A Power Line Communication approach for body electronics modules

Body electronics systems are pervasively spreading all over modern vehicles making cars easy to operate, relieving drivers from several minor tasks and improving safety and comfort. These systems are connected between them and to peripheral control units through networks based on serial protocols. Cost reductions can be accomplished by adopting Power Line Communication techniques, to enable existing power cables to provide the physical layer for communication. An investigation about a power line communication system dedicated to body electronics applications is presented in this paper. The concept and the methods used for data transmission from a master to some slave nodes are described and the design of a transceiver retaining the logic of the LIN protocol and allowing data transfer through power cables is then discussed. Cost and EMC issues are also considered. A prototype power line network has been realized and tested.