DE10056548A1 - Method for providing a time signal in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing a time signal in a vehicle, wherein the time signal is obtained from an RDS signal and can be supplied to a number of electrical devices of the vehicle via a communication bus.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for providing a time signal in egg a vehicle. Such a time signal is used, for example, to time mar ken to produce that added an entry of errors in an error memory become.

State of the art

Each electrical device in the vehicle currently has its own time base Generation of the time signal. The problem here is that these time bases from one another work dependent, which leads to different "clocks" in the individual devices. In order to avoid misunderstandings and disruptions due to different "clocks", would have to be the different. Time bases are synchronized with each other. Furthermore, all these time bases about means for switching from summer to winter time and vice versa feature. Such time bases are relatively expensive.

Advantages of the invention

The present invention according to claim 1, however, has the advantage that the time signal is obtained from an RDS signal, i.e. from a signal that is transmitted via radio is radiated so that means for generating the time signal such. B. a time base while driving stuff can be omitted. Furthermore, there are no synchronization problems since this  a time signal can be fed to a number of electronic devices of the vehicle is made.

If the vehicle has an RDS-compatible car radio, the time signal can be transmitted using this car radio can be obtained, so that an additional receiver is not required.

In addition to obtaining the time signal from an RDS signal, it can be provided that that a replacement time signal is generated in the vehicle, which is then the electrical front directions can be made feedable if the RDS signal is not received can, for example in "dead spots" or in the event of failure / loss of the RDS Receiving device. This replacement time signal can from time to time with that from the RDS signal obtained time signal can be compared. This will be an extensive one Synchronization of the two time signals reached. The time signals can indicate the time and / or contain dates.

The time signal or the replacement time signal are advantageously used to generate Time stamps are used as they are when storing errors in error memories be compelled.

More preferably, the bus can be a controller area network bus act.

drawing

The invention is illustrated by the figure. The figure shows a block diagram to implement the method according to the invention.

According to the figure, the RDS radio signal is received by an RDS-capable car radio 1 via an antenna, the time signal is obtained therefrom and is transmitted to a bus 5 . Bus 5 is a controller area network bus of the type used in modern vehicles. This bus 5 connects the car radio 1 to a number of electrical devices 2 , 3 , 4 , for example an engine control unit 2 , a control unit for the brake system 3 and a transmission control unit 4 . Other components are conceivable. All these electrical devices 2 , 3 , 4 can access the time signal via the bus 5 . The time signal obtained from the RDS signal is a real-time signal.

According to the invention, real time clocks e.g. B. for time stamps in the individual electri devices of the vehicle. Synchronization problems and re resulting malfunctions or misunderstandings when interpreting errors protocols due to different clocks are avoided from the start. any Time changes are carried out on the transmitter side for the RDS signal Vehicle unnecessary.

According to a variant of the invention, the method can also be used as an immobilizer for the Use the vehicle together with an anti-theft device on the car radio. Named Lich the car radio, for example, by removing a removable cover or other anti-theft device disabled, no time signal can be won NEN so that the vehicle cannot be started. This variant sets naturally Lich ahead that on the one hand the function of the vehicle from the provision of the Zeitsi gnals is dependent and on the other hand no replacement time signal when trying to start the vehicle provided.  

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

car radio

2

Engine control unit

3

Brake system control unit

4

Transmission Control Module

5

bus

Claims (8)

1. A method for providing a time signal in a vehicle, wherein the Zeitsi signal is obtained from an RDS signal and a number of electrical devices ( 2-4 ) of the vehicle can be supplied via a communication bus ( 5 ). 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the RDS signal is obtained by means of a car radio ( 1 ). 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method can be combined with an anti-theft device of the car radio ( 1 ). 4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a replacement time signal is generated in the vehicle, which can be made replaceable instead of the time signal of the number of electrical Vorrich lines ( 2-4 ). 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the replacement time signal from time to time with the time signal obtained from the RDS signal is compared. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time signal or Replacement time signal has time and / or dates. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the time signal or Replacement time signal is used to generate time stamps. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication bus ( 5 ) is a control area network bus.