Multiplex Signals

Use multiplexing to represent multiple signals in one signal’s location in a CAN message’s data. A multiplexed message can have three types of signals:

Standard signal — This signal is always active. You can create one or more standard signals.
Multiplexor signal — Also called the mode signal, it is always active and its value determines which multiplexed signal is currently active in the message data. You can create only one multiplexor signal per message.
Multiplexed signal — This signal is active when its multiplex value matches the value of the multiplexor signal. You can create one or more multiplexed signals in a message.

Multiplexing works only with a CAN database with message definitions that already contain multiplex signal information. This example shows you how to access the different multiplex signals using a database constructed specifically for this purpose. This database has one message with these signals:

SigA — A multiplexed signal with a multiplex value of 0.
SigB — Another multiplexed signal with a multiplex value of 1.
MuxSig — A multiplexor signal, whose value determines which of the two multiplexed signals are active in the message.

For example,

Create a CAN database.
```
d = canDatabase('Mux.dbc')
```
Note
This is an example database constructed for creating multiplex messages. To try this example, use your own database.

Create a CAN message.

m = canMessage(d,'Msg')

m = 

  can.Message handle
  Package: can

  Properties:
           ID: 250
     Extended: 0
         Name: 'Msg'
     Database: [1x1 can.Database]
        Error: 0
       Remote: 0
    Timestamp: 0
         Data: [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0]
      Signals: [1x1 struct]

  Methods, Events, Superclasses

To display the signals, type:
```
m.Signals
```
```
ans = 

      SigB: 0
      SigA: 0
    MuxSig: 0
```
MuxSig is the multiplexor signal, whose value determines which of the two multiplexed signals are active in the message. SigA and SigB are the multiplexed signals that are active in the message if their multiplex values match MuxSig. In the example shown, SigA is active because its current multiplex value of 0 matches the value of MuxSig (which is 0).
If you want to make SigB active, change the value of the MuxSig to 1.
```
m.Signals.MuxSig = 1
```
To display the signals, type:
```
m.Signals
```
```
ans = 

      SigB: 0
      SigA: 0
    MuxSig: 1
```
SigB is now active because its multiplex value of 1 matches the current value of MuxSig (which is 1).
Change the value of MuxSig to 2.
```
m.Signals.MuxSig = 2
```
Here, neither of the multiplexed signals are active because the current value of MuxSig does not match the multiplex value of either SigA or SigB.
```
  m.Signals
```
```
 ans = 

      SigB: 0
      SigA: 0
    MuxSig: 2
```
Always check the value of the multiplexor signal before using a multiplexed signal value.
```
if (m.Signals.MuxSig == 0)
% Feel free to use the value of SigA however is required.
end 
```
This ensures that you are not using an invalid value, because the toolbox does not prevent or protect reading or writing inactive multiplexed signals.

Note

You can access both active and inactive multiplexed signals, regardless of the value of the multiplexor signal.

Refer to the canMessage function to learn more about creating messages.

Multiplex Signals

Related Topics