Arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle

• US 5,339,782 A
• Filed: 10/08/1992
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Golzer, Thomas, Streib, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US07/958,309
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 123/417, 123/478, 123/480, 123/361, 123/399, 364/431.05, 364/431.06, 364/431.07, 364/431.08
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/04 of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/107 Safety-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/227 Limping Home, i.e. taking specific engine control measures at abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/08 Redundant elements, e.g. two sensors for measuring the same parameter
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue

Abstract

An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle has at least two control units for controlling at least two changing variables for influencing the drive power. The variables are independent of each other. The arrangement further includes at least one measuring device for detecting an operating variable of the drive unit and/or of the motor vehicle. This one measuring unit includes at least two redundant sensors with the output signal of one sensor being supplied to a first control unit and the output signal of another sensor being supplied to a second control unit. Both control units monitor the measuring device on the basis of the output signals with additional monitoring measures being carried out on the basis of the monitoring results of the two control units.

Claims

1. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

a bus system interconnecting said first and second control units to facilitate the exchange of data therebetween;

each of said control units including means for processing the output signal supplied thereto to provide a processing result which is transmitted over said bus system to the other control unit; and

each one of said control units including means for utilizing the processing result received from the other control unit when controlling the one of said first and second variables corresponding to said one control unit.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap; and

, said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, said two sensors of said measuring device being two position transducers operatively connected to an operator-controlled element.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, said two sensors of said measuring device being two position transducers operatively connected to said throttle flap.

5. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof; and

,

each of said control units being adapted to check the output signals applied thereto with respect to plausibility.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein at least one of said control units is adapted to compare the results of the plausibility checks in both of said control units.

7. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap;

said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition; and

,

wherein a reduction in power occurs in response to a detected deviation after a predetermined time.

8. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof; and

,

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap;

said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition; and

,

wherein the defective sensor is detected from measurements and/or plausibility checks of the signal trace when the comparison results are the same when a defect is detected in the measuring device.

9. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap;

said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition; and

,

wherein the control function is carried out on the basis of the non-defective sensor when the defective sensor has been detected.

10. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap;

said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition; and

,

wherein a reduction in power occurs when a defective sensor has been determined or after a pregiven time after a switchover has taken place to the non-defective sensor.

11. An arrangement for controlling the drive power of a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a drive unit for driving the motor vehicle and having at least first and second variables related to the power output developed by said drive unit;

a first control unit for controlling at least said first variable;

a second control unit for controlling at least said second variable;

a measuring device having at least first and second sensors for detecting an operating parameter of at least one of the said drive unit and said motor vehicle;

said first and second sensors being mutually redundant and having first and second output signals, respectively;

said first control unit being connected to one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said second control unit being connected to the other one of said sensors for receiving the output signal thereof;

said drive unit being an internal combustion engine having a throttle flap;

said first control unit being an electronic engine power control unit for adjusting said throttle flap;

said second control unit being an electronic control unit for controlling at least one of the quantity of fuel metered to the engine and the ignition; and

,

wherein a fault evaluation takes place only in one of said control units.