JP2004142500A - Connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector device that does not require a wire harness for connecting between in-vehicle units.
A connector device has a wireless communication unit. The connector device 1 with a wireless function that is connected to the in-vehicle control unit 9 via the connector terminal unit 10 transmits the transfer data transferred between the control units 9 wirelessly by the wireless communication unit 11 with another wireless function. Communicate with the connector device. Such a connector device eliminates the need for a wire harness conventionally required for data transfer between vehicle-mounted control units.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector device connected to a vehicle-mounted unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As for the conventional on-vehicle control units, as shown in FIG. 3, the on-vehicle control units 9 dispersedly arranged at predetermined positions in the vehicle are connected to each other by a wire harness 8 to transmit information between each other. However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, a space for attaching the wire harness 8 is required, and it is generally difficult to meet the following requirements for passenger cars and the like.
[0003]
(1) In order to respond to the demand for higher performance and higher functionality of automobiles, the control device becomes complicated and the amount of information transmitted increases, but the space of the wire harness is limited due to restrictions on vehicle size and the like. It is difficult to secure more.
[0004]
(2) In response to a request for providing a comfortable boarding space, if the space of the wire harness can be reduced, the reduced space can be used for the boarding space.
[0005]
Then, as a method of reducing the space of the wire harness, for example, there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to this technology, the number of harnesses provided between the sensor module and the ECU is detected by detecting a power supply voltage that fluctuates due to switching of the switch circuit in response to the sensor output on the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) side. Can be reduced.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 10-174282 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, it is difficult to identify the sensor module in which the switch circuit has operated when detecting the switching of the switch circuit when there are a plurality of sensor modules. In addition, although the number of harnesses provided between the sensor module and the ECU is reduced, a wire harness is required, and a space and an additional work associated therewith are required.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a connector device that does not require a wire harness for connecting between in-vehicle units.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 provides a communication unit using a wireless signal for a connection unit connectable to a connected unit of a vehicle-mounted unit and transfer data of the vehicle-mounted unit passed through the connection unit. And a connector device connected to each of the plurality of in-vehicle units communicates with the communication control means, whereby the transfer data is transferred between the plurality of in-vehicle units.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication control means transmits and receives wired transfer data to and from the one in-vehicle unit to be connected to the connector via the connection unit. A transmission / reception unit for performing transmission / reception of transfer data by wireless between another vehicle-mounted unit different from the one vehicle-mounted unit; and a transfer data wirelessly received from the other vehicle-mounted unit by the wireless communication unit. The transmission / reception unit controls wired transmission to the one in-vehicle unit via the connection unit, and the transmission / reception unit transmits, by the wireless communication unit, transfer data received from the one in-vehicle unit via the connection unit by wire. A control unit for performing wireless transmission control to another on-vehicle unit.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 3 is the connector device according to claim 2, further comprising a printed wiring board on which a predetermined circuit pattern is formed, wherein the transmission / reception unit, the wireless communication unit, A control section is mounted, and the connection section has a plurality of connector terminals arranged side by side along one side of the printed wiring board.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the connector device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the wireless signal has an identification signal given to each vehicle.
[0013]
<Description of terms>
The "vehicle unit" in the first aspect includes not only control devices such as ECUs but also observation devices such as sensor modules.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<Main configuration of connector device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of a connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015]
The connector device 1 is configured as a male connector mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and has a connector terminal unit 10, a wireless communication unit 11, and a transfer data transmitting / receiving unit 12. Further, the connector device 1 includes a CPU 15 connected to the wireless communication unit 11 and the transfer data transmission / reception unit 12 so as to be able to transmit data, and a printed wiring board 16. On the printed wiring board 16, a circuit pattern for mounting the wireless communication unit 11, the transfer data transmission / reception unit 12, and the CPU 15 is formed.
[0016]
The connector terminal section 10 has a plurality of connector terminals 10a arranged in parallel along one side of the printed wiring board 16, and includes, for example, an on-vehicle control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as “Electronic Control Unit”) including a module or an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). 9), and functions as a connection unit for transferring transfer data such as control information from the control unit 9 to another control unit. The connector 90 is configured as a female connector (connected portion) to which the wire harness 8 is connected in the related art shown in FIG. 3, and the connector device 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to the existing connector 90 by the connector terminal portion. It is detachably connected via a connection unit consisting of 10.
[0017]
The wireless communication unit 11 communicates with the other connector devices having the same configuration as the connector device 1 by wireless signals with respect to the transfer data of the control unit 9 transferred via the connector terminal unit 10 and the connector 90. That is, the wireless communication unit 11 wirelessly transmits the transfer data transmitted from the CPU 15 to another connector device with a wireless function, and transmits the transfer data wirelessly received from the connector device with another wireless function to the CPU 15.
[0018]
The transfer data transmitting / receiving unit 12 is a part that transmits and receives transfer data to and from the control unit 9.
[0019]
The CPU 15 functions as a control unit that performs overall control of the wireless communication unit 11 and the transfer data transmission / reception unit 12. Specifically, transfer data wirelessly received from another control unit by the wireless communication unit 11 is controlled by the transfer data transmission / reception unit 12 to the control unit 9 via the connector terminal unit 10 by wire transmission. The transfer data wirelessly received from the control unit 9 via the connector terminal unit 10 is wirelessly controlled by the wireless communication unit 11 to another control unit.
[0020]
In the connector device 1 having the above configuration, the wireless communication unit 11, the transfer data transmission / reception unit 12, and the CPU 15 constitute a communication control unit.
[0021]
<Operation of connector device 1>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the connector device 1.
[0022]
The connector devices 1 connected to the respective control units 9 are communicably connected by radio, and wireless data DT transmitted by radio is transmitted between a specific ID information Da different for each vehicle and each control unit 9. And transfer data Db to be transferred.
[0023]
The transfer data Db is transferred between the in-vehicle units 9 when the connector device 1 connected to each control unit 9 through the connector communicates with the wireless communication unit 11.
[0024]
For the ID information Da serving as an identification signal, for example, a common ID unified for each vehicle is assigned. Accordingly, even when a vehicle equipped with the connector device 1 with a wireless function receives a wireless signal leaked from another vehicle, interference of transfer data can be prevented, and the influence of the wireless signal between vehicles having the connector device 1 can be reduced. it can. Further, it is possible to prevent a third party from intercepting wireless data (transfer data) leaked outside the vehicle.
[0025]
By the operation of the connector device 1 with a wireless function described above, the wire harness connecting the respective control units is conventionally replaced by wireless, so that the wire harness becomes unnecessary and the space for mounting the wire harness can be reduced. Accordingly, the weight of the vehicle can be reduced, and the work of attaching the wire harness can be reduced. In addition, the problem of Patent Document 1 that it is difficult to specify an operated module among a plurality of modules is solved because the control units are wirelessly connected.
[0026]
In addition, when connecting between control units that are arranged in separate places such as the engine room and the vehicle interior, it is necessary to make a hole in the frame inside the vehicle because a wire harness is conventionally provided, but with a wireless function The above-described drilling can be omitted by the connector device 1.
[0027]
In addition, when a wire harness is attached, there is a possibility of rain leaking along the wire harness, and it is necessary to take an appropriate measure. However, the connector device 1 with a wireless function eliminates the above-described measure for rain leak.
[0028]
Furthermore, since the connector device 1 can be connected to the existing connector 90 of the control unit 9, it is possible to cope with wireless communication without changing the configuration of the existing vehicle system. In addition, for the connection between the control units, either wireless or wire harness can be selected.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the transfer data is transferred between the plurality of in-vehicle units by the communication between the connector devices connected to the plurality of in-vehicle units by the communication control means. You. As a result, a wire harness becomes unnecessary, and the space for mounting the wire harness can be reduced.
[0030]
In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, the communication control means controls the wired transmission to the one on-vehicle unit by the transmitting / receiving section, the wireless communication section, and the transfer data wirelessly received from another on-vehicle unit by the wireless communication section. And a control unit that wirelessly controls transfer of transfer data received from one vehicle-mounted unit by a transmission / reception unit to another vehicle-mounted unit by a wireless communication unit. As a result, the communication control means can be simply and appropriately realized.
[0031]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting / receiving unit, the wireless communication unit, and the control unit are mounted on the printed wiring board on which the predetermined circuit pattern is formed, and the connection unit is arranged along one side of the printed wiring board. Since a plurality of connector terminals are provided, manufacture of the connector device is facilitated.
[0032]
In the invention of claim 4, since the radio signal has the identification signal assigned to each vehicle, the influence of the radio signal on other vehicles can be reduced, and the radio signal can be prevented from being intercepted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a connector device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the connector device 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a system using a wire harness according to the related art.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Connector device 9 In-vehicle control unit (control unit)
10 Connector terminal unit 11 Wireless communication unit 12 Transfer data transmitting / receiving unit 15 CPU
DT Wireless data Da ID information Db Transfer data

Claims (4)

A connection portion that can be connected to a connected portion of the vehicle-mounted unit by a connector,
For transfer data of the vehicle-mounted unit passed through the connection unit, communication control means for performing communication by wireless signals,
With
A connector device wherein the transfer data is transferred between the plurality of on-vehicle units by the communication control means communicating with a connector device connected to each of the plurality of on-vehicle units. The connector device according to claim 1,
The communication control means,
A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving wired transfer data to / from one vehicle-mounted unit to be connected to the connector via the connection unit;
A wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives transfer data between another vehicle unit different from the one vehicle unit;
The transmission / reception data wirelessly received from the other on-vehicle unit by the wireless communication unit is controlled by the transmission / reception unit via the connection unit to the one on-vehicle unit by wire transmission. A control unit configured to wirelessly control transfer of transfer data received from one vehicle-mounted unit to the other vehicle-mounted unit by the wireless communication unit;
A connector device comprising: The connector device according to claim 2,
A printed wiring board on which a predetermined circuit pattern is formed,
Further comprising
The transmitting and receiving unit, the wireless communication unit and the control unit are mounted on the printed wiring board,
The connector device, wherein the connection unit has a plurality of connector terminals arranged in parallel along one side of the printed wiring board. The connector device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The connector device, wherein the wireless signal has an identification signal given to each vehicle.

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