Learning objectives
This module aims to provide the basic knowledge and skills to design and manage the communication on the different types of bus for automotive.
At the end of the course the student is expected to know: i) the fundamental concepts of the propagation of signals on a physical carrier and the problems related to impedance mismatch; ii) the different types of buses used in automotive for communications; iii) the main features of the various implementations of these buses inside the vehicle.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of electronics and electromagnetics.
Course unit content
Transmission Lines: lumped and distributed element models. Wave propagation on transmission lines. Reflection and Matching. The Smith Chart.
Automotive Data Communication. Different implementations of bus-based communication systems in automotive. Automotive buses: CAN, Flex Ray, Ethernet and MOST.
Full programme
EM Propagation on Transmission Lines: characteristic impedance, reflection coefficient, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR). Impedance Matching. The Smith Chart. Transients on Transmission Lines: bouncing diagrams. Measurements on Transmission Lines.
Wired Interconnections for In-Vehicle Communication (IVC): in-vehicle networks (IVN). Buses for automotive: CAN, LIN, ETHERNET, FLEXRAY, MOST.
The CAN bus: main properties of the CAN Bus; implementation of the Physical Layer.
The CAN Bus signals. Overview of the CAN Bus. Different CAN Bus implementations: CAN C and CAN B. Data Flow on a CAN Bus. The Structure of the Data Frame. Bit Stuffing. Bus communication management.
Communication requirements and requirements for the implementation of the Physical Layer.
Timing. Critical Spacing of CAN BUS connections. Synchronizing the Bit Time: arbitration and acknowledgement. The approach to the Synchronization. Time Segments. The Synchronization Rules: Hard Synchronization and Resynchronization.
Bibliography
“Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics”, F.T. Ulaby, U. Ravaioli, 7th Ed., Pearson, 2015
“Understanding Automotive Electronics”, W.B. Ribbens, 7th Ed., Elsevier, 2017
“Bosch automotive electrics and automotive electronics. Systems and components, networking and hybrid drive”, R. Bosch, 5th Ed., Springer Vieweg, 2014
Teaching methods
The teaching of this module (3 credits) mainly includes delivered lectures on the theoretical aspects, with some classroom examples where the propagation of electrical signals on coaxial cables and CAN bus communication will be analyzed and discussed.
The lectures material (slides) is provided to the students before the corresponding class takes place.
Periodically, during the course, some lectures are carried out interactively (or in flip-mode), presenting questions to which students are required to give reasoned answers.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview (of around 30 minutes) on the main topics of the course. During the exam, the student can use a map with the main formulas of the course.
Other information
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