METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTROL SYSTEM OF VEHICLE, ELECTRIC CONTROL UNIT AND HEADLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20150266409A1
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: AKIYAMA, Susumu
• Granted Patent: US 9,744,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An electric control unit in a headlight control system, the electric control unit comprising:

a sensor detecting an existence of an oncoming vehicle;

a first electric control unit circuit connected to the sensor to control an automatic high beam control function that automatically turns a high beam light on or off, the control of the automatic high beam control function performed according to whether the oncoming vehicle is detected; and

a second electric control unit circuit in communication with the first electric control unit circuit, the second electric control unit circuit controlling a headlight operating function that operates the headlight according to a switch operation by a vehicle user, wherein

the headlight control system controls the automatic high beam control function based on a switch operation state that is received from the first electric control unit circuit.

4. The electric control unit of claim 1, wherein

the first electric control unit circuit is separately disposed from the second electric control unit circuit.

5. The electric control unit of claim 1, wherein

the sensor for detecting the oncoming vehicle and the second electric control unit circuit are separately disposed in the vehicle.

6. The electric control unit of claim 5, wherein

the sensor is connected to the second electric control unit circuit via an in-vehicle communication line.

7. The electric control unit of claim 1, wherein

the sensor for detecting the oncoming vehicle and the first electric control unit circuit are integrally disposed in the vehicle.

8. The electric control unit of claim 1, wherein

the second electric control unit circuit controls a direction of a light beam of the headlight based on detection of a curvature of a road where the vehicle is traveling.

2. An electric control unit in a headlight control system, the electric control unit comprising:

a sensor in a vehicle that detects a location of an oncoming vehicle;

a first electric control unit circuit connected to the sensor to control an automatic angle control function that automatically controls a beam angle of a headlight of the vehicle, the control of the automatic angle control function being performed according to where the oncoming vehicle is located; and

a second electric control unit circuit in communication with the first electric control unit circuit, the second electric control unit circuit controlling a headlight operating function that operates the headlight according to a switch operation by a vehicle user, wherein

the first electric control unit circuit is in communication with the second electric control unit circuit via an in-vehicle communication line, and

the first electric control unit circuit controls the automatic angle control function based on a switch operation state that is received from the second electric control unit circuit.

3. An electric control unit system controlling a headlight of a vehicle, the electric control unit system comprising:

a sensor that detects whether there is an oncoming vehicle;

a first electric control unit circuit connected to the sensor to control an automatic angle control function that automatically controls an up-down change in a vertical angle of a light beam of the headlight, the control of the automatic angle control function being performed when the sensor detects the oncoming vehicle; and

the first electric control unit circuit in communication with a second electric control unit circuit that controls a headlight operating function that operates the headlight according to a switch operation by a vehicle user, wherein

the first electric control unit circuit is in communication with the second electric control unit circuit via an in-vehicle communication line, and

the first electric control unit circuit controls the automatic angle control function based on a switch operation state that is received from the second electric control unit circuit.

9. A headlight control system controlling a headlight of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first electric control unit circuit controlling a headlight operating function that operates the headlight according to a switch operation by a vehicle user;

a sensor located in the vehicle;

a second electric control unit circuit selectively installed in the vehicle and in communication with the sensor, the second electric control unit circuit controlling an automatic angle control function that automatically controls a vertical angle of a light beam of the headlight based on communication with the first electric control unit circuit via an in-vehicle communication line, the control of the automatic angle control function being performed according to a detection result of an oncoming vehicle by the sensor, wherein

the second electric control unit circuit, installed in the vehicle and in communication with the first electric control unit circuit, controls the automatic angle control function based on a switch operation state that is received from the first electric control unit circuit.

10. The headlight control system of claim 9, wherein

the sensor and the second electric control unit circuit are separately disposed in the vehicle.

11. The headlight control system of claim 9, wherein

the sensor and the second electric control unit circuit are integrally disposed in the vehicle.

12. The headlight control system of claim 9, wherein

the second electric control unit circuit is capable of performing a preceding vehicle follow function to control the vehicle to follow a preceding vehicle.