Device for implementing control or regulating functions and a method of controlling or regulating in a vehicle

• US 6,754,565 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Horbelt, Michael, Owerfeldt, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/204,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/33, 701/35, 219/543, 219/480, 219/203, 219/209, 219/219, 219/548, 219/624, 219/645, 219/528, 700/300, 343/713, 320/135, 320/164, 338/314, 338/307, 303/111, 280/730.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J

Abstract

A device for implementing control or regulating functions in a motor vehicle having at least one control unit, at least one peripheral element, and at least one control module. The peripheral element is connected to the control unit and receives and/or sends signals, and the control or regulating functions are implemented by a triggering and/or analysis of the signals of the peripheral element. The device also includes at least one control module connected between the control unit and the peripheral element, the control module being composed of an electronic unit and a flexible extension, and the peripheral element being contacted to the flexible extension.

Claims

1. A control module for implementing control or regulating functions in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an electronic unit; and

a flexible extension configured to contact a peripheral element, a predefined uniform interface being used between and coupling the electronic unit and the flexible extension, the predefined uniform interface being configured to support combinations of different electronic unit with different flexible extensions;

wherein the control module is configured to be connected between a control unit and the peripheral element, the control unit implementing control or regulating functions as a function of at least one of a triggering and an analysis of signals of the peripheral element.

2. The control module according to claim 1, wherein the flexible extension is designed as a deformable film extension.

3. The control module according to claim 2, wherein the flexible extension is designed as a conductor film.

4. The control module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electronic components mounted on the flexible extension and configured to at least one of trigger and analyze the signals.

5. The control module according to claim 1, wherein the flexible extension is configured to have the peripheral element installed directly thereon.

6. The control module according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral element is a sensor.

7. The control module according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is scalable.

8. The control module according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least one additional electronic unit mounted on the flexible extension to provide a missing function of the electronic unit.

9. The control module according to claim 7, further comprising:

at least on additional control module mounted on the flexible extension to provide a missing function of the electronic unit.

10. A device for implementing control or regulating functions in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a peripheral element;

a control unit coupled to the peripheral element, the control unit configured to control or regulate functions as a function of at least one of a triggering and analysis of signals of the peripheral element;

a control module disposed between the control unit and the peripheral element, the control module including an electronic unit and a flexible extension, the peripheral element being contacted by the flexible extension, wherein a predefined uniform interface is used between the electronic unit and the flexible extension, the predefined uniform interface configured to support combinations of different electronic units with different flexible extensions.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral element is configured to control or regulate second functions, the second functions being implemented independently of the functions controlled or regulated by the control unit at least one of programs and data for the second functions being fed into the control unit, the control module being designed to supplement at least one of electronic components and function necessary of implementing the second functions and are missing or not available in at least one of the control unit and the peripheral element.

12. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:

an interface unit, the control unit connected to a communication system in the vehicle by the interface unit, the control module being connected to the control unit by a bidirectional connection existing in addition to the communication system, the control module using the interface unit of the control unit for access of the control module to the communication system.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the communication system is a two-wire bus system.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the bidirectional connection is a single-wire bus connection.