Interface Element for a Vehicle

Abstract

An interface element for a vehicle has electronic components, wherein the electronic components have at least one connection to at least one data interface of the vehicle. The connection is suitable and created for exchanging measurement data and/or open-loop and/or closed-loop control data for controlling electronic components. The electronic components also have at least one integrated measurement and/or open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit.

Claims

1. An interface element for a utility vehicle, comprising: electronic components, wherein the electronic components have at least one connection to at least one data interface of a vehicle, wherein the connection is suitable and created for exchange of measurement data and/or open-loop and/or closed-loop control data for control of the electronic components, wherein the electronic components further have at least one integrated measurement and/or open-loop control and/or closed-loop control unit.

2. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated measurement and/or open-loop control and/or closed-loop control unit comprises a microcontroller.

3. The interface element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the integrated measurement and/or open-loop control and/or closed-loop control unit further comprises a processor, an integrated circuit and/or at least one data interface.

4. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is in a form of a plug-in element.

5. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is formed in a cable or as a cable element.

6. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic components are of water-tight protected form.

7. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is connectable or connected to a sensor.

8. The interface element as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sensor is a wheel rotational speed sensor.

9. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is connectable or connected to an actuator.

10. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a wired connection.

11. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a radio connection.

12. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection comprises an optical connection.

13. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a magnetic connection.

14. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is connectable or connected to an external power supply source.

15. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element is connectable or connected to an internal power supply source, wherein the internal power supply source comprises a battery.

16. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element has an interface to a fleet management system and/or to a mobile terminal.

17. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element has an encrypted communication protocol system configured such that the interface element exchanges data via the communication protocol system.

18. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element has a monitoring unit by which continuously received measurement signals are automatically monitored for monitoring an operating state of the vehicle.

19. The interface element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface element has a signal comparison unit by which measurement and/or open-loop control and/or closed-loop control signals in the interface element and in the vehicle are compared and/or checked for plausibility.

20. A utility vehicle or rail vehicle, comprising at least one interface element as claimed in claim 1.

21. A method for at least one of partial measurement, open-loop control, closed-loop control, and monitoring of a utility vehicle or rail vehicle, the method comprising: performing the at least one of partial measurement, open-loop control, closed-loop control, and monitoring of the utility vehicle not by central control units in a vehicle architecture but rather in a decentralized fashion by at least one interface element, wherein the interface element comprises: electronic components, wherein the electronic components have at least one connection to at least one data interface of the vehicle, wherein the connection is suitable and created for exchange of measurement data and/or open-loop and/or closed-loop control data for control of the electronic components, wherein the electronic components further have at least one integrated measurement and/or open-loop control and/or closed-loop control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a brake system having an air treatment unit and having an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a plug-in element for a utility vehicle according to the invention for carrying out an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of a method for the partial open-loop control and/or closed-loop control and/or monitoring of a utility vehicle.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a plug-in element according to the invention.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a plug-in element according to the invention.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows an example of a possible connection of the plug-in element to the vehicle architecture of the utility vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a brake system 1 for a utility vehicle, having an air treatment unit 2 and having an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of an interface element 60 and 60 for a utility vehicle N for carrying out an exemplary embodiment of a method for the partial open-loop control and/or closed-loop control and/or monitoring of the utility vehicle N. The interface element may be in the form of a plug-in element.

[0078] It is basically possible for the plug-in elements 60 and 60 to be used, not only in conjunction with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in conjunction with a brake system and air treatment unit of the utility vehicle. Use in conjunction with all electronic systems of the utility vehicle N is possible.

[0079] The air treatment unit 2 comprises a filter cartridge 6 which is connected to a compressor 4 and which serves for filtering and drying the compressed air provided by the compressor 4.

[0080] The filter cartridge 6 is arranged on a casing 8 of the air treatment unit 2 and is pneumatically connected to the casing 8 via a filter cartridge line 10.

[0081] A charging valve 12 is arranged in the casing 8.

[0082] In this exemplary embodiment, the charging valve 12 is connected to the filter cartridge line 10 via a distributor unit 14.

[0083] Here, the charging valve 12 is arranged in the connecting line 16. For an advantageous function, the pressure pick-off point may also be arranged upstream of the distributor unit 14.

[0084] In one exemplary embodiment, it is important that the supply pressure for the charging valve 12 is stable, that is to say does not fall to zero in the absence of a compressor conveying action.

[0085] Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, the pressure pick-off point may also be situated between the distributor unit 14 and the check valve.

[0086] In a known manner, the air treatment unit 2 is for example pneumatically coupled to two control valves 20, which are connected upstream of in each case one of two front wheel brake cylinders 22 of a front axle of the utility vehicle.

[0087] By means of the air treatment unit 2, a supply is likewise provided to a trailer control module 18.

[0088] A control unit 24, which is likewise arranged in the casing 8, is designed to activate the charging valve 12 by outputting a corresponding control signal 26.

[0089] The control valves 20 are designed to change a respective brake pressure in the front wheel brake cylinders 22.

[0090] The activation of the control valves 20 by means of the air treatment unit 2 is for example performed such that locking of the wheels during braking is prevented, or the utility vehicle is braked on one side.

[0091] In this exemplary embodiment, the charging valve 12 is designed to charge the control valve connection 18 with a setpoint pressure which can be output in multiple steps between ambient pressure and operating pressure, wherein, for example, said setpoint pressure can be extracted in part directly from the solenoid valve and in part, with a boosted air flow rate, from a relay valve.

[0092] Alternatively, the charging valve 12 may be designed to charge the control valve port 18 with a control pressure for the pneumatic activation of a valve or valve module, connected upstream of the two control valves 20, of the brake system 1, for example a relay valve, as the setpoint pressure.

[0093] For example, the utility vehicle is equipped with a total of four optional wheel rotational speed sensors 28 for detecting a rotational speed of in each case one wheel at a front and a rear axle.

[0094] The wheel rotational speed sensors 28 transmit in each case one wheel rotational speed signal 30, which represents the respective rotational speed of a wheel, to the control unit 24, wherein the control unit 24 is designed to activate the charging valve 12 using the wheel rotational speed sensor signals 30, that is to say in a manner dependent on the respective rotational speed of the wheels.

[0095] Optionally, the control unit 24 uses the wheel rotational speed sensor signals 30 in order, additionally or alternatively to the charging valve 12, to directly electrically activate the two control valves 20, in particular such that, during braking of the utility vehicle, locking of the front wheels is prevented, or the utility vehicle is additionally braked on one side.

[0096] By means of the charging valve 12, the brake system 1 can be activated in a known manner.

[0097] A parking brake function is likewise realized in a suitable manner, as is known from the prior art.

[0098] The two front wheel brake cylinders 22 are connected via a front-axle valve module 36 to a footbrake module 38 of the brake system 1.

[0099] The two control valves 20 are arranged between the front wheel brake cylinders 22 and the front-axle valve module 36.

[0100] The brake system 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be activated for example by an EBS control unit 48 of an electronic brake system of the utility vehicle.

[0101] For this purpose, the EBS control unit 48 is for example connected to the wheel rotational speed sensors 28, to the footbrake module 38 and to the front-axle valve module 36 for the purposes of electrical signal transmission.

[0102] In one exemplary embodiment, the control unit 24 of the air treatment unit 2 is designed to activate the charging valve 12 in the event of failure of the electronic brake system such that adequate braking performance at the front axle of the utility vehicle can continue to be ensured.

[0103] The footbrake module 38 is furthermore connected via a rear-axle valve module 50 to two rear wheel brake cylinders 52 of the rear axle of the utility vehicle.

[0104] Merely by way of example, by contrast to the front axle, no ABS control valves are arranged between the rear-axle valve module 50 and the rear wheel brake cylinders 52.

[0105] In this exemplary embodiment, the two rear wheel brake cylinders 52 are designed to lock the rear wheels of the utility vehicle in the ventilated state by means of spring force.

[0106] The rear wheel brake cylinders 52 are thus a constituent part of the immobilizing or parking brake function.

[0107] FIG. 2 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an interface element according to the invention in the form of a plug-in element 60.

[0108] The plug-in element 60 according to the invention in this embodiment is designed as a plug-in element with integrated sensor function evaluation logic and for connection to sensors, in this case a wheel rotational speed sensor 28 with wheel rotational speed sensor signal 30 and pressure sensors 64.

[0109] The plug-in element 60 is connectable by way of a connection 62 directly or indirectly to the EBS control unit 48 as shown in FIG. 1. A connection to the control unit 24 is also provided.

[0110] In FIG. 2, electrical lines are denoted by E, data signal lines are denoted by the reference designation D, pneumatic lines are denoted by P, and measurement signal lines are denoted by M.

[0111] The plug-in element 60 has two pressure sensors (pressure-voltage transducers) 64 which, by means of corresponding measurement signal lines 66, may be connected to, for example, the rear wheel brake cylinders 52.

[0112] Here, too, a corresponding plug-in connection for the measurement lines 66 is contemplated.

[0113] It is however also contemplated for the illustrated layout of the interface element 60 to be formed overall as a cable element and not as a plug-in element.

[0114] Furthermore, the plug-in element 60 has connections to two batteries 68, by means of which, for example, accelerations or else the wheel rotational speed can be measured.

[0115] The plug-in element 60 furthermore has a microcontroller 70.

[0116] The microcontroller 70 may have an evaluation unit for realizing an evaluation function, a monitoring unit for realizing a monitoring function, and a signal comparison unit for realizing a signal comparison function.

[0117] The electronics of the plug-in element 60 are encapsulated in water-tight fashion, in this case by virtue of the plug-in element 60 being formed as a casing in half-shell form with a gel filling or potting compound for achieving the water-tightness.

[0118] Full encapsulation of the plug-in element 60 and of the electronics present in the plug-in element 60 may alternatively be realized.

[0119] FIG. 3 shows a plug-in element 60 which is of substantially identical construction and which has all of the structural and functional features and also the plug-in element 60 as per FIG. 2.

[0120] Correspondingly identical elements are merely denoted in more detail by means of a primed reference designation or identical reference designation.

[0121] The plug-in element 60 additionally has an actuator function. Here, an electrical control line 72 is provided, by means of which a solenoid valve, in this case the control valve 20 (see FIG. 1), can be activated.

[0122] As shown in FIG. 4, it is possible by means of the plug-in element 60 and 60 for the vehicle architecture of the utility vehicle, as is also represented by way of example in FIG. 1, to be expanded by the brake system 1 of the utility vehicle N. By means of the connection of the plug-in element 60 and 60 to a data bus 80 of the utility vehicle N, further possibilities for activation of actuators A, represented here by way of example by a control valve 20, or sensor elements S, represented here by way of example by a pressure sensor 64, are made possible.

[0123] It is thus also the case, for example with regard to autonomous driving, that an advantageous distribution of functions over the entire utility vehicle N is made possible. A non-redundant rotational speed evaluation of the EBS system in the plug-in element 60 and 60 is contemplated. In this way, redundant ECU and EAC modularity is also made possible, because access hereto is realized via the plug-in element 60 and 60.

[0124] Standard sensors may be used.

[0125] Existing vehicle systems of a utility vehicle N may be expanded (see FIG. 4), for example in order to be able to provide higher-quality sensor information and functions. Here, it is possible in particular for intelligent electronics to be retrofitted in existing vehicle systems.

[0126] Space-saving, variable and location-independent fixing of the plug-in element 60 and 60 may be realized at positions at which structural space is available for integrating control functions and also corresponding hardware and control electronics into the plug-in element 60 and 60.

[0127] A connection to the EBS system 48 or the control unit 24 or other open-loop control and/or closed-loop control systems of the utility vehicle N may be realized either in wired or wireless fashion, for example by radio.

[0128] Multiple control outputs may be provided on the plug-in element 60 and 60. Analogously to a sensing plug-in element 60, it is also possible to provide cascaded closed-loop control, adapted to an actuator A (see FIG. 3).

[0129] It is contemplated for the entire signal arrangement to be made available in one-off fashion for all redundant systems connected to the data bus.

[0130] By means of the compact design and the low inherent weight of the plug-in element 60 and 60, resistance to vibrations is also realized.

[0131] In the case of additional functions, it is also possible to be able to perform an update without a modification of the connected main unit, in this case for example of the EBS system 48 or EAC system. It is simply merely necessary for the plug-in elements 60 and 60 to be partially or entirely exchanged or for these to be correspondingly brought into the newest state by means of an update.

[0132] It is furthermore contemplated to be able to connect a mobile communication interface, for example by way of WLAN, Bluetooth or other radio protocols. By means of this interface, coupling to mobile terminals is possible, for example to a smartphone or to a Tablet PC and/or also generally to a server in the Internet. Also contemplated is connection to an online monitoring system which is used for remote maintenance, for data recording, remote control or the like.

[0133] An additional casing and also a plug connection as a whole are omitted, because there is no need for a separate further central open-loop control and/or closed-loop control unit to be integrated.

[0134] Rather, plug-in elements 60 and 60 are simply integrated into the system at suitable locations.

[0135] It is furthermore contemplated for conditioning of sensor signals to be performed, for example a characteristic map adaptation. It is also contemplated to be able to perform a sensor exchange with changed characteristic map without modification of the central control units of the brake system or utility vehicle N.

[0136] The plug-in elements 60 and 60 may have analog outputs. Multiple different sensors with different output signals may be provided in one plug-in element 60 and 60.

[0137] Altogether, this results in a considerable saving of inputs and outputs on the main control unit, for example the EBS system 48 or the EAC system. In the extreme case, it is merely the case that a relocation of data bus connections of control functions and hardware into the plug-in element 60 and 60 is performed (in this regard, see also FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

[0138] It is possible for multiple control outputs to be provided, which, on the basis of a setpoint value from the data interface, correspondingly activate components of the utility vehicle N, see FIG. 3, in this case activation via the line 72 of the control valve 20.

[0139] Cascaded closed-loop control may be provided in a manner adapted to the actuator.

[0140] Even without modification of the central control units, it would be possible for a utility vehicle N and its control system to be adapted to a new actuator by means of changed demands and functions in the plug-in element 60 and 60.

[0141] This may for example even be realized merely through corresponding software modification of the plug-in element.

[0142] Here, a corresponding software update would be possible via the microcontroller 70 and corresponding memory means in the plug-in element 60 and 60.

[0143] By means of the plug-in element 60 and 60 and the intelligent electronics present therein, it is also basically possible to monitor the sensor signals in the entire utility vehicle N and in this way be able, for example, to identify cable breakages or other system faults and hereby realize a failsafe principle or a state of said type.

[0144] Tap-proof communication of the sensor signal is also possible by means of encrypted transmission via the data bus 80.

[0145] One possible application of interface elements 60, 60 may be realized, analogously to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, in that only (for example analog) measurement signals are evaluated by means of the interface element 60 and these are input in a standardized data format into a data bus 80, such that all control units, that is to say for example also two redundancy-safeguarding control units, can simultaneously access this single measurement signal in the data format with little additional outlay, by virtue of the fact that the two control units merely have to be connected in inexpensive fashion to the same data bus. One example would be the detection of the wheel rotational speed signals, which could be performed in the interface element 60. At the same time, the interface element could likewise monitor these signals for errors and input detected errors, by means of special values of the digital measurement signal, into the data bus 80 for any desired number of control units. Thus, the measurement signal is, by means of the interface element alone, transformed for all connected control units into a duplicated, safeguarded measurement signal which, without outlay in terms of the central control units, can be identified by these as a valid or implausible measurement value simply by means of the data value.

[0146] As a smallest possible unit composed of the simplest interface elements, this would be the simple coupling of two interface elements at their data interface, wherein one interface element 60 reads out a sensor and the other interface element 60 activates an actuator. The two interface elements 60, 60 may exchange the closed-loop control variables with one another via the data interface, and, in a closed-loop control circuit, read in the measurement values on one side of the assembly and activate actuators on the other side. By contrast to the layout shown in FIG. 4, the main control unit 24 or 48 may be omitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0147] 1 Brake system [0148] 2 Air treatment unit [0149] 4 Compressor [0150] 6 Filter cartridge [0151] 8 Casing [0152] 10 Filter cartridge line [0153] 12 Charging valve [0154] 14 Distributor unit [0155] 16 Connecting line [0156] 18 Trailer control module [0157] 20 Control valve [0158] 22 Wheel brake cylinder [0159] 24 Control unit [0160] 26 Control signal [0161] 28 Wheel rotational speed sensors [0162] 30 Wheel rotational speed sensor signal [0163] 36 Front-axle valve module [0164] 38 Footbrake module [0165] 48 EBS control unit [0166] 50 Rear-axle valve module [0167] 52 Wheel brake cylinder [0168] 60 Interface element [0169] 62 Connection [0170] 64 Pressure sensor [0171] 66 Measurement signal lines [0172] 68 Battery [0173] 70 Microcontroller [0174] 72 Line [0175] 80 Data bus [0176] A Actuators [0177] E Electrical lines [0178] D Data signal lines [0179] P Pneumatic lines [0180] M Measurement signal lines [0181] N Utility vehicle [0182] S Sensor elements [0183] 60 Interface element [0184] 62 Connection [0185] 64 Pressure sensor [0186] 66 Measurement signal lines [0187] 68 Battery [0188] 70 Microcontroller [0189] 72 Electrical control line

[0190] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.