Control system for motor vehicles

• US 20030236596A1
• Filed: 05/01/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Draxlmajer Systemtechnik GmbH, Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Eisenmann, Joachim, Huebner-Obenland, Frank, Rueter, Karsten, Kraft, Petra
• Granted Patent: US 6,907,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

In a control system for motor vehicles having a plurality of functional subsystems, such as a passenger compartment controller, a telematics system, a drive controller and a chassis controller, each functional subsystem has a plurality of control devices, and a central databus. Control devices of different subsystems are combined, in accordance with their spatial arrangement in the vehicle, to form local modules and are connected to one another by means of a module bus. Each module bus is connected to the central databus by means of a module interface.

Claims

1. A control system for a motor vehicle having a plurality of functional subsystems, each including a plurality of control devices, and a central databus, wherein:

control devices of different subsystems are combined to form local modules, according to their spatial arrangement in the vehicle;

the control devices within a module are connected to one another via a module bus; and

each module bus is connected to the central databus via a module interface.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the module interfaces and the central databus form a central module.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the central module is arranged at a floor or a roof of the motor vehicle.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the module interfaces comprises a housing in which electronic components can be plugged in and exchanged.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein each module interface has separate electronic components that can be plugged in and exchanged, for an interface with the central databus, for processing and control tasks and for at least one interface with a module bus.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein each module interface has components for supplying power to the control devices of an assigned module.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein power supply lines run parallel to the central databus and the module bus.

8. The control system according to claim 6, wherein at least one module interface has at least one component that can be plugged in and exchanged, for supplying power to the control devices of an assigned module.

9. The control system according to claim 6, wherein:

the module interface includes means for sensing a quantity of energy conducted via a power line to at least one control device of an assigned module;

the at least one control device of the module has means for determining a quantity of energy taken up by the control device and/or a connected load, and for transmitting information about the taken-up quantity of energy to the module interface via the module bus; and

the module interface includes means for comparing the sensed quantity of energy conducted to the at least one control device of the module with the taken-up quantity of energy determined by the at least one control device.

10. A control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of control subsystems, each having a plurality of controllers for vehicle components, said controllers being situated at diverse locations in the vehicle; and

a central databus;

wherein,

said controllers are grouped and incorporated into a second plurality of local modules, based on their location in the vehicle, each such module including controllers of different subsystems, that are situated within a particular vehicle location;

each local module includes a local module databus for communication between controllers in the local module;

each local module includes a module interface coupled to the local module databus; and

each module interface is connected to the central databus, whereby controllers of every control subsystem can communicate with other controllers of other subsystems.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein the module interfaces and the central databus form a central module.

12. The control system according to claim 10, wherein each module interface has separate electronic components that can be plugged in and exchanged, for an interface with the central databus, for processing and control tasks and for at least one interface with a module bus.

13. A method for controlling components in vehicle subsystems in a vehicle having a plurality of subsystems, each of which subsystem includes a plurality of controllers situated of dispersed locations within the vehicle, said method comprising:

grouping said controllers according to their location within the vehicle, and combining controllers of each group to form a local module, each such module including controllers from different subsystems that are situated within a particular vehicle location;

communicating among controllers within a particular module via a module databus;

coupling each module databus to a central databus via a module interface, whereby each controller can communicate with other controllers via the central databus.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the module interfaces and the central databus form a central module.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein each module interface has separate electronic components that can be plugged in and exchanged, for an interface with the central databus, for processing and control tasks and for at least one interface with a module bus.