BE-2 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

BODY ELECTRICAL

MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

1. System Outline

General

 A multiplex communication system establishes serial data communication by connecting the ECUs on
a single communication line in order to exchange multiple pieces of information.
 The adoption of a multiplex communication system significantly reduces the number of wiring
harnesses as well as the number of sensors.
 The types of multiplex communication systems are the BEAN (Body Electronics Area Network),
which consists primarily of the ECUs that control the body systems, and the AVC-LAN (Audio
Visual Communication - Local Area Network), which consists of the ECUs that control the audio
and visual systems.

Conceptual Drawing of Multiplex Communication System 

Shift Position
 Shift Position
 Fuel Injection Fuel Injection
Volume
Volume

Water Temp. Sensor

Water Temp. Sensor

A/C ECU Engine ECU Meter ECU

Ambient Temp. Sensor

199BE01 Ambient Temp. Sensor 199BE02

Multiplex Communication System Conventional System

NCF
SC430
202E
 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BE-3

Daisy Chain

The ECUs that comprise the BEAN are connected serially to form a ring. This type of connection method
is called a daisy chain.

The ECUs are connected by a communication line, and multiple pieces of information are transmitted
and received by the ECUs by slightly staggering their times.

Communication Line

Communication Line
ECU
Data
ECU ECU
ECU ECU

ECU ECU Data

ECU 199BE71

199BE69

Communication Frame

The ECUs in the BEAN exchange data in the form of individual clusters called communication frames,
which are configured as described in the diagram below.

Header Response of Receiver ECU

Priority
Data Length End Message

Communication
Line Voltage

Hi (12 V)
Address for Error Sending is
Rcceiver ECU Data Type Data Detection Completed
Code
Lo (0 V)

Communication Frame

199BE70

NCF
SC430
202E
BE-4 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

2. General
 The basic construction and function of the multiplex communication system on the SC430 are the same
as on the LS430.
 The BEAN consists of three buses (bus : A single cluster of daisy chain):
a) Door bus
b) Instrument panel bus
c) Steering column bus
 The gateway ECU connects the buses, the AVC-LAN, and the DLC3 (Data Link Connector 3), and man-
ages the communication among them.
 The communication between the control signals related to the audio and visual systems and the Gateway
ECU is established via the AVC-LAN.
 A customized body electronics system has been adopted.
 To protect the lighting operations and wiper operations in case the communication is disrupted due to
a malfunction, a backup bus and fail-safe line is provided.

BEAN
(Instrument
Panel Bus) : BEAN
: AVC-LAN
BEAN
BEAN (Steering : Communication
(Door Bus) Column Bus) Line for Diagnosis

Gateway
ECU

AVC-LAN DLC3
202BE002

Specifications 

Item SC430 LS430

Connected ECUs *1 21 28
Communication Frame *2 100 140

Gatewayy BEAN x Diagnosis Gateway ECU

Function BEAN x AVC-LAN Gateway ECU

ECU in charge of vehicle information of
Gateway ECU

the customized body electronics system
The DTCs (Diagnostic
Trouble Codes) of the
Troubleshooting the multiplex
Gateway ECU are

communication system
checked on the LEXUS
hand-held tester
Communication Speed 10 kbps *3

*1: Optional ECUs are also included.
*2: A group of data that is required for a single instance of communication.
*3: A unit of data transmission per second (bit per second).

NCF
SC430
202E
 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BE-5

3. System Diagram

Entire System

DLC3

Passenger Airbag Skid Driver Passenger Driver Front

Side J / B Sensor Engine Door Door Passenger
Control ECU Seat
ECU Assembly ECU ECU ECU ECU Seat ECU

BEAN
(Door Bus)
Tire Theft Sliding
Pressure Meter Air Transponder Roof
Monitor Conditioner Deterrent Key ECU
ECU ECU ECU Control
Receiver*2 ECU

BEAN
Gateway ECU
(Instrument
Panel Bus)
Stereo Driver Luggage Tilt and
Component Navigation Side J / B Room J / B Telescopic
Amplifier ECU*1 ECU ECU
ECU

BEAN
(Steering
Column Bus)
AVC-LAN
Radio Navigation Steering Front
Combination
and Display*1 Switch Pad Controller
Player Switch

199BE04
*1: with LEXUS Navigation System
*2: Only for European Model

NCF
SC430
202E
BE-6 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Door Bus

To Instrument Panel Bus To Steering Column Bus

Gateway ECU

Passenger Door Transponder

ECU (LHD)
Driver Door MPX1 MPD2 MPD1 MPX2 Key ECU
ECU (RHD)
MPX2 MPX1

MPX1 MPX2
Theft
Sliding Roof Deterrent
Control ECU ECU
MPX2 MPX

MPX1 MPX2
Front Passenger Driver Door
Seat ECU (LHD) MPX2 MPX1 MPX2 MPX1 ECU (LHD)
Driver Seat Passenger Door
ECU (RHD) ECU (RHD)
Driver Seat ECU (LHD)
Front Passenger Seat
ECU (RHD)
199BE05

Instrument Panel Bus

To Steering Column Bus To Door Bus

Gateway ECU

Tire Pressure
Meter ECU MPX+ MPI2 MPI1 MPX1 Monitor
Receiver*
MPX MPX2

MPX1 MPX
Air
Skid Control Conditioner
ECU ECU
MPX2 MPX+

MPX1 MPX2
Airbag
Sensor MPX2 AIRBAG MPX MPX1 Engine ECU
Assembly
Passenger
Side J/B ECU
199BE05

*: Only for European Model

NCF
SC430
202E
 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BE-7

Steering Column Bus

To Door Bus To Instrument Panel Bus

Gateway ECU

MPL2 MPL1

MPX1 MPX
MPX Luggage
Front Steering Pad Room J/B
Controller Switch ECU
MPX2 MPX+
MPX3
MPX1 MPX2 MPX1 MPX2 MPX1 MPX2

Driver Side Tilt and Combination

J/B ECU Telescopic ECU Switch

199BE06

AVC-LAN

To Instrument Panel Bus

To Door Bus To Steering Column Bus

Gateway ECU Navigation

ECU*

GTX GTX+ TX TX+

TXS TXS+ TXD TXD+

TX+ ATX+ TX+ TX+
Stereo
Navigation Radio and Player Component
Display* TX ATX TX TX
Amplifier

199BE07
*: with LEXUS Navigation System

NCF
SC430
202E
BE-8 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

4. Layout of Component

Door Bus

Transponder Key ECU

Gateway ECU

Theft
Deterrent
ECU

199BE81

Passenger Door ECU

Driver Door ECU

Front Passenger
Seat ECU

Sliding Roof
Control ECU

Driver Seat ECU

199BE82
for LHD Model

NCF
SC430
202E
 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BE-9

Instrument Panel Bus

Combination Meter Gateway ECU

Meter ECU
Air Conditioner
Skid Control ECU
ECU

Passenger Side
J/B ECU

Tire Pressure
Monitor Receiver* 199BE83
Airbag Sensor
Assembly
Engine ECU

199BE84
*: Only for European Model

for LHD Model

NCF
SC430
202E
BE-10 BODY ELECTRICAL MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Steering Column Bus

Combination Switch Gateway ECU

Tilt and Telescopic ECU

Steering Pad Switch

199BE85

Driver Side J/B ECU

Luggage Room J/B ECU

Front Controller

199BE86

for LHD Model

NCF
SC430
202E