JP2003346288A - Onboard communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely execute a communication operation by onboard communication equipment, and an control operation by a control unit executed based on the communication operation, in required timing, while restraining consumption of an onboard battery. <P>SOLUTION: A power source for packet communication equipment 4 is secured although a power source for an onboard server 3, onboard equipment (GP receiver 5, onboard equipment 6, onboard sensor 7) is interrupted under the condition where a main power source for a vehicle 1 is interrupted. When the packet communication equipment 4 receives an operation command signal from a data control center 13, a start-up command signal is output to a power source circuit 23 inside the onboard server 3 through a start-up signal line 20, and the power source circuit 23 starts power supply to a control circuit 22 inside the onboard server 3. The control circuit 22 conducts a power source supply operation to the necessary equipment for executing a command content commanded by the operation command signal, out of the onboard equipments through a power source switching circuit 24, and finishes the power source supply operation after finishing the execution of the command signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device for performing data communication with an external engine, and a control unit for operating an on-vehicle load based on an operation command signal received from the external engine via the communication device. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle communication system provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a recent vehicle, a vehicle-mounted load is operated based on the contents of an operation command signal from an externally provided management center to collect various information on the vehicle and transmit the collected information to the management center side. For example, a system (for example, an operation management system for commercial vehicles) has been considered in which various types of information are transmitted from a management center to a vehicle. When implementing such a system, a communication device for performing data communication with the management center is provided on the vehicle side,
A communication system including a control unit for operating an on-vehicle load based on an operation command signal received from a management center via a communication device is mounted.

[0003]

In such an in-vehicle communication system, in order to reliably receive communication data, communication is performed even during a period in which the main power supply of the vehicle is cut off due to a vehicle driver getting off. It is desirable to keep the equipment and the control unit in a standby state, and also to supply power to the on-vehicle load. However, in such a standby state, the in-vehicle battery is inevitably consumed, and therefore, there is a concern that adverse effects may be caused. In particular, it is thought that electric vehicles will surely spread in the future,
In this electric vehicle, suppressing the consumption of the onboard battery as much as possible leads to the extension of the mileage per charge, so that the vehicle performance is greatly affected. On the other hand, if the power of the communication device and the in-vehicle server is also cut off at the same time when the main power supply of the vehicle is cut off, it becomes impossible to receive communication data at all. The problem of fading comes out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to suppress the consumption of a vehicle-mounted battery by controlling a communication operation by a vehicle-mounted communication device and a control operation performed by a control unit based on the communication operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle communication system that can be reliably performed at a required time.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the means described in claim 1 can be adopted. According to this means, during the period when the main power supply of the vehicle is cut off, the power supply to the control unit and the vehicle-mounted load is stopped by the power cut-off means, and only the power supply of the communication device is secured. During the period, consumption of the vehicle-mounted battery can be suppressed. When the communication device receives an operation command signal from an external engine in a state where the main power supply of the vehicle is shut off, a start command signal is output from the communication device and the start command signal is transmitted to a start signal line. To the power supply means. Then, the power supply means
At the same time as starting the power supply from the vehicle-mounted battery to the control unit, during the period in which the power is supplied, the auxiliary power supply means executes the command content based on the operation command signal received by the communication device. Necessary power for the on-vehicle load is supplied from the on-vehicle battery, and the control unit executes the command content of the operation command signal by operating the on-vehicle load. As a result, the communication operation by the communication device and the control operation by the control unit performed based on the communication operation can be reliably performed at a necessary time. Further, when the control operation by the control unit is completed, the power supply unit stops the power supply to the control unit, and the power supply to the on-vehicle load by the auxiliary power control unit is also stopped. The consumption of the vehicle-mounted battery can be suppressed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the power supply control unit serving as a heat source is provided in a form independent of the control unit, there is an advantage that measures for heat generation in the control unit can be simplified. Come out.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a communication system mounted on a commercial vehicle, for example, by combining functional blocks. However, in FIG. 1, the signal lines are indicated by solid lines, and the power supply lines are indicated by broken lines. In FIG. 1, a communication system 2 mounted on a commercial vehicle 1 is shown.
Is an in-vehicle server 3 having a function as a gateway.
(Corresponding to a control unit according to the present invention). The server 3 communicates with a packet communication device 4 (corresponding to a communication device) and a GPS (Global Positioning).
System) Receiver 5 (corresponding to in-vehicle load), a plurality of in-vehicle devices 6 (corresponding to in-vehicle load: for example, an indicator for displaying information and a message, various kinds of dynamic information about the vehicle 1 (delivery, receipt, loading) Information indicating each state such as start, completion of loading, transition to an actual or empty vehicle, resting, etc.)
In addition to a USB (Universal) as well as a plurality of in-vehicle sensors 7 (corresponding to in-vehicle loads: for example, a vehicle speed sensor and a temperature sensor (particularly, a temperature sensor in a cold storage in a cold-car, etc.)). Serial Bus) Hub 8
Card reader / writer 9 connected to DSRC (Dedi
cated Short Range Communication) The onboard device 10, the audio device 11, and the navigation device 12 are shown.

The packet communication device 4 can perform data communication (packet communication) with an externally provided data management center 13 (corresponding to an external organization) through a packet communication base station 14 and a communication network 15. It has become. The DSRC vehicle-mounted device 10 is configured to be able to perform data communication with the data management center 13 through the local area fixed station 16 and the communication network 15.

Here, the data management center 13 stores the vehicle 1
Vehicle operation data based on data communication with the
Management of the current position information, traveling history, and daily driving report of the vehicle 1 and maintenance of the vehicle-mounted server 3 of the vehicle 1 (for example,
Provision of the latest program for the in-vehicle server 3)
It is configured to execute processing related to vehicle operation.
In this case, although not shown, the data management center 13 can be accessed via a communication network 15 from an operation management device (such as a personal computer) installed in the office of the operator of the vehicle 1 or the like. The operation management device can list the vehicle operation data and the maintenance status of the vehicle-mounted server 3. Further, transmission of a business communication message from the operation management device to the vehicle 1 and the like can be performed via the data management center 13.

The packet communication device 4 is always connected to the vehicle-mounted battery 17 and its power is kept secured. The packet communication device 4 is connected to a communication interface 18 provided in the vehicle-mounted server 3 for packet communication. A communication line 19 and a start signal line 20 for transmitting a start command signal described later.
And are connected via both.

A GPS receiver 5 and a USB hub 8 are connected to the communication interface 18 provided in the vehicle server 3 in addition to the packet communication device 4. The vehicle-mounted server 3 is provided with a communication interface 21 connected to the vehicle-mounted device 6 and the vehicle-mounted sensor 7 in addition to the communication interface 18. In addition, the vehicle-mounted server 3 includes a control circuit 22 for controlling communication operations through the communication interfaces 18 and 21 and a vehicle-mounted battery 17.
A power supply circuit 23 (corresponding to a power supply cutoff means and a power supply means) for stabilizing the output of the power supply and supplying power to the control circuit 22. The output of the power supply circuit 23 is output to the GPS receiver 5,
A power switching circuit 24 (corresponding to an auxiliary power supply means) for selectively supplying the on-vehicle device 6 and the on-vehicle sensor 7 is provided. In FIG. 1, the control circuit 22,
Power supply circuit 23 for communication interfaces 18 and 21
The illustration of the power supply line from is omitted.

The control circuit 22 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
It is configured to include M, I / O, etc., and executes processing operations based on a basic program stored in advance.
The power supply circuit 23 performs a power supply operation during a period when a vehicle start signal (for example, an ignition-on signal) is given from a vehicle main switch (not shown), that is, during a period when the main power of the vehicle 1 is turned on. During periods other than the period (the period during which the main power supply of the vehicle 1 is cut off),
The power supply operation is started when a start command signal is given from the packet communication device 4 via the start signal line 20. Therefore, when the start command signal is given from the operation stop state in which the power is cut off, the function of the power supply circuit 23 is activated and the in-vehicle server 3 starts operating. Further, in the state where the operation is started by the start command signal, the power supply circuit 23 is configured to stop the power supply operation when, for example, a cutoff command signal is given from the control circuit 22.

The power supply switching circuit 24 controls the power supply circuit 23 for a GPS receiver 5, a vehicle-mounted device 6, or a vehicle-mounted sensor 7, which is a vehicle-mounted load, in accordance with a power supply command signal from the control circuit 22. The output is given. In this case, when an operation command signal is given from the data management center 13 through the packet communication device 4, the control circuit 22 supplies a power supply for turning on a vehicle-mounted load necessary to execute the operation command signal. A command signal is output to the power supply switching circuit 24.

The power of the USB hub 8 is supplied directly from the vehicle battery 17.
From SB hub 8 to IC card reader / writer 9, DSRC on-board unit 10, audio device 11, navigation device 1
Although two power sources are supplied, these power sources may be supplied directly from the vehicle-mounted battery 17 without passing through the USB hub 8. In addition, USB hub 8,
A configuration in which the power supply state to the IC card reader 9 and the like is controlled by the power supply switching circuit 24 is also possible.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the packet communication device 4 by a combination of functional blocks. In FIG. 2, the packet communication device 4 performs data communication with the packet communication relay station 14 (see FIG. 1) through the antenna 2.
5a, a data processing circuit 26 for processing transmission / reception information by the communication circuit 25, and a voltage detection for detecting an output voltage of the vehicle-mounted battery 17 and applying the output voltage to the data processing circuit 26. And a circuit 27.

The data processing circuit 26 is mainly constituted by a CPU, and executes a processing operation based on a basic program stored in advance. The data processing circuit 26 has an external interface circuit 28 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the in-vehicle server 2 via the communication line 19 and the activation signal line 20, for example, an EEPROM.
A memory 29 composed of a rewritable storage element such as the one described above is connected. In the packet communication device 4, the output from the vehicle-mounted battery 17 is stabilized and the data processing circuit 2
Power supply control circuit 3 for supplying the power supply 6 and the communication circuit 25, etc.
0 is provided.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of the control by the data processing circuit 26 in the packet communication device 4 during a period in which the output of the vehicle start signal from the vehicle main switch is stopped, for example, when the vehicle 1 is parked or stopped. The processing contents during a period in which the server 3 is in the operation stopped state in which the power is shut off are shown, and this will be described below together with related operations.
When the power supply of the on-vehicle server 3 is cut off as described above, the GPS receiver 5, the on-vehicle device 6, and the on-vehicle sensor 7 are also turned off.
It is in a communicable state by receiving power supply from the vehicle-mounted battery 17.

In FIG. 3, the data processing circuit 26 waits until a signal from the data management center 13 is received via the communication circuit 25 (step A1). It is determined whether or not the indicated battery voltage (output voltage of vehicle-mounted battery 17) is equal to or higher than a preset lower limit voltage (step A).
2). If the battery voltage is below the lower limit voltage,
The processing operation is stopped as it is (step A3).

On the other hand, if the battery voltage is equal to or higher than the lower limit voltage, a start command signal is output from the start signal line 20 to the vehicle server 3 (step A4). Then, the power supply circuit 23 in the in-vehicle server 3 starts the power supply operation, and the in-vehicle server 3 starts to operate accordingly. Here, when the operation is started, the in-vehicle server 3 generates a power-on signal and transmits the power-on signal to the packet communication device 4 via the signal line 19.
The packet communication device 4
The data processing circuit 26 determines whether or not a power-on signal has been received after the output of the start command signal (step A5).

When the power-on signal is not received, a time measuring operation is performed (step A6), and it is determined whether or not the measured time is equal to or longer than a set time (for example, 5 minutes) (step A7). . The determination steps A5 and A6 are repeatedly executed until the set time elapses. However, when the set time elapses without receiving the power-on signal, information indicating that the in-vehicle server 3 does not start and information on the server are not transmitted. Server abnormality information including identifiable ID information (for example, information of an IP address (IPv6) or a serial signal string of a predetermined length) is transmitted from the packet communication relay station 14 to the data management center 13 via the communication network 15 (step A8). Then, the process returns to step A1 to be in a reception waiting state. In this case, the data management center 13 recognizes which in-vehicle server 3 has an abnormality based on the received server abnormality information and performs a predetermined management operation.

On the other hand, when the power-on signal is received before the set time has elapsed (“YES” in step A5), that is, when the activation of the in-vehicle server 3 is confirmed, the in-vehicle server 3 and the communication line 19 are connected. The communication operation mode in which communication is possible is exhibited (step A9). Thereby, a series of received signals from the data management center 13 are
Via the communication line 19. Such a communication operation mode is continued until the transfer of the reception signal from the data management center 13 is completed (step A1).
0) When the transfer is completed, the process returns to step A1 to enter a reception waiting state.

When the processing related to the received signal is completed, the in-vehicle server 3 gives the above-mentioned shut-off command signal to the power supply circuit 23 to stop the power supply operation, and Is automatically shut down, and a shutdown signal is transmitted to the packet communication device 4 immediately before the shutdown. In this case, although not shown in FIG. 3, the packet communication device 4 performs a process of confirming the shutdown of the in-vehicle server 3 based on the shutdown signal, and temporarily does not receive the shutdown signal within the set time. In this case, the power supply circuit 23 of the in-vehicle server 3 is controlled to output a forced shutdown signal through the activation control line 20 to return to the power-off state.

Here, as an example of the processing performed by the vehicle-mounted server 3 based on the received signal from the data management center 13,
There are the following processing examples. For example, the in-vehicle server 3
When a signal for instructing the data management center 13 to report the parking / stop position of the vehicle 1 is received, power is supplied to the GPS receiver 5 through the power supply switching circuit 24 and vehicle current position information is obtained from the GPS receiver 5. After processing the current vehicle position information into communication data, the data is transmitted from the packet communication device 4 to the data management center 13. When transmitting such data, it is desirable to perform a security check. In this case, when the vehicle 1 is parked or stopped indoors or the like where the GPS signal cannot be received, the DSRC vehicle-mounted device 10 is started to activate the external DS.
Attempt to communicate with RC communication device. As a result, when the communication is performed, if the IP address (IPv6) of the external DSRC communication device is known, the current position of the vehicle 1 is specified based on the IP address data in the external DSRC communication device installation database. become able to. In addition, when the vehicle 1 is an insulated vehicle, the in-vehicle server 3
When receiving a signal instructing to report the temperature in the cool box to the data management center 13, the power supply switching circuit 24 is connected to the vehicle-mounted sensor 7 corresponding to the temperature sensor in the cool box.
Power is supplied through the in-vehicle sensor 7 to obtain the temperature information in the cool box, the temperature information in the cool box is processed into communication data, and then transmitted from the packet communication device 4 to the data management center 13.

In the in-vehicle server 3, as described above, when the processing related to the received signal is completed,
A shutoff command signal is given to the power supply circuit 23 to stop the power supply operation and automatically shut itself down.

In short, according to the present embodiment, during the period when the main power supply of the vehicle 1 is cut off (the period during which the vehicle start signal is not output), the power supply circuit 23 in the on-vehicle server 3 is used.
As a result, the power supply to the control circuit 22 in the in-vehicle server 3 and the GPS receiver 5, the in-vehicle device 6, and the in-vehicle sensor 7, which are the in-vehicle load, is stopped, so that the consumption of the in-vehicle battery 17 can be suppressed during this period. Thus, even during the period in which the main power supply of the vehicle 1 is cut off, the packet communication device 4
In this state, when the packet communication device 4 receives an operation command signal from the data management center 13 in this state, the start command signal output from the packet communication device 4 transmits the start signal line 20 and the like. The power is supplied to the power supply circuit 23 through the power supply circuit 23. Then, the power supply circuit 23 starts power supply from the vehicle-mounted battery 17 to the control circuit 22. At the same time, the power supply switching circuit 24 supplies power to the vehicle-mounted load (the GPS receiver 5). , The in-vehicle device 6 and the in-vehicle sensor 7), the power of the in-vehicle load necessary for executing the command content based on the operation command signal received by the packet communication device 4 is supplied from the in-vehicle battery 17 through the power circuit 23. ,further,
The control circuit 22 executes the command content of the operation command signal by operating the on-vehicle load. As a result, the communication operation by the packet communication device 4 and the control operation by the in-vehicle server 3 performed based on the communication operation can be reliably performed at a necessary time. When the control operation by the in-vehicle server 3 is completed, the power supply circuit 23 stops the power supply to the in-vehicle server 3 and the power supply to the in-vehicle load by the power supply switching circuit 24 is also stopped. In this case, the consumption of the vehicle-mounted battery 17 can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
Only parts different from the embodiment will be described. That is, the communication system 2 'according to the second embodiment is characterized in that a power supply related portion is separated from the on-vehicle server 3 in the first embodiment to be a separate unit. In FIG. 4, the in-vehicle server 31
(Corresponding to the control unit) is a packet communication device 4, GPS
The communication interface 32a for communicating with the receiver 5, the USB hub 8, the communication interface 32b for communicating with the in-vehicle device 6, the in-vehicle sensor 7, and the power control unit 33, and the same as the control circuit 22 in the first embodiment The configuration includes a function control circuit 34 and a power supply circuit 35 that outputs a stabilized power supply voltage for the vehicle-mounted server 31 in a state where power is supplied from the power supply control unit 33 side. In FIG. 4, power supply lines from the power supply circuit 35 to the control circuit 34 and the communication interfaces 32a and 32b are not shown.

The power supply control unit 33 includes the on-board battery 1
7, a control circuit 37 including a CPU (corresponding to a power cutoff unit and a power supply unit), and a communication interface 38 for communicating with the in-vehicle server 31. The power supply switching circuit 39 for receiving an output of the power supply stabilizing circuit 36 and a peripheral device power switching circuit 40 (corresponding to an auxiliary power supply unit) are provided.

The server power supply switching circuit 39 is configured to supply the output of the power supply stabilizing circuit 36 to the power supply circuit 35 in the vehicle server 31 when a server power supply command signal is given from the control circuit 37. . In addition, the peripheral device power switching circuit 40 is a
The power supply stabilizing circuit 36 is configured to supply the output specified by the power supply command signal from the control circuit 37 among the receiver 5, the on-vehicle device 6, and the on-vehicle sensor 7.

In this case, the start signal line 20 from the packet communication device 4 is connected to the control circuit 37, and when the start command signal is given through the start signal line 20, the control circuit 37 transmits the signal for the server. A server power supply command signal is supplied to the power supply switching circuit 39, and the in-vehicle server 31 is thereby started. As a result, the in-vehicle server 31 enters a state in which the operation command signal transmitted from the data management device 13 can be received via the packet communication device 4. The control circuit 37 executes the operation command signal when the operation command signal (the signal received from the data management center 13 through the packet communication device 4) is given from the in-vehicle server 31 thus activated. A power supply command signal for turning on the power of the on-vehicle load necessary for the power supply is output to the peripheral device power switching circuit 24.

The control circuit 37 supplies a shutdown signal to the server power supply switching circuit 39 and the peripheral device power supply switching circuit 40 when the vehicle start signal from the vehicle main switch (not shown) disappears, and In-vehicle equipment (GPS receiver 5, in-vehicle equipment 6,
The power supply of the vehicle-mounted sensor 7) is shut off. Further, when the processing related to the received signal is completed on the in-vehicle server 31 side, the control circuit 37
1, when the processing completion signal is received, a shutdown signal is given to the server power switching circuit 39 and the peripheral device power switching circuit 40, and the power supply of the vehicle server 31, Is shut off.

The second embodiment constructed as described above has the same advantages as the first embodiment. In particular, in the second embodiment, the power supply control unit 33 serving as a heat source is provided.
Is provided in a form independent of the in-vehicle server 31, so that measures for heat generation in the in-vehicle server 31 can be simplified,
There are advantages such as easy manufacturing.

(Other Embodiments) In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as described below. Although the in-vehicle communication system for the operation management system of the commercial vehicle has been described,
The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a communication system for general vehicles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an internal configuration of the packet communication device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control contents of the packet communication device;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a vehicle, 2 is a communication system, 3 is an on-board server (control unit), 4 is a packet communication device (communication device), and 5 is GP
S receiver (vehicle load), 6 is vehicle equipment (vehicle load),
7 is a vehicle sensor (vehicle load), 13 is a data management center (external institution), 17 is a vehicle battery, 19 is a communication line,
0 is a start signal line, 22 is a control circuit, 23 is a power supply circuit (power supply cutoff means, power supply means), 24 is a power supply switching circuit (auxiliary power supply means), 31 is an in-vehicle server (control unit), 34 is a control circuit And 37, a control circuit (power cutoff means, power supply means), 39, a server power switching circuit, and 40, a peripheral device power switching circuit (auxiliary power supply means).

Claims (2)

[Claims] A communication device mounted on a vehicle for performing data communication with an external engine, and a vehicle-mounted load mounted on the vehicle based on an operation command signal received from the external engine via the communication device. An in-vehicle communication system including a control unit to be operated, a power supply for the communication device being always kept, and a start command signal to the communication device when an operation command signal is received from the external engine. Power cutoff means for stopping power supply to the control unit and the on-vehicle load in a state where the main power of the vehicle is cut off, and output from the communication device connected to the communication device. A start signal line for transmitting the start command signal; and a vehicle connected to the start signal line and outputting the start command signal to the start signal line. Power supply means for starting power supply from the battery to the control unit and stopping power supply when the control operation by the control unit is completed; and receiving the communication device during a power supply period by the power supply means. A vehicle-mounted communication system comprising: an auxiliary power supply unit that supplies, from the vehicle-mounted battery, power of a vehicle-mounted load necessary for executing the command content based on the operation command signal. 2. The in-vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the power cutoff unit, the power supply unit, and the auxiliary power supply unit are configured as a power control unit independent of the control unit.