Method and system for controlling cooling fan in vehicle

Abstract

A method of controlling a cooling fan in a cooling system in a vehicle includes detecting presence/absence of abnormality in a communication state, measuring an output voltage level of an air-conditioner pressure transducer (APT) sensor when the abnormality in the communication state is detected, determining a cooling fan control condition based on the measured output voltage level, and controlling a cooling fan motor according to the determined cooling fan control condition.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a cooling fan in a cooling fan controller of a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting whether or not a communication state of a local interconnect network (LIN) or a controller area network (CAN) corresponding to a communication network in the vehicle is abnormal; measuring a voltage level of a signal output from an air-conditioner pressure transducer when the communication state is detected as abnormal; determining a cooling fan control condition based on the measured voltage level; and controlling a cooling fan motor according to the determined cooling fan control condition, wherein at least one of a wiring state, an air conditioner operation state, and a vehicle starting state is identified based on the measured voltage level.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle starting state includes an off state, an accessory on state, an ignition 1 state, and an ignition 2 state.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ignition 1 state is determined to be an ignition 1 off state when the measured output voltage level is 0V.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wiring state is determined to be an open state when the measured voltage level is 0V.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined control signal is transmitted so that a predetermined warning alarm indicating an open state or a disconnected state of wiring is displayed on a vehicle instrument panel when the measured voltage level is 0V.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the ignition 1 state is determined to be an ignition 1 on state and the air conditioner operation state is determined to be an air conditioner off state when the measured voltage level is a first reference value.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle starting state is determined to be the ignition 1 on state and the air conditioner operation state is determined to be an air conditioner on state when the measured output voltage is greater than the first reference value and less than a second reference value.

8. A cooling fan controller mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a communication module for detecting whether or not a communication state of a local interconnect network (LIN) or a controller area network (CAN) corresponding to a communication network in the vehicle is abnormal; a sensor calculation module for measuring a voltage level of a signal output from an air-conditioner pressure transducer when the communication state is detected as abnormal; and a main controller for determining a cooling fan control condition based on the measured voltage level, and controlling a cooling fan motor according to the determined cooling fan control condition, wherein the main controller identifies at least one of a wiring state, an air conditioner operation state, and a vehicle starting state based on the measured voltage level.

9. The cooling fan controller according to claim 8, wherein vehicle starting state includes an off state, an accessory on state, an ignition 1 state, and an ignition 2 state.

10. The cooling fan controller according to claim 9, wherein the ignition 1 state is determined to be an ignition 1 off state when the measured voltage level is 0V.

11. The cooling fan controller according to claim 8, wherein the wiring state is determined to be an open state when the measured voltage level is 0V.

12. The cooling fan controller according to claim 8, wherein a predetermined control signal is transmitted so that a predetermined warning alarm indicating an open state or a disconnected state of wiring is displayed on a vehicle instrument panel when the measured voltage level is 0V.

13. The cooling fan controller according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is directly transmitted to a cluster through either controller area network communication or local interconnect network communication.

14. The cooling fan controller according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is transmitted to an engine management system electric control unit through either controller area network communication or local interconnect network communication.

15. The cooling fan controller according to claim 9, wherein the ignition 1 state is determined to be an ignition 1 on state and the air conditioner operation state is determined to be an air conditioner off state when the measured voltage level is a first reference value.

16. The cooling fan controller according to claim 15, wherein the ignition 1 state is determined to be the ignition 1 on state and the air conditioner operation state is determined to be an air conditioner on state when the measured output voltage level is greater than the first reference value and less than a second reference value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 (RELATED ART) is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle according to the related art;

(3) FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle using controller area network (CAN) communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle using local interconnect network (LIN) communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of controlling a cooling fan motor based on an air-conditioner pressure transducer (APT) signal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a cooling system during abnormal communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a correction method in an engine management system electronic control unit (EMS ECU) based on RPM of the cooling fan motor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

(11) It is understood that the term vehicle or vehicular or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

(12) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word comprise and variations such as comprises or comprising will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms unit, -er, -or, and module described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

(13) The suffixes module and unit of elements herein are used for convenience of description and thus can be used interchangeably and do not have any distinguishable meanings or functions.

(14) Although all elements constituting the embodiments of the present invention are described as being integrated into a single one or operated as a single one, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments. According to embodiments, all of the elements may be selectively integrated into one or more and be operated as one or more within the object and the scope of the present invention.

(15) It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used herein to describe various elements of the present invention, these terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element and essential, order, or sequence of corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when one element is referred to as being connected to, being coupled to, or accesses another element, one element may be connected to, be coupled to, or accessing another element via a further element although one element may be directly connected to or directly access another element.

(16) Further, the control logic of the present invention may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

(17) FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(18) Hereinafter, local interconnect network (LIN) communication and controller area network (CAN) communication, each of which corresponds to a communication network in the vehicle applied to the present invention, are briefly described.

(19) LIN communication corresponds to a communication scheme mainly used for data transmission among an ECU, an active sensor, and an active actuator. LIN communication has a simple protocol structure, is configured as a 12V single wire bus, and operates based on a master-slave principle.

(20) CAN communication is mainly used for data transmission between ECUs of a vehicle safety system and a convenience specification system, control of an information/communication system and an entertainment system, and the like. In CAN communication, data is transmitted through a CAN_H line and a CAN_L line coated to be shielded, and mutually twisted. CAN communication may operate based on a multi-master principle in which a plurality of ECUs perform master functions in a master/slave system.

(21) Referring to FIG. 2, the cooling system in the vehicle according to the present invention may include an EMS ECU 210, a B/SNSR 220, an APT sensor 230, a cooling fan controller 240, an ATC 250, and a cluster 260.

(22) The cooling fan controller 240 may include a cooling fan 241, a brushless DC motor 242 for driving the cooling fan 241, a sensor calculation module 243, and a communication module 244.

(23) The brushless DC motor 242 is characterized by transforming a coil included in a motor into a transistor rather than a mechanical brush. The brushless DC motor 242 does not generate a spark due to the absence of a brush and thus may reduce a risk of a gas explosion. In addition, when compared with a general DC motor that uses a mechanical rectification apparatus, the brushless DC motor 242 has a simple structure, is light in weight, may be rotated at a high speed, generates low noise, and is excellent in electromagnetic compatibility.

(24) The communication module 244 provides functions of LIN communication and CAN communication. The communication module 244 may monitor connection states of LIN communication and CAN communication. When an abnormality in connection to LIN communication and/or CAN communication is identified, a certain control signal indicating that a communication state is abnormal may be transmitted to the sensor calculation module 243.

(25) As an example, the cooling fan controller 240 may be connected to the B/SNSR 220 through LIN communication. In addition, the cooling fan controller 240 may be connected to the EMS ECU 210, the ATC 250, the cluster 260, and the like through CAN communication. Here, the cluster 260 is a controller that controls a vehicle instrument panel. The cluster 260 displays various types of information, for example, a speed, a traveled distance, an indoor temperature, a warning alarm, and the like on the vehicle instrument panel.

(26) As another example, the cooling fan controller 240 may be connected to the EMS ECU 210 through LIN communication.

(27) The cooling fan controller 240 may receive control information from the EMS ECU 210 through LIN communication or CAN communication, and measure information about the number of rotations of the brushless DC motor 242, that is, motor RPM information, and then transmit the measured motor RPM information to the EMS ECU 210.

(28) In this instance, the EMS ECU 210 may perform engine correction control according to a predefined correction control logic using the received motor RPM information. Here, the engine correction control may be performed according to the correction control logic further using, in addition to the received motor RPM information, at least one of coolant temperature information, vehicle speed information, air conditioner pressure information, air conditioner switch state information, throttle position information corresponding to an opening angle of an air intake switch of a throttle body and ambient temperature information collected from various sensors.

(29) The APT sensor 230 is a controller that changes a pressure of an air conditioner. The APT sensor 230 may include an output voltage (Vout) terminal connected to the sensor calculation module 243 of the cooling fan controller 240.

(30) When abnormal communication is detected by the communication module 244, the sensor calculation module 243 may measure an output voltage level of the APT sensor 230, and identify a vehicle state by comparing the measured output voltage level with predetermined reference value(s). Here, the vehicle state may include a wiring state, an air conditioner operation state, a vehicle starting state, and the like. In addition, the sensor calculation module 243 may determine a cooling fan control condition corresponding to the identified vehicle state. Here, the cooling fan control condition may be divided into condition A, condition B, condition C, and the like. The cooling fan controller 240 may control a cooling fan motor by entering a fail-safe mode corresponding to the determined cooling fan control condition.

(31) The cooling fan controller 240 may enter the fail-safe mode corresponding to the determined cooling fan control condition to perform a control operation. For example, the cooling fan controller 240 may perform criterion control corresponding to an ON state of an air conditioner operation, perform criterion control corresponding to an OFF state of the air conditioner operation, or perform warning display control on the vehicle instrument panel. Here, criterion control may refer to control of a driving duty cycle of the cooling fan motor.

(32) As an example, when the measured output voltage level is 0V, the cooling fan controller 240 may generate a predetermined warning alarm signal that indicates an open state or a disconnected state of wiring, and transmit the generated signal to the EMS ECU 210. Subsequently, the EMS ECU 210 may control the cluster 260 to display a warning alarm according to the received warning alarm signal.

(33) As another example, when the measured output voltage level is 0V, the cooling fan controller 240 may directly transmit a predetermined control signal to the cluster 260 through LIN communication or CAN communication so that a predetermined warning alarm that indicates an open state or a disconnected state of wiring is displayed on the vehicle instrument panel.

(34) Accordingly, the cooling system in the vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that a cooling logic is included in the cooling fan controller 240 rather than the EMS ECU 210.

(35) FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle using CAN communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(36) Referring to FIG. 3, an EMS ECU 310 may be connected to a cooling fan controller 320 and a B/SNSR 330 through LIN communication. In addition, the EMS ECU 310 may be connected to an ATC 340 and a cluster 350 through CAN communication.

(37) Power for operating the cooling fan controller 320 may be directly supplied to the cooling fan controller 320 through a cooling terminal of a battery 360.

(38) An output voltage (Vout) terminal of an APT sensor 370 may be directly connected to a certain terminal of the cooling fan controller 320.

(39) FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle using LIN communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(40) Referring to FIG. 4, the EMS ECU 310 may be connected to the cooling fan controller 320, the ATC 340 and the cluster 350 through CAN communication. In addition, the EMS ECU 310 may be connected to the B/SNSR 330 through LIN communication.

(41) Power for operating the cooling fan controller 320 may be directly supplied to the cooling fan controller 320 through the cooling terminal of the battery 360.

(42) The output voltage (Vout) terminal of the APT sensor 370 may be directly connected to the certain terminal of the cooling fan controller 320.

(43) As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the EMS ECU 310 may be connected to the cooling fan controller 320 through LIN communication or CAN communication. Moreover, the EMS ECU 310 and the cooling fan controller 320 may perform two-way communication through LIN communication or CAN communication.

(44) In addition, power for driving the cooling fan motor may be supplied to the cooling fan controller 320 through direct connection to the cooling terminal of the battery 360 without using a separate power relay.

(45) Moreover, the cooling fan controller 320 may perform procedures of measuring an output voltage signal strength of the APT sensor 370 upon detecting abnormal communication, determining a cooling fan duty cycle control condition based on the measured output voltage signal strength, and controlling a cooling fan duty cycle with reference to a predetermined cooling fan duty cycle control table based on a result of the determination.

(46) The EMS ECU 310 may receive information about the number of rotations of the motor, for example, motor RPM, from the cooling fan controller 320 through LIN communication or CAN communication, and perform an engine correction control procedure by comparing the received number of rotations of the motor with the number of rotations of the motor in a normal state.

(47) FIG. 5 illustrates a method of controlling the cooling fan motor based on an APT signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(48) Referring to FIG. 5, the cooling fan controller 320 may perform alternating current (AC)-DC conversion of an output voltage (Vout) signal of the APT sensor 370, and then measure a level of an output voltage.

(49) The cooling fan controller 320 may determine that a vehicle state corresponds to condition A when the measured output voltage level is 0V, condition B when the measured output voltage level is 1V, and condition C when the measured output voltage level is greater than 1V and less than 5V with reference to a cooling fan control condition determination graph, denoted by reference numeral 510.

(50) In general, a vehicle starting state may be divided into an OFF state, an ACC ON state, an ignition 1 (IG1) state, an IG2 state, a start state, that is, an ST stat, and the like. Here, the ACC ON state refers to a state in which electronic units for vehicle accessories such as a stereo, a clock, a cigarette lighter, and the like are operated. The IG1 state refers to a state in which electronic units for operations of an engine and a transmission are operated. The IG2 state refers to a state in which electronic units, which are not used for starting a vehicle, consuming a large amount of current such as lights, heat rays, power windows, wipers, and the like are operated. The start state refers to a state in which a starter motor is operated.

(51) Condition A mentioned above may refer to a state in which a vehicle is in an IG1 OFF state or is in an open state, including a disconnected state, condition B may refer to a state in which the vehicle is in an IG1 ON state and the air conditioner operation is in an OFF state, and condition C may refer to a state in which the vehicle is in the IG1 ON state and the air conditioner operation is in an ON state.

(52) FIG. 6 illustrates a method of controlling a cooling system during abnormal communication according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(53) Referring to FIG. 6, upon detecting abnormal communication through the communication module 244, the cooling fan controller 320 measures an output voltage (Vout) level of the APT sensor 370, and determines a cooling fan duty cycle control condition corresponding to the measured output voltage level in S601 to S603.

(54) When the determined cooling fan duty cycle control condition corresponds to condition C, that is, the vehicle is in the IG1 state and the air conditioner is in the ON state, the cooling fan controller 320 enters fail-safe mode 1 to control a cooling fan duty cycle in S605 to S607.

(55) When the determined cooling fan duty cycle control condition corresponds to condition B, that is, the vehicle is in the IG1 ON state and the air conditioner operation is in the OFF state, the cooling fan controller 320 enters fail-safe mode 2 to control the cooling fan duty cycle in S609 to S611.

(56) When the determined cooling fan duty cycle control condition corresponds to neither condition C nor condition B, that is, corresponds to condition A (in the IG1 OFF state or the open state), the cooling fan controller 320 delivers a warning signal to the cluster 350, and enters fail-safe mode 1 to control the cooling fan duty cycle in S613.

(57) FIG. 7 illustrates a correction method in the EMS ECU 310 based on RPM change of the cooling fan motor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(58) The EMS ECU 310 according to the present invention may perform two-way communication with the cooling fan controller 320 through CAN communication or LIN communication. The cooling fan controller 320 may measure the number of rotations of the cooling fan motor in real time, and deliver a result of the measurement to the EMS ECU 310 in real time through a two-way communication channel. To this end, the cooling fan controller 320 may be equipped with a motor RPM calculation module for calculating the number of rotations of the cooling fan motor in real time.

(59) Referring to FIG. 7, the EMS ECU 310 according to the present invention verifies whether a rate of RPM change of the cooling fan motor during a predetermined period of time exceeds a first reference value, for example, 3% in S701.

(60) When the rate of RPM change of the cooling fan motor exceeds 3% as a result of the verification, the EMS ECU 310 calculates a ratio of a difference between the current number of rotations of the motor, that is, the current motor RPM and the number of rotations of the motor in the normal state, that is, motor RPM in the normal state, and verifies whether the calculated ratio exceeds a second reference value, for example, 5% in S703 to S705.

(61) Here, the ratio c of the difference between the current motor RPM c and the motor RPM in the normal state b may be calculated according to the following equation:
c=(|ba|/a)*100(%).

(62) When the calculated ratio exceeds the second reference value as a result of the verification, and the calculated ratio is a value between the second reference value and a third reference value, for example, 10%, the EMS ECU 310 performs correction control according to a predefined engine correction algorithm so that RPM of the cooling fan motor is in the normal state in S707 to S709.

(63) When the calculated ratio exceeds the third reference value as a result of the verification, the EMS ECU 310 may perform a control operation to deliver a predetermined warning alarm signal that indicates abnormal RPM of the cooling fan motor or engine abnormality to the cluster 350 to display a warning alarm on the instrument panel. A driver may visit a service center in response to the displayed warning alarm to check the vehicle.

(64) When the calculated ratio does not exceed the second reference value in S707, the EMS ECU 310 may verify whether the calculated ratio exceeds the second reference value by continuously monitoring motor RPM to calculate the ratio.

(65) FIG. 8 illustrates a configuration of a cooling system in a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

(66) Referring to FIG. 8, an EMS ECU 810 may receive air conditioner switch input state information, air conditioner pressure state information, vehicle speed information, coolant temperature information, and the like in real time from controllers 830 that include various sensors.

(67) In addition, the EMS ECU 810 may transmit a predetermined motor control signal for RPM control of a cooling fan motor to a cooling fan controller 820 through LIN communication or CAN communication.

(68) Upon receiving the motor control signal through a communication module 825, the cooling fan controller 820 delivers the motor control signal to a main controller 821, and the main controller 821 delivers, to a motor driving chip 822, the motor control signal converted according to a cooling fan control condition determined based on an output signal Vout of an APT sensor 840.

(69) The motor driving chip 822 delivers a PWM signal based on the received motor control signal to a motor driving transistor 823. The motor driving transistor 823 may integrate the PWM signal to apply a DC voltage necessary to drive a cooling fan motor 824.

(70) A motor RPM calculation module 826 may receive the converted motor control signal from the main controller 821 to calculate RPM of the cooling fan motor 824 in real time. In this instance, information about the calculated RPM may be transmitted to the EMS ECU 810 through the main controller 821 and the communication module 825.

(71) The EMS ECU 810 may perform engine compensation control by generating the motor control signal using various types of vehicle state information received from the sensors and cooling fan motor RPM information received from the cooling fan controller 820.

(72) FIG. 8 illustrates that the cooling fan motor 824 is included in the cooling fan controller 820, which is merely an example. It should be noted that the cooling fan controller 820 and the cooling fan motor 824 may be separated from each other in another embodiment of the present invention.

(73) Although not illustrated FIG. 8, the cooling fan controller 820 may additionally include a sensor calculation module 243 for calculating an output voltage Vout level of the APT sensor 840 during abnormal communication. The output voltage level measured by the sensor calculation module 243 may be delivered to the main controller 821, and the main controller 821 may determine a cooling fan control condition based on the delivered output voltage level.

(74) Effects of a method and an apparatus according to the present invention are described below.

(75) First, the present invention has an advantage of providing a method of controlling a cooling fan in a cooling system in a vehicle, and a system for the same.

(76) Second, the present invention has an advantage of providing a method of adaptively controlling a cooling fan during abnormal communication in a vehicle, and an apparatus and system for the same.

(77) Third, the present invention has an advantage of providing a method of controlling a cooling fan with a low internal wiring complexity and a high stability, and an apparatus and system for the same by configuration a cooling system through communication in a vehicle.

(78) Fourth, decrease in weight of the entire system and reduction in time and cost for repair may be expected from the present invention by configuring a cooling system in a vehicle through CAN communication or LIN communication.

(79) Fifth, the present invention has an advantage of providing a method of controlling a cooling fan capable of performing engine compensation control, and an apparatus and system for the same by additionally providing an RPM monitoring function of a cooling fan motor.

(80) Effects that may be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the above description.

(81) Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present invention.

(82) The above exemplary embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the above description, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.