Electronic system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,887,144 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Braschel, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/032,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: 303/199, 303/20
• US Class Current: 303/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/16 GPS track data
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/202 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/85 Speed of regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/70 Estimating or calculating vehicle parameters or state variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/85 System Prioritisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/93 Skid or slide control [ASR]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/95 Automatic Traction or Slip Control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0002 Automatic control, details of type of controller or control system architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0297 Control Giving priority to different actuators or systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/065 by reducing the computational load on the digital processor of the control computer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/22 Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 : Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot

Abstract

In order to improve an electronic system for a motor vehicle which comprises an electronic controller which is coupled via an electronic communication system to electronic controllers of other electronic systems of the vehicle in order to co-operate through data exchanges with the other electronic systems of the vehicle, wherein electronic sensor devices for controlling and/or regulating operating states of the vehicle detect quantities which are related to the operating states of the vehicle, so as to obtain cost and functional advantages, it is proposed that at least one of the electronic sensor devices be accommodated in one of the electronic controllers.

Claims

1. An electronic system for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electronic communication system that includes a Controller Area Network;

a plurality of separate electronic controllers for controlling the operation of associated separate systems within the motor vehicle, each of said electronic controllers responsive to operating states of the motor vehicle to control, via final control devices, said motor vehicle operating states, said plurality of separate electronic controllers including at least an electronic parking brake controller that is operative to control an electronic parking brake system and that also is disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and an electronic service brake controller that is separate from said electronic parking brake controller and that is operative to control an electronic service brake system, said plurality of separate electronic controllers coupled to said Controller Area Network and co-operating with one another to exchange data over said Controller Area Network; and

a plurality of electronic sensor devices for detecting quantities which are related to operating states of the vehicle, said electronic sensor devices coupled to said electronic controllers through said Controller Area Network with at least one of said electronic sensor devices being operable to detect lateral and longitudinal dynamic behaviour of the vehicle, said at least one sensor device being integrated into said electronic parking brake controller and operationally connected to said electronic parking brake controller with said electronic parking brake controller forwarding data generated by said at least one sensor device over said Controller Area Network to said electronic service brake controller, with said electronic service brake controller being operative to utilize said at least one sensor device data to regulate and control the vehicle behaviour in a lateral dynamic range via said electronic service brake system.

2. The electronic system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor device that is accommodated in said electronic controller that detects both the lateral and longitudinal dynamic behaviour of the vehicle is a yaw sensor.

3. The electronic system according to claim 1 further including a plurality of electrical final control devices connected to said electronic controllers with said final control devices responsive to signals received from said electronic controllers to influence the operating states of the motor vehicle.

4. The electronic system according to claim 3 wherein at least one of said final control devices is connected to one of said electronic controllers via said communication system.

5. The electronic system according to claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor device that is accommodated in said electronic parking brake controller that detects both the lateral and longitudinal dynamic behaviour of the vehicle is a yaw sensor.