Communications connection for sensors in control systems of vehicles

• US 9,714,016 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Reiner, Juergen, Wellhoefer, Matthias Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): CASS, JEAN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US14/236,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 701 70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17551 determining control parameters related to vehicle stability used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/368 combined with other mechanical components, e.g. pump units, master cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40032 Details regarding a bus interface enhancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle

Abstract

A sensor is described for a regulating system in a vehicle, having a sensor element and an interface element. The interface element is set up for the communicative connection of the sensor element to a control device in a vehicle. The interface element is fashioned as a two-contact interface element.

Claims

1. A sensor module for a regulating system in a vehicle, comprising:

a first plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a second plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a first interface element set up for a communicative connection of the first plurality of sensor elements to a control device in the vehicle; and

a second interface element for a communicative connection of the second plurality of sensor elements to the control device, wherein;

the first interface element and the second interface element are housed within a housing of only one sensor element,

the first interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the first plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface of the first interface element with the control device,

the second interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the second plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface element of the second interface element with the control device,

each sensor element is housed within its own respective housing,

each sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second interface element and is directly connected to the sensor element having a housing that contains the first interface element and the second interface element, or to another sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second sensor element.

2. The sensor module as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first interface element and the second interface element includes one of a digital interface element, a bus-compatible interface element, a peripheral sensor interface element, a distributed system interface element, a current interface element, and a current modulation interface element.

3. The sensor module as recited in claim 1, wherein:

each sensor element is a pressure sensor element, and

each sensor element determines a pressure in a hydraulic line.

4. A control device, comprising:

at least one sensor module that includes;

a first plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a second plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a first interface element set up for a communicative connection of the first plurality of sensor elements to a control device in the vehicle; and

a second interface element for a communicative connection of the second plurality of sensor elements to the control device, wherein;

the first interface element and the second interface element are housed within only one sensor element,

the first interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the first plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface of the first interface element with the control device,

the second interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the second plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface element of the second interface element with the control device,

and

each sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second interface element and is directly connected to the sensor element having a housing that contains the first interface element and the second interface element, or to another sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second sensor element.

5. The control device as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the first plurality of sensor elements and the second plurality of sensor elements includes three sensors.

6. The control device as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the first plurality of sensor elements includes exactly three sensors, and

the second plurality of sensor elements includes exactly two sensors.

7. The control device as recited in claim 4, wherein the control device includes a brake regulating system control device.

8. The control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the brake regulating system control device includes an ESP regulating system control device.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a control device including;

at least one sensor module that includes;

a first plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a second plurality of sensor elements that are connected to one another;

a first interface element set up for a communicative connection of the first plurality of sensor elements to a control device in the vehicle; and

a second interface element for a communicative connection of the second plurality of sensor elements to the control device, wherein;

the first interface element and the second interface element are housed within only one sensor element,

the first interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the first plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface of the first interface element with the control device,

the second interface element is a two-contact interface element,

the second plurality of sensor elements omit any contact interface and communicate with the control device only through a direct contact of the two-contact interface element of the second interface element with the control device,

and

each sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second interface element is directly connected to the sensor element having a housing that contains the first interface element and the second interface element, or to another sensor element having a housing that lacks the first interface element and the second sensor element.

10. The vehicle as recited in claim 9, wherein the vehicle includes at least one of an electric vehicle and a hybrid vehicle.