DE102011006338A1 - Controller chip for engine control unit for motor vehicle, has voltage regulator unit which is formed as switching regulator unit for providing internal supply voltages of engine control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The controller chip (2) comprises a power supply which has a voltage regulator unit (3-1) with system power supply section (3-1a), a sensor power supply section (3-1b) and an interface (3-7), and a microcontroller (5). An analog-digital converter unit (4) comprises small-signal output stage (4-1) and an interface (4-2). A power amplifier unit (6) comprises a small-signal output stage (6-1) and a power output stage (6-2). The voltage regulator unit is formed as a switching regulator unit for providing internal supply voltages of the engine control unit (1). An independent claim is included for energy control unit.

Description

The invention relates to a control chip for a control unit, in particular engine control unit. Such a control chip provides in particular the basic functionality of the engine control unit, in particular also with regard to the peripheral elements and output stages.

State of the art

Engine control devices, in particular for motor vehicle engines are generally used as modules on a circuit carrier, for. B. realized a circuit board. In this case, a microcontroller is provided as a rake core, and furthermore a peripheral chipset for realizing the required hardware functions. As a peripheral chipset, various application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and other electronic assemblies can be used.

From the DE 10 2005 037 264 A1 It is already known to provide a single control chip for spreading the basic functionalities, so that this control chip z. B. is mounted together with the designed as a semiconductor device microcontroller on the switch plate. Due to the high heat development, a good heat dissipation of these dies or semiconductor components is made possible. Thus, a metal housing is generally used as the housing of the engine control unit. Such metal housing are expensive on the one hand in the production; furthermore, z. As scratches occur inside, which can affect the function.

According to the DE 10 2005 037 264 A1 Thus, the control chip or U-chip already has essential functions, eg. B. the entire power supply (power supply), in addition, components of the analog-to-digital converter and drivers for power amplifiers, z. B. also power amplifiers includes. The control chip is formed here with minimum area and minimum cost, generally with a linear regulator as a voltage regulator for providing the different internal supply voltages. These internal power supply voltages comprise both the control chip-internal supply voltage and the supply voltage of the other components of the engine control unit outside the control chip.

For z. B. a 4-cylinder engine control unit is generally a housing made of very good thermal conductivity material such. B. aluminum used, in turn, on the one hand expensive and on the other hand very sensitive to damage inside such. B. scratches, the z. B. can generate short circuits.

The EP 1 460 496 A1 shows an embodiment with a microcontroller and a peripheral chip set of at least two ICs. Thus, the controller z. B. composed of the microcontroller, a unit for the power supply, a unit for the power driver, and optionally in addition a unit for the AD conversion and a unit for specific injector driver. Compared to such a system allows the DE 10 2005 037 264 A1 a higher integration in the control chip.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, a switching regulator device is used as the voltage regulator device. Thus, compared to conventional applications of analog, linear regulators, which generate high power losses, a higher production cost and higher production costs are required. However, this is based on the consideration according to the invention of keeping the power consumption and the heat development low. Thus, the power consumption of the control chip and the entire engine control unit are lower.

In accordance with the invention, a high degree of integration in the control chip is likewise basically selected here, wherein further components, in particular the analog-to-digital converter device and drivers for power output stages, are formed in addition to the power supply (power supply).

The switching regulator device is used to generate all internal supply voltages of the engine control unit, i. H. the control chip-internal and control chip-external, but engine ECU internal voltages used. Here, in a typical engine control unit for a four-cylinder engine z. B. a thermal power loss can be reduced by at least three watts.

Furthermore, it is recognized according to the invention that, in principle, the control unit can be formed by the control chip according to the invention with less heat generation, d. H. the circuit carrier can be cast together with the other components in a mold housing.

Such a design allows a significantly lower heat dissipation than a training with a metal housing. However, such a mold housing can be manufactured much cheaper than a metal housing, so that according to the invention in turn cost advantages can be achieved. According to the invention, this is surprising way recognized that the higher manufacturing costs for integration of a switching regulator instead of a linear regulator by the low cost of packaging, ie in particular a Moldgehäuses instead of a metal housing, are compensated again, especially taking into account the low power consumption and thus the lower consumption of the vehicle.

Instead of a molded housing can basically also a housing with housing interior and plastic housing parts, eg. As a lid made of plastic or basic housing and plastic lid can be selected. However, the cost advantage of a molded case or mold package is greatest.

According to the invention, the control chip can only pick up a single supply voltage and form the different internal supply voltages by means of suitable switching regulator subassemblies, for which purpose suitable switching regulator types can be selected.

Particularly advantageous is the circuit carrier with power amplifiers with low on-resistance in the on state, d. H. low RDS_on forming power MOSFETs. Such a design of power MOSFETs requires higher process costs and / or a higher area consumption and thus higher material costs of the semiconductor device. This can be differentiated in particular between different power amplifiers or drivers for power amplifiers of the control chip, so that power amplifiers for high currents and in particular power amplifiers with higher total temporal load such. For example, for the injector valve (valve for fuel injection) are formed with corresponding power MOSFETs with low on-resistance, however, other power amplifiers with lower cost MOSFETs requiring less space.

• – Es wird eine Verbesserung der Gesamtkostenposition des Motorsteuergeräts erreicht.
• – Die Größe des Steuergeräts kann verringert werden, insbesondere wenn diese durch die erforderlichen Entwärmung (Wärmeabfuhr) bisher nach unten begrenzt ist.
• – Durch die Verringerung der Innentemperatur des Steuergerätes im Betrieb kann die Zuverlässigkeit erhöht werden.
• – Ein Einsatz des Motorsteuergeräts in Einbauorten, die bisher aufgrund der Temperatur bzw. Wärmeabgabe nicht möglich waren, ist erreichbar.
• – Der Energieverbrauch des Fahrzeuges kann gesenkt werden.

According to the invention thus some advantages are achieved:

• - It is achieved an improvement in the overall cost position of the engine control unit.
• - The size of the controller can be reduced, especially if this is limited by the required heat dissipation (heat dissipation) so far down.
• - By reducing the internal temperature of the control unit in operation, the reliability can be increased.
• - A use of the engine control unit in installation locations, which were previously not possible due to the temperature or heat dissipation is achievable.
• - The energy consumption of the vehicle can be reduced.

Brief description of the drawings

1 shows a block diagram of an engine control unit according to a first embodiment of the invention;

2 shows one 1 alternative embodiment;

3 shows a section through a corresponding physical design of the engine control unit according to one embodiment.

Description of the embodiments

The engine control unit 1 out 1 has a control chip 2 , which is also referred to as a U-chip, and other components. The control chip 2 is usually in monolithic semiconductor device, for. B. with a silicon substrate formed. In 1 and 2 is the engine control unit 1 shown divided into functional assemblies. The control chip 2 includes components of different assemblies and is in 1 represented by the double line. Thus, the components contained within the angular surface bordered by the double lines are in the control chip 2 realized. Actually, the control chip 2 preferably a conventional cuboid training.

The larger assemblies that have multiple components are in 1 shown in dashed lines. These assemblies of the engine control unit 1 are the power supply (power supply, power supply) 3 , the analog-to-digital converter unit (ADC) 4 , the microcontroller 5 , the power output unit 6 as well as the power output stage 7 for the Injector valves (Injector Power Stage).

The power supply 3 is according to the embodiment of the 1 completely in the control chip 2 designed and has a switching regulator 3-1 , a reset device 3-2 (Reset), an input 3-3 for an ignition signal (Ignition In), a main relay 3-4 , a wake-up facility 3-5 (Wake up), another stop / wake-up facility 3-6 , an interface 3-7 to the microcontroller 5 , a monitoring device 3-8 for monitoring at least the interface 3-7 (Watchdog), a driver 3-9 for a CAN interface 3-9 as well as a driver 3-10 for a serial interface.

The AD converter device 4 has two small signal output stages 4-1 , which are shown here as a single unit, a serial interface 4-2 , eight A / D converter devices 4-3 for AD conversion of the recorded signals, which in turn are shown here as a single device, an interface 4-4 to the microcontroller and a diagnostic device 4-5 , preferably for self-diagnosis or for diagnosis of functions in the engine control unit 1 on. Of these components are the units 4-1 and 4-2 as shown in the control chip 2 integrated, the other components 4-3 . 4-4 and 4-5 are realized outside.

The microcontroller 5 is according to the embodiment of the 1 outside the control chip 2 provided and has z. B. - in a conventional manner - a flash memory 5-1 , an SRAM 5.2 as well as intelligent peripherals 5-3 on. The microcontroller 5 is again in a conventional manner as an integrated component, ie further semiconductor device 5 executed.

From the power output unit 6 (Power Driver) are a small signal output stage 6-1 , twelve power output stages 6-2 (drawn here as a unit) for output currents between 0.6 A and 3 A and, according to the embodiment shown, a bridge device 6-3 with two H-bridges in the control chip 2 integrated. Furthermore, the power output stage unit has 6 another small signal output stage 6-4 and a 5 volt monitor 6-5 (5 volt supervision), outside the control chip 2 are realized. The power output stage 7 for the injector valves is completely outside the control chip 2 realized.

Furthermore, the engine control unit 1 outside the control chip on: two CAN interfaces 8-1 and 8-2 , a driver 8-3 for a tachometer, evaluation equipment 9-1 and 9-2 for evaluation of the lambda probe (of the lambda sensor), a flash memory 10-1 , an SRAM 10-2 as well as a facility 11 for other power drivers, in particular for the control (heating) of the lambda probe.

According to 3 is the engine control unit 1 on a common circuit carrier 12 realized, in particular a circuit board. Thus, the control chip 2 and the microcontroller 5 as semiconductor devices (chips, dies) in not shown here chip housings on the circuit board 12 assembled. The other components 7 . 4-3 . 4-4 . 4-5 . 6-3 . 6-4 ; 8-1 to 8-3 . 9-1 . 9-2 ; 10-1 . 10-2 and 11 are complementary directly or indirectly on the circuit board 12 assembled.

According to this embodiment, the engine control unit 1 or his mold housing 16 gemoldet. Thus, the circuit board 12 together with these components in a hatched here molding compound 16a Molded (cast), which represents a plastic material. Additional housing parts are therefore not required. The molding compound 16a covers all components. This z. B. for contacting a plug 14 for different connections, the CAN connection and / or as shown connection legs 15 for contacting from the mold housing 16 protrude.

In the embodiment of the 2 is in addition an H-bridge chip or H-bridge semiconductor device 18 for power control of an electronic throttle valve, z. B. with 12 A, and provided as a separate chip on the circuit board 12 of the 3 assembled and poured.

Instead of a Moldgehäuses z. As well as a plastic housing, d. H. with housing body and lid, or a corresponding housing or packaging made of mixed materials, eg. B. plastic lid and base plate made of metal. However, the molded variant allows high automotive capability and low manufacturing costs.

In this case, by using the switching regulator and the power output stages with power MOSFETs with a low forward resistance, a very low heat loss is generated according to the invention, so that the variant shown with a molded housing 16 is possible, which in turn can be formed inexpensively.

The switching regulator device 3-1 serves to generate all internally in the engine control unit 1 used supply voltages. As drawn, it has a power supply 3-1a for the entire system or the entire engine control unit 1 and a power supply for the lambda probe. Thus, the small signal output stages 4-1 and 6-1 supplied with smaller power, however, the line output stage device 6-2 with greater benefits. The switching regulator device 3-1 will with her connection 3-1c preferably to a single externally applied supply voltage Uv, z. B. the supply voltage of the vehicle battery connected and generated from this initially a uniform internal supply voltage of z. B. 5 V, from then different types of switching regulator devices are used for the various drivers or power amplifiers. These types of switching regulator devices may, for. B. Buck, Buck-boost to generate even at lower battery voltages sufficient system voltage, flyback converter, resonant or non-resonant converter, insulating or non-insulating transducer.

In principle, a downstream linear regulator can also be provided according to the invention in addition to the use of a switching regulator, so that z. B. the switching regulator is a pre-regulation of the voltage of z. B. 12 V on z. B. 6 V and controls the downstream linear regulator to 5 V, so that already a significant reduction of the thermal power loss is possible.

Although the use of a switching regulator generally leads to a higher radiation, due to the switching principle of voltage regulation with temporally fast voltage changes. In this case, however, the switching edges can be suitably adjusted or a specific shaping of the switching edges can be achieved in order to reduce the radiation.

The realization according to the invention of a particularly low on-resistance RDS_on is z. B. achieved by using a larger area of the integrated circuit, further by improving the base component or the process improvement in the manufacturing process.

The switching regulator device 3-1 thus serves to generate all supply voltages, ie the control chip-internal and control chip-external, engine control unit-internal supply voltages.

The switching regulator device 3-1 thus generates at least one output voltage according to a switching regulator principle, with different switching regulator principles are possible.

About the switching regulator device 1 Thus, the small signal output stages or their drivers and z. B. multiple power stages, z. B. with 3 A, 2.2 A, z. B. for controlling the injector valves, driven.

The forward resistance RDS_on of the power output stages can in turn be different depending on the application, eg. B.
for the output stage 3 A with an on-resistance RDS_on <0.2 ohms,
for the power output stage 2.2 A with high efficiency (ie higher operating times over the total time measured), the z. B. the power amplifier 7 for the injector valves, with an on-resistance RDS_on <0.4 ohms, and
for another output stage 2.2 A with a low efficiency z. B. with an on-resistance RDS_on of about 0.72 ohms.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005037264 A1 [0003, 0004, 0006]
• EP 1460496 A1 [0006]

Claims (11)

Control chip ( 2 ) for an engine control unit ( 1 ), whereby the control chip ( 2 ) comprises: a power supply ( 3 ), comprising: - a voltage regulator device ( 3-1 ) with a device ( 3-1a ) on system power supply and a facility ( 3-1b ) to the sensor power supply, and - an interface ( 3-7 ) to a microcontroller ( 5 ), Components ( 4-1 . 4-2 ) of an analog-to-digital converter unit ( 4 ), the at least one small signal output stage ( 4-1 ) and an interface ( 4-2 ) to the other components of the analog-to-digital converter device ( 4 ), and components ( 6-1 . 6-2 . 6-3 ) of a power output stage unit ( 6 ), the at least one small signal output stage ( 6-1 ) and a power output stage device ( 6-2 ), characterized in that the voltage regulator device ( 3-1 ) as a switching regulator device ( 3-1 ) is designed to provide all internal supply voltages of the engine control unit ( 1 ). Control chip according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a supply voltage input ( 3-1c ) for only one supply voltage (Uv), z. B. Uv = 5V or Uv = 12V, and switching regulator subdevices ( 3-1a . 3-1b ) for generating a first, higher internal supply voltage and a second, lower internal supply voltage. Control chip according to claim 2, characterized in that the switching regulator subdevices ( 3-1a . 3-1b ) are selected from the following group: buck converters, back-boost converters, flyback converters, resonant converters, non-resonant converters, insulating converters, non-insulating converters Control chip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power output stage device ( 6-2 ) Power output stages for different currents, wherein the power amplifiers are designed for higher currents with lower on-resistance (RDS_on) in the on state than the power amplifiers for lower currents. Control chip according to claim 4, characterized in that a power output stage for a current of 3 A with an on-resistance (RDS_on) of less than 0.2 ohms, and a power amplifier for a current of 2 A to 2.5 A for a power amplifier ( 7 ) is designed for an injector valve with an on-resistance of less than 0.4 ohms. Control chip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply ( 3 ) further comprises one or more of the following components: a reset device ( 3-2 ) to reset the power supply, an input ( 3-3 ) for an ignition signal, a driver ( 3-4 ) for a main relay, a wake-up facility ( 3-5 ), a monitoring device ( 3-8 ) for the interface ( 3-7 ) to the microcontroller ( 5 ), a driver ( 3-9 ) for a bus interface, a serial interface ( 3-10 ). Control chip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises the microcontroller ( 5 ) having. Control chip according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises an H-bridge device ( 6-3 ) having. Engine control unit ( 1 ) in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the engine control unit ( 1 ) comprises: a control chip ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, a power amplifier ( 7 ) for injector valves, components of the analog-to-digital converter unit ( 4 ) not in the control chip ( 2 ), an evaluation device ( 9-1 . 9-2 ) for a lambda probe, and a circuit carrier ( 12 ), z. B. a circuit board ( 12 ), and a housing ( 16 ) of a plastic material, the circuit carrier ( 12 ), on the circuit carrier ( 12 ) mounted control chip ( 2 ) and the other components mounted directly or indirectly on the circuit substrate ( 8-1 . 8-2 . 8-3 ; 4-3 . 4-4 . 4-5 ; 9-1 . 9-2 ; 10-1 . 10-2 ; 5 ; 6-3 . 6-4 ; 11 ; 7 ) of the engine control unit ( 1 ) and connections ( 14 . 15 ) for external contacting of the engine control unit ( 1 ). Engine control unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the housing as a housing housing ( 16 ) is formed and designed as a plastic material molding material ( 16a ), which around the circuit carrier ( 12 ) with the control chip ( 2 ) and the other components is poured. Motor control device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that on the circuit carrier ( 12 ) in addition to the control chip ( 2 ), a microcontroller ( 5 ) as a semiconductor component and / or an H-bridge chip ( 18 ) are mounted.

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