Powertrain Control Software: Multiplexing
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Mercury Mariner and 2010 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The increased number of modules on the vehicle necessitates a more efficient method of communication. Multiplexing is a method of designating a system for sending two or more signals simultaneously over a single circuit. In an automotive application, multiplexing is used to allow two or more electronic modules to communicate simultaneously over a single media. Typically this media is a twisted pair of wires. The information or messages that can be communicated on these wires consists of commands, mode status, or data. The advantage of using multiplexing is to reduce the weight of the vehicle by reducing the number of redundant components and electrical wiring.