JP2014034373A - Vehicle control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To deal with diversification of electric components by smaller changing of a system configuration.SOLUTION: A vehicle control system includes a plurality of electric components 12, a central control device 10, relay boxes B1 to B9 installed in a plurality of preset areas A1 to A9, and a communication line 6 to which the central control device 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9 are connected. The electric components 12 are connected to the relay boxes B1 to B9 installed to areas where the electric components 12 belong. The relay boxes B1 to B9 relay communication between the electric components 12 connected to the relay devices and the central control device 10. The central control device 10 includes a storage part 21 for storing data of a preset plurality of or a predetermined number of electric components 12 likely to be loaded on the vehicle 1, and controls the electric components 12 by using, among the data stored in the storage part 21, data of electric components 12 actually loaded on the vehicle 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle control system for controlling electrical components mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

  Conventionally, as a vehicle control system for controlling electrical components mounted on a vehicle, a central control unit (ECU) is mounted at a predetermined position of the vehicle, and each electrical component is connected to the central control unit via a wire harness. Things are known. Recently, the central control unit and each electrical component are connected via a serial communication line, and multiple communications are performed between the central control unit and each electrical component, thereby reducing the wire harness. A vehicle control system has also been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-67833 A

  In passenger cars, etc., diversification of electrical parts in recent years due to different destinations, grades or options, etc. Is progressing.

  In view of such a situation, the conventional vehicle control system is designed so as not to change the system configuration as much as possible, but it is difficult to deal with all the electrical components. Therefore, depending on the electrical components to be mounted, it may be necessary to change the design of the wire harness over a wide range up to the central controller. In addition, when the interface (hardware and software) is changed, it is necessary to change the design of the central control unit, and the design change burden and the accompanying vehicle production management burden become excessive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control system that can cope with diversification of electrical components with fewer changes in system configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of electrical components, a central control device that controls the plurality of electrical components, and a predetermined area of the vehicle. A relay device installed in each of a plurality of areas is connected to the central control device and each relay device to form a common transmission path for transmitting signals between the central control device and each relay device. Each of the plurality of electrical components is connected to the relay device installed in an area to which the electrical component belongs, and the relay device includes the electrical component connected to the relay device and the electrical component The central control device has a function of relaying communication with a central control device, and the central control device is data for controlling the electrical components, and may be mounted in the vehicle as the plurality of electrical components. A plurality of predetermined number of electrical component data stored therein, and of the data stored in the storage unit, the electrical component data actually controlled on the vehicle is used to control the electrical component To do.

  According to such a vehicle control system, a communication line that connects the central control device and the relay device in each area is shared. In addition, data of electrical components that may be mounted on the vehicle is stored in the central control device (storage means), and the electrical components are stored using the data of the electrical components actually installed in the stored data. A central controller is configured to control For this reason, for example, even when electrical components are selectively used from a plurality of specifications according to the destination for a specific area, if the relay device or wiring of the area is changed as necessary, the relay of other areas is performed. The device, communication line, and central control device can be used as they are without any change.

  In this vehicle control system, one relay device is installed in each of the plurality of areas, and all the electrical components are connected to the relay device installed in the area to which the electrical component belongs. There may be.

  According to this configuration, since all the electrical components in one area are connected to one relay device, the connection destinations of the respective electrical components are integrated, and as a result, the wiring structure in the area is simplified.

  In many cases, the electrical components mounted on the vehicle are mounted on the battery side in the vehicle width direction in order to shorten the power supply line. Therefore, in the above vehicle control system, it is preferable that the communication line is routed in the front-rear direction along the vehicle on one end side in the vehicle width direction and on the side where the battery is installed.

  According to this configuration, since the electrical component, the relay device, and the communication line are close to each other, it is possible to reduce the wiring length for connecting the electrical component and the relay device, or the relay device and the communication line. This contributes to wire saving as a whole vehicle.

  In addition, the relay device includes a power supply circuit for supplying power from the outside to an electrical component connected to the relay device, and the power supply circuit protects the electrical component from an overcurrent. It is suitable to have.

  According to this configuration, the relay device is provided with the protection elements for the respective electrical components, thereby achieving a rational configuration in which the relay device is also used as a storage portion for the protection elements.

  In this case, the power supply circuit may be directly connected to a fusible link installed immediately below the battery.

  According to this configuration, there is no need to go through a conventional so-called fuse box or the like, which is advantageous in shortening the power supply wiring (power supply line).

  In the vehicle control system, it is preferable that the relay device includes a connector that allows the communication line and the electrical component to be detachably connected.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to easily change the electrical component and change the relay device accompanying the change of the electrical component.

  As described above, according to the vehicle control system of the present invention, even when electrical components are selectively mounted depending on the destination, etc., it is possible to cope with diversification of electrical components with fewer changes in system configuration. Is possible.

It is a block diagram of the vehicle control system concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a central control apparatus and a relay apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the memory | storage part of a central control apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows other embodiment of a relay apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows other embodiment of a relay apparatus. It is a block diagram of the other vehicle control system concerning this invention.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a vehicle control system according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, an example in which the vehicle control system of the present invention is applied to a four-door type vehicle 1 having a steering wheel 2 on the left seat side will be described.

  The vehicle control system includes a central control unit (ECU) 10 that comprehensively controls a plurality of electrical components 12 mounted on the vehicle 1, and a plurality of relay boxes B1 to B9 to which each electrical component 12 is connected (each of the present invention). And a common communication line 6 (a line indicated by a solid line in the figure) that connects the central control device 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9. The central control device 10 is a communication line. 6 and the electrical components 12 through the relay boxes B1 to B9, the electrical components 12 are controlled by transmitting and receiving various signals.

  Although not clearly shown in the figure, the central controller 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9 are individually connected (bus connected) to one communication line 6. In this vehicle control system, the communication line 6 Multiple communication is performed between the central control device 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9 via.

  The relay boxes B <b> 1 to B <b> 9 relay communication between the central control device 10 and the electrical component 12, and are installed in nine areas of the vehicle 1, respectively. Specifically, the vehicle 1 includes a front end area A1, an engine area A2, an instrument panel area A3, a vehicle compartment area A4, a rear end area A5, a left front door area A6, a left rear door area A7, a right front door area A8, and a right rear door. The area A9 is divided into nine areas, and one relay box (B1 to B9) is installed in each of these areas A1 to A9.

  Each electrical component 12 is connected to the relay box (B1 to B9) in the area (A1 to A9) to which the electrical component 12 belongs, that is, the area (A1 to A9) where the electrical component 12 is installed. . For example, the electrical components 12 installed in the front end area A1, specifically, the electrical components 12 such as the front lamp unit and the front monitoring sensor (ultrasonic sensor) are all installed in the front end area A1. Are connected to one relay box B1. Thereby, the electrical components 12 installed in each area A1 to A9 are collectively connected to one relay box (B1 to B9) for each area.

  A battery 4 is mounted in an end portion of the vehicle 1 in the engine compartment of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction, and the communication line 6 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vicinity of the battery 4. Has been routed. Although it is not clear in the figure, among the relay boxes B1 to B9, all of the right door areas A8 and A9 other than the relay boxes B8 and B9 (relay boxes B1 to B7) are located in the vicinity along the communication line 6. Has been placed. Thereby, shortening of the connection line which connects each relay box B1-B7 and the communication line 6 is achieved.

  The central control device 10 is disposed in the engine room or dashboard and in the vicinity of the communication line 6. Accordingly, the connection line connecting the central control device 10 and the communication line 6 is also shortened.

  In FIG. 1, a broken line is a power supply line 8 for supplying power from the battery 4 to the electrical component 12. One end side of the power supply line 8 is connected to the fusible link 7 disposed near the battery 4, and the other end side is connected to the relay boxes B <b> 1 to B <b> 9. Although not shown in detail in the figure, the power supply line 8 is provided individually for each of the relay boxes B1 to B9, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the vehicle control system.

  As shown in the figure, the central control device 10 includes a main control unit 20, a storage unit 21, a multiple signal processing unit 24, a power supply circuit unit, and the like as its functional configuration.

  The main control unit 20, the storage unit 21, and the multiple signal processing unit 24 are, for example, a well-known CPU that executes logical operations, a ROM that stores various programs for controlling the CPU in advance, and various data temporarily during operation of the apparatus. It consists of a microcomputer (microcomputer) including a RAM and the like for storing it.

  The main control unit 20 controls the electrical component 12 in an integrated manner, outputs a control signal to each electrical component 12 based on the data stored in the storage unit 21, and receives a signal from the electrical component 12. Various calculations are performed accordingly.

  The storage unit 21 (corresponding to the storage means of the present invention) stores tables 22a to 22i corresponding to the areas A1 to A9 as shown in FIG.

  In each table 22a to 22i, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, data for controlling the electrical component 12 that may be installed in each area, that is, a program that can be executed to control the electrical component 12 Various data including each are stored. “Electrical component 12 that may be installed” refers to all of the electrical components 12 that are typically installed in each area, as well as optional electrical components 12 that may be added, and destinations. This includes a plurality of electrical parts 12 and the like that are selectively installed according to the above.

  That is, the central control device 10 selects data corresponding to the electrical component 12 from the tables 22a to 22i according to the electrical component 12 actually mounted in the areas A1 to A9, and sets the data or the like. Based on this, the electrical component 12 is controlled. For example, as the electrical component 12 installed in the front end area A1, for example, when a front lamp unit is selectively installed according to the destination from a plurality of types, the front end area table of the storage unit 21 is used. Data for controlling all types of front lamp units is stored in 22a, and the central control device 10 determines the front front area from the front end area table 22a according to the front lamp units actually mounted. Data corresponding to the lamp unit is selected, and the front lamp unit is controlled based on the data.

  In addition, the central control device 10 actually receives the information input from the outside at the manufacturing stage of the vehicle 1 or actually communicates with each area A1 to A9 by communication between the central control device 10 and each relay box B1 to B9. It is configured to recognize the installed electrical component 12.

  The multiplexed signal processing unit 24 performs processing such as signal multiplexing and demultiplexing. That is, the multiplex signal processing unit 24 multiplexes and transmits control signals output from the main control unit 20 to the plurality of electrical components 12, and reverses signals input to the central control device 10 via the communication line 6. Multiplexed and output to the main control unit 20.

  The power supply circuit unit stabilizes and supplies the power supplied to the central control device 10 via the power supply line 8 to the internal circuit of the central control device 10. The power supply circuit unit incorporates a fuse 28 for protecting the internal circuit of the central controller 10 from overcurrent.

  On the other hand, the relay box B1 (to B9) includes a communication control unit 30, a multiple signal processing unit 34, an input / output processing unit 36, a power supply circuit unit, and the like as its functional configuration. The communication control unit 30 and the multiple signal processing unit 34 are configured by a microcomputer.

  The multiple signal processing unit 34 has a function equivalent to that of the multiple signal processing unit 24 of the central controller 10 described above. The input / output processing unit 36 controls communication between the relay box B1 (to B9) and the electrical component 12. The communication control unit 30 performs processing such as conversion and distribution of signals transmitted to each other between the multiplex signal processing unit 34 and the input / output processing unit 36. In other words, the relay box B1 (to B9) does not perform the processing like the central control device 10, that is, the control of the electrical component 12 or the advanced arithmetic processing associated with the control, and mainly the communication line 6 and the electrical component 12 It only has a function of relaying signals to and from.

  The power supply circuit unit (corresponding to the power supply circuit of the present invention) of the relay box B1 (to B9) supplies the power supplied to the relay box B1 (to B9) via the power line 8 to the relay box B1 (to In addition to being stabilized and supplied to the internal circuit of B9), it is distributed to the electrical component 12 connected to the relay box B1 (to B9). This power supply circuit section also incorporates a fuse 38 (corresponding to the protection element of the present invention) in the same manner as the power supply circuit of the central control device 10, and this fuse 38 allows the relay box B1 (˜B9) to be protected from overcurrent. The internal circuit and the electrical component 12 are protected.

  The communication line 6 and the power supply line 8 are connected to the central control device 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9 by connectors, and the relay boxes B1 to B9 and the electrical components 12 are also connected to each other by connectors. ing. In the figure, the connector is shown by one point (the same applies to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6).

  Next, the effect of this vehicle control system is demonstrated.

  According to this vehicle control system, the control signal output from the main control unit 20 of the central control device 10 to each electrical component 12 is multiplexed by the multiplex signal processing unit 24, and relay boxes B <b> 1 to B <b> 1 through the communication line 6. B is transmitted to B, demultiplexed by the multiple signal processing unit 34 of each relay box B1 to B9, and then input to each electrical component 12. Conversely, signals transmitted from the electrical components 12 in the areas A1 to A9 to the central control device 10 are multiplexed by the multiple signal processing units 34 of the relay boxes B1 to B9, and are transmitted via the communication line 6 to the central control device. 10 is demultiplexed by the multiple signal processing unit 24 of the central control apparatus 10 and input to the main control unit 20. According to such a vehicle control system, since the communication line 6 is made common to the electrical components 12 in the respective areas A1 to A9, it is compared with a configuration in which each electrical component is individually connected to the central control device by electric wires. As a result, the wiring structure of the vehicle 1 is greatly reduced.

  In addition, in this vehicle control system, data of the electrical component 12 that may be mounted in each of the areas A1 to A9 is stored in advance in the storage unit 21 of the central control device 10, and the central control device 10 stores these data. Among them, data corresponding to the actually installed electrical component 12 is selected to control the electrical component 12. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to change the electrical component 12 according to the destination with respect to the front end area A1, the electrical component 12 is replaced with the relay box B1 of the front end area A1, and then the storage unit 21 If the setting of the central control device 10 is changed so that the control of the electrical component 12 is performed using the data of the electrical component 12 after the change from the data stored in the data, the other areas A2 to A9 The wiring (wire harness or the like), the communication line 6 and the central control device 10 can be used as they are without any replacement. That is, the change of the electrical component 12 can be accommodated only by changing the system configuration in the area where the electrical component 12 is changed.

  For example, regarding the interface (both hardware and software) between the electrical component 12 and the relay box B1, if the interface is shared regardless of the destination, etc., the relay box can be changed when the electrical component 12 is changed as described above. B1 to B9 can be used as they are. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to cope with the change of the electrical component 12 only by software switching of the central control device 10. In this case, for example, after the interface between the relay boxes B1 to B9 and the electrical component 12 is made common, the input / output processing unit 36 of the relay boxes B1 to B9 and each electrical component 12 are connected as shown in FIG. A destination changeover switch 40 may be interposed between the changeover switch 40 and the changeover switch 40 may be switched in accordance with the electrical component 12 that is actually connected to the relay boxes B1 to B9 at the manufacturing stage of the vehicle 1. For example, based on the switching state of the changeover switch 40, the central control device 10 can recognize the electrical component 12 (destination) connected to the relay boxes B1 to B9. Therefore, according to such a configuration, switching of programs and the like stored in the storage unit 21 can be automated.

  Moreover, according to said vehicle control system, the central control apparatus 10 and each relay box B1-B9 are provided with a power supply circuit, and fuses 28 and 38 for protecting an internal circuit and the electrical component 12 from overcurrent are the said power supply. Since it is incorporated in the circuit, there is also an advantage that a rational configuration is achieved in which the central control device 10 and the relay boxes B1 to B9 are also used as storage portions for the fuses 28 and 38. Further, as compared with the conventional configuration in which the fuse is arranged at a position unrelated to the arrangement of the electrical components, there is an advantage that the power supply line 8 can be saved. In other words, in a conventional configuration in which fuse boxes are installed at a position unrelated to the arrangement of electrical components and the fuses are consolidated, the power lines of each electrical component are routed to the location of each electrical component once via the fuse box location. However, according to the above-described configuration, the power supply line 8 is routed directly from the battery 4 (fusible link 7) to each of the relay boxes B1 to B9. Therefore, the power supply line 8 can be shortened, and the power supply line 8 can be saved.

  The vehicle control system of the above-described embodiment is an exemplification of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle control system according to the present invention, and its specific configuration can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

  For example, in the vehicle control system of the above embodiment, the example in which the vehicle 1 is divided into nine areas A1 to A9 and relay boxes (B1 to B9) are installed in the areas A1 to A9 has been described. May be less than 9, or 10 or more, and can be appropriately changed according to the type and size of the vehicle 1. Moreover, you may employ | adopt the structure which installs a some relay box in 1 area according to the number of the electrical component 12 installed in area (A1-A9).

  In the vehicle control system of the above embodiment, the relay boxes B1 to B9 have only a function of relaying communication between the central control device 10 and the electrical component 12 by performing signal multiplexing and demultiplexing. A switch function or the like may be added to the relay box. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the power supply circuit of the relay box B <b> 1 (˜B <b> 9) includes a switch element 42 that turns on / off the power supply to a specific electrical component 12, and receives an input signal from another electrical component 12. Accordingly, the communication control unit 30 may be configured to perform on / off control of the switch element 42 by performing various arithmetic processes.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the electrical component 12 in each area is connected only to the relay box, but among the electrical components 12, for example, between the central control device 10 and the electrical component 12 is accurate and high speed. As shown in FIG. 6, some or all of the signals are required for the electrical components 12 such as the airbag device and the collision detection sensor that detects the collision to operate the airbag device. Instead of using the relay box and the communication line 6, communication may be performed using a dedicated communication line 9 interposed between the electrical component 12 and the central control device 10.

  Although not shown in the figure, the input / output processing unit of the electrical component 12 may be provided in the central control device 10 so that the electrical component 12 is directly connected to the central control device 10. That is, the central control device 10 may have the same function as the relay box.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 6 Communication line 10 Main control part 12 Electrical component 21 Memory | storage means 24, 34 Multiple signal processing part 28 Fuse 36 Input / output processing part A1 Front end area A2 Engine area A3 Instrument panel area A4 Car compartment area A5 Rear end area A6 Left front Door area A7 Left rear door area A8 Right front door area A9 Right rear door area B1-B9 Relay box

Claims (6)

A vehicle control system,
Multiple electrical components,
A central control unit that controls the plurality of electrical components;
A relay device installed in each of a plurality of predetermined areas in a predetermined area of the vehicle;
A communication line that is connected to each of the central control device and each relay device and forms a common transmission path for transmitting a signal between the central control device and each relay device;
Each of the plurality of electrical components is connected to the relay device installed in an area to which the electrical component belongs,
The relay device has a function of relaying communication between an electrical component connected to the relay device and the central control device,
The central control device stores data for controlling the electrical components and data for a predetermined number and a predetermined number of electrical components that may be mounted on the vehicle as the plurality of electrical components. A vehicle control system that controls the electrical component using data of the electrical component actually mounted on the vehicle among the data stored in the storage unit. The vehicle control system according to claim 1,
One relay device is installed in each of the plurality of areas,
The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein all the electrical components are connected to the relay device installed in an area to which the electrical components belong. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle control system, wherein the communication line is routed in the front-rear direction along the vehicle on one end side in the vehicle width direction and on the side where the battery is installed. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The relay device includes a power supply circuit for supplying power from the outside to an electrical component connected to the relay device, and the power supply circuit includes a protection element that protects the electrical component from an overcurrent. A vehicle control system. The vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein
It has a fusible link installed directly under the battery,
The vehicle control system, wherein the power supply circuit is directly connected to the fusible link. The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The vehicle control system, wherein the relay device includes a connector that allows the communication line and the electrical component to be detachably connected.

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