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WO2008108751A2 - Module de commande - Google Patents

Module de commande Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008108751A2
WO2008108751A2 PCT/US2007/005272 US2007005272W WO2008108751A2 WO 2008108751 A2 WO2008108751 A2 WO 2008108751A2 US 2007005272 W US2007005272 W US 2007005272W WO 2008108751 A2 WO2008108751 A2 WO 2008108751A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vehicular
module
micro
vehicular system
controller
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2007/005272
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2008108751A3 (fr
Inventor
Steven C. Mann
Jon M. Quigley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Volvo Trucks North America Inc
Original Assignee
Volvo Trucks North America Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Volvo Trucks North America Inc filed Critical Volvo Trucks North America Inc
Priority to PCT/US2007/005272 priority Critical patent/WO2008108751A2/fr
Publication of WO2008108751A2 publication Critical patent/WO2008108751A2/fr
Publication of WO2008108751A3 publication Critical patent/WO2008108751A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/40—Bus networks
    • H04L12/40006—Architecture of a communication node
    • H04L12/40013—Details regarding a bus controller
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/46—Interconnection of networks
    • H04L12/4604—LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
    • H04L12/462—LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone
    • H04L12/4625—Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/40—Bus networks
    • H04L2012/40208—Bus networks characterized by the use of a particular bus standard
    • H04L2012/40215—Controller Area Network CAN
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/40—Bus networks
    • H04L2012/40208—Bus networks characterized by the use of a particular bus standard
    • H04L2012/40234—Local Interconnect Network LIN
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
    • H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
    • H04L12/40—Bus networks
    • H04L2012/40267—Bus for use in transportation systems
    • H04L2012/40273—Bus for use in transportation systems the transportation system being a vehicle

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to control modules and more specifically to an electronic control module for controlling various vehicular systems from an interior section of a vehicle.
  • Certain vehicles such as trucks include a tractor portion and a trailer portion.
  • the tractor portion includes seating for a driver/operator and a passenger in the front and a sleeper portion in the rear.
  • the sleeper portion provides a resting/working portion for the driver (or others).
  • the sleeper portion includes comfort features such as lighting and HVAC (heating and air conditioning) systems (referred to herein as vehicular systems).
  • the sleeper portion can be referred to as the "bunk”.
  • Each of the vehicular systems is controlled by a respective control unit utilizing discrete settings. For example, in order to control the HVAC system such as the fan speed for example, either the voltage or resistance may be adjusted. A number of potentiometers are used for this purpose. Thermostat settings (HVAC) are also controlled in a similar manner.
  • HVAC Thermostat settings
  • Controls are provided within the bunk for adjusting the temperature setting and fan speed in the bunk. Similarly, controls are provided in the bunk for setting/adjusting lighting functions in the bunk. Typically, these are hardwired.
  • Truck drivers/operators drive for a certain number of hours and then are required to wait a particular number of hours before they can resume driving. Drivers have the option of resting in the bunk during this down time.
  • the bunk portion is providing increasing functionality and comfort such as accommodating a television or wireless communication for a computer. Therefore, in addition to providing an area for sleeping, such functionality provides the drivers an opportunity to communicate with dispatchers and submitting/receiving information, keeping up with paperwork via the computer, etc. Such features also result in increased use of the bunk.
  • Each vehicular system is controlled by a control unit (or module). User choices are entered via the control module.
  • Each control module communicates with the corresponding vehicular system according to a particular communication protocol.
  • Lighting systems and HVAC systems can be hardwired or can use the CAN
  • a control module comprising a user interface for entering user inputs, a micro-controller for processing the user inputs and a plurality of communication buses connecting the micro-controller to a plurality of vehicular system controls wherein the buses operate according to different communication protocols.
  • a method for providing user control of a plurality of vehicular systems comprising a user interface for entering user inputs, a micro-controller for processing the user inputs and a plurality of communication buses connecting the micro-controller to a plurality of vehicular system controls wherein the buses operate according to different communication protocols.
  • the method comprises selecting a vehicular system, entering a user input for controlling at least one function associated with the selected vehicular system, accessing a lookup table corresponding to a communication protocol associated with the selected vehicular system, translating the user input to a control signal based on entries within the lookup table and submitting the control signals to the selected vehicular system.
  • a computer-readable medium containing a computer program for a user control of a plurality of vehicular systems.
  • the computer program when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to select a vehicular system, enter a user input for controlling at least one function associated with the selected vehicular system, access a lookup table corresponding to a communication protocol associated with the selected vehicular system, translate the user input to a control signal based on entries within the lookup table and submit the control signals to the selected vehicular system.
  • FIGS. IA and IB illustrate a micro-controller according to exemplary embodiments
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a control unit user interface according to exemplary embodiments
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a plurality of vehicular systems operating under different communication protocols according to exemplary embodiments
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of vehicular system settings according to exemplary embodiments
  • FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate exemplary lookup tables for the different protocols
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a micro-controller according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a method for controlling vehicular systems according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • a control module controls the various vehicular systems from the bunk portion of a truck. Specifically, the control module controls the various systems in or pertaining to other portions of the truck outside the bunk where the systems operate according to various communication protocols.
  • a control module in exemplary embodiments may facilitate control and operation of multiple vehicular systems operating according to a plurality of communication protocols.
  • An electronic control unit (ECU) or module utilizes ports/pins of existing micro-controllers to facilitate communication to various vehicular systems operating in different communication protocols.
  • a printed circuit board (PCB) 100 is illustrated in FIG. IA.
  • the printed circuit board may include micro-controller 110.
  • Micro-controller 110 may include a plurality of pins 1 12, 1 14, 116 and 118. These pins can be timer input/output pins, synchronous/asynchronous interrupt pins, and the like.
  • Micro-controllers are known and are not described in further detail.
  • An exemplary micro-controller is the MCS-96 controller from Intel® Corporation, Santa Clara, California.
  • each of these pins may be configured to facilitate communication according to a different communication protocol 120, 140, 160 and 180 as illustrated in FIG. IB.
  • pin 112 may be configured to communicate according to the LIN protocol; pin 114 may be configured to communicate according to the MOST protocol; pin 116 may be configured to communicate according to the CAN protocol and pin 118 may be configured to communicate according to the Bluetooth protocol.
  • Each of these pins may thus provide a communication interface (similar to a transceiver) between the micro-controller and the vehicular systems.
  • Each of the illustrated elements 112, 114, 116 and 1 18 may comprise more than a single pin - that is, pin 1 16 may correspond to or comprise two pins for example.
  • Integrated circuitry may be designed for providing translation between bus media and the micro controller.
  • the bus media functions as the medium for facilitating communication between the micro controller and each of the vehicular systems present in a vehicle. That is, the integrated circuitry may provide a translation between commands received in a micro controller format to instructions addressed to each of the vehicular systems.
  • PCB 100 may correspond to a control unit/module.
  • a user may communicate with the vehicular systems via an exemplary control unit user interface such as control unit interface 200 illustrated in FIG. 2A.
  • Control unit user interface 200 may include a plurality of buttons or touch sensitive input areas 210, 215, 220, 225, 230 and 235. The control unit interface is described in greater detail below.
  • Micro-controller 110 may receive user inputs from control unit interface 200.
  • Micro-controller may communicate user inputs/choices with a selected one of a plurality of vehicular systems. As illustrated in FIG.
  • micro controller 110 may communicate with vehicular systems 320, 340, 360 and 380 via one of the appropriate communication interface 112, 114, 116 and 118 corresponding to communication protocols 120, 140, 160 and 180. This process is described in greater detail below.
  • Vehicular system 360 may correspond to HVAC and vehicular system 380 may correspond to audio for example.
  • control unit interface 200 may control functionality of a plurality of vehicular systems. That is, in place of a separate control unit for each of audio, HVAC, lighting, power, etc., control unit interface 200 may be utilized.
  • Control unit interface 200 may include a button 210 for switching the control unit on and off.
  • Control unit interface 200 may switch between modes using button 215. The various modes may include audio functions, HVAC functions, lighting functions, and the like.
  • control unit interface 200 may include up/down buttons 220 and 225 and increment/decrement buttons 230 and 235. Each of buttons 220, 225, 230 and 235 may provide different functionality based on mode of operation. [0028] In audio mode, up/down buttons 220 and 225 may provide volume control; in
  • HVAC mode they may provide fan speed adjustment and in lighting mode, they may provide dimming control.
  • Increment/decrement buttons 230 and 235 may provide seek function for a tuner or switching between tracks in a CD player within the audio mode; in HVAC mode, these buttons may provide temperature control and in lighting mode, they may provide timer control.
  • control unit interface 200 may also include a display
  • Display 240 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) and display information such as mode of the control unit (i.e. audio, HVAC, lighting, etc.) as well as details about each of these modes such as AM/FM/CD, heat/AC, interior/exterior lighting, etc. It may display radio station information, track information (for a CD for example), volume information, fan speed, temperature settings, lighting information, time, etc. Exemplary types of information (though not an exhaustive one) representing various vehicular system settings that may be displayed on display 240 is illustrated in FIG. 4. [0030] Micro-controller 110 may interpret or decipher user inputs from control unit interface 200 by comparing user inputs to entries (or values) in one of a plurality of lookup tables.
  • mode of the control unit i.e. audio, HVAC, lighting, etc.
  • details about each of these modes such as AM/FM/CD, heat/AC, interior/exterior lighting, etc.
  • It may display radio station information, track information (for a CD for example), volume information, fan speed,
  • a separate lookup table may be created for each protocol as illustrated in FIGS. 5A - 5D.
  • multiple modes (modes 1 to n) may be specified with each mode corresponding to one of the plurality of vehicular systems.
  • Each of the modes may correspond to a separate vehicular system such as audio, HVAC, lighting, etc.
  • micro-controller 110 may assign a "1" to communication with audio system and a "0" to communication with HVAC and lighting systems within the Bluetooth protocol for example. In this manner, communication with the audio system may be initiated and communication with other systems may not be permitted.
  • communication to the audio system 380 may be via the blue tooth communication protocol 180. Accordingly, communication via interface or pin 118 may take place while communication via the other interfaces (or pins) 1 12, 114 and 116 may be prohibited.
  • multiple vehicular systems may operate according to one communication protocol such CAN 1850 or CAN 1939. Both HVAC and audio may operate under the CAN protocol for example.
  • micro-controller 110 may also determine the vehicular system that is intended by the user based on comparing the user input to entries in the lookup table.
  • the user inputs may then be communicated to the intended vehicular system to achieve the desired functionality. This may include adjusting volume, setting fan speed, switching off lights, etc. in each of the vehicular settings.
  • the message structure for communication between the micro-controller and each of the vehicular systems in each protocol is standardized and defined. Therefore, no additional description of the message structure is provided.
  • a micro-controller may be provided to pins 112, 1 14, 116 and 118. That is, each of these pins may not have to be configured to facilitate communication according to a particular protocol.
  • a generic port may house a USB connection for example.
  • a Bluetooth dongle may be inserted or plugged into the USB port corresponding to pin 1 18 to enable communication according to the Bluetooth protocol.
  • a plug and play connection in a plurality of communication protocols 620, 640, 660 and 680 may be achieved.
  • the control unit interface 200 may control a plurality of vehicular systems.
  • An exemplary control unit interface 200 may control various vehicular systems. Actuation (or depression) of power button 210 on control unit interface 200 may display the time via display 240 for example. Actuation (or depression) of the "up" or "+” button 220 repeatedly may result in toggling between displaying and not displaying the time. Actuation of mode button 215 once may change the mode to audio. Actuation of mode button 215 a second time may change the mode to HVAC. Actuation of mode button 215 a third time may change the mode to lighting. That is, mode button 215 may be actuated repeatedly to toggle between the various vehicular systems. [0036] The mode button 215 may be actuated to select the audio mode for example.
  • Power button 210 may be actuated to activate the audio system.
  • mode button 215 may be actuated repeatedly to toggle between and select the various sub-systems within the audio mode.
  • the sub-systems in audio may include FM, AM, CD and Satellite Radio for example.
  • the sub-systems may include A/C and heating for example.
  • the sub-systems may include interior and exterior lighting.
  • mode button 215 may be actuated repeatedly to enter or toggle between the vehicular systems.
  • Actuation of "+" (or “up”) and “-" (or “down”) buttons 220 and 225 may result in volume being increased or decreased in the audio vehicular system.
  • Actuation of "Increment” and “Decrement” buttons 230 and 235 may result in seeking up and seeking down of frequencies or stations in AM, FM and Satellite Radio modes.
  • actuation of buttons 230 and 235 may result in seeking up and seeking down of tracks or CDs.
  • Actuation of power button 210 in each mode or vehicular system (audio, HVAC, lighting, etc.) may result in the deactivation of the particular mode (audio, HVAC or lighting) and the display may revert to displaying the time.
  • buttons 220 and 225 may be actuated in different combinations and order to achieve control over individual functions within each mode. Buttons 220 and 225 may be actuated to adjust fan speed in HVAC vehicular system and buttons 230 and 235 may be actuated to adjust temperature. Buttons 220 and 225 may be actuated to control dimmer settings in lighting vehicular setting and buttons 230 and 235 may be actuated to adjust timers for the lights for example. In addition to the modes highlighted (i.e. audio, HVAC, lighting), other modes may include idle settings and generator setting.
  • a vehicular system may be selected at 710 via control unit interface 200 for example.
  • the exemplary vehicular system may be the audio system.
  • a user may also select the mode and function for the selected vehicular system at 720.
  • the exemplary mode and function may be the radio and volume.
  • the user input may result in micro-controller 110 accessing a lookup table at 730 such as lookup table illustrated in FIG. 5C operating in the CAN protocol for example.
  • Mode 1 of FIG. 5C may be associated with the audio system. Therefore, the user input may be translated into a control signal by micro-controller 110 at 740 based on entries in the lookup table. The control signal may be submitted by micro-controller 1 10 to the audio system at 750. The user input may be executed in this manner to achieve the desired functionality.
  • control module as described in exemplary embodiments may be used as a secondary control module to control the functionality of the various vehicular systems from a different portion of a vehicle beside the front cabin portion of a truck for example.
  • procedures described above may be carried out repetitively as necessary.
  • many aspects of the invention are described in terms of sequences of actions that can be performed by, for example, elements of a programmable computer system. It will be recognized that the various actions could be performed by specialized circuits (e.g., discrete logic gates interconnected to perform a specialized function or application-specific integrated circuits), by program instructions executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both.
  • Exemplary embodiments as described herein may be equally applicable in a minivan, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), a bus, etc. Any vehicle having separate sections or separate controls for separate sections may implement the methods and apparatus described above.
  • the position of pins 1 12, 1 14, 1 16 and 1 18 as well as the particular protocol corresponding to each of the pins as illustrated is for exemplary purposes.
  • pin 1 12 may correspond to CAN or MOST or Bluetooth instead of LIN.
  • the invention can additionally be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer-readable storage medium having stored therein an appropriate set of instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction-execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch instructions from a medium and execute the instructions.
  • a "computer-readable medium” can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction-execution system, apparatus, or device.
  • the computer-readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium.
  • the computer-readable medium include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM,
  • the invention may be embodied in many different forms, not all of which are described above, and all such forms are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
  • any such form may be referred to as “logic configured to” perform a described action, or alternatively as “logic that” performs a described action.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Communication Control (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un module de commande comprenant une interface utilisateur pour saisir des entrées utilisateur, un microcontrôleur pour traiter les entrées utilisateur et une pluralité de bus de communication connectant le microcontrôleur à une pluralité de contrôles de système véhiculaire, lesdits bus fonctionnant selon différents protocoles de communication.
PCT/US2007/005272 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Module de commande Ceased WO2008108751A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2007/005272 WO2008108751A2 (fr) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Module de commande

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2007/005272 WO2008108751A2 (fr) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Module de commande

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008108751A2 true WO2008108751A2 (fr) 2008-09-12
WO2008108751A3 WO2008108751A3 (fr) 2008-11-20

Family

ID=39738919

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2007/005272 Ceased WO2008108751A2 (fr) 2007-03-02 2007-03-02 Module de commande

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2008108751A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10215436B1 (en) 2011-05-02 2019-02-26 John M. Rawski Full spectrum universal controller

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5821935A (en) * 1996-09-03 1998-10-13 United Technologies, Automotive, Inc. Graphical user interface with electronic feature access
US5941966A (en) * 1997-05-05 1999-08-24 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus using a plural level processor for controlling a data bus
US6957133B1 (en) * 2003-05-08 2005-10-18 Reynolds & Reynolds Holdings, Inc. Small-scale, integrated vehicle telematics device
US7146260B2 (en) * 2001-04-24 2006-12-05 Medius, Inc. Method and apparatus for dynamic configuration of multiprocessor system
US6920380B2 (en) * 2002-09-18 2005-07-19 Dearborn Group, Inc. Protocol selection matrix for in-vehicle networks
US6934612B2 (en) * 2003-06-12 2005-08-23 Motorola, Inc. Vehicle network and communication method in a vehicle network
US20050182535A1 (en) * 2004-02-17 2005-08-18 David Huang Device and method for identifying a specific communication protocol used in an on-board diagnostic tool
US20050281414A1 (en) * 2004-06-18 2005-12-22 Simon Gregory R Method and apparatus for control of personal digital media devices using a vehicle audio system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10215436B1 (en) 2011-05-02 2019-02-26 John M. Rawski Full spectrum universal controller

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008108751A3 (fr) 2008-11-20

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