System for transmitting a piece of information to a subunit

Abstract

A system for transmitting a piece of information to a subunit, including at least one connection position and at least one subunit, the at least one connection position being configured for accommodating a subunit, and the at least one connection position including at least one coding lug which is configured for engaging into a corresponding recess on a subunit, the arrangement of the at least one coding lug coding the piece of information to be transmitted, and the at least one subunit having at least one recess which is configured for contactlessly detecting the presence of a coding lug in a recess.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting a piece of information to a subunit, comprising: a mounting unit having at least one connection position; and at least one subunit, the at least one connection position of the mounting unit being configured for accommodating the at least one subunit, wherein the connection position includes at least one coding lug to engage into a corresponding recess on the subunit, an arrangement of the coding lug coding the piece of information to be transmitted, and the subunit having at least one interior recess which includes a sensor to contactlessly detect the presence of the coding lug in the corresponding recess; wherein the sensor is located in the interior recess of the at least one subunit to contactlessly detect one of capacitively, inductively or magnetically.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor detects the presence of the coding lug in the recess includes at least one of a conductor loop and a magnetic sensor.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one coding lug is at least one of metallic or magnetic.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor of the subunit includes one of an ultrasonic sensor, a LIDAR sensor, and a radar sensor.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection position includes electrical contacts, by which the subunit is connectable, wherein the electrical contacts are for a power supply and for communication.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the piece of information represents an identifier for communication.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the piece of information represents at least one of the connection position in the system, a functional feature, and a piece of correction information.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one subunit includes the sensor, which is mounted in the at least one connection position.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the coding lug is made from the same material as the mounting.

10. A vehicle including a system for transmitting a piece of information to a subunit, comprising: a mounting unit having at least one connection position; and at least one subunit, the at least one connection position of the mounting unit being configured for accommodating the at least one subunit, wherein the connection position includes at least one coding lug to engage into a corresponding recess on the subunit, an arrangement of the coding lug coding the piece of information to be transmitted, and the subunit having at least one interior recess which includes a sensor to contactlessly detect the presence of the coding lug in the corresponding recess; wherein the sensor is located in the interior recess of the at least one subunit to contactlessly detect one of capacitively, inductively or magnetically.

11. A subunit, comprising: a subunit device configured to be accommodated in at least one connection position of a mounting unit, the connection position includes at least one coding lug to engage into a corresponding recess on the subunit device, an arrangement of the coding lug coding a piece of information to be transmitted to the subunit device, and the subunit device having at least one recess which includes a sensor to contactlessly detect the presence of the coding lug in the corresponding recess; wherein the sensor is located in the interior recess of the at least one subunit to contactlessly detect one of capacitively, inductively or magnetically.

12. A connection device, comprising: a mounting unit having at least one connection position configured for accommodating a subunit, the connection position including at least one coding lug to engage into a corresponding recess on the subunit, an arrangement of the coding lug coding a piece of information to the transmitted to the subunit, and the subunit having at least one interior recess which includes a sensor to contactlessly detect the presence of the coding lug in the corresponding recess; wherein the sensor is located in the interior recess of the at least one subunit to contactlessly detect one of capacitively, inductively or magnetically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a subunit.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the insertion of a subunit into a connection position.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B show two examples of the arrangement of coding lugs in a connection position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(4) In the following description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar components and elements are labeled using the same reference numerals, a repeated description of these components or elements in individual cases being dispensed with. The figures represent the subject matter of the present invention only schematically.

(5) A subunit 10 is schematically represented in FIG. 1. In the view, subunit 10 is shown in a sectional representation from above. Subunit 10 includes a housing 12 which is configured for being inserted into a connection position 20 (see FIG. 2). In the specific embodiment represented in FIG. 1, housing 12 has three recesses 14. It is apparent in the sectional representation that one conductor loop 18 which is connected to a control unit 16 is assigned to each recess 14. Each conductor loop 18 is routed around one of the recesses 14, starting from control unit 16.

(6) Control unit 16 may measure electrical parameters such as capacitance or impedance via conductor loops 18. These electrical parameters are dependent on whether an object is located in recess 14. If an object is inserted into one of the recesses 14, then the electrical properties change, which, in turn may be measured via a change in the capacitance or via a change in the impedance. Therefore, control unit 16 may establish whether an object is located in a recess 14, without the need for a mechanical or electrical contact to take place.

(7) In further specific embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to additionally or alternatively assign a magnetic sensor, for example, a Hall effect sensor, to a conductor loop 18 of each recess 14. Such a sensor would detect, in particular, whether a magnetized material has been inserted into one of the recesses 14.

(8) It is likewise possible in further specific embodiments of the present invention to provide another number of recesses 14. With the aid of each recess 14, one logic bit may be detected, namely the presence or absence of an object in recess 14. The number of the assigned recesses 14 is generally selected in such a way that the required information may be coded. The number of codable states is 2.sup.n in this case, n corresponding to the number of recesses 14.

(9) FIG. 2 shows the insertion of a subunit 10 into a connection position 20. Subunit 10 is inserted from above in direction 26 into a connection position 20 designed as a mounting 22. Mounting 22 includes a coding lug 24 which engages into a corresponding recess 14 of subunit 10 upon insertion of subunit 10 into connection position 20.

(10) Depending on the specific embodiment of the device, subunit 10 is designed, for example, for detecting surroundings and mounting 22 is situated at an installation site in a vehicle intended for the surroundings sensor. In terms of the driver assistance systems of the vehicle, it is important to know which sensor or which subunit 10 was inserted into which connection position 20. If possible connection positions 20 are coded by way of an unambiguous placement of coding lugs 24 into connection positions 20, control unit 16 of a subunit 10 may detect its installation site via the coding, with the aid of coding lugs 24, and communicate this installation position via a data bus to other control units in the vehicle.

(11) Two different codings of a connection position 20 are represented in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

(12) Connection positions 20 each designed as mounting 22 are represented in FIGS. 3A and 3B. A subunit 10 is inserted into the mounting 22 in each case. In the specific embodiment represented, each of the subunits 10 has three recesses 14. One coding lug 24 may engage into each of the recesses 14. This results in three possible positions 31, 32, 33 at which a coding lug 24 may be situated.

(13) In the specific embodiment represented in FIG. 3A, a coding lug 24 is located in first position 31 and engages into corresponding recess 14 of subunit 10.

(14) In FIG. 3B, a coding lug 24 is situated in second position 32 and a coding lug 24 is situated in third position 33.

(15) The different coding via coding lugs 24 may be contactlessly detected by subunit 10 by ascertaining the presence or absence of a coding lug 24 in particular recess 14. On the basis of the information obtained in this way, subunit 10 may infer, for example, its installation position in the system. In further specific embodiments, this piece of information may additionally or alternatively contain a unique ID for the communication via a data bus or, for example, transmit configuration or correction information to subunit 10. Such pieces of configuration information may include, for example, that a subunit 10 designed as a sensor is to work with another measuring range at certain connection positions 20 other than connection positions 20.

(16) The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here and to the aspects emphasized therein. A multitude of modifications which are within the capabilities of those skilled in the art may rather be possible within the scope of the present invention.