Other

Daimler Chrysler Ag

Mercedes-benz Aktiengesellschaft

Daimler-benz Ag

Max Reeb

Juergen Setzer

Juergen Minuth

Peter Hanf

Helmut Grantz

Volker Petri

Detlef Kaminski

Thilo Kuhner

Ronald Heuthe

Bernd Haussler

Rolf Adomat

Bernd Haeussler

Wolfgang Kremer

Hannes Wagner

Karl-Heinz Mueller

Herbert Fiessinger

Alexander Dorr

Guenther Schwarz

Michael Brodersen

A method for testing and safeguarding the availability of a networked system which is assigned to a system carrier, wherein a multiplicity of subscribers exchange data via a bus-type network which is comprised of one or more bus lines. Specific voltage levels are applied to the bus line or the lines by the appropriate subscribers. By virtue of this, as a minimum, at least individual subscribers transmit data. The bus line or the lines is/are monitored by the at least one receiving subscriber for an overshoot or undershoot of voltage levels. Due to this, the data is evaluated in at least one receiving subscriber with the aid of voltage levels. During operation of the system, signals present on the bus-type network are discriminated, tested or measured with respect to at least one signal criterion by individual subscribers under conditions defined in a network-wide manner for all subscribers. In each case, characteristic status data is generated for each signal criterion (with respect to each subscriber) and collected and arranged in at least one status map of the system. This status data characterizes both the current and at least one earlier status, with regard to the tested subscribers and with respect to the at least one criterion. At least one measure of the margin of error of the networked system with respect to the at least one criterion is obtained from the status data.

Process for testing and ensuring the availability of a networked system

A semiconductor circuit for an electronic unit having at least one microcontroller comprises at least one voltage regulator for providing, from a first supply voltage, at least one second supply voltage for the microcontroller and for circuits of the unit which cooperate with the microcontroller. The circuit further comprises, in monolithic form, a transceiver unit having transmitting and receiving device for coupling a microcontroller to the two-wire bus. This monolithic construction may additionally comprise watchdog functions, various wake-up functions and an interface via which a serial data exchange with the at least one microcontroller is possible. Furthermore, it may have an apparatus for determining, throughout the network, bus subscribers having reference-ground potential faults and for quantifying such faults.

Semiconductor circuit for an electronic unit

Process for determining potential shifts between eletronic modules in a wire bus network

In a method for testing the ground contact of parts of a networked system in which data are sent and received via at least one line, at least one line at each part is connected via a resistance arrangement to a common potential of the parts and is connectable via a controllable switch to a further potential. The voltage across the resistance arrangement is compared with a predetermined potential when the line is at one potential in a steady state, and the state of the ground contact of the part is deduced from a comparison of the voltage across the resistance arrangement with the predetermined potential.

Process for testing the ground contact of parts of a networked system

An antenna system for a satellite-supported navigation device in a vehicle includes a part which is to be arranged on the exterior of a mounting surface of the vehicle body and which contains an antenna component, a system part to be arranged on the interior, and a coupling device for coupling on antenna signal and a power supply between the exterior part and the interior part. The coupling devices includes signal transmission devices which transmit power supply signals and, as required, also data signals in a wireless manner through the mounting surface between the exterior and the interior parts.

Antenna system for a satellite-supported vehicle navigation device

A device for monitoring balanced two-wire bus lines and two-wire but interfaces has first, second and third comparison circuits for comparing the wire potentials with one another and with a fixed reference voltage, and two shift registers or counters as well as at least one pulse generator for deriving reset pulses from each change in sign of the potential comparison of the two bus conductors with one another. The shift registers or counters are respectively reset by the reset pulses. Result signals produced from the comparison of the bus potentials with a fixed reference voltage can be fed to the shift registers or counters for the purpose of shifting or incrementing said registers or counters respectively. The register length or number of counter stages can be selected as a function of a desired bit error tolerance depth. The device can be extended by a self-resetting system after temporary bus disturbances. The device is also programmable, and thereby universal, and because of an integration capability using standard technology and having a very low space requirement is suitable as a compilable standard cell for possible bus chip designs. The device is operable in cooperation with software routines of a decentral bus test system as a test receiver for analyzing bus disturbances.

Device for detecting transmission errors in balanced two-wire bus lines

A method for monitoring symmetrical two-wire bus lines and two-wire bus interfaces and a device for carrying out the method provides pulse weighting of low to high transitions or high to low transitions of the two wires operated in phase opposition of a two-wire bus line. The pulse chains thus obtained are used for step sequencing. In each case, one multistep shift function which is assigned to the first bus wire, is supplied with a first, constant logic read in state and can be reset to a second logic state in all-step fashion and, for all-step resetting of a similar second multistep shift function assigned to the second bus while, and vice versa, the step last achieved for each multistep shift function characterizing the respective fault state of the other bus wire. The pulse weighting is achieved by differentiation or high-pass filtering or by pulse generation controlled by state transition. For the pulse weighting, the device uses simple RC elements or edge-controlled monostable times, and for the multistep shift functions, two similar shift registers are used which can be loaded serially and clocked and reset in parallel and which can also be realized in one piece as a component of a monolithic semiconductor circuit by the previously mentioned elements. The device has a fault tolerance which can be programmed with respect to the bit width, and in conjunction with a likewise settable input cutoff frequency permits the decentralized local testing of two wire bus-type networks. The device can be made using CMOS technology, in conjunction with a very low space requirement.

Method for monitoring symmetrical two-wire bus lines and two-wire bus

The new method concerns the custom designed lowcost mass production of flexible planar circuits which suit particu-larly for one time use and carry complex prints on at least one face thereof, as may be e.g. RF sensitive tickets or marker tags for electronic security systems. The construction both of planar electrical circuit and printed outfit elements in mutual alignment with each other is based on continuous light printing routines in combination with a production carrier protection and a post etching routine. Light printing may be of the LASER, LED, LCS or like type. The method is computer orchestrated and rolls off prior art barriers in view of limits for custom designs of shape, face, outfit, electrical, and even RF properties of such circuits. Custom designs are easily layouted onscreen of a modern personal computer. The data obtained thereof are downloaded to the production line. Changing, hopping sweeping and tuning custom circuit and print designs, without any format restriction and at full process speed is unprecedentedly introduced. Forming tools have been abandoned. As an exclusive longlife production tool electromagnetic wave energy is extensively used. The production web can be selected from a wide choice of materials and thus define circuit properties from flexible printed circuit wafers over tear-resistive spunbond labels to paper-like tags or stickers which may even be washed and sewn and nicely go one way with a pretty commercial face.

Computer and electromagnetic energy based mass production method for the

A planar LC marker construction useful as an electromagnetically interrogatable transponder is comprised of at least two conductive paths forming planar clockwise and counterclockwise turning spiral patterns (if viewed from the same side) aligned face-to-face, and turn by turn, in opposition to each other, and spaced by an insulative layer. The layer may have various components, at least one of which may be an adhesive layer to co-perform a capacitive function at radio frequency. At least in part that layer may configure as a sheet. The construction features a superior in-system detectivity owing to a very low RF electromagnetic field deflection, and can be produced cheaply for one-time use.

LC marker construction useful as an electromagnetically interrogatable

An arrangement for the inductive querying of and supplying of power to an isolated circuit having an electrical consuming device. The arrangement uses two isolating transformers each with a read winding to simultaneously compare the resistance of the consuming device with that of a simulation device when powered by a low alternating test current. Te arrangement has two outputs for test voltages corresponding to resistance deviations of the consuming device and the reference element, deviate in opposite directions. A bidirectional crosswise transmission of the testing power and the testing signal for the consuming device and the simulation compensates for tolerances of the transformers. When an increased alternating current is fed, the arrangement also causes the efficient supplying of power to the consuming device and a limiting of the power loss at the simulation. A CAN/VAN integratable arrangement performs the testing of and supplying of power to the triggering circuit of a safety system, as well as the inductive supplying of power to a steering wheel computer and the cableless command transmission, for example, for the actuating of signal devices.

Arrangement for the inductive querying of and supplying of power to an

The invention provides a novel process for the mass production of thin, flexible electrical low-cost circuits. More particularly, the invention concerns the super mass production of flexible planar LC circuits, as are commercially desired as marker means in electronic article surveillance systems. The novel method provides the computerized nonstop super-mass production of such circuits and breaks down prior art barriers in view of limits for custom designs of shape, face, and resonant properties of such circuits. Custom designs of circuits are easily layouted onscreen of a modern personal computer. The data obtained thereof are downloaded to the process line. Hopping custom circuit designs with ease is unprecedentedly introduced. Forming tools have been abandoned. As an exclusive longlife production tool electromagnetic wave energy is extensively used. The circuits obtained may be washed and sewn and nicely go one way with a pretty commercial face.

Method for the continuous flow make of customized planar electrical

The identification device in the form of a tag-like construction affixable to an object has at least one inductive element formed of flat conductor paths and a capacitive element formed from overlapping by overlaying conductor path parts and an interposed dielectric, which forms with the inductive element a closed resonant circuit, the conductor paths being arranged in at least two superimposed surfaces by folding together. In this way the conductor path parts forming the capacitive element are superimposed and they are at least partially identical with the conductor path parts forming the inductive element. In the method for the manufacture of the identification arrangement in the form of a tag-like construction affixable to an object, the conductor path constructions are arranged on an endless carrier path and the folding together of the conductor path construction is effected in that a continuously executed folding of the carrier path is carried out along a perforation line or fold-line.

Growing community of inventors

Boertlingen, Germany

Max Reeb