DE102012012155A1 - Electronic control unit for motor vehicle, has interface for wireless communication with external unit, where interface is provided as autonomous navigation technology interface, while interface has transmitter, receiver and memory - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic control unit (3) has an interface (4,5,6,7) for the wireless communication with an external unit (2), particularly a wireless navigation system, a mobile phone or a sports device, where the interface is provided as an autonomous navigation technology (ANT) interface. The interface of the electronic control unit has a transmitter (10) for sending data, a receiver (11) for receiving data, and a memory (12) for storing data. The electronic control unit has an evaluation unit (16) coupled to the interface, where the evaluation unit is provided for evaluation of the data. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a motor vehicle with an infotainment system; (2) a system for wireless communication between an external unit with a motor vehicle; and (3) a method for wireless communication between an external unit with a motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a system and a method for wireless communication between an external unit and a motor vehicle, in particular for wireless communication via an ANT connection.

With the increasing integration of software systems in automobiles, ordinary automobiles are increasingly equipped with a variety of electronic components and functions. The aforementioned components in a motor vehicle include, for example, a navigation system, a telephone system or an Internet communication system. The functions mentioned include, for example, air conditioning in the motor vehicle, a logbook, that is a vehicle operating instructions in electronic form, and a seat adjustment.

In addition to these components and functions, ordinary motor vehicles increasingly also have a large number of other electrical consumers, which are available in the majority for functions which serve solely comfort. The focus is more and more on applications for wireless transmission systems in motor vehicles. So beyond the usual functions, such as a car radio, wireless phones, TVs, navigation devices and the integration of typical computer science technologies to games and information services are increasingly found in motor vehicles.

Wireless communication also offers the possibility of integrating overarching traffic management systems and communication systems between multiple vehicles. This makes it possible, for example, that vehicles driving one behind the other or simultaneously entering an intersection exchange information. For example, an emergency stop of a vehicle in front can be electronically reacted. Furthermore, it is also possible to collect information from the vehicles and transmit it to central traffic control stations. Thus, a reliable recovery of data on traffic situations is given and at the same time specific data can be transmitted back to the vehicles.

For operating such electrical loads electrical energy storage devices are needed, which can be removed when needed energy for operating the electrical loads. Due to the increasing number of wireless communication systems, there is a need for a data protocol for wireless communication, which are characterized by low energy consumption. To mention here is for example the ANT technology, which is increasingly used in sports equipment and is characterized by ease of use, a particularly low energy consumption and low susceptibility to interference.

From the publication DE 10 2007 013 146 A1 For example, an apparatus and a method for performing wireless communication between a motor vehicle and external mobile or stationary devices are known.

The object of the invention is to provide a system and a method with which a reliable and energy-efficient wireless communication between external units and a motor vehicle can be ensured.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle is specified, which has an interface for wireless communication with an external unit. The interface is an ANT interface.

The basic idea is therefore to use the ANT technology as a wireless data protocol for wireless communication systems in a motor vehicle.

Such an electronic control unit for a motor vehicle has the advantage that it is designed to be able to ensure reliable and energy-efficient wireless communication with external units. Thus, the electronic control unit is designed such that, for example, mobile phones and sports equipment, in which increasingly the ANT technology is used, can communicate with the vehicle. It is also possible to upgrade existing interfaces to ANT technology without the need for costly and expensive conversions.

The interface may further comprise a transmitter for sending data, a receiver for receiving data, and a memory for storing data. Consequently, the electronic control unit can be designed to provide and forward information acoustically, optically or in other ways via ANT interfaces, to run computer programs or to respond to them, to switch sensors and the like. It is also known, an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle, for example, with a non-volatile Memory to provide, so it can be easily integrated into the electronic control unit. Furthermore, it is also possible to design transmitters and receivers as a combined transmitting / receiving unit.

Furthermore, the electronic control unit can also have an evaluation unit for evaluating data, which is coupled to the interface. The fact that the evaluation unit is integrated in the electronic control unit, the number of interfaces necessary for the transmission of data to an evaluation unit can be reduced and the paths traveled in the transmission of the data can be significantly shortened, resulting in a significantly reduced bus load within the Motor vehicle results. By means of the evaluation unit, for example, an optimal route can be calculated from data of a navigation system, or a current training state can be determined from data of a sports device. A cashless payment at petrol stations, petrol pumps or parking garages is also conceivable.

The invention also provides a motor vehicle comprising an electronic control unit as described above. Such a motor vehicle has the advantage that with this a reliable and energy-efficient wireless communication with one or more external units can be ensured, due to the characteristics of the ANT technology, which is characterized by ease of use and a particularly low energy consumption and low interference sensitivity distinguished. For example, mobile phones or sports equipment, in which increasingly ANT technologies are used, communicate with the vehicle. Furthermore, the motor vehicle can also communicate with any other device which has an ANT technology. This proves to be advantageous especially in the area of infrastructure. It is conceivable, for example, the communication with gas stations, gas pumps, parking garages, bridges, railway crossings, located on streets communication units and the like, as far as they include an ANT interface. It is also possible to upgrade already existing interfaces for wireless communication of the motor vehicle with external units to ANT technology without the need for costly and expensive conversions.

The electronic control unit can be coupled with an infotainment system of the motor vehicle.

The infotainment system may further comprise a display unit and / or an acoustic signal generator. With operations of an infotainment system, individual users of a motor vehicle usually have, for example, such a display unit in view, whereby the users can simultaneously be displayed for providing information programs and / or infotainment programs, information from or about an external unit communicating with the motor vehicle. By way of example, a current position from data of a wireless navigation system or a current heart rate and / or a consumed calorie number can be displayed on the display unit by a user of a sports device communicating with the electronic control unit.

The invention also provides a system for wireless communication of an external unit with a motor vehicle, the system comprising an electronic control unit of the motor vehicle and at least one external unit communicating with the electronic control unit via a wireless communication link. The wireless communication connection is an ANT connection. Such a system has the advantage that a reliable and energy-efficient wireless communication link can be provided between the motor vehicle and the at least one external unit. Thus, the ANT technology is characterized by easy handling, a particularly low energy consumption and low susceptibility to interference. It is also possible to upgrade existing interfaces of the electronic control unit and the at least one external unit to ANT technology, without the need for costly and expensive conversions.

The at least one external unit may be a wireless navigation system, a mobile phone or a sports device. In such devices more and more ANT technologies are used, so that it is ensured that they can continue to communicate reliably with the motor vehicle. Also, the increasing demand for additional devices, which can be integrated with wireless communication in the motor vehicle and provide a user of the motor vehicle higher comfort, such as wireless phones or wireless navigation devices, are taken into account. Furthermore, the at least external unit may also be any other device which has an ANT technology. This proves to be advantageous especially in the area of infrastructure. It is conceivable, for example, the communication with gas stations, gas pumps, parking garages, bridges, railway crossings, located on streets communication units and the like, as far as they include an ANT interface.

An interface for exchanging data with other devices of the electronic control unit of the motor vehicle can have a transmitter for sending data, a receiver for receiving data and a memory for storing data. The electronic control unit is thus suitable for providing information by means of the ANT interfaces acoustically, visually or in any other way and for passing on computer programs or for reacting to them, switching sensors and the like. It is also known to provide an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle, for example, with a non-volatile memory, which is why it can be integrated into the electronic control unit without much effort. Furthermore, it is also possible to design transmitters and receivers as a combined transmitting / receiving unit.

Further, an interface for exchanging data with other devices of the at least one external unit may include a transmitter for sending data, a receiver for receiving data, and a memory for storing data so that the at least one external unit not only transmits data but also receive and process, for example, information acoustically, visually or otherwise provide, run computer programs or to respond to them, to switch sensors and the like.

The electronic control unit of the motor vehicle may further comprise an evaluation unit for evaluating data. As a result, the number of interfaces necessary for the transmission of the acquired data to the evaluation unit can be reduced and the paths traveled during the transmission of the data can be considerably shortened, which further results in a significantly reduced bus load within the motor vehicle.

The invention also provides a method for the wireless communication of an external unit with a motor vehicle. Here, an external unit is initially provided, which has an interface for the wireless exchange of data with other devices. Further, a communication link is set up for exchanging data between the external unit and an electronic control unit of the motor vehicle having a second interface for wireless exchange of data with other devices, the communication link being an ANT connection. Such a method has the advantage that a reliable and energy-efficient wireless communication link is established between a motor vehicle and an external unit. Thus, the ANT technology is characterized by easy handling, a particularly low energy consumption and low susceptibility to interference. For example, mobile phones or sports equipment, in which more and more are used on ANT technologies, communicate with the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the external unit may also be any other device which has an ANT technology. This proves to be advantageous especially in the area of infrastructure. It is conceivable, for example, the communication with gas stations, gas pumps, parking garages, bridges, railway crossings, located on streets communication units and the like, as far as they include an ANT interface. It is also possible to upgrade existing interfaces for the exchange of data to ANT technology, without the need for costly and expensive conversions.

In summary, the present invention provides a system and a method for wireless communication between an external unit and a motor vehicle, with which a reliable and energy-efficient communication connection is ensured, since the ANT technology by a simple handling, especially low energy consumption and low susceptibility to interference distinguishes.

For example, mobile phones or sports equipment, which are more and more based on ANT technologies, can communicate with the vehicle.

Next, the system can be optimally adapted to increasing comfort requirements in motor vehicles, for example by connecting to an infotainment system of the motor vehicle, on which information from or about the external unit can be displayed.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figure.

1 shows a block diagram of a system for wireless communication of an external unit with a motor vehicle according to embodiments of the invention.

1 shows a block diagram of a system 1 for wireless communication of an external unit 2 with a motor vehicle according to embodiments of the invention.

As 1 shows the system includes 1 for wireless communication of an external unit with a motor vehicle, at least one external unit 2 and an electronic control unit 3 of Motor vehicle. The at least one external unit 2 communicates with the electronic control unit 3 of the motor vehicle via a wireless communication link. For this purpose, the at least one external unit 2 as well as the electronic control unit 3 one interface each 4 . 5 to exchange data. At the interfaces 4 . 5 these are ANT interfaces 6 . 7 such that the wireless communication link is an ANT connection, denoted by the reference numeral 8th provided arrow symbolized. ANT techniques are characterized by easy handling, a particularly low energy requirement and low susceptibility to interference.

At the in 1 represented external unit 2 it is a wireless navigation system 9 , Furthermore, the external unit 2 but also a mobile phone, a sports device or any other device that has an ANT interface 7 includes, be. It is conceivable, for example, a use of the system 1 in the field of infrastructure. These may be petrol stations, petrol pumps, parking garages, bridges, railroad crossings, communication units positioned on streets and the like, as far as these ANT interfaces 7 exhibit.

Also, the interface assigns 4 . 6 the electronic control unit 3 a transmitter 10 to send data, a recipient 11 for receiving data as well as a memory 12 to store data on. Furthermore, in this case, the transmitter 10 as well as the receiver 11 be designed as a combined transmitting / receiving device. The electronic control unit 3 is thus suitable by means of the ANT interfaces 6 Provide and forward information acoustically, visually or in any other way, to run computer programs or to respond to them, to switch sensors and the like.

According to the embodiments of the 1 also has the interface 5 . 7 the at least one external unit 2 a transmitter 13 to send data, a recipient 14 for receiving data as well as a memory 15 for storing data so that the at least one external unit 2 not only send data but also receive and process it.

According to 1 has the electronic control unit 3 of the motor vehicle also an evaluation unit 16 to evaluate data. The evaluation unit 16 is there with the interface 4 . 6 the electronic control unit 3 coupled the motor vehicle, wherein the coupling by the reference numerals 17 symbolized arrows is symbolized. As a result, the number of interfaces necessary for the transmission of the acquired data to an evaluation unit can be reduced and the distances covered during the transmission of the data can be considerably shortened, which further results in a significantly reduced bus load within the motor vehicle. By means of the evaluation unit 16 For example, an optimal route may be from data of a navigation system 9 calculated or from data of a sports equipment, a current training condition can be determined. A cashless payment at petrol stations, petrol pumps or parking garages is also conceivable.

In this case, a user of the motor vehicle information from and about the external unit 2 to provide. In the embodiments shown the 1 Here is an arranged in the motor vehicle infotainment system 18 to recognize which is a display unit 19 includes and with the electronic control unit 3 is coupled. The coupling between the electronic control unit 3 and the display unit 19 of the infotainment system 18 is in this case by the reference numeral 20 provided arrow symbolizes. The display unit 18 is designed for example as an LCD screen and usually arranged on the dashboard of the motor vehicle. For example, on the display unit 18 a current position from data of a wireless navigation system 9 or a current heart rate and / or a calorie count consumed by a user of the electronic control unit 3 communicating sports equipment. Furthermore, the infotainment system 18 of the motor vehicle but also include an acoustic signal generator, via which a user data from and about the external unit 2 be provided in the form of a sound or a tone sequence.

Although at least one exemplary embodiment has been shown in the foregoing description, various changes and modifications may be made. The above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing description provides those skilled in the art with a scheme for practicing at least one example embodiment, which may make numerous changes in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

system

2

external unit

3

electronic control unit

4, 5

interfaces

6, 7

ANT interfaces

8th

ANT connection

9

wireless navigation system

10

transmitter

11

receiver

12

Storage

13

transmitter

14

receiver

15

Storage

16

evaluation

17

Coupling between interface and evaluation unit

18

Infotainment system

19

display unit

20

Coupling between electronic control unit and display unit

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 102007013146 A1 [0006]

Claims (12)

Electronic control unit of a motor vehicle, which has an interface ( 4 . 6 ) for wireless communication with an external unit, the interface ( 4 . 6 ) an ANT interface ( 6 ). Electronic control unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface ( 4 . 6 ) of the electronic control unit ( 3 ) a transmitter ( 11 ) for sending data, a recipient ( 12 ) for receiving data, as well as a memory ( 13 ) for storing data. Electronic control unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic control unit ( 3 ) one with the interface ( 4 . 6 ) coupled evaluation unit ( 16 ) for evaluating data. Motor vehicle comprising an electronic control unit ( 3 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit ( 3 ) with an infotainment system ( 18 ) of the motor vehicle is coupled. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the infotainment system ( 18 ) a display unit ( 19 ) and / or comprises an acoustic signal generator. System for wireless communication of an external unit ( 2 ) with a motor vehicle, comprising an electronic control unit ( 3 ) of the motor vehicle and at least one external unit ( 2 ) connected to the electronic control unit ( 3 ) communicates over a wireless communication link, wherein the wireless communication link is an ANT connection. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one external unit ( 2 ) a wireless navigation system ( 9 ), a mobile phone or a sports device. System according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the interface ( 4 . 6 ) the electronic control unit ( 3 ) a transmitter ( 10 ) for sending data, a recipient ( 11 ) for receiving data, as well as a memory ( 12 ) for storing data. System according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the interface ( 5 . 7 ) of the at least one external unit ( 2 ) a transmitter ( 13 ) for sending data, a recipient ( 14 ) for receiving data, as well as a memory ( 15 ) for storing data. System according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the electronic control unit ( 3 ) one with the interface ( 4 . 6 ) of the electronic control unit coupled evaluation unit ( 16 ) for evaluating data. Method for wireless communication of an external unit with a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - providing an external unit ( 2 ) with an interface ( 5 . 7 ) for the wireless exchange of data with other devices, - establishing a communication connection for the exchange of data, between the external unit ( 2 ) and an electronic control unit ( 3 ) of the motor vehicle with a second interface ( 4 . 6 ) for wireless exchange of data with other devices, wherein the communication link is an ANT connection.

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