Alternative input control method and device

• US 20070016347A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yuri
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/06 using rotary motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/54 Electrical circuits for locking several wings simultaneously E05B77/48
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21169 Low voltage protection

Abstract

An electronic control unit determines whether a level of a battery supply voltage is low, and whether a feedback system of a door lock control device is in an abnormal state. If the level of the battery supply voltage is determined to be low, or if the feedback system of the door lock control device is determined to be in the abnormal state, the electronic control unit performs alternative input processing. Internal control information, which is used by the electronic control unit for controlling a controlled object, is used for obtaining an alternative input value.

Claims

1. An alternative input control method comprising:

outputting to a controlled object a control signal that on-off controls the controlled object from an electronic control unit;

determining whether the controlled object is turned on or not, based on an input voltage that is fed back into the electronic control unit from the controlled object; and

determining whether or not a battery supply voltage is equal to or higher than a defined voltage, wherein;

the alternative input control method includes one of the following operations, if the battery supply voltage is equal to or higher than the defined voltage;

setting an input value at one of (1) an ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on, when the input voltage is equal to or higher than a first ON determination threshold voltage, and (2) an OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off, when the input voltage is equal to or higher than a second OFF determination threshold voltage; and

setting the input value at one of (1) the OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off, when the input voltage is equal to or lower than a first OFF determination threshold voltage lower than the first ON determination threshold voltage, and (2) the ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on, when the input voltage is equal to or lower than a second ON determination threshold voltage lower than the second OFF determination threshold voltage; and

the alternative input control method includes one of the following operations, if the battery supply voltage is lower than the defined voltage;

setting the input value at the ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on based on control signal information, if the electronic control unit is outputting the control signal to turn on the controlled object; and

setting the input value at the OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off based on the control signal information, if the electronic control unit is outputting the control signal to turn off the controlled object.

2. The alternative input control method according to claim 1, wherein the controlled object includes at least one of:

an accessory relay that controls power feeding to accessory; and

an ignition relay that controls the power feeding to ignition.

3. The alternative input control method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal information is a previously stored input value.

4. The alternative input control method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal information is an assumed input value that is obtained from internal control information, which is stored in any one of the electronic control units.

5. The alternative input control method according to claim 1, further comprising filtering the input value.

6. An alternative input control device comprising:

an electronic control unit that outputs to a controlled object a control signal that on-off controls the controlled object, and that determines whether the controlled object is turned on or off based on an input voltage, which is fed back from the controlled object, wherein the electronic control unit includes;

a battery supply voltage determination element that determines whether or not a battery supply voltage is equal to or higher than a defined voltage;

a normal input value setting element, which performs one of following operations if the battery supply voltage is equal to or higher than the defined voltage;

setting an input value at one of (1) an ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on, when the input supply voltage is equal to or higher than a first ON determination threshold voltage, and (2) an OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off, when the input voltage is equal to or higher than a second OFF determination threshold voltage; and

setting the input value at one of (1) the OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off, when input voltage is equal to or lower than a first OFF determination threshold voltage lower than the first ON determination threshold voltage, and (2) the ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on, when the input voltage is equal to or lower than a second ON determination threshold voltage lower than the second OFF determination threshold voltage; and

an alternative input value setting element, which performs one of following operations if the battery supply voltage is lower than the defined voltage;

setting the input value at the ON value that indicates the controlled object is turned on based on control signal information, if the electronic control unit is outputting the control signal to turn on the controlled object; and

setting the input value at the OFF value that indicates the controlled object is turned off based on the control signal information, if the electronic control unit is outputting the control signal to turn off the controlled object.

7. The alternative input control device according to claim 6, wherein the controlled object includes at least one of:

an accessory relay that controls power feeding to accessory; and

an ignition relay that controls the power feeding to ignition.

8. The alternative input control device according to claim 6, wherein the control signal information is a previously stored input value.

9. The alternative input control device according to claim 6, wherein the control signal information is an assumed input value that is obtained from internal control information, which is stored in any one of the electronic control units.

10. The alternative input control device according to claim 6, further comprising a filter through which the input value is filtered.

11. An alternative input control method comprising:

determining a state of a controlled object based on an input signal that is fed back into an electronic control unit from the controlled object; and

determining whether or not a feedback system is in an abnormal state, wherein;

the alternative input control method includes following operations, if the feedback system is determined to be in the abnormal state;

assuming the state of the controlled object based on internal control information stored in any one of the electronic control units; and

alternatively inputting an assumed state of the controlled object into the electronic control unit.

12. The alternative input control method according to claim 11, wherein the controlled object is a door lock mechanism in a vehicle.

13. An alternative input control device comprising:

an electronic control unit that determines a state of a controlled object based on an input signal, which is fed back from the controlled object, wherein the electronic control unit includes;

an abnormal state determination element that determines whether or not a feedback system is in an abnormal state; and

an alternative input element, which performs following operations if the feedback system is determined to be in the abnormal state;

assuming the state of the controlled object based on internal control information stored in any one of the electronic control units; and

alternatively inputting an assumed state of the controlled object into the electronic control unit.

14. The alternative input control device according to claim 13, wherein the controlled object is a door lock mechanism in a vehicle.