A circuit arrangement for an electronic control module for converting between communication protocols

摘要

A circuit arrangement for an electronic control module is described, operable to effect conversion between communication protocols of a plurality of networks (14a-14d). The arrangement comprises; a main processing unit (10) and a auxiliary processing unit (12) operable to receive signals from the said plurality of networks (14a-14d) and to effect conversion between the respective communication protocols; and selector devices (22a'-22d', 24a'-24d'; 22a"-22d", 24a"-24d") coupled to the processing units (10, 12) and operable selectively to enable transmission of signals between the networks and a processing unit. The auxiliary processing unit (12) is arranged to receive state signals indicative of the operative condition of the main processing unit (10). The selector devices are controlled by the auxiliary processing unit (12) as a function of the state signals of the main unit (10) in such a way that, in a normal operating condition, these co-operate to establish a coupling between the main unit (10) and the said networks (14a-14d), and in a failure condition of the main unit (10) they co-operate to establish a coupling between the auxiliary unit (12) and the networks (14a-14d) to allow the auxiliary unit (12) to assume the management of the conversion between the communication protocols. <IMAGE>