EP2983941A2

EP2983941A2 - Monitoring device for a vehicle and method for monitoring a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2983941A2
Application number: EP14712235.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José-Luis PARGA-CACHEIRO; Vincent SCHULTE-COERNE
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2013-04-12
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Also published as: CN105073476A; WO2014166698A3; DE102013206611A1; WO2014166698A2; US20160075252A1; CN105073476B; US10144303B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring system for a vehicle. In a parked state of the vehicle, the control unit of the vehicle is deactivated, and the signals of some of the sensors of the vehicle are detected and evaluated by way of a separate detecting unit. If, based on the sensor signals evaluated in this way, a defined event is detected, the previously deactivated control unit can be activated. Thus, the operating time of the control unit is minimized over the total life span of the vehicle.

Description

Description title

Monitoring device for a vehicle and method for monitoring a vehicle

The invention relates to a monitoring device for a vehicle and to a method for monitoring a vehicle.

State of the art

Modern motor vehicles are normally monitored and controlled by an electronic control unit. Such controllers control the correct functioning of the vehicle and its components and are also capable of

Correctly intervene in dangerous situations. In conventional motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine, the control units are active during operation of the vehicle and can be switched off immediately after stopping the vehicle or after a possible short follow-up time.

In addition, electric vehicles are known which can be either fully or at least partially (hybrid vehicles) powered by electrical energy from a rechargeable battery (traction battery). In such electric vehicles, it is regularly necessary to connect the rechargeable battery of the vehicle via an external connection to a power source and to charge the battery. Such a charging system for charging an energy store in a vehicle is known, for example, from DE 10 2010 002 154 A1.

During the charging of the traction batteries of the electric vehicle, at least the electronics of the vehicle can not be completely switched off. For example, during charging of the traction battery, it must be ensured that the vehicle does not roll away. Otherwise, there is a risk that a charging cable, via which the vehicle is supplied with electrical energy, can tear off in an uncontrolled manner. In such an uncontrolled tearing in the supply line there is a risk of an electrical short circuit with far-reaching consequences. To exclude this, there must be a possible rolling away of the vehicle while charging the traction battery be detected and appropriate countermeasures are initiated if necessary. For this purpose, it is necessary that in particular the control unit of the vehicle is also active during the charging process of the traction battery. Thus, the controller can collect information from various sensors of the vehicle, evaluate them and draw conclusions about a possible movement of a vehicle to initiate the necessary countermeasures if necessary.

Since electric vehicles charge the traction batteries over a relatively long period of time, the control unit must also be operated in an active state during this long time. The charging time of the batteries can easily be up to five times the actual travel time of the vehicle. This results in a very long service life of the controller over the entire lifetime of the vehicle. In order to avoid premature failure or defect of the control unit, therefore, particularly high-quality components must be used for the construction of the control unit. In addition, particularly elaborate tests for the

Ensuring the required quality of such control devices is required. This leads to very high costs of such controllers. Furthermore, the relatively long operation of the controllers during charging of the traction batteries also leads to a

correspondingly large energy consumption of the control unit. Since the control unit is fed in many cases by a separate low-voltage battery of the vehicle, which is not involved in the charging process of the traction battery, it can also lead to an above-average stress on this low-voltage battery.

There is therefore a need for an advantageous monitoring device for a vehicle, which has a low probability of failure over a long service life and at the same time can be implemented inexpensively. Furthermore, there is also a need for a monitoring device for a vehicle with the lowest possible energy consumption. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a monitoring device for a vehicle having a detector device configured to evaluate a sensor signal from at least one sensor and to detect a predetermined event based on the evaluated sensor signal; a control device; and an activating device, which is adapted to the control device during the Disable evaluation of the sensor signal by the detector device and to activate the control device when the detector device has detected a predetermined event. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoring a vehicle with the steps of disabling a vehicle

Control device of the vehicle; the detection of a sensor signal; detecting a predetermined event based on the detected sensor signal; and activating the control device of the vehicle when a predetermined event has been detected.

Advantages of the invention

It is an idea of the present invention to realize the monitoring of the vehicle with a minimum number of elements involved and, moreover, to deactivate all elements not necessarily required as long as possible. For this purpose, the sensors are only monitored via a special detector device. Therefore, only this detector device must remain permanently active during the monitoring process. The relatively complex and complex control unit of the

Vehicle can be deactivated during this phase first and is only put on the recognition of a particular event by the activation device in the active state.

An advantage of the invention is that thus the control device of the vehicle with its complex circuit structure only has to be designed for the active driving time of the vehicle. Since the control device is initially deactivated during the monitoring of the sensors, thus the active operating time decreases during the life of the vehicle. Thus, the circuits for the controller can be constructed with much cheaper components and also the necessary tests for the quality assurance of such controllers can be made much simpler and cheaper.

Another advantage is that the controller requires almost no energy in its inactive phase. Only the detector device compared to the

Control device is kept much simpler and thus less energy consumed, is permanently active. Thus, the monitoring device according to the invention requires a significantly lower energy consumption.

According to one embodiment of the monitoring device according to the invention, the detector device evaluates a plurality of sensor signals. In particular, these multiple sensor signals can come from multiple sensors. By using multiple sensor signals from multiple sensors, a particularly reliable statement about the condition of the vehicle is possible. In a specific embodiment of the monitoring device according to the invention, the majority of the sensor signals are evaluated cyclically alternately. Due to such a cyclic change in the evaluation of the sensor signals must

Detector device evaluate only the signal of a sensor and thus can be kept very simple. In addition, only one of the many sensors is active in this cyclically changing operation of the sensors, while the remaining sensors can be put into an inactive state. As a result, the service life of the sensors used also decreases over the entire service life. Therefore, the sensors can also be designed for a shorter total operating time, which allows the use of cheaper sensors.

According to a further embodiment, the inventive

Monitoring device further comprises a diagnostic device which is adapted to monitor the function of the at least one sensor. By diagnosing the sensors used during the monitoring operation, a malfunction of one or more sensors can be detected quickly and reliably and then appropriate countermeasures can be initiated.

In a special embodiment of the monitoring device according to the invention, the activation device activates the control device when the diagnostic device detects a malfunction of at least one sensor. By activating the complete control device in the event of a malfunction of a sensor, the control device can then carry out a complete analysis of the vehicle system and diagnose precisely possible causes of the fault and, if necessary, initiate appropriate countermeasures. An embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle having a monitoring device according to the invention. Especially in the automotive sector, a particularly high reliability of the components used over many years is required. Therefore, by the use of the invention

Monitoring device relatively inexpensive a monitoring device can be realized, which also has a very long life only a small amount

Probability of default has.

In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a rechargeable electrical energy store, and the monitoring device monitors the vehicle during charging of the electrical energy store. The charging of an electric energy storage of an electric vehicle is usually much longer than the pure driving time of the vehicle. Since the monitoring device according to the invention requires only a relatively small number of active components during charging, most of the components, in particular the control device of the vehicle, can be designed for the shorter operating time during the driving operation of the vehicle.

In a particular embodiment, the detector device detects a movement of the vehicle based on the evaluated sensor signal. Since motion is not a normal operating state, especially in parked vehicles, it is particularly important in such cases to quickly initiate countermeasures in order to bring the vehicle back to a standstill.

In a further embodiment, the detector device detects a manipulation of the vehicle based on the evaluated sensor signal. Such manipulation, such as a theft attempt or damage to the vehicle, may then be rapidly signaled to the environment by activation of the controller and appropriate response. Further features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings In the drawings: Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a vehicle with a

Monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 shows a schematic representation of a monitoring device according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

3 shows a schematic representation of a method for monitoring

a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. The drawings shown in the figures are partly perspective

Representations of elements that are not for clarity

are necessarily shown to scale. Like reference numerals generally designate like or equivalent components. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 4 with a monitoring device 1 according to a

Embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the vehicle 4 comprises an electrical energy store 2, for example a rechargeable traction battery. This electrical energy storage 2 is powered by a charging station 3 with energy and charged. For this purpose, the charging station 3 via a cable connection with the

Vehicle 4 connected. Would the vehicle 4 during the charging of the

Move energy storage 2 away from the charging station 3, the cable connection between charging station 3 and 4 vehicle would tear off, and there is a risk of short circuit with far-reaching consequences. The vehicle 4 further comprises a plurality of sensors 5 which send corresponding sensor signals to the monitoring device 1. Such sensors are for example

Speed sensors on the wheels of the vehicle, acceleration sensors,

Speed sensors in gearboxes, speed and rotor position sensors in electric motors for vehicle drive, sensors for tire pressure monitoring, a GPS receiver, an electronic compass, a tilt sensor, etc. Other sensors are also possible.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a monitoring device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The monitoring device 1 in this case comprises a detector device 10, an activation device 1 1, a control device 12 and a diagnostic device 13. In normal driving while is the Monitoring device 1 completely active. In particular, during normal driving, the controller 12 is fully active to monitor and control operations within the vehicle. The control device 12 may be, for example, a control unit of the vehicle, for example a control unit for vehicle dynamics control (ESP), for transmission control, for controlling electric motors, for

Tire pressure monitoring or for navigation.

In the parked state of the vehicle, however, the controller 12 is not active. In this deactivated state, the control device 12 requires no or at least almost no energy. Further, the controller 12 does not perform any functions in this state.

In this parked state of the vehicle, one or more sensors within the vehicle are monitored by the detector device 10. For this purpose, the detector device 10 receives one or more sensor signals 21-24 and evaluates them. Based on the evaluated sensor signals, the detector device 10 can draw conclusions about the state of the vehicle and, if necessary, detect a predetermined event. For example, the detector device 10 can detect a movement of the vehicle 4 based on a sensor signal of a rotational speed sensor or the like. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to attach a temperature sensor to the battery 2 of the vehicle in order to detect excessive heating of the battery 2 at an early stage. The detection of other events, such as the opening of a door, excessive vibration on the vehicle or even the exceeding or falling below a certain voltage within the vehicle can also be monitored, evaluated and detected.

If the detector device 10 recognizes such a special event, then the detector device 10 signals this event via the signal line 26 to the

Activation device 1 1. The activation device 1 1 then offset the

Control device 12 via the signal line 27 in an active state. In this active state, the controller 12 may again gain full control of the vehicle. Thus, the control device 12 on the one hand completely detect and evaluate the current state of the vehicle. In addition, in this active state, the control device 12 is also able to actively control one or more components of the vehicle. Thus, for example, at an unexpected

Movement of the vehicle 4 by the output of a suitable control signal 29 a Braking be initiated. Thus, for example, during charging of the traction battery 2 upon detection of vehicle motion, an active braking operation may be initiated to prevent the vehicle from rolling away, thus preventing damage to the charging cable. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to output visual and / or audible warning signals in order to make the driver aware of the detected event. Further

Measures depending on the events to be detected are also possible. For example, in the detection of a shock may be concluded on an impact or accident of the parked vehicle. In such a case, it may be appropriate to separate the energy storage device 2 from the electrical system by the control device 12 in order to reduce the risk of short circuits in a damaged vehicle. Another possibility is, for example, to monitor the temperature of the energy storage device 2 during the charging process and at a

Inadmissible increase in temperature to interrupt the charging process or at least to throttle.

Furthermore, also e.g. the tire pressure to be monitored and a surprising pressure drop of the tire pressure on a tampering or sabotage attempt

getting closed. Then, for example, an optical and / or audible warning signal can be output.

The detector device 10 can also evaluate the signals of several sensors. In this case, it is possible, for example, for the sensor signals of all sensors to be provided and evaluated simultaneously at the detector device 10. Alternatively, the detector device 10 can also evaluate sequentially one after the other. If, for example, the vehicle 4 has a separate rotational speed sensor on each of the four wheels, it is sufficient for the detection of a vehicle movement to monitor only one rotational speed sensor at a time. In order to uniformly stress all the speed sensors of the four wheels, the detector device 10 can monitor a sensor in cyclic change and deactivate this sensor after a predetermined period of time and activate another sensor. Thus, only one of four speed sensors is active and the remaining three speed sensors are inactive. In this way, the active operating time of the speed sensor is significantly reduced. Thus, the individual sensors must each be dimensioned only for a lower maximum operating time. In particular, if as just described above, only one of several redundant sensors is actively evaluated, it is of great importance to detect a possible malfunction of the sensors early on. For this purpose, the monitoring device 1 can be equipped with a diagnostic device 13, which monitors the function of the connected sensors. At least the function of the respective active

monitored sensors monitored. For this purpose, it is possible, for example, to monitor at least the current path from and to the sensor in order to close early on a possible interruption. Additionally or alternatively, the functionality of the connected sensor can be checked by the diagnostic device 13 continuously or at intervals. In a specific embodiment, the

connected sensors have an internal error analysis device, which then sends the result of the internal fault monitoring to the diagnostic device 13. If a malfunction of a connected sensor detected by the diagnostic device 13, it is on the one hand possible in the further monitoring by the

Detector device 10 does not further evaluate this sensor. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible for the detection of a malfunction of a sensor

Diagnostic device 13 this event via the signal line 28 to the

Activation device 1 1 weiterergibt and the activation device 1 1 then the control device 12 is placed in an active state. Then the

Control means 12 perform a complete and detailed analysis of the vehicle condition, in particular the diagnosed as faulty sensors. The

Corresponding result can be displayed in the vehicle and is available immediately at a later time, for example, when a user wants to start the vehicle. Thus, the user is immediately informed when starting the vehicle about the previously occurred malfunction and can take appropriate action. For a particularly efficient implementation of the invention

Monitoring device can thereby the modules that are also active in a parked vehicle, in a suitable device, such as an integrated circuit summarized. For example, detector device 10, activation device 1 1 and, if necessary, diagnostic device 13 can be combined in such a device. Thus, only this single assembly needs to be sized for increased service life during the lifetime of the vehicle, while the remaining modules, in particular the control device 12 only needs to be dimensioned for a short service life during the lifetime of the vehicle. Alternatively, it is also possible to distribute the functions of the detector device 10, the activation device 12 and possibly the diagnostic device 13 to a plurality of modules and to design these modules for the expected greater total operating time.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a method 100 according to the invention for monitoring a vehicle. After the vehicle has been turned off and off, the controller 12 of the vehicle is deactivated in the next step 1 10. The control device 12 requires in this state no or at least almost no power supply. As long as the control device 12 is deactivated, one or more sensor signals 21-24 are detected and evaluated by the detector device 10 in a step 120. As described above, a plurality of sensors, preferably a plurality of redundant sensors, can be alternately activated and evaluated in a cyclical change. In step 130, a predetermined event is then detected. For example, such a predetermined event may be a signal from a sensor, for example a movement of a wheel sensor or the like. After a predetermined event has been detected, in step 140, the

Control device of the vehicle activated. Thereafter, the controller 12 is available with all functions for diagnosis and initiation of any necessary

Countermeasures available. In addition, in a further, not shown step, the function of the connected sensors and the reliability of the provided sensor signals can be monitored. When a malfunction of a sensor occurs, the control device 12 can then also be activated. Thereafter, the controller 12 may perform a detailed diagnosis of the vehicle condition and the sensor classified as defective and, if necessary, activate further measures such as an indication in the vehicle.

In summary, the present invention relates to a monitoring device for a vehicle. In the parked state of the vehicle while the control device of the vehicle is deactivated and detects the signals of some sensors of the vehicle via a separate detector device and evaluated. Will be based on the so evaluated sensor signals detected a predetermined event, the previously deactivated control device can be activated. Thus, the operating time of

Control device minimized over the entire life of the vehicle.

Claims

claims

A monitoring device (1) for a vehicle (4), comprising: detector means (10) adapted to evaluate a sensor signal (21-24) from at least one sensor and based on the sensor signal (21-24)

evaluated sensor signal (21 -24) to detect a predetermined event; a control device (12) for a vehicle; and an activation device (1 1), which is designed, the control device (12) during the evaluation of the sensor signal (21-24) by the

Disable detector device (10) and to activate the control device (12) when the detector device (10) has detected a predetermined event.

2. Monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the detector device (10) evaluates a plurality of sensor signals (21-24).

3. Monitoring device according to claim 2, wherein the detector device (10) evaluates the plurality of sensor signals (21-24) cyclically alternately.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic device configured to monitor the function of the at least one sensor.

5. Monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the activation device (1 1) activates the control device (12) if the diagnostic device (13) has detected a malfunction of the at least one sensor.

6. vehicle (4) with a monitoring device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5.

7. Vehicle (4) according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle (4) comprises a rechargeable electrical energy store (2) and the monitoring device (1) monitors the vehicle (4) during the charging of the electrical energy store (2).

8. Vehicle (4) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the detector device (10).

detects a movement of the vehicle (4) based on the evaluated sensor signal.

9. Vehicle (4) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the detector device (10).

detects a manipulation of the vehicle (4) based on the evaluated sensor signal.

10. A method (100) for monitoring a vehicle (4), comprising the steps of: deactivating (1 10) a control device (12) of the vehicle (4); Detecting (120) a sensor signal (21-24);

Detecting (130) a predetermined event based on the detected sensor signal (21-24); and

Activating (140) the control device (12) of the vehicle (4),

predetermined event was detected.