Converter for Signals between a safety Device and a Safety Control Device for a Vehicle

• US 20110196577A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Mueller, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01184 Fault detection or diagnostic circuits in power circuits B60R2021/01129
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over

Abstract

Disclosed is a converter (200) for signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle. At the converter (200) the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2). It is proposed to embody the converter (200) such that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), in particular a diagnostics condition signal and converts it into a condition accordingly predefined at the control device interface (200.1), preferably in a manner which does not require an adaptation of the control device or of its software.

Claims

1. A device for transferring signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle, the device comprising

a converter (200) and a safety control device (100), wherein the converter (200) and the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2), wherein the converter (200) is embodied so that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), such as a diagnostics condition signal and converts it in a condition predefined at the control device interface (200.1).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the converter comprises a diagnostics unit (200.3) to diagnose at least one condition at the safety device interface (200.2) as well as at least one switching means (S) or another apparatus for producing a predefined condition at the control device interface (200.1)

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the diagnostics unit (200.3) recognizes a discrepancy of the electric resistance or voltage drop on the safety device interface from a predefined range, such as a short circuit or an interruption, and then produces by means of the switching means (S) or by other methods a change of the electric resistance or voltage drop on the control device interface (2.1)

4. A device according to claim 3, the change of the electric resistance or voltage drop on the control device interface (2.1) is effected in such manner that the signal from the safety control device (100) is continued to be received by the converter (200).

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one predefined error at the safety device interface (2.2) evokes a same error at the control device interface.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a safety device for a motor.