A system for the controlled exclusion of branches of a serial communication network in an electronic control system for onboard devices of motor vehicles

摘要

A control system comprises at least one electronic control unit (10) intended to manage the passenger compartment and/or vehicle body functions, which can be connected to a plurality of driving circuit modules (14-17) for driving on board devices through a serial communication network (12), in which the driving modules (14-17) of the on board devices are each connected through a respective peripheral communication branch (24-26) to a common node of the network (12), and to the control unit (10) through a single main physical communication line (20).;An interface circuit (35) is interposed between the main communication line (20) and the branches (24-26) of the network (12) at the common node, and includes a plurality of controlled switching devices (40) corresponding in number to the number of branches (24-26) of the network (12), and is operable selectively to interrupt connection of one or more peripheral communication branches (24-26) to the main communication line (20).