DE102020128106A1 - Method for using vehicle data from a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and computer program product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for using vehicle data from a motor vehicle (2) to implement a number of vehicle functions in the motor vehicle (2), with data processing (10) dependent on the vehicle function being carried out when each of these vehicle functions is carried out, with each of these data processes (10 ) a number of vehicle data is used, with a set of vehicle data (14) being kept in the motor vehicle (2) and with this set of vehicle data (2) being used for each of these data processing operations (10).

Description

The invention relates to methods for using vehicle data from a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle and a computer program product.

In a motor vehicle of the current generation, a driver often has a number of applications or vehicle functions available, which are used to support driving the vehicle. Some of these applications from the field of driver assistance require information about the vehicle geometry, for example the width of the vehicle, the wheelbase of the vehicle or the installation position of sensors in the vehicle, in order to be able to display a correct function.

The corresponding information or data is diverse and influenced by factors such as design, chassis, wheel-tire combination, etc. For example, there can be five body variants per motor vehicle model. Five chassis variants, for example, are then provided for each body variant, and seven wheel-tire combinations, for example, for each chassis variant.

It is currently ensured separately for each vehicle function that the required data is available. The data is often integrated into the respective applications using manual processes. This can lead to errors, for example due to typing errors or the use of outdated data. Apart from that, the amount of corresponding information or data leads to an enormous, very time-consuming administration effort. In addition, problems such as hidden inaccuracies can arise when two or more vehicle functions working together use different information.

The object of the present invention is to create a method, a motor vehicle and a computer program product with which an alternative use of vehicle data of a motor vehicle can be implemented or implemented.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1, by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 9 and by a computer program product having the features of patent claim 10. The advantages and preferred configurations listed with regard to the method can also be transferred to the devices, ie the motor vehicle on the one hand and the computer program product on the other hand, and vice versa. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

The method according to the invention serves to use vehicle data from a motor vehicle to implement a number of vehicle functions in the motor vehicle, ie in particular to implement more than two vehicle functions. A corresponding vehicle function is usually a driver assistance function, which supports a driver in driving the motor vehicle, and/or a vehicle function, by means of which partially automated or fully automated vehicle guidance is implemented.

Furthermore, when each of these vehicle functions is executed, data processing is carried out that is dependent on the respective vehicle function, and a number of vehicle data items are used for each of these data processing operations. In addition, a set of vehicle data is kept in the motor vehicle, this set of vehicle data being used for each of these data processing operations and thus also for each of the vehicle functions, ie at least each vehicle function in the execution of which a number of vehicle data items is used.

The set of vehicle data is preferably stored in a permanent memory in the motor vehicle and/or in a file. The set of vehicle data or the permanent memory or the file is then preferably used as the only source in the motor vehicle for vehicle data that is used in the motor vehicle. All vehicle data that is used by the vehicle functions mentioned above comes expediently from this one source, ie is obtained from this source for the execution of the vehicle functions.

The vehicle data of the motor vehicle used in the motor vehicle are thus stored or made available centrally in the motor vehicle. In addition, the vehicle data used in the motor vehicle are preferably made available via a central service in the motor vehicle. Such a service is implemented, for example, by means of a software program or a software component and is located, for example, in a so-called control device in the motor vehicle. As a result, all vehicle functions are then typically based on the same vehicle data.

The problems mentioned at the outset as a result of using different vehicle data for different vehicle functions are thereby avoided. All vehicle functions work together the same vehicle data, which, among other things, reduces the probability of errors, especially with (heavily) networked vehicle functions. In addition, the vehicle data can be managed and updated centrally, which means that further sources of error can be avoided. The vehicle data can also be generated automatically and multiple efforts can be saved, in particular through separate manual processes for individual vehicle functions.

The vehicle data of the motor vehicle are typically understood to be data that are relevant to the function of the motor vehicle and/or to the function of individual vehicle systems, in particular driver assistance systems. This preferably includes geometric information about the motor vehicle and in particular information about the dimensions of the motor vehicle, for example the external dimensions of the motor vehicle and/or dimensions in the interior or passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

• - Radstand des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - Spurweite des Kraftfahrzeugs vorn und/oder hinten,
• - zumindest eine relative Position und/oder zumindest eine relative Ausrichtung einer Sensoreinheit bezogen auf ein vorgegebenes Koordinatensystem des Kraftfahrzeugs, wobei eine entsprechende Sensoreinheit beispielsweise gegeben ist durch eine Antennenstruktur, einen Ultraschallsensor, einen Infrarotsensor, einen Liedersensor oder eine Kamera,
• - Karosserievariante des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - Fahrwerksvariante des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - Rad-Reifen-Kombination des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - Gewicht des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - Datum der letzten Wartung oder Inspektion eines Fahrzeugsystems des Kraftfahrzeugs oder des Kraftfahrzeugs insgesamt,
• - Datum der letzten Kalibrierung eines Fahrzeugsystems des Kraftfahrzeugs,
• - usw.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the vehicle data of the motor vehicle contain at least one piece of information from the list below:

• - wheelbase of the motor vehicle,
• - track width of the motor vehicle at the front and/or rear,
• - at least one relative position and/or at least one relative orientation of a sensor unit in relation to a predetermined coordinate system of the motor vehicle, with a corresponding sensor unit being provided, for example, by an antenna structure, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a song sensor or a camera,
• - body variant of the motor vehicle,
• - chassis variant of the motor vehicle,
• - wheel and tire combination of the motor vehicle,
• - weight of the motor vehicle,
• - Date of the last maintenance or inspection of a vehicle system of the motor vehicle or the motor vehicle as a whole,
• - date of the last calibration of a vehicle system of the motor vehicle,
• - etc.

As already explained above, a previously described vehicle function is typically a driver assistance function. Such a driver assistance function is expediently implemented by a driver assistance system which has at least one data processing unit, for example a so-called control unit. During operation, that data processing unit then performs the data processing that was described above and is dependent on the vehicle function. In this case, the data processing unit is expediently programmed for the corresponding data processing or designed to execute a stored software program, with the data processing then taking place through the execution of the corresponding software program.

Furthermore, neither the corresponding programming nor the corresponding software program preferably contains data from the vehicle data. The amount of vehicle data used for the respective data processing is therefore in particular not integrated in the corresponding programming of the data processing unit or in the corresponding software program. Instead, the amount of vehicle data is more or less outsourced. An abstraction is therefore preferably implemented within the programming or the software program, in that, for example, placeholders are contained in the programming or the software program for the number of vehicle data. This makes it possible to develop and/or further develop corresponding software programs or programming independently of specific vehicle data, as a result of which they can then be used in different motor vehicles. A specification of the programming or the software program for the respective motor vehicle then typically only takes place in the motor vehicle by including the number of vehicle data from the one set of vehicle data stored in the motor vehicle.

Irrespective of this, as already explained above, preferably only a single set of vehicle data is stored in the motor vehicle and is preferably made available via a central service implemented in the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle also preferably has a motor vehicle bus, for example a so-called CAN bus or a so-called LIN bus. In this case, depending on the application, a number of vehicle data items from the set of vehicle data are fed into the motor vehicle bus when the motor vehicle is started. As an alternative or in addition to this, a number of vehicle data, ie in particular the above-mentioned number of vehicle data, are repeatedly fed into the motor vehicle bus at predetermined time intervals during operation of the motor vehicle.

As already explained above, the motor vehicle also has at least one data processing unit, which is designed, for example, as a so-called control device. In this case, according to one embodiment of the at At least one data processing unit is supplied with a number of vehicle data from the set of vehicle data, in particular when the motor vehicle is started. Alternatively, the corresponding amount of vehicle data is only supplied to the data processing unit when the at least one data processing unit requests the corresponding amount of vehicle data.

Irrespective of what was said above with regard to the vehicle data, it is expedient if the set of vehicle data comprises parameter values for a number of parameters. The corresponding parameter values are then combined in a file, for example.

The set of vehicle data also preferably includes geometric data of the motor vehicle, in particular the aforementioned dimensions of the motor vehicle, ie, for example, external dimensions of the motor vehicle and/or dimensions of the interior or passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the geometric data of the motor vehicle include relative positions and/or relative orientations of a number of sensors or sensor units of the motor vehicle in relation to a coordinate system of the motor vehicle.

According to a further embodiment variant, the set of vehicle data includes a digital model of the motor vehicle and/or CAD data (CAD: Computer-Aided Design), i.e. in particular data from a CAD system and/or a CAD model of the motor vehicle, the CAD Data preferably include a digital model of the motor vehicle or can be used as a basis for generating a digital model.

The method described above is intended for execution in a motor vehicle. Conversely, a motor vehicle according to the invention is set up to carry out the corresponding method in at least one operating mode. The motor vehicle typically has a number of control units and the individual method steps of the method are then preferably executed using this number of control units, with an executable program being stored or installed in at least one of the control units for this purpose, which program automatically executes the method after it has started .

A corresponding program can preferably also be installed or stored subsequently by means of a computer program product according to the invention, at least if at least one suitable control device is already present in a motor vehicle. That computer program product is typically a file or a data carrier with a file, the file containing the executable program, ie in particular a suitable program code.

• 1 in einem Blockschaltbild eine erste Ausführung eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit drei über einen Kraftfahrzeug-Bus verbundenen Steuergeräten;
• 2 in einem Blockschaltbild eine zweite Ausführung des Kraftfahrzeugs mit den drei über den Kraftfahrzeug-Bus verbundenen Steuergeräten; und
• 3 in einem Blockschaltbild ein Startvorgang zum Starten zweier Fahrzeugfunktionen.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawings. show:

• 1 in a block diagram, a first embodiment of a motor vehicle with three control units connected via a motor vehicle bus;
• 2 in a block diagram, a second embodiment of the motor vehicle with the three control units connected via the motor vehicle bus; and
• 3 in a block diagram, a starting process for starting two vehicle functions.

A motor vehicle 2 described below as an example is set up to provide a number of vehicle functions with which a driver (not shown) is assisted in driving the vehicle.

For this purpose, the motor vehicle 2 has a motor vehicle bus 4, which is designed as a CAN bus, for example, and to which at least two data processing units 6 are connected. In the embodiment according to 1 exactly three data processing units 6 are connected to the motor vehicle bus 4 and each of these data processing units 6 is embodied as a so-called control device.

Each data processing unit 6 is also set up to execute one or more of the aforementioned vehicle functions, with a first data processing unit 6a being set up for a first vehicle function, for example, a second data processing unit 6b being set up for a second vehicle function and a third data processing unit 6c being set up for a third and a fourth vehicle function is set up.

When executing each vehicle function mentioned, data processing 10 dependent on the respective vehicle function is carried out in the corresponding data processing unit 6 and a number of vehicle data of the motor vehicle 2 is used for each of these data processings 10 . The data processing 10 is typically controlled by a software program 12 which is stored or programmed into the respective data processing unit 6 .

In addition, the motor vehicle 2 is set up in such a way that a set of vehicle data 14 is in force vehicle 2 is kept available, this set of vehicle data 14 being used for each of the data processing operations 10 and thus also for each of the vehicle functions, ie at least each vehicle function in the execution of which a number of vehicle data items is used. The set of vehicle data 14 is stored here, for example, in a permanent memory 8 in the motor vehicle 2 and in a file. According to the execution variant 2 the permanent memory 8 is connected to the motor vehicle bus 4 as a separate data memory, with each data processing unit 6 being able to access the permanent memory 8 .

Alternatively, the permanent memory 8 is part of the first data processing unit 6a, as is shown in 1 is indicated. A central service is implemented here using the first data processing unit 6a and an additional software program, by means of which a number of vehicle data from the set of vehicle data 14 are fed into the motor vehicle bus 4 when the motor vehicle 2 is started. In addition, these vehicle data are repeatedly fed into the motor vehicle bus 4 at predetermined time intervals during the operation of the motor vehicle 2 .

In 3 the third data processing unit 6c is now shown as an example, by means of which the third and the fourth vehicle function is implemented. To execute the third vehicle function, the associated third software program 12c is loaded from an internal memory and/or started. Then the vehicle data required for the third vehicle function are loaded from the set of vehicle data 14, which are either present in the motor vehicle bus 4 or are requested by the third data processing unit 6c, and the third data processing 10c then starts, as a result of which the third vehicle function is active. Analogously, for executing the fourth vehicle function, the associated fourth software program 12d is loaded from the internal memory and/or started. The vehicle data required for the fourth vehicle function are then loaded from the set of vehicle data 14 and the fourth data processing 10d then starts, as a result of which the fourth vehicle function is active.

Reference List

2

motor vehicle

4

motor vehicle bus

6

data processing unit

6a

first data processing unit

6b

second data processing unit

6c

third data processing unit

8th

permanent storage

10

data processing

10c

third data processing

10d

fourth data processing

12

Software program

12c

third software program

12d

fourth software program

14

set of vehicle data

Claims (10)

Method for using vehicle data of a motor vehicle (2) for the realization of several vehicle functions in the motor vehicle (2), wherein - When executing each of these vehicle functions, data processing (10) dependent on the vehicle function is carried out, - for each of these data processing (10) a number of vehicle data is used, - A set of vehicle data (14) is kept in the motor vehicle (2) and - This set of vehicle data (2) is used for each of these data processing operations (10). procedure after claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle (2) has a motor vehicle bus (4) and wherein a number of vehicle data from the set of vehicle data (14) is fed into the motor vehicle bus (4) when the motor vehicle (2) is started. procedure after claim 2 , the number of vehicle data items from the set of vehicle data items (14) then being fed into the motor vehicle bus (4) repeatedly at predetermined time intervals. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the motor vehicle (2) has at least one data processing unit (6) and wherein the at least one data processing unit (6) is supplied with a number of vehicle data from the set of vehicle data (14) when the motor vehicle (2) is started. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the motor vehicle (2) has at least one data processing unit (6) and wherein the at least one data processing unit (6) is supplied with a number of vehicle data from the set of vehicle data (14) when the at least one data processing unit (6) requests the number of vehicle data. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the set of vehicle data (14) comprises parameter values for a plurality of parameters. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the set of vehicle data (14) comprises geometric data of the motor vehicle (2). Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the set of vehicle data (14) comprises a digital model of the motor vehicle (2). Motor vehicle (2) set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims in at least one operating mode. Computer program product containing a program which can be executed on a data processing unit (6), in particular a control unit of a motor vehicle (2), which program automatically executes a method according to one of the preceding claims after it has been started.

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