Vehicle network with a control device entering sleep mode when the vehicle velocity is above predetermined threshold and a coprocessor performing selected functions during the sleep mode

• US 8,909,963 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Rott, Alexander, Schanze, Carsten, Speh, Jrg
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Danny
• Application Number:
  US13/256,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20120042186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/121
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4208 being a system bus, e.g. VME bus, Futurebus, Multibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A control device (21) for a vehicle network, having a microprocessor (30) and a transceiver (40). The control device (21) can be switched off or switched to a sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle and/or the control device (21) can be awakened from the sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for operating a vehicle network.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle network that includes at least one bus system, the control device comprising:

a microprocessor;

a transceiver; and

a module for detecting network messages including vehicle velocity data, the network messages being transmitted on at least one bus system, the module controlling at least one of switching on or off of a sleep mode for the control device based on content of the detected network messages indicating a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle,

wherein the control device is switched off or into a sleep mode based on detection of the previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle,

wherein the previously defined state is the vehicle velocity V, wherein if V>

V_limit, the control device is switched off or switched into the sleep mode,

wherein the module is integrated into the transceiver or into the microprocessor or is embodied as a separate component,

wherein the module is integrated into the microprocessor and a coprocessor function of the microprocessor is executed by the module if a sleep mode of the microprocessor is activated, and

wherein, in the coprocessor function, the module carries out a transmitting operation or a receiving operation or an evaluation of reception messages or a changeover of operating mode.

2. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the event for switching the control device into the sleep mode or for switching off or for awakening is receipt of at least one network message.

3. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module is connected on an input side to an output of a receiver of the transceiver and on an output side to the microprocessor or a control logic of the transceiver or a driver of the transceiver.

4. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one data mask (M_data) or at least one DLC mask (M_DLC) or at least one identifier mask (M_id1, M_id2, M_idn).

5. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one input and output interface (I/O), wherein external signals are received or transmitted by the input and output interface (I/O).

6. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one output interface (DA1) for outputting signals to external voltage controllers or at least one output interface (DA2) for outputting signals for controlling the transceiver.

7. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one time out timer (T1, T2, T3), wherein an operating mode is switched over if the time out timers (T1, T2, T3) reach a predetermined value or 0.

8. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one counter (C), wherein an operating mode is switched over if the counter (C) reaches a predetermined value.

9. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the module comprises at least one reception buffer (EB1, EB2, EBn) or at least one transmission buffer (SB1, SBn), wherein messages are received by the reception buffer (EB1, EB2, EBn) or messages are transmitted by the transmission buffer (SB1, SBn).

12. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control device is awakened from the sleep mode or switched on based on detection of the previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle.

10. A method for operating a vehicle network that includes at least one bus system that includes a plurality of control devices, each control device comprising a microprocessor, and a transceiver, the method comprising:

detecting a network message including vehicle velocity data, the network message being transmitted on at least one bus system using a module that detects network messages;

controlling at least one of switching on or off of a sleep mode for at least one control device of the plurality of control devices based on content of the detected network messages indicating a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle; and

switching off the at least one control device or switching the at least one control device into a sleep mode based on detection of the previously defined state or event during operation of the motor vehicle,

wherein the previously defined state is the vehicle velocity V, wherein if V>

V_limit, at least one control device is switched off or switched into the sleep mode,

wherein a coprocessor function of the microprocessor is executed if a sleep mode of the microprocessor is activated, and

wherein, the coprocessor function carries out a transmitting operation or a receiving operation or an evaluation of reception messages or a changeover of operating mode.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a master control device transmits, as an event, a network message as a function of which at least one control device is switched off or switched into the sleep mode or awakened.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching on the control device or waking up the control device from the sleep mode based on detection of the previously defined state or event during operation of the motor vehicle.

14. A control device for a vehicle network of a motor vehicle, the vehicle network including at least one bus system, the control device comprising:

a microprocessor;

a transceiver; and

a module that detects transmitted network messages including vehicle velocity data, the network messages being transmitted on the at least one bus system, and controls switching on or off of a sleep mode for the control device based on content of a detected network messages, wherein the detected network message indicates a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle,

wherein the control device is switched off or into a sleep mode in response to detection of a specific previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle,

wherein the control device is switched off or into the sleep mode if;

the previously defined state is the motor vehicle velocity and the detected velocity is greater than a specified velocity limit,

wherein the module is integrated into the transceiver or into the microprocessor or is embodied as a separate component,

wherein the module is integrated into the microprocessor and a coprocessor function of the microprocessor is executed by the module if a sleep mode of the microprocessor is activated, and

wherein, in the coprocessor function, the module carries out a transmitting operation or a receiving operation or an evaluation of reception messages or a changeover of operating mode.