DE102014210935B4 - Device and method for event-specific modification of the operating behavior of a means of transport - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for event-specific modification of the operating behavior of a means of transport (10), comprising the steps: - detecting (200) an event by a sensor (1, 7) of the means of transport (10) in a resting state of the on-board electrical system of the means of transport (10), - storing (500 ) a data record representing the event in a non-volatile memory (3) of the means of transport (10), - waking up (700) the vehicle electrical system from the idle state by a user by actuating an access device, in response to this - reading out (800) of the data record the memory (3) and in response thereto and depending on the data record - modifying (900) an operating behavior of a component (4, 5, 8) of the means of transport (10), - whereby in the case of a stored event, the operating behavior of the component (4, 5, 8) after the wake-up (700) is modified in such a way that a system diagnosis of a larger extent is carried out than after a sleep state without a detected event.

Description

State of the art

The present invention relates to a device and a method for event-specific modification of the operating behavior of a means of transportation. In particular, the present invention relates to further consideration of events relevant to the operating behavior of the means of transport.

Modern vehicles react to a wide variety of events in order to ensure their operation is safe, comfortable and long-lasting. In particular, sensors are used to record and evaluate environmental influences and operating situations. Vehicles with electronically networked control unit architecture generally have a start phase, an operating phase, a shutdown phase and a run-on phase for operation. Once the overrun is complete, the vehicle is generally inactive (“idle state”). Events and environmental conditions that occur during this period are usually neither observed nor logged. To reduce CO ₂ emissions, vehicles with alternative drives are increasingly being developed. In vehicles with plug-in charging (charging from a socket or an electrical infrastructure) or in fuel cell vehicles, components are partially or permanently active, even when no actual driving is taking place. Further actions can also be carried out in the vehicle when the vehicle is in a resting state. When restarting, some information is necessary that was created during the vehicle's passive phase but was not saved. In the prior art, such information cannot be taken into account when restarting the vehicle. They sometimes have to be generated or collected (if at all possible) in a time-consuming manner and with an additional data traffic load for the on-board network during the restart phase.

DE 10 2005 026 989 A1 discloses data communication via a CAN bus and interactive or event-controlled storage of status information in a vehicle electrical system.

DE 100 14 994 A1 discloses a data collection regarding the wear behavior of a means of transportation, whereby a storage medium can be designed as a bus participant. In this way, environmental data recorded by sensors can be recorded and logged during breaks in operation. In this way, the wear and tear behavior can be read by a fleet manager and taken into account, for example, when providing the means of transport for a fee.

DE 10 2006 024 634 A1 discloses an activation of the reception readiness of a vehicle network, whereby a wake-up signal is output to an antenna of a means of transport via a remote control in order to then be able to receive infotainment components from a network external to the vehicle.

DE 10 2008 002 154 A1 discloses a protective device for a means of transport, through which corrosion in an electrical system of a means of transport can be avoided. A sensor for detecting a shunt is used to emit a switching pulse to activate a control device if necessary. In the event of a critical shunt, a large number of consumers in the on-board electrical system that draw high electrical power are automatically activated in order to discharge the vehicle's electrical energy storage.

DE 10 2008 047 702 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with at least one sensor and a memory. When parked, a rain sensor and a temperature sensor can log environmental conditions. Before starting the journey, a warning can now be issued visually and/or acoustically to a driver of the means of transport.

It is an object of the present invention to be able to adapt the operation of a means of transport even better to environmental conditions and other situations.

Disclosure of the invention

The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a method with the features according to claim 1 and by a device with the features according to claim 8. The method is used to modify the operating behavior of a means of transport in an event-specific manner. In other words, the means of transport should be able to independently adapt its own operating behavior in response to detected events. In a first step, an event is detected by a sensor in a resting state of the on-board electrical system of the means of transport. The sensor may include, for example, a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor and/or an air pressure sensor and/or a sensor for monitoring an access device (also called a “microswitch”). In the context of the present invention, a “resting state” is understood to mean a state in which the vehicle is not active functions and in particular the communication on the data buses has been set. An exception can be individual sporadic queries via the data buses. In particular, according to the invention, there is no idle state when a charging process is being carried out or the engine is running for cooling purposes. Examples of events on the means of transport that do not necessarily interrupt a rest state are opening and closing doors, unplugging plugs, refueling, loading the vehicle, folding down the seats, etc. A data record representing the event is then stored in stored in a non-volatile memory of the means of transport. In this way, after the event has been recorded or recognized, information is retained in a future operating state and can be used to influence the operating behavior. The on-board electrical system of the means of transport is then woken up from the idle state by activating an access device by a (in particular authorized) user ending the idle state. In response, the stored data set is read from the non-volatile memory and an operating behavior of one or more components of the means of transport is modified based on the data set. In other words, the means of transport or its on-board electrical system shows a different operating behavior based on the data record after the data record has been read from the memory and interpreted than in a situation in which the data record is not in the memory or the content is already present and not modified in other words, no predefined event was logged in the past idle state. According to the invention, events that occurred during the idle state can also be taken into account when the vehicle or its on-board electrical system resumes operation. The information obtained and saved is therefore available immediately, which means that steps that need to be taken early in the course of the restart can be carried out on an event-specific basis.

The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.

The types of sensors that can be used according to the invention for event detection are those of many sensors that are currently provided in vehicles. Only the electronic connection to a memory that is available at least twice during a rest state and a subsequent evaluation must be carried out according to the invention. For example, for monitoring access devices, microswitches are widely used, which monitor and report the status of the doors, tailgate, hood, etc. However, other detection devices such as normal switches, light barriers, Hall sensors, etc. are known for these purposes and can be used according to the invention. Since the configuration of the interior may have changed due to the operation of access devices, an extended diagnosis of the interior technology of the means of transport can be carried out in response to the evaluation of the logged events.

In the method according to the invention, the data record read from the memory can be compared with a stored reference, which, for example, identifies a threshold value. Alternatively or additionally, an action to be carried out or a specific operating behavior can be assigned to a corresponding data record. For example, in response to a specific temperature value that prevailed during a rest state, a diagnosis of fluid-carrying components and lines can be carried out or early measures can be taken to defrost and check the operating resources and components filled with them.

The component whose operating behavior is modified in response to the reading of the data record or the previous event can include, for example, a so-called rear-seat entertainment system, which goes into a standby state or even after the vehicle is started is started completely automatically if the events during the idle state include opening and closing doors. Alternatively or additionally, a pump for operating fluid (fluid) can be operated more slowly or a compressed gas storage (e.g. for natural gas, for hydrogen for use in a fuel cell) can be opened in a different way using a corresponding valve, provided that certain temperature conditions prevail during the idle state have. This allows slower filling of pressure lines or an alternative or reverse order for filling the pressure lines. According to the invention, a fuel cell or a control device for controlling the fuel cell can also be put into operation differently as a component if events indicate that a very high or a very low temperature has been detected during the rest phase. In this way, the service life of the fuel cell is increased and the desired performance can be achieved more quickly. Charging or canceling charging processes of an externally electrically rechargeable energy storage device can also result in the energy storage device being put into operation differently than if a sol The charging process or a specific charging process-specific event did not take place. For example, a more comprehensive diagnosis of the health/charge status of the energy storage device can be carried out in order to better take into account the processes within the idle state. The control of an electrical machine (e.g. a traction machine) can also be suitably modified in response to predefined values for environmental data such as humidity and air pressure in order to minimize the voltage peaks that occur on the high-voltage traction network during operation and thus increase the insulation of the electrical components protect.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention can include leaving the idle state in response to the recognition of the predefined event and returning to the idle state after the data associated with the event has been saved. In this way, several events can be recognized, saved and logged in an energetically cost-effective manner until the idle state is ended by the action of an (authorized) user. In this way, the energy storage of the means of transport or the on-board electrical system is not placed under excessive strain. However, it is of course not necessary for the entire on-board network of the means of transport to leave the idle state in order to log the events. According to the invention, individual components can also leave the idle state or resume it, or an individual control device (hereinafter referred to as a data collector) can record, process, save the sensor information without influencing the rest of the on-board network and then return to an idle state.

The data collector can exit sleep mode at predefined times. For example, the idle state can be exited at regular intervals (time-controlled, cyclically), sensor values can be queried, saved if necessary and then the idle state can be activated again. Alternatively or additionally, the idle state can be exited event-controlled, the events logged (saved) and then the idle state can be activated again. For example, in response to a sensor variable falling below/exceeding a predefined threshold value, a data collector can wake up, save the sensor value and then fall back into an idle state. Here, the sensor (depending on the sensor principle and the measured quantity) can sometimes generate sufficient energy to operate the data collector and in particular to store the value. For example, the sensors can be designed accordingly to detect an actuation of a door/hood lock. This avoids a load on the on-board electrical system and any possible awakening of the on-board electrical system by requesting electrical energy.

Preferably, in response to a predefined event (sensor value), a predefined action can be carried out and an indication of the action carried out can be stored in a data memory. For example, drying of a fuel cell can be carried out in response to detecting a particularly low temperature. This result is saved and the vehicle returns to idle mode. If an equally low or lower temperature is measured at a later point in time or due to a subsequent event, the data storage device can be consulted for drying that has already taken place before carrying out another drying process and a new drying process can be avoided. This prevents responses to predetermined events from being unnecessarily repeated unless appropriate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device (e.g. in the form of an electronic control device) is proposed which comprises a sensor, an evaluation unit and a data memory. The evaluation unit can include, for example, a programmable processor, a microcontroller, a nanocontroller, or similar. The statements made in connection with the method according to the invention apply accordingly to the sensor. The data memory can, for example, be designed as a flash memory, which stores the data once stored even without a power supply. The evaluation unit is set up to be connected to an on-board electrical system of a means of transport. For example, the evaluation unit can include a CAN controller for this purpose. The evaluation unit can also be intended for connection to alternative bus systems (e.g. CAN bus, LIN bus, FlexRay, Ethernet, MOST bus, etc.). In this way, the device is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Corresponding method steps can be stored as instructions in the data memory and kept ready for execution by the evaluation unit. In this way, the device according to the invention realizes the features, the combinations of features and the advantages resulting from them in accordance with those which have been explained in detail above in connection with the method according to the invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of transport is proposed which can be used as a car, as a transporter or can be designed as a truck. The means of transport can, for example, be powered using so-called alternative drive technologies (e.g. via accumulator, fuel cell or similar). According to the invention, other land/water and/or aircraft are not excluded from the term “means of transport”. The on-board electrical system of the means of transport includes a device according to the second-mentioned aspect of the invention in order to implement the features, the combinations of features and the advantages resulting from them accordingly.

Brief description of the drawings

• 1 eine Übersicht über Komponenten eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einem Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Fortbewegungsmittels;
• 2 ein Flussdiagramm, veranschaulichend Schritte eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens; und
• 3-5 Ausführungsbeispiele für mögliche Fahrzeugbordnetz-Architekturen.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings is:

• 1 an overview of components of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment of a means of locomotion according to the invention;
• 2 a flowchart illustrating steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention; and
• 3-5 Examples of possible vehicle electrical system architectures.

Embodiments of the invention

1 shows a car 10 as a means of transport, in which components of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention are illustrated. Here, an electronic control device 2 as an evaluation unit and a non-volatile memory 3 as a data storage form a network, which is referred to below as “data collector” 23. A temperature sensor 1 is attached to the electronic control unit 2 as the first sensor and a microswitch 7 as the second sensor. The temperature sensor 1 is set up to detect an ambient temperature of the car 10. The microswitch 7 is set up to detect the opening of a door 6 to enter the second row of seats. A drying unit 4 as the first component is connected to a fuel cell 5 as an energy storage device and is connected to the electronic control unit 2 in terms of information technology. To entertain passengers in the second row of seats, a rear seat entertainment monitor 8 is provided and is also connected to the electronic control unit 2 for information technology. The functionality of the illustrated exemplary embodiment is explained in conjunction with the in 2 illustrated flowchart explained.

2 shows steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention for event-specific modification of the operating behavior of a means of transportation. In a first step 100, the means of transport is turned off by a user and goes into a rest state. Subsequently, in a second step 200, an event in the idle state of the on-board electrical system of the means of transport is detected by sensors. Specifically, a temperature sensor is used to detect that the temperature falls below a predefined level and the opening of a rear door is detected using a microswitch. In a third step 300, a predefined action is performed in response to the detected events. In response to the temperature falling below, a drying process is carried out for the fuel cell of the means of transport and a flag is set for a quick start-up of the rear-seat entertainment system after the on-board electrical system is restarted. In addition, in step 400 an indication is saved that the drying process has been carried out successfully. In step 500, the respective sensor value and the time of its occurrence are also saved in order to be able to carry out further investigations and any necessary measures after a restart. In step 600, the vehicle's electrical system falls back into the idle state. At a later point in time, a user accesses the means of transport via a radio key in step 700, in response to which the vehicle electrical system is woken up from the idle state. The data memory is immediately read out in step 800 and the events recorded during the previous idle state or during partial operating phases of the on-board electrical system are read out. For example, it is recognized that a drying process has already been carried out during the idle state, so that additional drying is not necessary after a restart. Compared to a temperature value recognized, for example, at the moment of restart in the prior art, which would usually initiate a drying process, the method according to the invention displays such an operating behavior in step 900 in which no drying process is carried out in response to the reading of the data record representing the event even though the temperature value alone would justify a drying process. Accordingly, processes to be carried out after the on-board network of the means of transport is restarted can be carried out more efficiently, more economically and in a more targeted manner, so that the data infrastructure can be better used.

3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an architecture designed according to the invention on-board electrical system. A data collector 23 is connected to a first data bus 11, a second data bus 12 and a sensor line 13 via a bus controller (not shown). Optional additional data lines or sensor lines 14 are illustrated in dashed lines. The lines marked with a curly bracket represent the vehicle data network 9. Two connecting lines also connect the data collector 23 in terms of information technology to a temperature sensor 1 and a microswitch 7.

4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an architecture of a vehicle electrical system designed according to the invention. Opposite the in 3 In the view shown, for the sake of clarity, only the two data buses 11, 12 and a single sensor line 13 are shown. Three control devices 15, 16, 17 are connected to the first data bus 11. Two control devices 18, 19 are connected to the second data bus 12. The control device 18 and a sensor 20 are connected to the sensor line 13.

5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an alternative architecture for a vehicle electrical system designed according to the invention, which is compared to 4 the control device 19 and the data collector 23 are combined in one housing. Such an architecture can eliminate power supply connections, bus controllers, and separate enclosures (among other things) by sharing them across multiple instances or functionalities. In addition, the control unit 5 is activated according to the in 5 Architecture shown is automatically connected to a further data bus 11 and the sensor line 13, whereby it can also provide detected sensor variables via the sensor line 13 to other control devices (e.g. control device 18).

According to the invention, a device for a means of transport is proposed, which registers and stores events during the rest phase of the means of transport. The events can be made available in the vehicle electrical system after the (re)start of the vehicle control and other vehicle components in order to appropriately influence the starting procedure of the means of transport or the operating behavior of the vehicle electrical system. In this way, environmental conditions that have occurred in the past (e.g. during the rest phase) are taken into account and the operating behavior for the vehicle components or functions for occupants is preferably changed accordingly. The influence on the operating behavior can be permanent or short-term if the environmental condition that occurs loses its relevance due to regular operation.

Scenarios according to the invention are described below without limiting the scope of protection of the appended claims to them.

In a first scenario, a device (e.g. a sensor) measures the temperature of the fuel cell at reasonable intervals when the vehicle is at rest. If the temperature falls below a certain level, the fuel cell is dried and this event is saved in a data memory. Later, if the temperature falls below the temperature again, the drying process is not carried out again. When the vehicle is restarted after the rest phase, the vehicle and fuel cell control takes into account the information about drying that has already been carried out by changing the start parameters. The same device can also detect a very high temperature during the rest phase (or “stationary phase”) and in turn provide the corresponding data to a fuel cell controller when the vehicle is started. In this way, the start of the fuel cell is made gentler depending on the history (from the perspective of the fuel cell). In this way, the service life of the fuel cell can be increased and the desired performance of the electrically driven means of transport can be achieved more quickly.

In a second scenario, a device (e.g. a sensor) can observe and store further environmental data in the form of humidity and air pressure in order, for example, to appropriately influence the type of control of an electrical machine (e.g. a traction drive) by the system controller after a restart. In this way, voltage peaks that occur on the high-voltage traction network during operation can be minimized and the electrical insulation of connected components is protected.

In a third scenario, the opening and closing of doors and flaps is observed and saved during the rest phase. For example, after opening the hood in the rest phase, the vehicle's starting procedure is adjusted and an extended internal test of the vehicle components is carried out in the starting phase. This procedure can be extended to the opening and closing of electrical plug connections or to refueling processes (or charging processes for an electrically powered means of transport). In this way, on the one hand, a quick vehicle start is possible if no actions have been carried out on the vehicle. On the other hand, a complete system diagnosis can be carried out after detected events are carried out in order to detect possible malfunctions (e.g. due to incorrect electrical connections). This method can also be used to carry out a gentle starting process after predefined events, for example in order to carry out a slow filling of pressure lines in a controlled manner, to fill the pressure lines in a different order or, for example, to build up electrical voltages more slowly and to carry out the resulting processes on the vehicle electrical system in a shorter time to monitor distances or smaller steps.

In a fourth scenario, the opening and closing of the doors is interpreted as an indication of the presence and number of people in the vehicle, which means, for example, that the so-called "rear seat entertainment system" is already in a standstill after the vehicle's on-board network is restarted -by state or is started completely without the user having to make any input.

Even if the aspects and advantageous embodiments according to the invention have been described in detail using the exemplary embodiments explained in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, modifications and combinations of features of the illustrated exemplary embodiments are possible for the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention, the scope of which is covered by the attached claims are defined.

Reference symbol list

1

Temperature sensor

2

electronic control unit

3

Data storage

4

Drying unit

5

Fuel cell

6

Rear door

7

Rear door microswitch

8th

Rear seat entertainment system screen

9

Vehicle data network

10

car

11, 12

Data bus

13

Sensor line

14

Data bus/sensor line

15-19

Control unit

20

sensor

23

Data collector

100-900

Procedural steps

Claims (9)

Method for event-specific modification of the operating behavior of a means of transport (10) comprising the steps: - Detecting (200) an event by a sensor (1, 7) of the means of transport (10) in a resting state of the on-board electrical system of the means of transport (10), - storing (500) a data record representing the event in a non-volatile memory (3) of the means of transport (10), - Waking up (700) the vehicle electrical system from the idle state by a user by actuating an access device in response thereto - Reading out (800) the data record from the memory (3) and in response to it and depending on the data record - Modifying (900) an operating behavior of a component (4, 5, 8) of the means of transport (10), - Wherein in the case of a stored event, the operating behavior of the component (4, 5, 8) is modified after the wake-up (700) in such a way that a system diagnosis of a larger extent is carried out than after an idle state without a recognized event. Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein the sensor (1, 7) - a temperature sensor, and / or - a humidity sensor, and / or - an air pressure sensor, and / or - a sensor for monitoring an access device (6), in particular a door and / or a tailgate and / or a hood, preferably comprising a microswitch. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , further comprising - comparing the read data set with a stored reference and in response to a predefined ratio of the data set to the reference - modifying (900) an operating behavior of a component (4, 5, 8) of the means of transport (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (4, 5, 8) - belongs to a part of an infotainment system assigned to the rear seat, - is a pump for an operating resource, - influences an operating behavior of an energy storage device (5), - Is assigned to an electrical charging process of a traction-related energy storage device. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Leaving the on-board electrical system from the idle state in response to the detection (200) of the event, and/or - Return (600) to the idle state after saving (500) the data record representing the event. Procedure according to Claim 5 , wherein leaving the idle state at predefined times, in particular cyclically and / or event-controlled, preferably in response to falling below or exceeding a predefined threshold value for a quantity detected by a sensor (1, 7). A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising - Carrying out (300) a predefined action in response to a predefined sensor value, - Save (400) a reference to the action carried out, and then - Return (600) to sleep mode. Device comprising - a sensor (1, 7), - an evaluation unit (2), and - a data memory (3), wherein the evaluation unit (2) is set up to be connected to an on-board electrical system of a means of transport (10), and the device is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Means of transport, in particular cars or vans or trucks, comprising a device according to Claim 8 .

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