Method for providing control system of vehicle

• US 20060111826A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Akiyama, Susumu
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/076 by electrical means including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01047 Architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/00 Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/30 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method of preparing a vehicle control system having an intended function by using at least two ECUs is provided. One of the at least two ECUs is used for adaptively incorporating a modified portion of the intended function of the vehicle control system through re-design in a short period, while the rest of the ECUs in the vehicle control system sustain and support an unchanging portion of the intended function of the vehicle control system.

Claims

1. A method for providing an intended function of a vehicle control system constantly under a demand of specification change comprising the steps of:

arbitratingly dividing the intended function of the vehicle control system into a static portion and a changing portion;

providing a first controlling device for the static portion of intended functional control in the vehicle control system; and

providing a second controlling device for the changing portion of intended functional control in the vehicle control system,

wherein the intended functional control of the vehicle control system is jointly provided by the first controlling device and the second controlling device.

2. The method of composing a vehicle control system according to claim 1,

wherein the second controlling device for the static portion of intended functional control is integrally composed of at least one of a sensory device that provides input for the second controlling device and a functional device that receives output from the second controlling device.

3. A control system comprising:

a first controller for stabilizing a speed of a subject vehicle; and

a second controller for stabilizing an inter-vehicle distance based on a distance to a preceding vehicle,

wherein the speed controller and the inter-vehicle distance controller are separately constructed in the control system.

14. The control system according to claim 3,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

4. A control system comprising:

a first controller for controlling a device on a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling the device based on the subject vehicle based on detection of a certain condition,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

15. The control system according to claim 4,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

5. A control system comprising:

a first controller for controlling a wiper on a window of a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling a wiping interval of the wiper based on detection of a condition of rain,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

16. The control system according to claim 5,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

6. A control system comprising:

a first controller for operating a headlight of a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling a direction of a light beam of the headlight based on detection of an on-coming vehicle,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

17. The control system according to claim 6,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

7. A control system comprising:

a first controller for operating a headlight of a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling a direction of a light beam of the headlight based on detection of a curvature of a road where the subject vehicle is traveling, wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

18. The control system according to claim 7,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

8. A control system comprising:

a first controller for controlling a cabin climate of a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling the cabin climate based on detection of at least a number of occupants in the subject vehicle and positions of the occupants, wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

19. The control system according to claim 8,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

9. A control system comprising:

a first controller for operating an audio device of a subject vehicle based on an input from at least one switch; and

a second controller for controlling the audio device based on detection of at least a number of occupants in the subject vehicle and positions of the occupants, wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

20. The control system according to claim 9,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

10. A control system comprising:

a first controller for controlling fastening down of a seat belt of a subject vehicle based on an input of a collision signal; and

a second controller for controlling fastening down of the seat belt based on detection of a probable collision of the subject vehicle,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

21. The control system according to claim 10,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

11. A control system comprising:

a first controller for operating an engine except for variably operating at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the engine of a subject vehicle based on a running condition of the engine; and

a second controller for variably operating at least one of intake and exhaust valves of the subject vehicle based on the running condition of an engine,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

22. The control system according to claim 11,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

12. A control system comprising:

a first controller for displaying information on an instrument panel of a subject vehicle; and

a second controller for displaying information on a window of the subject vehicle,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

23. The control system according to claim 12,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.

13. A control system comprising:

a first controller for providing information for at least one occupant of a subject vehicle based on communication with a long-range transmission radio signal; and

a second controller for providing information for at least one occupant of the subject vehicle based on communication through a short-range transmission of radio signal,

wherein the first controller and the second controller are separately constructed in the control system.

24. The control system according to claim 13,

wherein the second controller is integrally constructed with one of a sensor and an actuator.