Remote-controlled edge system solutions

Figure 2 illustrates a remote-controlled edge node as a headlight using 10BASE-T1S or CAN FD light. The PHY or responder translates Ethernet or CAN FD light messages to various local protocols, controlling a temperature sensor, LED driver, motor driver and high-side switch. The commander ECU gives the PHY or responder commands to enable the load drivers through UART, SPI, GPIO or other protocols to turn the actuators on and off. The PHY or responder then transmits sensor data and actuator feedback upstream to the commander ECU.

TI offers a remote-controlled edge headlight solution with UART over CAN using the TPS92544-Q1 switching LED driver with integrated stepper-motor trapezoidal control and the DRV8434A-Q1 stepper motor driver. The TPS92544-Q1 controls both the LED and motor through a single UART interface, making it an efficient solution for a headlight module. As shown in Figure 12, the CAN transceiver serves as a hardware medium for UART packets from the commander ECU.

These UART packets control the TPS92544-Q1 to enable the headlight, and drive the DRV8434A-Q1 device’s stepper motion control for the leveling motor.