Sensor Assembly for a Vehicle and Multi-Circuit Braking System

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes control devices with evaluation and control units, and multiple sensor elements which are each assigned to a brakeable vehicle wheel and one of the evaluation and control units designed to detect a physical variable of the associated wheel and to output same as an output signal directly to the associated evaluation and control unit, wherein the control devices are each designed to carry out a braking function of the vehicle based on the detected movement-dependent physical variables of the vehicle wheels, wherein the individual evaluation and control units are designed to output the received output signal to a respective evaluation and control unit of another control device, such that the individual evaluation and control units each receive the output signals from at least two sensor elements, which are assigned to evaluation and control units of different control devices, and prepare same for evaluation.

Claims

1. A sensor assembly for a vehicle, comprising: at least two control devices, which each comprise at least one evaluation and control unit; and a plurality of sensor elements which are each associated with a respective brakeable vehicle wheel and a respective one of the evaluation and control units of the control devices, and are designed to detect at least one physical variable of the respective brakeable vehicle wheel R3and to output said at least one physical variable directly to the respective evaluation and control unit as an output signal, wherein the at least two control devices are each designed to carry out at least one braking function of the vehicle on the basis of the detected at least one physical variable; and the at least one evaluation and control units are designed to output the received output signal respectively to at least one evaluation and control unit of another control device so that the individual evaluation and control units each receive the output signals from at least two sensor elements, which are associated with evaluation and control units of different control devices, and prepare them for evaluation.

2. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the control devices each comprise at least one computing unit; the at least one evaluation and control units are being further designed to transmit processed output signals to the at least one computing unit of the corresponding control device of the at least two control devices; and the individual computing units are being designed to evaluate the processed output signals for performing the corresponding at least one braking function of the vehicle.

3. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one physical variable represents a movement-dependent measured variable and/or a different measured variable of the respective brakeable vehicle wheel.

4. The sensor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the at least one physical variable is the movement-dependent measured variable in the form of a number of revolutions and/or rotational velocity and/or a rotational direction.

5. The sensor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the computing units generate measurement data of the individual vehicle wheels based upon the processed output signals and provide a data bus for distribution in the vehicle.

6. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensor elements is configured as a standard rotational speed sensor.

7. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein a first control device of the at least two control devices and a second control device of the at least two control devices each comprise two evaluation and control units.

8. The sensor assembly according to claim 7, wherein in each case the respective breakable vehicle wheel of a first evaluation and control unit of the two control devices is associated with brakeable vehicle wheels of a first vehicle axle, and in each case the respective breakable vehicle wheel of a second evaluation and control unit of the two control devices is associated with brakeable vehicle wheels of a second vehicle axle.

9. The sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first evaluation and control units of the two control devices and the second evaluation and control units of the two control devices each exchange the received output signals of the associated sensor elements.

10. The sensor assembly according to claim 7, wherein the evaluation and control units of the two control devices transmit the received output signals of the associated sensor elements to at least one further control device.

11. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the control devices each have a redundant energy supply.

12. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first control device is configured as a primary control device and controls an ESP system or an ESP system with a vacuum-independent, electrohydraulic brake booster.

13. The sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second control device is configured as a secondary control device and controls a vacuum-independent, electrohydraulic brake booster or a redundant brake unit.

14. The sensor assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one further control device is a drive control device which is designed to control an inverter of an electric drive of the vehicle or is a central control device which is designed to calculate movement trajectories.

15. A multi-circuit braking system, in particular for a highly-automated or autonomous vehicle, comprising: a plurality of wheel brakes which are each arranged on a respective vehicle wheel; and a sensor assembly designed according to claim 1, wherein a first of the at least two control devices is a primary control device configured to execute at least one braking function of the vehicle based upon the detected at least one physical variable of the respective vehicle wheels, and a second of the at least two control devices is a secondary control device which executes at least one braking function of the vehicle based upon the detected at least one physical variable of the respective vehicle wheels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a sensor assembly according to the invention for a vehicle.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment of a sensor assembly 1 according to the invention for a vehicle comprises at least two control devices ECU1, ECU2, which each comprise at least one evaluation and control unit 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and a plurality of sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 which are each associated with a brakeable vehicle wheel R1, R2, R3, R4 and one of the evaluation and control units 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D of the control devices ECU1, ECU2 and are designed to detect at least one physical variable of the associated vehicle wheel R1, R2, R3, R4 and to output said variable directly to the associated evaluation and control unit 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D as an output signal AS1, AS2, AS3, AS4. The control devices ECU1, ECU2 execute at least one braking function of the vehicle 1 based upon the detected, movement-dependent, physical variables of the vehicle wheels R1, R2, R3, R4. The individual evaluation and control units 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D each output the received output signal AS1, AS2, AS3, AS4 respectively to at least one evaluation and control unit 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D of another control device ECU1, ECU2 so that the individual evaluation and control units 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D each receive the output signals AS1, AS2, AS3, AS4 from at least two sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4, which are associated with evaluation and control units 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D of different control devices ECU1, ECU2, and prepare them for evaluation.

[0025] As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the sensor assembly 1 in the illustrated embodiment comprises two control devices ECU1, ECU2 and four sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 designed as standard rotational speed sensors. In this case, a first sensor element DF1 is associated with a first vehicle wheel R1 of a first vehicle axle VA—here, the front axle—and a first evaluation and control unit 10A of a first control device ECU1. A second sensor element DF2 is associated with a first vehicle wheel R2 of a second vehicle axle HA—here, the rear axle—and a second evaluation and control unit 10B of the first control device ECU1. A third sensor element DF3 is associated with a second vehicle wheel R3 of the second vehicle axle HA and a second evaluation and control unit 10C of a second control device ECU2. A fourth sensor element DF4 is associated with a second vehicle wheel R4 of the first vehicle axle VA and a first evaluation and control unit 10D of the second control device ECU2. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the first evaluation and control units 10A, 10D of the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 are associated with the vehicle wheels R1, R4 of the first vehicle axis VA, and the second evaluation and control units 10B, 10C of the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 are associated with the vehicle wheels R2, R3 of the second vehicle axle HA.

[0026] As can be further seen from FIG. 1, the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 in the embodiment shown each comprise a computing unit 3, 3A, 3B, wherein the first control device ECU1 comprises a first computing unit 3A, and the second control device ECU2 comprises a second computing unit 3B. In addition, the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 each have a redundant power supply (not shown).

[0027] As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the first evaluation and control unit 10A of the first control device ECU1 transmits the received output signal AS1 of the first sensor element DF1 to the first evaluation and control unit 10D of the second control device ECU2, and the first evaluation and control unit 10D of the second control device ECU2 transmits the received output signal AS4 of the fourth sensor element DF4 to the first evaluation and control unit 10A of the first control device ECU1. Thus, the first evaluation and control units 10A, 10D of the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 each receive the output signals AS1, AS4 of the first sensor element DF1 and of the fourth sensor element DF4, which are associated with the vehicle wheels R1, R4 of the first vehicle axle VA. Furthermore, both evaluation and control units 10A, 10D produce the output signals AS1, AS4 of the first sensor element DF1 and of the fourth sensor element DF4, wherein the first evaluation and control unit 10A of the first control device ECU1 transmits the processed output signals AAS1, AAS4 to the first computing unit 3A of the first control device ECU1 for evaluation purposes. The first evaluation and control unit 10D of the second control device ECU2 transmits the processed output signals AAS1, AAS4 to the second computing unit 3B of the second control device ECU2 for evaluation purposes.

[0028] As can further be seen from FIG. 1, the second evaluation and control unit 10B of the first control device ECU1 transmits the received output signal AS2 of the second sensor element DF2 to the second evaluation and control unit 10C of the second control device ECU2, and the second evaluation and control unit 10C of the second control device ECU2 transmits the received output signal AS3 of the third sensor element DF3 to the second evaluation and control unit 10B of the first control device ECU1. Thus, the second evaluation and control units 10B, 10C of the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 each receive the output signals AS2, AS3 of the second sensor element DF2 and the third sensor element DF3, which are associated with the vehicle wheels R2, R3 of the second vehicle axle HA. Furthermore, both evaluation and control units 10B, 10C process the output signals AS2, AS3 from the second sensor element DF2 and the third sensor element DF3, wherein the second evaluation and control unit 10B of the first control device ECU1 transmits the processed output signals AAS2, AAS3 to the first computing unit 3A of the first control device ECU1 for evaluation purposes. The second evaluation and control unit 10C of the second control device ECU2 transmits the processed output signals AAS2, AAS3 to the second computing unit 3B of the second control device ECU2 for evaluation purposes. The two computing units 3A, 3B evaluate the processed output signals AAS1, AAS2, AAS3, AAS4 in order to execute the corresponding at least one braking function of the vehicle.

[0029] Of course, a different exchange of the received output signals AS1, AS3; AS2, AS4 of the associated sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 is possible as well. In addition, the received output signals AS1, AS3; AS2, AS4 of the associated sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 can additionally also be transmitted to at least one further control device (not shown) in an alternative embodiment of the sensor assembly 1 (not shown). The at least one further control device is, for example, a drive control device, which is designed to control an inverter of an electric drive of the vehicle 1, or is a central control device, which is designed to calculate movement trajectories.

[0030] The sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 each detect at least one physical variable which represents a movement-dependent measured variable and/or another measured variable of the corresponding vehicle wheel R1, R2, R3, R4. In the embodiment shown, the at least one movement-dependent measured variable represents a number of revolutions and a rotational direction. Of course, the physical variable detected can also represent a different movement-dependent measured variable—for example, a rotational speed. In the embodiment shown, the at least one other measured variable of the corresponding vehicle wheel R1, R2, R3, R4 represents a temperature in the surroundings of the sensor element DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4. Of course, the physical variable detected can also represent a different measurement variable such as, for example, a tire pressure or air gap information.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiment of the sensor assembly 1 shown, the computing units 3A, 3B each generate measurement data of the individual vehicle wheels R1, R2, R3, R4 on the basis of the processed output signals AAS1, AAS2, AAS3, AAS4 and provide this data to a data bus 5 for distribution in the vehicle.

[0032] The described exemplary embodiment of the sensor assembly 1 according to the invention for a vehicle, which detects at least one physical variable of the vehicle wheels R1, R2, R3, R4, is preferably used in a multi-circuit braking system, and in particular for a highly-automated or autonomous vehicle. Such a multi-circuit braking system comprises a plurality of wheel brakes (not shown), each of which is arranged on a vehicle wheel R1, R2, R3, R4, a primary control device PSG, which executes at least one braking function of the vehicle based upon the at least one detected physical variable of the vehicle wheels R1, R2, R3, R4, and a secondary control device SSG, which executes at least one braking function of the vehicle based upon the at least one detected physical variable of the vehicle wheels R1, R2, R3, R4. In this case, the first control device ECU1 is designed as a primary control device PSG, and the second control device ECU2 is designed as a secondary control device SSG.

[0033] In this case, the primary control device PSG can control an ESP system or an ESP system with a vacuum-independent, electrohydraulic brake booster or an integrated braking system (IPB). The secondary control device SSG can control a vacuum-independent, electrohydraulic brake booster or a redundant brake unit.

[0034] The primary control device PSG and the secondary control device SSG receive the output signals AS1, AS3; AS2, AS4 of the associated sensor elements DF1, DF2, DF3, DF4 in real time for further evaluation purposes and for performing the corresponding brake functions, or for carrying out the primary stabilization of the vehicle or the secondary stabilization of the vehicle in an emergency when the primary stabilization has failed. In order to carry out the corresponding brake functions and the primary stabilization of the vehicle, the primary control device PSG controls a corresponding primary actuator system (not shown), via which a pressure buildup or pressure reduction in the wheel brakes can be carried out in the braking system, and corresponding control and/or regulating processes can be carried out. In order to carry out the corresponding brake functions and the secondary stabilization of the vehicle, the secondary control device PSG controls a corresponding secondary actuator system (not shown), via which a pressure buildup or pressure reduction in the wheel brakes can be carried out in the braking system, and corresponding control and/or regulating processes can be carried out. To carry out a parking brake function, at least one of the two control devices ECU1, ECU2 is electrically connected to a corresponding actuator (not shown in more detail) of an electric parking brake via an electrical connection. Preferably, the actuators of the parking brake function are arranged on the vehicle wheels R2, R3 of the second vehicle axle HA or the rear axle. In an alternative embodiment of the sensor assembly 1—not shown—the actuators of the electric parking brake are additionally or alternatively arranged on the vehicle wheels R1, R4 of the first vehicle axle VA or the front axle.