COMPONENT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150134199A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Fraser-Chanpong, Nathan, Spain, Ivan, Dawson, Andrew D., Bluethmann, William J., Lee, Chunhao J., Vitale, Robert L., Guo, Raymond, Waligora, Thomas M., Akinyode, Akinjide Akinniyi, Reed, Ryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,266,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/00 Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/023 Avoiding failures by using redundant parts

Abstract

A vehicle includes a chassis, a modular component, and a central operating system. The modular component is supported by the chassis. The central operating system includes a component control system, a primary master controller, and a secondary master controller. The component control system is configured for controlling the modular component. The primary and secondary master controllers are in operative communication with the component control system. The primary and secondary master controllers are configured to simultaneously transmit commands to the component control system. The component control system is configured to accept commands from the secondary master controller only when a fault occurs in the primary master controller.

Claims

1. A central operating system comprising:

a component control system configured for controlling a modular component;

a primary master controller in operative communication with the component control system; and

a secondary master controller in operative communication with the component control system;

wherein the primary master controller and the secondary master controller are configured to simultaneously transmit commands to the component control system; and

wherein the component control system is configured to accept commands from the secondary master controller only when a fault occurs in the primary master controller.

2. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the modular component is an electric steering, propulsion, braking, and suspension subsystem component (eModule) and the component control system includes at least one of:

a steering module configured for directing steering of the modular component;

a propulsion module configured for directing propulsion of the modular component;

a braking module configured for directing braking of the modular component; and

a communications module operatively connected to each of the steering module, the propulsion module, and the braking module;

wherein the communications module is configured for communicating with the primary and secondary controller.

3. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the steering module includes:

a first and second steering controller; and

a first and second steering sensor.

4. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the propulsion module includes:

a propulsion controller; and

a first and second propulsion sensor.

5. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the braking module includes a braking controller.

6. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the component control system is further defined as:

a first component control system configured for controlling a first eModule;

a second component control system configured for controlling a second eModule;

a third component control system configured for controlling a third eModule; and

a fourth component control system configured for controlling a fourth eModule.

7. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of each eModule are in operative communication with each of the primary and secondary master controllers via an Ethernet connection;

wherein at least one of the first and second steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of the third eModule are in operative communication with at least one of the first and second steering controller, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of the second eModule via a secondary Ethernet connection to provide redundancy in the event the operative communication between the at least one of the first and second steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of each eModule and each of the primary and secondary master controllers via the Ethernet connection is interrupted; and

wherein the at least one of the first and second steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of the first eModule are in operative communication with each of the first and second steering controller, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of the fourth eModule to provide redundancy via another secondary Ethernet connection to provide redundancy in the event the operative communication between the at least one of the first and second steering controllers, the propulsion controller, and the braking controller of each eModule and each of the primary and secondary master controllers via the Ethernet connection is interrupted.

8. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a battery management system (BMS) in operative communication with each of the primary and secondary controllers;

wherein the BMS is configured to control charging of a battery.

9. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 5, further comprising at least one of a thermal control system and a power distribution unit (PDU) in operative communication with each of the primary and secondary controllers;

wherein the PDU is configured to distribute electric power to the first and second master controllers.

10. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a driver interface device in operative communication with each of the first and second primary controllers;

wherein driver interface device is configured to determine a driver'"'"'s desired control response and provide an associated control signal to the primary and secondary master controllers.

11. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the driver interface device includes at least one of a human machine interface (HMI) device, a steering wheel, and a brake pedal.

12. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a remote console disposed external to the vehicle and in operative communication with the primary and secondary master controllers;

wherein the remote console includes the driver interface device.

13. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the driver interface device includes a dashboard display device;

wherein the dashboard display device is configured to receive inputs from at least one of the primary and secondary controllers and to provide a display of operational information as a function of the received inputs.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a modular component supported by the chassis; and

a central operating system including;

a component control system configured for controlling the modular component;

a primary master controller in operative communication with the component control system; and

a secondary master controller in operative communication with the component control system;

wherein the primary master controller and the secondary master controller are configured to simultaneously transmit commands to the component control system; and

wherein the component control system is configured to accept commands from the secondary master controller only when a fault occurs in the primary master controller.

15. A vehicle, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the modular component is an electric steering, propulsion, braking, and suspension subsystem component (eModule) and the component control system includes:

a steering module configured for directing steering of the modular component;

a propulsion module configured for directing propulsion of the modular component;

a braking module configured for directing braking of the modular component; and

a communications module operatively connected to each of the steering module, the propulsion module, and the braking module;

wherein the communications module is configured for communicating with the primary and secondary controller.

16. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the steering module includes:

a first and second steering controller; and

a first and second steering sensor.

17. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the propulsion module includes a first and second propulsion sensor.

18. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the component control system is further defined as:

a first component control system configured for controlling a first eModule;

a second component control system configured for controlling a second eModule;

a third component control system configured for controlling a third eModule; and

a fourth component control system configured for controlling a fourth eModule.

19. A central operating system, as set forth in claim 18, further comprising an interface in operative communication with each of the primary and secondary controllers;

wherein the interface is configured to receive and input from an operator and supply the input to each of the primary and secondary controllers.

20. A central operating system comprising:

a component control system configured for controlling an electric steering, propulsion, and braking subsystem component (eModule), wherein the component control system includes;

a steering module configured for directing steering of the modular component;

a propulsion module configured for directing propulsion of the modular component; and

a braking module configured for directing braking of the modular component;

a primary master controller in operative communication with the component control system; and

a secondary master controller in operative communication with the component control system;

wherein the primary master controller and the secondary master controller are configured to simultaneously transmit commands to the component control system;

wherein the component control system is configured to accept commands from the secondary master controller only when a fault occurs in the primary master controller.