Integrated vehicle system
First Claim
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1. An electronic control unit for a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:
- a first microcontroller located within the electronic control unit and configured to control a first vehicle function and be in communication with a first set of vehicle sensors;
a second microcontroller located within the electronic control unit and configured to control a second vehicle function and be in communication with a second set of vehicle sensors;
a communication system located within the electronic control unit and configured to transfer information between the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller; and
a shared operating system located within the electronic control unit and configured to control hardware and software components used by both the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller.
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Abstract
An electronic control unit for a vehicle configured to control a first and at least a second vehicle function. The electronic control unit includes a first microcontroller that is configured to control the first vehicle function. The electronic control unit also includes at least a second microcontroller that is configured to control the at least second vehicle function. A communication system located within the electronic control unit transfers information between the first microcontroller and the at least second microcontroller.
26 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electronic control unit for a vehicle, the electronic control unit comprising:
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a first microcontroller located within the electronic control unit and configured to control a first vehicle function and be in communication with a first set of vehicle sensors;
a second microcontroller located within the electronic control unit and configured to control a second vehicle function and be in communication with a second set of vehicle sensors;
a communication system located within the electronic control unit and configured to transfer information between the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller; and
a shared operating system located within the electronic control unit and configured to control hardware and software components used by both the first microcontroller and the second microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling vehicle systems comprising:
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determining a degree of coupling between a plurality of vehicle systems, wherein the degree of coupling is determined by evaluating a measure of vehicle function interaction with respect to time, space, sharing of data, or a combination of the same;
integrating at least two microcontrollers into a single electronic control unit, wherein the at least two microcontrollers are configured to control at least two of a plurality of vehicle systems; and
configuring the at least two microcontrollers to exchange information with each other. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle having a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system comprising:
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an electronic control unit configured to include an occupant force sensing system and an air bag deployment system;
a plurality of force sensors configured to measure a weight and a position of an occupant of the vehicle;
an occupant classification microcontroller located within one of the plurality of occupant force sensors and configured to control the occupant force sensing system; and
an air bag deployment microcontroller located within the electronic control unit and configured to control the air bag deployment system and communicate with the occupant classification microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic control unit for a vehicle configured to control a first and at least a second vehicle function, the electronic control unit comprising:
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a first microcontroller configured to control the first vehicle function and be in communication with a first set of vehicle sensors;
at least a second microcontroller configured to control the at least second vehicle function and be in communication with at least a second set of vehicle sensors;
a communication system located within the electronic control unit and configured to transfer information between the first microcontroller and the at least second microcontroller; and
a power supply configured to supply power to both the first microcontroller and the at least second microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification