DE102015223612A1 - System and method for controlling the degradation of vehicle consumers - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for the degradation of vehicle consumers, in particular for the degradation or for switching off electromechanical suspension systems.
The invention relates to a system for degradation of vehicle consumers comprising at least one detection unit, a control unit, a notification unit and at least one suspension system, wherein the control unit is connected to the at least one detection unit, the notification unit and the at least one suspension system, the at least one detection unit is suitable to detect a disturbance in the power supply of an on-board electrical system of the vehicle,
the control unit is suitable in the event of a fault in the energy supply of the energy grid, to degrade and / or disable the energy and power consumption of the at least one suspension system and is adapted to send a corresponding signal to the notification unit, and
the notification unit is adapted to issue a notification to a user after receiving the corresponding signal from the control unit.
The invention also relates to a corresponding method for the degradation of vehicle consumers.

Description

The invention relates to a system and a method for the degradation of vehicle consumers. In particular, the system and the method relate to the degradation and / or shutdown of at least one landing gear system in the event of a power failure in the power system of a vehicle.

In general, vehicles, such as passenger cars (PKW), but also trucks (trucks) have a global energy and power management and downstream of a local energy and power management for the respective energy consumers. The local energy and power management, depending on the transmitted energy and power availability of the power grid, for example, the 12V energy board network of a car, the corresponding consumer, such as the rear window or seat heater, degrade with cold battery or exhausted and / or hot generator or completely switch off.

Also, it is known in the art that the power and power management is based on the overall vehicle level with logic to detect a lack of power to the onboard electrical power system, e.g. by a failure of the main battery, such as the 12 V battery, by a failure of the generator or the DC / DC converter between a high-voltage and a low-voltage system in electrified powertrain equipped. Furthermore, such an energy-discharge management has a downstream logic for deriving the still available energy and power availability of the energy on-board network.

The DE 10 2006 006 149 A1 relates to a method and a device for controlling a displacement machine of a brake system, in particular for controlling a positive displacement pump with a drive for the purpose of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy in a motor vehicle, in particular for an electro-hydraulic brake system. A start-up method is disclosed, which can be activated or deactivated or modified as a function of sensed environmental conditions, in particular depending on the vehicle on-board network load, as a function of the vehicle safety state or the like.

The DE 10 2009 032 084 A1 relates to a suspension control system with actuators for a motor vehicle, in particular an active suspension system with high-current consumers as actuators, the actuators controlling actuator control units communicate with a system control unit and the motor vehicle has a vehicle electrical system.

The DE 103 01 528 B4 concerns an onboard power supply system for supplying a high power consumer with increased availability requirements. In this case, the power cord network is provided with means for quickly detecting the presence of an undervoltage. In particular, the DE 103 01 528 B4 an emergency mode as an operating mode, in which it must be ensured that high-performance consumers, which are preferably an electrohydraulic brake and an electromechanical parking brake, remain functional.

The EP 1 054 789 B1 relates to a method for switching on or off consumers. In this case, the switching strategy or prioritization of the consumers during operation is adjusted so that the perceptibility of the operating conditions caused by the switching is taken into account and that an individual adaptation to predetermined criteria takes place for energy conservation and maintenance of operational and vehicle safety. In this case, the switching strategy or prioritization of the consumers takes place in such a way that the effects on the comfort, which can be caused by the energy management under certain operating conditions, are reduced in their perceptibility or even completely suppressed and thus not noticed by the vehicle occupants.

The WO 2004/083000 A1 relates to a method and a system for the early detection of a failure of an electrically controlled braking system, in which by checking the vehicle electrical system voltage, which is provided by a vehicle battery, a detection of a critical state of the vehicle battery is made possible for checking the vehicle electrical system voltage by means of one of these Load associated with the first control unit is turned on and a check of the vehicle battery is in the on state of the load by means of a second control unit.

The EP 2 091 127 B1 relates to a system and a method for energy management in a motor vehicle and for information relating to energy management.

However, a disadvantage of the prior art is that no or only minor measures are taken in the event of a defective power supply in order to maintain the stability of the power supply system in the event of a breakdown. This is done in the prior art, for example, by switching off comfort consumers such as heated rear window or heated seats. However, especially the suspension systems remain unaffected.

In addition, the user of the vehicle, for example, the driver, inadequate or not informed about a fault in the electrical system in the event of a breakdown, for example by the illumination of the battery symbol in the instrument cluster, ie the charging indicator.

This may mean that either no further information is given to the driver, in the confidence that he has read the operating instructions or recognizes on his own responsibility that he should leave the vehicle in a safe place and notify the breakdown service. Or, the driver is given the information that the vehicle is to be immediately and immediately shut down and the breakdown service is to be called, regardless of the suitability of the parking place of the vehicle.

In the former case, there is the risk that the driver ignores the battery icon and simply continues driving without considering parking the vehicle. In the event of a sudden failure of safety chassis systems, such as Power steering or service brake system, there is a risk that the driver is no longer able to dominate the vehicle on his own and may cause an accident.

In the second case, on the other hand, there is a possibility that the driver can immediately fix the vehicle in place, e.g. Park on the emergency lane of a motorway or on the side of the road on a busy federal or country road to comply with the manufacturer's request. There is the risk that other road users, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions, the breakdown vehicle perceive too late and thus the risk arises that an accident occurs before the vehicle has been stopped by the breakdown service.

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved system and an improved method for the degradation of vehicle consumers, in particular for the degradation and / or shutdown of at least one suspension system in the event of a failure in the energy supply of the power plant network of a vehicle.

This object is achieved with a system and a method according to the independent patent claims.

The invention relates to a system for the degradation of vehicle consumers. The degradation system comprises at least one detection unit, a control unit, a notification unit, and at least one landing gear system. The control unit is connected to the at least one detection unit, the notification unit, and the at least one landing gear system. The at least one detection unit is suitable for detecting a disturbance in the energy supply of an energy on-board network of the vehicle. The control unit is suitable in the event of a fault in the power supply of the energy grid, to degrade and / or disable the energy and power consumption of the at least one suspension system. The control unit is further adapted to send a corresponding signal to the notification unit. The notification unit is capable of issuing a notification to a user after receiving the corresponding signal from the control unit.

Preferably, the control unit has global power and power management and at least one local power and power management. Preferably, the at least one local energy and power management is assigned to the respective electrical consumer, for example the at least one chassis system. If the at least one detection unit detects a disturbance in the power supply of the energy on-board network, preferably the global energy and power management is suitable for transmitting this information to the local energy and power management. The local energy and power management is then suitable for degrading and / or switching off the energy and power consumption of the at least one chassis system.

Preferably, the at least one suspension system at least one of the following components: service brake with brake boost and wheel brake pressure control, power steering, Active Steering front axle, rear wheel steering, electromechanical height adjustment, electromechanical roll stabilization, electrically adjustable spring / damper, electromechanical parking brake, electromechanical longitudinal and / or transverse torque distribution.

Preferably, the at least one landing gear system comprises at least a first and a second of said components. Preferably, the control unit is adapted to degrade the first component more than the second component. Preferably, the control unit is suitable for completely switching off the first component and merely degrading the second component. Preferably, the second component is the power assistance of the steering. Preferably, the power assist is degraded to 30-60% of the original power, more preferably 40-50% of the original power.

Preferably, the notification is audible, visual and / or tactile.

Preferably, the degradation system includes an input unit. The input unit preferably has at least one key, a keypad and / or a pressure-sensitive screen (touchscreen). The input unit preferably has a rotary control in combination with a pushbutton.

Preferably, the notification must be confirmed by the user of the vehicle by input to the input unit. Preferably, the notification must be confirmed by the user of the vehicle by touching the pressure-sensitive screen. Preferably, the notification must be confirmed by the user of the vehicle by pressing a key of the input unit.

Preferably, the notification includes information about the type of failure in the power supply. Preferably, the notification includes information about the cause of the failure in the power supply.

Preferably, the notification includes information about which at least one landing gear system is degraded. Preferably, the notification contains information about the degree to which the at least one landing gear system is degraded. The notification preferably contains information about which effect on the driving behavior the degradation of the at least one chassis system has.

The notification preferably contains information about the range of the vehicle resulting from the fault. The notification preferably contains information about the running time of the engine resulting from the fault.

Preferably, the notification contains an action instruction to the user of the vehicle. Preferably, the instruction to the user has a request to turn off the vehicle within a certain time frame and / or to inform the breakdown service. Preferably, the notification includes information about the effects of following the policy.

The invention also relates to a method for the degradation of vehicle consumers. Preferably, the process is carried out with one of the aforementioned systems.

The method comprises the following steps: detection of a disturbance in the energy supply of an energy supply network of the vehicle with at least one detection unit, degradation and / or shutdown of the energy and power consumption of at least one suspension system with a control unit, transmission of a corresponding signal to a notification unit with the control unit, and issuing a notification to the notification unit to a user upon receipt of the corresponding signal from the control unit.

Preferably, the method comprises the further step of: issuing a confirmation request to the user with the notification unit that the notification has been acknowledged.

In the further step, the method preferably comprises receiving the confirmation request from the user with an input unit that the notification has been acknowledged.

An object of the present invention is to limit electromechanical suspension systems in poor power supply so that the service brake system with the basic function ABS and, albeit limited, power steering assistance remain available as long as possible. Suspension systems, such as the active steering on the front axle, the rear-wheel steering, electromechanical height adjustment, e.g. By means of air suspension, electromechanical roll stabilization, electrically adjustable spring / damper, electromechanical parking brake and electromechanical longitudinal and / or transverse torque distribution in four-wheel drive vehicles are correspondingly degraded or switched off more. The limitation goes beyond the prior art degradation of systems with a cold battery or a depleted and / or hot generator to increase the availability of the electromechanical suspension systems as much as possible.

Another object is to provide an improved display-and-control concept in the case of poor power supply. Thus, as known from the prior art, the red charge control light is set in the instrument cluster as soon as the global energy and power management has detected a defective power supply and has communicated this to all electrical consumers. The driver is thereby informed of the prevailing condition via an acoustic warning tone and additionally in text form and via graphic representations, eg directly in the instrument cluster or in another display, eg for the navigation system, and must confirm this, for example by pressing a key. Until confirmation, this information is displayed alternately to other messages. The battery symbol in the Instrument cluster remains permanently set, regardless of the confirmation. With the degradation of the electromechanical suspension systems, the associated yellow or red lamps are controlled in the instrument cluster. In addition, the driver is again informed by an acoustic warning tone and in addition in text form and graphical representations on the restriction of the system performance of the suspension systems, eg heavier power steering. This message must also confirm the driver. Until confirmation by the driver, this information is displayed alternately for further messages. The red and yellow lamps in the instrument cluster for the degraded electromechanical suspension systems are permanently set. Subsequently, the driver receives a third message that he should park the vehicle at the nearest safe place, for example, rest area or gas station and inform the breakdown service. The navigation system, if installed in the vehicle, can intervene in the search for a suitable parking supportive. In addition, the driver is informed that when stopping the engine, this may not be able to start, so that the vehicle remains in place. From the still available energy and power of the energy grid, the global energy management can estimate what distance the vehicle, for example due to the current speed, can still cover, and / or when the vehicle is stationary, which time the engine is still running before the vehicle remains lying. The above information can be communicated to the driver and updated as soon as the range or remaining time change.

Due to the degradation of the electromechanical suspension systems, they remain available for a longer period of time if the energy supply is insufficient. An uncontrolled and sudden shutdown is avoided. The risk that the driver can no longer control the vehicle on his own and possibly causes an accident is thereby considerably reduced.

In addition, the improved display-control concept informs the driver about the exact defect within the power supply and the resulting degradation of the relevant suspension systems. By explicitly confirming the information presented to the driver, it is possible to ensure that the driver consciously perceives the messages and does not ignore them any further. The degradation of the electromechanical suspension systems, for example, a reduction in the power assistance also leads to the driver aware of a change in driving behavior and parked the vehicle at a safe opportunity at a suitable location.

In addition, the specification of the range or remaining service life contributes to the user or driver of the vehicle, who is unsettled by the disruption in the energy supply of the energy grid, not placing the vehicle in place but in a safe, suitable place. The information that the engine may not be able to start after a shutdown, this request to park the car at a suitable location, reinforced.

The invention is explained below with reference to examples and drawings. Show it:

1 a system for the degradation of electromechanical suspension systems according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 a display operation concept according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 a display operation concept according to another embodiment of the present invention, and

4 a display operation concept according to another embodiment of the present invention.

1 shows a system 100 for the degradation of electromechanical suspension systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system has two detection units in the present embodiment 101 and 102 on, wherein the detection unit 101 a sensor which monitors the energy storage of the motor vehicle, in this case the battery. The detection unit 102 has a sensor that monitors the power generator, in this case the generator. The system further comprises a control unit 110 on. The control unit has global energy and power management 111 and associated local energy and power management 112 on. In the present case, local power and power management is responsible for electromechanical suspension systems. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the control unit 110 may also include other local power and power management components for corresponding other systems. The local energy and power management for electromechanical suspension systems is with the individual suspension systems 121 . 122 , ..., 126 . 127 connected. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that fewer or more suspension systems may be connected to the local power and power management system for electromechanical suspension systems.

In the present case, the suspension system 121 the power assistance of steering on, the suspension system 122 the rear wheel steering on, the suspension system 126 electrically adjustable spring / damper on and the suspension system 127 the electromechanical parking brake on.

Detects the detection unit 101 and / or the detection unit 102 a disturbance in the power supply of the power system will send a corresponding signal to the control unit 110 and in the case in question to the global energy and power management 111 from the detection unit 101 respectively. 102 transmitted. The information about a present failure of the energy supply of the power plant network is then the global energy and power management 111 to the local energy and power management for electromechanical suspension systems 112 transmitted. Local energy and power management for electromechanical suspension systems 112 then takes the appropriate degradation or the corresponding complete turn off the individual suspension systems 121 . 122 , ..., 126 . 127 in front.

Thus, according to the invention, the system 121 Having degraded the power assistance of the steering, only to some extent, for example, by 50% of the original power. This has the advantage that on the one hand the user of the vehicle is still a certain power assistance of the steering available. On the other hand, however, the user of the vehicle clearly senses a steering stiffness that occurs in comparison to the full power assistance of the steering.

According to the rest of the suspension systems 122 , ..., 126 . 127 more degraded than the system 121 , or completely switched off. This is how the system works 122 Having the rear wheel steering completely shut off the system 126 , which has electrically adjustable spring / damper degraded to a minimum.

Thus, the electromechanical suspension systems are degraded such that, for example, the service brake system with the basic function ABS remains fully functional and is not degraded and a steering assistance, albeit limited, remains available as long as possible.

Execution according to instructs the system 100 for the degradation of vehicle consumers also a notification unit (not shown). When a fault occurs in the power supply of the power transmission system, the control unit sends 110 a corresponding signal to the notification unit. The notification unit is capable of issuing a notification to the user of the vehicle after receipt of the corresponding signal from the control unit.

Possible contents of this notification are described below with reference to 2 - 4 shown.

2 shows the notification to a user of the vehicle, as it can be output in the event of a power failure of the power plant network according to an embodiment. In the present case, the notification unit has an output unit in the form of a display, for example the display of a vehicle navigation system.

Once a failure of the power supply of the power plant network of a detection unit 101 / 102 detected and to the global energy and power management 111 transmits the global energy and power management 111 or the control unit 110 a signal to the notification unit. The corresponding notification to the user of the vehicle includes a symbol that signals that there is a power failure (battery symbol) as well as a textual message "Insufficient power supply". This notification is communicated to the user via the above-mentioned display. In addition, an acoustic warning tone is emitted. In addition, the user is informed via the display of the exact fault of the power supply of the power plant network, in the present embodiment, a defect of the generator, which has the consequence that the battery can not be charged. In addition, the user will be notified of the following safety instructions and must confirm the notification. In the present case, confirmation takes place via the pressure-sensitive display (touchscreen) of the navigation system. The confirmation of the user turns off the audible warning sound. However, the battery symbol and the corresponding message in text form "Insufficient power supply" remain.

3 shows the notification to a user of the vehicle, as it can be output in the event of a failure of the power supply of the power plant network according to another embodiment.

The notification to the user of the vehicle will be as in 1 displayed on the display of the navigation system and this time includes, in addition to the battery symbol and the message "Insufficient power supply" information about the impact of the degradation of the suspension systems on the driving characteristics of the Vehicle has. In the present case, the degradation of the suspension systems leads to reduced steering assistance, which is communicated to the user of the vehicle by a corresponding symbol (steering wheel symbol followed by exclamation points) and in text form "reduced steering assistance". Also this message must be the driver as under 1 described, confirm. Until confirmed, this information is displayed, preferably alternating with other messages 2 and 4 , After confirmation of the information, the symbols preferably remain faded in the display.

4 shows the notification to a user of the vehicle, as it can be output in the event of a failure of the power supply of the power plant network according to another embodiment.

As in the figures shown above, the notification is issued to the user of the vehicle via the display of the navigation system and includes the battery symbol and the message "Insufficient power supply" as well as the above-mentioned steering wheel symbol and the message that due to the degradation to expect a reduced steering assistance is. In addition, the driver is instructed to safely park the vehicle and call the breakdown service and the information that the engine can not be started after stopping.

Optionally, an available navigation system may select the next safe location, e.g. Rest area or gas station, be helpful and provide appropriate information.

In the present embodiment, the global power and power management estimates 111 , the distance that the vehicle z. B. due to the current speed can still cover or when the vehicle, which time the engine is still running, before the vehicle stops. The information given will be permanently communicated to the driver and updated as soon as range or remaining time change.

According to one embodiment, the notifications are after 2 to 4 the user of the vehicle transmitted in succession. Thus, the driver is therefore informed in a first step that there is a disruption of the power supply of the energy grid, then what effects the selected degradation has on the driving behavior of the vehicle and then a concrete instruction and / or the information on the range or remaining time.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the figures and the accompanying description, this description and detailed description are to be considered illustrative and exemplary and not limiting as to the invention. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the invention also includes embodiments with any combination of features mentioned or shown above or below various embodiments.

The invention also includes individual features in the figures, even though they are shown there in connection with other features and / or are not mentioned above or below. Also, the alternatives of embodiments and individual alternatives described in the figures and the description may be excluded from the subject matter of the invention or from the disclosed subject matter. The disclosure includes embodiments that include only the features described in the claims and in the embodiments, as well as those that include additional other features.

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 102006006149 A1 [0004]
• DE 102009032084 A1 [0005]
• DE 10301528 B4 [0006, 0006]
• EP 1054789 B1 [0007]
• WO 2004/083000 A1 [0008]
• EP 2091127 B1 [0009]

Claims (10)

System ( 100 ) for the degradation of vehicle consumers: at least one detection unit ( 101 . 102 ), a control unit ( 100 ), a notification unit, and at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ), the control unit ( 100 ) with the at least one detection unit ( 101 . 102 ), the notification unit, and the at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ), the at least one detection unit ( 101 . 102 ) is capable of detecting a disturbance in the power supply of an electrical power system of the vehicle, the control unit ( 100 ) is suitable in the case of a fault in the energy supply of the energy grid, the energy and power consumption of at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) to degrade and / or shut down and is adapted to send a corresponding signal to the notification unit, and the notification unit is suitable after receiving the corresponding signal from the control unit ( 100 ) to issue a notification to a user. System ( 100 ) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) has at least one of the following components: service brake with brake booster and wheel-individual brake pressure control, power assistance of the steering ( 121 ), Active steering of the front axle, rear wheel steering ( 122 ), electromechanical height adjustment, electromechanical roll stabilization, electrically adjustable spring / damper ( 126 ), electromechanical parking brake ( 127 ), electromechanical longitudinal and / or transverse torque distribution. System ( 100 ) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) comprises at least a first and a second of said components and the control unit ( 100 ) is capable of degrading the first component more than the second component and wherein the second component is. System ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification is acoustic, visual and / or tactile. System ( 100 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the system ( 100 ) has an input unit and wherein the notification must be confirmed by the user of the vehicle by input to the input unit. System ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the notification has information about the nature and / or cause of the disturbance in the power supply. System ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the notification contains information about which at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) and to what degree the at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) and / or wherein the notification contains information about which effect on the drivability the degradation of the at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) Has. System ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the notification contains information about the resulting from the disturbance range of the vehicle and / or resulting from the fault duration of the engine. System ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the notification includes an action instruction to the user of the vehicle. Method for the degradation of vehicle consumers comprising the following steps: detecting a fault in the power supply of an energy onboard network of the vehicle with at least one detection unit ( 101 . 102 ), Degrading and / or switching off the energy and power consumption of at least one landing gear system ( 121 . 122 . 126 . 127 ) with a control unit ( 100 ), Sending a corresponding signal to a notification unit with the control unit ( 100 ), and issuing a notification with the notification unit to a user upon receipt of the corresponding signal from the control unit ( 100 ).

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