensor device 10a for calculating a CRC sensor test value as sensor test value 28a. At the start of a cyclic redundancy check (CRC method) as calculation rule 32a, a CRC initial test value as variable value is, as shown in FIG. 7, the initial value of the shift register (here: 11010010). In the CRC method, sensor measurement information 24a is modulo divided by a generator polynomial (here: 110100101) by means of polynomial division. The division is implemented here through shift registers. Once the sensor measurement information 24a is modulo divided by the generator polynomial, the CRC sensor test value can be determined or read out as sensor test value 28a from the shift registers as the remainder from the division, wherein the CRC sensor test value as sensor test value 28a is influenced by the choice of the CRC initial test value as variable value 30a or depends on the choice of the CRC initial test value as variable value 30a.

[0062] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.