Bradley E Bement

US Patent:

58810633, Mar 9, 1999

Filed:

Apr 8, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/629252

Inventors:

Bradley Earl Bement - Farmington Hills MI
Robert Dennis Crawford - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H04L 1228
H04L 1256

US Classification:

370389

Abstract:

A method and circuit for receiving frame messages connected to one or more nodes, each controlled by a microcontroller, along a common transmission line of a multiplex communication system. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving the type and target bytes, and responsive thereto generating a first interrupt signal to the microcontroller at the node; (b) commanding the microcontroller, responsive to receiving the first interrupt signal, for qualifying the frame message by retrieving and matching one or more of the type and target bytes with corresponding bytes stored in programmable memory within the microcontroller, and responsive thereto generating a qualified signal; and (c) receiving data bytes from the frame message only responsive to receiving the qualified signal from the microcontroller.

US Patent:

57970386, Aug 18, 1998

Filed:

Sep 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/709945

Inventors:

Robert Dennis Crawford - Livonia MI
Bradley Earl BeMent - Farmington Hills MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

395868

Abstract:

A method is provided for serial communication between a host device and a peripheral device. The method includes transmitting an interrupt command from the host to the peripheral in response to a peripheral interrupt signal and, substantially simultaneously, transmitting interrupt status data from the peripheral to the host, the interrupt status data representing a pending peripheral interrupt and indicating whether a communication error has occurred. The method also includes transmitting a continue code from the host to the peripheral based on the interrupt status data and, substantially simultaneously, transmitting information associated with the pending interrupt from the peripheral to the host in response to the interrupt command, the information having a predefined structure based on the interrupt status data for use in resolution of the pending interrupt. A system is also provided for performing the method.

US Patent:

57014108, Dec 23, 1997

Filed:

Sep 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/709944

Inventors:

Bradley Earl BeMent - Farmington Hills MI
Kevin Mark Tiedje - Farmington Hills MI
Robert Dennis Crawford - Livonia MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06F 1134

US Classification:

39518319

Abstract:

A method for detecting fault conditions on a multiplexed network having first and second busses. The method includes sensing a start of frame delimiter (SOF) for the first bus, and determining the state of the second bus when the SOF is sensed. If the state of the second bus has been passive over a first selected time period, the state of a differential between the first and second busses is determined. If the state of the differential between the first and second busses is not indicative of a pre-qualified start of frame delimiter, then a passive fault is indicated. Additionally, the method includes sensing an end of frame delimiter (EOF) for the first bus, and determining the state of the second bus when the EOF is sensed. If the state of the second bus has been active over a selected time period, then an active fault for the second bus is indicated. A system for performing the method is also disclosed.