Electronic assembly and operating method

An electronic assembly has a plurality of functional units each including a board element populated with electronic modules. The board elements are connected to one another in terms of signaling via a contact board. An assembly having a high degree of communication flexibility in conjunction with favorable production costs can be provided if it contains a communication unit connected to the contact board directly by data lines. The communication unit is populated with electronic components in such a way that it serves as a communication interface for modules of the board elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an electronic assembly having a plurality of functional units each comprising a board element populated with electronic modules. The board elements are connected to one another in terms of signaling via a contact board.

Electronic assemblies for controlling complex processes usually comprise a plurality of functional units each respectively on a circuit board, which are allocated different functions or tasks. In this case, the complex control task is achieved by an interaction of the functional units processing the different partial tasks.

The mechanical and signaling connection of the individual functional units is usually realized by way of a so-called backplane, which is also referred to as a bus circuit board. Such a backplane comprises a slot for each functional unit, by means of which slots the functional units is fixedly connected to the backplane mechanically and in terms of signaling. The individual slots are wired to one another according to the task of the electronic assembly and the individual partial tasks of the functional units, such that the functional units can communicate with one another and achieve their partial tasks by data exchange among one another. The electrical connections produced by the backplane between the slots can vary greatly and determine the architecture of the backplane and of the electronic assembly.

By virtue of the task-specific wiring, backplanes form a central constituent of integrated, computer-controlled systems, primarily appertaining to telecommunications, metrology and automation, medical technology or aeronautics and rail road technology. As the central element, the backplane forms a bus architecture for the connection of the individual pins of the slots and thus of the individual contact locations of all the functional units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an electronic assembly, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for an electronic assembly which exhibits a high degree of communication flexibility in conjunction with favorable production costs.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an electronic assembly, comprising:

a plurality of functional units each including a board element populated with electronic modules;

a contact board connecting said board elements to one another in terms of signaling;

a communication unit directly connected to said contact board by data lines, said communication unit being populated with electronic components configuring said communication unit to serve as a communication interface for said electronic modules of said board elements.

In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved by way of an electronic assembly of the type mentioned in the introduction which, according to the invention, comprises a communication unit connected to the contact board directly by data lines, said communication unit being populated with electronic components in such a way that it serves as a communication interface for modules of the board elements.

In this case, the invention is based on the consideration that from among the functional units at least individual functional units communicate with systems outside the electronic assembly in order to bring about a control or to be able to receive sensor or control signals. For this purpose, the individual functional units are prepared in accordance with their tasks for communication toward the outside, such that they are provided with corresponding settings with regard to a required data transmission rate, data form and/or a transmission protocol. If a plurality of similar assemblies are produced for managing similar tasks in similar control processes, then it is advantageous if the different assemblies can be embodied identically at least with regard to their functional units, in order to simplify manufacture. This simplification is impeded by the necessary communication adaptation of the individual functional units to external control units, actuators or sensors. Since such a communication adaptation is generally necessary for a plurality of functional units of an electronic assembly, it is particularly expedient to centralize it. An appropriate central functional unit in this case is a backplane, which constitutes a central functional unit of the assembly.

The invention is based on the further consideration that a further standardization of similar assemblies can be achieved by an even further-reaching modular construction that allocates different functions to different structural units. A functional separation of communication adaptation and task-specific wiring of the backplane is advantageous in this regard. This separation can be accomplished if the task-specific wiring of the functional units is performed by a first part of the backplane and the communication adaptation is performed by a second part of the backplane. In this case, it is not necessary for both parts to perform the further customary tasks of a backplane, such as the mechanical connection of the functional units. This modular separation can be accomplished by the separation of the backplane into a contact board and a communication unit. The communication unit and the contact board can be produced separately from one another and therefore also configured separately from one another.

The electronic assembly can be a control unit for the autonomous control of a system, for example for the control of a missile. The board elements can be circuit boards which are also mechanically connected to one another via the contact board. A module can be a processor or comprise one or a plurality of electronic components. The communication unit expediently forms a dedicated board element mounted separately from the contact board in the electronic assembly. In this case, it is advantageous if the communication unit is mounted mechanically separately from the contact board in a housing, for example.

The communication unit is advantageously embodied such that it forms an information-linking communication interface between at least one internal communication mode of a functional unit with an external communication mode—different therefrom—of a unit outside the electronic assembly. A communication interface is considered to be a unit which is provided for adapting two different communication modes to one another. The difference can reside in different communication protocols, data transfer protocols, communication data rates, signal amplitudes and the like. The external unit can be an external control unit, sensors, actuators or the like. In addition, the communication unit can be a communication interface between an internal communication mode of a functional unit and a different communication mode of a further functional unit of the electronic assembly.

It is additionally advantageous if a data connection produced by the data lines between the functional units and the communication unit form at least one high-speed bus. If appropriate, it may be sufficient if only the internal connection between the functional units, and thus data lines in the contact board, is embodied as a high-speed bus. A high-speed bus can be understood hereinafter to be a bus connection having a data rate of at least 1 Mbit/s.

The modularity principle can be further fostered if the contact board is passive and the communication unit is active. In this context, activity is understood to mean the population with active components, such as ICs, or passive components, such as resistors or capacitors. Accordingly, the contact board is passive if it carries no active or passive components, but rather is only provided with data lines, for example, in which the data or signals are passed in particular without any data processing from an input contact to an output contact.

Through the centralization of the communication adaptation of the functional units among one another and of the functional units toward the outside, that is to say to units outside the electronic assembly, the functional units can be standardized. They are therefore expediently all embodied identically in terms of their hardware. By means of different data processing programs such as, for example, firmware and/or further freely programmable software, the functional units can be oriented toward their different tasks.

The modular construction of the backplane enables the electronic assembly to be adapted particularly simply to different tasks, for example by only one structural unit, such as the communication unit and/or the contact board, being adapted and the task. In a system comprising, for example, a first electronic assembly for a first task and a second electronic assembly for a different second task, therefore, the functional units of the first assembly can be identical in terms of their hardware to the functional units of the second assembly. It may be sufficient if only the two communication units differ in terms of their hardware and are respectively adapted to the corresponding task, if appropriate even with identical contact boards. In the case of largely different tasks of the two assemblies, it is also possible for the contact boards to be different, for example in such a way that the functional units of the two assemblies are wired differently by the two contact boards.

In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the contact board has a task-specific line routing which is adapted to individual tasks of the functional units and which is embodied differently from one to a second functional unit than from the second to a third functional unit. In particular, the line routings between all of the functional units can be different in each case.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, one of the electronic components of the communication unit is a router. It is thereby possible to centralize the communication between functional units of the electronic assembly and/or a functional unit and an external unit. Consequently, a specific communication wiring adapted to communication tasks is no longer necessary, under certain circumstances, but rather can be replaced by a corresponding programming of the router. It is thereby possible to simplify the production of the electronic assembly and to increase the flexibility of the communication. The router is advantageously embodied as a non-blocking router, that is to say that it has an available data processing rate which is higher than the maximum possible data traffic which it has to manage. For each port of each functional unit it is thereby possible to make available to it at any time the full data transmission rate for it.

In addition, it is proposed that the router be embodied for logging communication between electronic modules of the board elements. A debugging of the electronic assembly can thereby be carried out in a manner by data interrogation by the router.

A further advantageous configuration of the invention provides for the communication unit to have a power supply for the functional units. By this means, too, an advantageous modular and in particular compact design of the electronic assembly can be implemented. Advantageously, the power supply is embodied in such a way that it produces an intermediate voltage lying between a voltage fed in externally and a voltage required by modules of the functional units. Thus, by way of example, an internal supply voltage of 3.3 volts can be transmitted in a manner insusceptible to faults over the transmission distances of the electronic assembly, wherein a voltage of 5 volts, 12 volts or higher from an external power supply system can be employed.

Further advantages of the standardized modular design can be obtained if the communication unit is prepared for controlling a switch-on sequencing of the individual functional units. It is thereby possible to dispense with initiation of the switch-on sequencing by the functional units themselves, which can thereby be simplified in terms of hardware and software and can thus be produced more easily in a standardizable fashion.

If the communication unit is provided with a test interface for functionally testing the individual functional units, then a debugging can be carried out in a simple manner from outside, in particular during the operation of the electronic functional unit, without each functional unit requiring such an interface separately. By means of the functional testing, each functional unit can expediently be tested individually.

With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for operating an electronic assembly as described above. It is proposed that, according to the invention, one of the electronic components be a router. It is thereby possible to carry out fault detection at a central location. The router logs, in particular, a communication of at least one functional unit. A functional checking of the functional units and/or of the modules is expediently carried out during the regular operation of the assembly.

The functional checking and, in particular, the rectification of a fault by means of a corresponding programming of the router can be triggered externally, that is to say from outside the electronic assembly, for example by a control unit with a corresponding checking function. For the purpose of functional checking, communication data can be compared with desired data for communication by the router.

A functional checking can be simplified if communication data are visualized for the display of communication processes. The visualization expediently takes place on a screen, in particular on the basis of a graphical representation. The functional checking can be triggered by an external enquiry and/or on the initiative of the router, for example if a routine log data comparison suggests a communication fault. The functional inner workings of the assembly can be checked and in particular visualized by the interrogation of the router.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, toFIG. 1thereof, there is seen a schematic circuit diagram of an electronic assembly2comprising four functional groups4, each comprising a board element6in the form of a circuit board and electronic modules8arranged on the board. The electronic assembly2, in this example, serves for controlling a guided missile and for evaluating signals of a homing head. A module8can be understood to be one or a plurality of electronic components which individually or jointly fulfill a function. In each of the functional groups4, one of the modules8is a central processor equipped with software, that is to say one or a plurality of electronic data processing programs, for example in the form of firmware and additional freely programmable software. Each processor is thereby able to process a range of tasks or a function, wherein the functions of the processors are different and are indicated symbolically by the letters A to E inFIG. 1. Apart from the different programming, the functional groups4are embodied completely identically with regard to their hardware, that is to say their electronic modules8and the wiring thereof, that is to say the line routing among one another and toward the outside, and they are also identical otherwise.

Each of the board elements6carries a plurality of contact locations10in the form of pins by which the functional groups4are connected to a contact board12in terms of signaling and for power supply purposes and also mechanically. For this purpose, the contact locations10are inserted into corresponding contact receptacles14(seeFIG. 3) of the contact board12in the form of metalized holes and are soldered, thus giving rise to a fixed mechanical and electrical connection between the board element6and the contact board12. The contact board12in turn is connected to a communication unit22via a plurality of data lines16,18and power supply lines20, wherein the data lines16,18and power supply lines20are incorporated into a film24(seeFIG. 3) in the form of a ribbon cable.

The data lines16,18and further data lines16,18are laid in the contact board12such that a functionally related communication of the functional groups4among one another is made possible. Thus, data lines18embodied as high-speed buses, which are indicated by long dashes inFIG. 1, are arranged between the functional groups4in such a way that each of the functional groups4is connected directly or via a further functional group4to all the functional groups4via such a data line. A further such data line18is led via the communication unit22toward the outside, that is to say to outside the electronic assembly2, and for this purpose leads into an interface26, for example in the form of a plug, for connection to an external device, e.g. a control unit or a unit comprising actuators for actuating mechanical objects. Via further data lines16, which are indicated by shorter dashes inFIG. 1, the functional groups4communicate via the interface26and a further interface28with the outside world, e.g. further functional groups, sensors or the like, which, for this purpose, are connected to the interfaces26,28in terms of signaling.

Via a power supply line20, the communication unit22can be supplied externally by a voltage for power supply purposes, in particular 5V, 12V or 28V, the latter being fed to a power supply unit30. In the latter, the voltage is stepped down to a lower voltage, for example 3.3V, and passed on to the functional groups4via the further power supply lines20. Each of the functional groups likewise has a power supply unit, indicated as module8inFIG. 1, for further transformation into one or a plurality of operating voltages of the modules8of the functional groups4, for example 1.0V, 1.8V and 2.5V.

In terms of their functions, the contact board12and the communication unit22perform the tasks of a so-called backplane that connects a plurality of functional units to one another. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, said backplane, which is usually unified per se, is subdivided into two units, namely the passive contact board12, which therefore carries no electronic modules whatsoever, and the active communication unit22, which serves as a communication interface for the functional groups4or the modules8thereof toward the outside. For this purpose, the communication unit22carries components32prepared for adapting the communication of the modules8of the functional groups4to a communication to be carried out toward the outside. Thus, the components32adapt, for example, a communication protocol and/or an amplitude of communication signals from an internal communication to an external communication, and vice versa, such that a communication adaptation of the individual functional groups4can be obviated. Independently of their tasks indicated by the letters A to E, therefore, the latter can be embodied identically since the communication properties associated with the tasks are implemented toward the outside by corresponding components32of the communication unit22.

On the basis of the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1it can be illustrated how a plurality of electronic assemblies embodied analogously to the assembly2can be produced efficiently for different tasks. Thus, alongside the electronic assembly2illustrated inFIG. 1, a further assembly2can be conceived, which is prepared for a different control task, for example of a different missile or of a different automation device. Both electronic assemblies2in each case comprise a number of functional groups4, wherein the numbers need not be identical. The functional groups4are respectively inserted into a contact board12or soldered therein and connected to the communication unit22in the manner corresponding to the illustration inFIG. 1.

The central processors of the functional groups4are programmed according to the tasks. Otherwise, all functional groups4of both assemblies2can be embodied identically. In the case of similar tasks, the two contact boards12of the two assemblies2can also be embodied identically, only the communication unit22being adapted to the corresponding control units, sensors or the like. For this purpose, the two communication units22can carry different components32and be wired differently, that is to say have e.g. different line outputs at the interfaces26,28. In the case of very different tasks of the two assemblies2, the contact boards12can also be correspondingly adapted to the tasks, such that the wiring, that is to say the line routings of the lines16,18and, if appropriate, also of the power supply lines20, is different and optimized to the tasks. By virtue of this modular construction, the same functional groups4and, if appropriate, even the same contact boards12can always be used for both assemblies2. Adaptations of the electronic assemblies2to different tasks can therefore be achieved by simple changes in manufacture of the communication unit22and, if appropriate, of the contact board12. A configuration of the functional groups4and an adaptation of the backplane to this configuration are no longer necessary.

A further task that can be assigned to the communication unit22is a switch-on sequencing of the individual functional groups4. In order not to overload a voltage source, it is advantageous if, upon an initialization of the assembly2, the individual functional groups4do not start at the same time, since, in such a case, many modules8have a high power consumption, which places high demands on the power supply. If it was previously customary for a first functional group4to switch on first, then to pass a switch-on signal to a next functional group4, which in turn triggers the switch-on of a further functional group4, such a switch-on sequencing can now be carried out by a component32of the communication unit22. By this means, too, a specific adaptation of the functional groups4to a desired switch-on sequencing is obviated, since they are completely freed of the task of the switch-on sequencing. Corresponding signals can be passed from a component32via a data line16to the functional groups4, which switch on at the command of the communication unit22. The standardizability of the functional groups4can be increased further by means of this distribution of tasks adapted to the modularity of the assembly2.

Identification of faults and rectification of faults are accorded high importance in electronic assemblies2. For the simple and centralized management of this task, the communication unit22carries a component34configured as a test interface. By means of this test interface, each of the functional groups4can be accessed with test signals and corresponding output signals for checking the function of the functional groups4can be tapped off at the interface26. A corresponding preparation at the individual functional groups4can be obviated, such that the latter—independently of their functions impressed by programming—can be tested in respect of the correct processing of their tasks. Particular requirements made of the hardware or wirings by such tests can be implemented in the communication unit22. An adaptation which is necessary with regard to the different tasks of the functional groups4therefore again only concerns the communication unit22, such that a high standardization of the rest of the structural units of the assembly2can be achieved.

A further exemplary embodiment of an electronic assembly36is illustrated inFIG. 2. The description below is substantially restricted to the differences with respect to the exemplary embodiment fromFIG. 1, to which reference is made with regard to uniform features and functions. Substantially uniform structural parts are designated by the same reference signs, in principle, and features not mentioned are adopted in the following exemplary embodiments, without being described once again.

The electronic assembly36is again provided with the identical functional groups4and a contact board38, which is connected to a communication unit40. The communication unit40carries a router42, which is connected to individual functional groups4via data lines18embodied as a high-speed bus. The bus connection from the router42to the functional groups4is merely indicated by the arrows of the data lines18that end at a further distance from the contact locations10, and is not allocated to the contact locations10in concrete terms inFIG. 2. Via bus connections, the router42is also connected to the two interfaces26,28, likewise merely illustrated schematically. The entire communication between the functional groups4passes via the router42, which is thereby informed about all data exchange steps of the functional groups4among one another and toward and from the outside.

The router42thus forms a communication hub of the electronic assembly36which is embodied in non-blocking fashion, that is to say allows, in terms of its communication data rate, all modules8connected to it to communicate simultaneously with the data rate allocated thereto. The router42is prepared for logging the entire or else only defined individual areas of the communication of the functional groups4among one another and, in particular, also of the functional groups4toward the outside. In order to enable an interrogation of communication data from outside, the router42is embodied with a data interface toward the outside.

In this way, data concerning communication processes of the functional groups4can be retrieved from outside and used for example for a functional test of the functional groups4or eliminating faults (debugging). It is expedient to visualize these communication data or parts thereof, that is to say to represent them e.g. graphically on a screen, such that communication faults can be found rapidly and functional faults of the functional groups4can be deduced therefrom. It is also possible for the router42already to be prepared, for example by means of corresponding programming, for comparing communication data with desired data for communication and for passing data resulting from this comparison toward the outside, thereby simplifying an evaluation from outside. In this way, a targeted checking of the functional groups4can already be implemented in a targeted manner during the production of the electronic assembly36.

FIGS. 3 to 5illustrate concrete geometrical implementations of the electronic assembly2, wherein the assembly36can also be embodied in a corresponding manner. As can be seen fromFIG. 4, a functional group4—and this applies to all of the functional groups4—is mounted in a housing44consisting of a housing base46and a cover48to be screwed to the housing base46. Through a lateral opening50(seeFIG. 5), the contact locations10of the board element6project through the housing44toward the outside. The board element6is also screwed in the housing base46.

For cooling the central processor52, a thermal bridge54in the form of a gel pad is arranged between the processor and the housing cover48. With the cover48closed, the gel pad54makes direct contact with both the processor52and the cover48. On its other side, the processor52is likewise connected to a thermal sink, which is realized by a shaped portion56—if appropriate likewise with an additional gel pad—which makes thermal contact with the board element6on its non-illustrated rear side directly or via the gel pad. Thermal contact is thereby made with the board element6in an inner region spaced apart from the edge region of the board element6, such that heat emitted by the processor52via the shaped portion56is passed directly into the housing44. Moreover, the board element6is held mechanically in its inner region and thereby particularly protected against strong vibrations.

The four housings44of the four functional groups4are screwed to one another in the finished state of the assembly2and thereby form a mechanically very stable assemblage. This assemblage is additionally screwed to the contact board12, as is illustrated with the aid of indicated screws58. Any other mechanical fixing by some other fixing means is also conceivable.

Placed around this fixed assembly are the contact board12, the line-carrying film24and the communication unit22, which together engage around the functional groups4from two sides. The assembly2is thereby embodied in a very compact fashion. By means of a screw joint or some other suitable fixing, the communication unit22is additionally connected to the functional groups4—to the housing44of at least one functional group4in the concrete exemplary embodiment shown—, thus giving rise to a mechanically particularly stable assemblage. On the basis of an outer supporting structure60, the assembly2can be incorporated mechanically stably in an environment, for example a guided missile. The signaling connection toward the outside takes place in this case via the two interfaces26,28, which are embodied as plugs, for example, and can be connected to a homer or a guiding part. Both interfaces26,28are connected, analogously to the film24, to the communication unit22via flexible connectors62, such that signaling contact is made with the communication unit22on three sides (one side is not visible, but embodied in the same way) in the design fixed-flexible-fixed.

In order to achieve a particularly compact and resource-saving geometry of the assembly2, the communication unit22is arranged in a specific geometry with respect to the contact board12. In the case of this geometry, the board elements6conceived of in lengthened fashion intersect the communication unit22. In the case of a smaller communication unit22it is sufficient if at least one of the board elements6in a conceptually lengthened form intersects the communication unit22. In general terms, the communication unit22is connected to the contact board12via a plurality of data lines16,18, wherein the data lines16,18are connected to the contact board12on that side64thereof toward which the rows66of the contact locations10of the board elements6face, as is illustrated inFIG. 3.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, contact board12and communication unit22form a right angle with one another, other angles likewise being conceivable. A parallelism of board elements6and of the communication unit22is not provided, in particular. By virtue of this geometry, the data lines16,18can be led from the functional groups4to the communication unit22, without having to cross an imaginary line respectively formed by the rows66. An imaginary line in a lengthening of the rows66, which are in each case parallel to the board element6assigned thereto, therefore points directly toward the side64and toward the communication unit22or a corresponding contact-connection of a data line16,18from the contact board12to the communication unit22.

The following is a list of reference numerals and the corresponding element described in the above specification:2Assembly4Functional group6Board element8Module10Contact location12Contact board14Contact receptacle16Data line18Data line20Power supply line22Communication unit24Film26Interface28Interface30Power supply unit32Component34Component36Assembly38Contact board40Communication unit42Router44Housing46Housing base48Cover50Opening52Processor54Bridge56Shaped portion58Screw60Supporting structure62Connector64Side66Row