FRstress

The Stress Module for FlexRay

For testing and validating FlexRay systems there is a need for greater precision in studying a system's behavior in response to errors and disturbances. FRstress generates reproducible disturbances on a channel in the FlexRay cluster. It can generate protocol errors as well as disturbances in bus physics that are activated by trigger conditions. This gives the developer and tester a high-performance stress module.

Features and Advantages:

FRstress is an easy-to-use hardware module whose integration in the system differs depending on the desired disturbance. For asynchronous disturbances and physical modifications of the bus line FRstress is connected as an additional network node. For bit-precise disturbances, on the other hand, FRstress is introduced directly into the bus line. A third mode just activates the trigger logic with high-impedance termination to drive external devices.

Functions:

• Generation of asynchronous and synchronous disturbance sequences
• Modification of individual frame bits including CRC recalculation (e.g. Sync flag)
• Switch-in RC network with adjustable resistances and an adjustable capacitor
• Switchable connections between the bus lines, to ground and to supply voltage
• Trigger logic to detect different positions in the FlexRay frame (including Header, Payload, etc.)
• 4 parallel trigger conditions and associated disturbance sequences
• Configuration via FIBEX databases
• Trigger output to drive external devices such as an oscilloscope or signal generator
• Synchronization capability for parallel operation of two FRstress modules to disturb both FlexRay channels