FI114418B - Intelligent current distribution system for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A single pair of wires (16) distribute the current. These connect (4) to intelligent connectors (2). The connectors have a second input (5) comprising a command bus (17) from a central controller. The connectors can interpret the bus commands and then switch the current to specific loads (21) via FET switches (18a). The connectors contain standard responses to commands (29) but are also programmed (10) with individual behave commands to suit their location. An independent claim is also included for the manufacture and assembly of the connectors.

Description

1,114,418

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an intelligent power distribution system, particularly for vehicles, wherein the power distribution cable is connected to intelligent junction circuits having output pins for supplying power to the actuators 10, based on the control commands received from the traffic channel or the socket input connector, in the manufacture of sockets, sockets of the same type are provided with the same basic program and the sockets control electronics are programmed with unique behavioral codes that select unique functions for each blind.

Power distribution systems of this type are known in the prior art, e.g. from WO 93/10591, WO 95/15594, EP-564943 and WO 97/02965.

The disadvantage of these known systems is that: 25 the intelligence needed for command and function control is too centralized in the central unit of the system, whereby message traffic becomes congested and the reliability of the system is impaired. On the other hand, the decentralization of intelligence so that the sockets, or "sockets", with individual intelligence according to the operational requirements of the various actuators associated with them, causes production problems for the production of various application alternatives to the system; ·. line.

35 1 i »» »· 2 114418

One object of the invention is to provide a method for producing an intelligent power distribution system in which the intelligence required for the individual control of the functions of the sockets is shifted away from the central unit of the system and distributed to the sockets to reduce the required message traffic and simplify messages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method by which a power distribution system can be fabricated by automated production despite the fact that the intelligence required for the individual control of the functions of the sockets is shifted away from the central unit of the system and distributed to the sockets.

A third object of the invention is to provide a spring-loaded automatic production capable of producing one system cable set at a time, taking into account the above purpose of distributing intelligence to the blinds.

These objects of the invention are achieved by a process having the features set forth in the appended claim 1.

I · ;; Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

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In the following, the process according to the invention will be illustrated by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the following:. the drawings in which 30. Figure 1 shows a system for making a method; · four different stages of manufacturing a single cable branch; Figure 2 schematically illustrates various steps I, II, III of Step 2 of Figure 1; *

I I

3 114418 Figure 3 illustrates in more detail the execution of Step II of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates in more detail the initial state of step III 5 of Figure 2; and Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of a cable mounted on a cable mounted by a method according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an intelligent connection socket, or socket, of the system; and Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the software structure and message flow of the socket, i.e., the blind 15.

In the first step of Figure 1, the cable 3 coming from the reel is cut into a cable branch of desired length.

A single set of wires may include a plurality of lengths of flesh pieces 20 of different lengths to which any desired number of blinds 1,2, which may also be of different types, are to be mounted. The cut end of the cable 3 is stripped (arrow .24) and the ends of the wires are tin-plated for subsequent installation ;; connector module (not shown). An end guard 23 is attached to the other end of the cut-off point.

'· * From the cut-off station, the cable is transferred to a sockets programming and installation station, where the sockets are provided with a unique behavior program and the function of the sockets is tested-30. After testing, blinds. 1, 2 is attached to cable 3 or malfunctions »· 114418 4 shields are discarded and a new shield is programmed and installed.

FIG. 2 illustrates a performance of step 2 of FIG. 1. First, the blind type A1, A2, B1, B2 is selected. The type of sockets may differ from each other e.g. in type A sockets the power switches 18a (Figs. 5 and 6) are between the plus and load of the battery and in the type B socket two switches 18a are between plus and load and and load. Type B blind can be used, for example, to control one electric motor in both directions. Em. irrespective of the type of partition, the shields may differ in whether or not they have an input connector 10. Through the input connector 10, control commands can be issued to the system, which can be transmitted to any system blind.

Figure 2 schematically denotes a pyramid program for a blind control electronics such as a processor. The lower part 25 of the pyramid 20 denotes to all blinds the same basic program that is applied to the blinds during their manufacture. Prior to connecting the socket to the cable 3, the socket control electronics 19 are additionally programmed with a blind. ; behavioral behavior. 25 software 26, the various program parts of which are predetermined based on future tasks of the blind 1, 2. On the other hand, \ / the function of each socket is determined by its basic location, since certain actuators are attached to the socket at a given position. Therefore, when selecting this unique behave program, you need to know both the cable number 3 and the socket number (location) of the cable in question.

: · .. Alternatively, the system-wide blinds can be given a sequential numbering, or indexing, by which; behave software program components 26 are selected. The Behave program 35 takes care of what messages are responded to by a predetermined function, for example by turning on a specific load · at a given time. In this case, no messages; · · ·! need to include sockets identification information or information 114418 5 on desired load control method. In addition, the behave program may include, for example, the following monitoring or controlling features: - upper and lower limits of current 5 actuated by the actuator connected to the output pins 8 - permissible duration of the load surge current connected to the output pins 8 the priority level of the functions of the actuators 10.

The above list is not exhaustive, but there may be many other actuator-specific features such as delay times for activating or deactivating functions or switching on various combinations of switches 18a (Figs. 5 and 6) depending on the direction of control (e.g., to rotate the DC motor forward). or backwards).

The program memory 27 shown in Fig. 6 may be wholly or partly within the processor 28 and may consist of several types of partial memory (reprogrammable:: and / or one-time programmable). The memory 27 includes a processor: '· * · 28 basic control program 25 (Kernel) and: a unique behave software for each socket, which controls 25 of the processor. Predefined functions for the socket. In the picture: ·. 7 shows the software structure of the blind and the various sources. . routes for incoming messages. On a blind basis, the individual behave software detects messages from input 10 or serial communication bus 17 of cable 3 and, on the basis thereof, directs processor 28 and / or ASIC 29 to send messages to serial communication bus 17: '·· and / or connect desired fets 18a to power the actuator 31. A basic program (kernel) that is ...; similar for all blinds of the same type, provided by ____. 35 on how to control the switches 18a and communication .. and processor functions. Thus, the basic program controls all the functions of the blind, but it cannot independently decide which actions to perform and when. When any message reaches the blind, the base program asks the behave program what action the message requires. The Behave program tells the base program which actions it should select from the range of all different actions in the action-5 blind socket. Thus, the Behave program assigns each action a unique response to different messages.

In this case, only the identification of the desired operation is required on the bus 17. Behave program 26 takes care of 10 which load 31 is controlled and when. Thus, the behave programs contained in the processor 28 and the memory 27 provide individual control of the loads 31 and the messages on the bus 17 indicate only the desired actions. The messages do not have to include the identification information of the sockets or the load control method (what, when, how). The socket behave program identifies when the message is such that the socket has to perform predefined tasks. Fig. 6 shows only one type of socket (previously mentioned socket type 20 A1), but it is clear that the number of switches 18a and the switching trough between the power lines 16 and the loads 31 can vary in many ways. In a system according to the invention, it is possible to perform a plurality of functions in a single message in actuators 25 connected to different blinds. Even in the same socket, a single message can. · _ Perform many different functions while the socket is on. pre-programmed.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a device arrangement 30 whereby individual behavior programs can be programmed into a blind and immediately after programming a test of the blind; '·. activities. Reference numeral 15 denotes a programming block, '·: which contains the behave programs of all the sockets in the system, from which the respective program parts 35 are selected for input to the socket communication surfaces 5. . or through separate programming interfaces in the memory 27 of the socket processor 28 (Fig. 6) or other intelligent electronic device 29 'F *. Before programming, block 15 tests that the 114418 7 socket communication links operate through the pins 5 and the input connector 10. Thus, the socket must be capable of transmitting and receiving data via the communication bus of a cable to be subsequently connected. Block 14 supplies current to the socket-5 le through current surfaces 4. After programming, block 22 tests the actuator functions, i.e., that the voltage switching between the pair of pins 8 occurs in accordance with the control commands given in block 11 or block 15.

One or both of the blocks 11, 15 contain all the necessary control commands for which the socket is to operate. If the socket is of a type that lacks an input connector 10, there is, of course, no block 11.

Block 22 may include a display indicating the test result.

If the socket malfunctions, it will be rejected and the new 15 sockets will be programmed.

Depending on the type of memory, programming can take the form of One Time Programming, so that the program cannot be modified subsequently. If such a blind fails, it must be replaced with a pre-programmed blind. If reprogrammable memory is used, the socket: if it is damaged, can be programmed from the system adaptation and monitoring unit (not shown): manually via the serial communication bus 17.

25; · _ When the blind is programmed with a unique behavioral. software and tested, the socket 2 is connected to the cable 3. Figure 4 shows how the cable is first connected to the current clamps 4. To this end, the cable insulating sleeve 30 is provided with openings 4a and also the conductors 6 can be slotted or preformed. When the cable 3 is printed with a pin; 4, the other half of the blind is closed, whereby: the communication terminals 5 also pass through the cable insulation and • communication conductors 7, whereby step 35 III of Figure 2 is completed.

Figure 5 further shows in longitudinal section how the power electronics part 18 is separated from the low power electronics 114418 8 so that they are located on opposite sides of the cable 3. In this case, the power electronics heat-development does not disturb the control electronics side 19 of the microprocessor 28 and ASIC 29 and a program memory May 27 activity. With the conductors 12 on the other side of the socket, the controls required by the FET switches 18a are transmitted from the control electronics 19 to the power electronics side 18.

There may be a plurality of current clamps 4 connected to the current conductors 16 in succession to obtain a reliable contact. The connection to the data conductor 10 may be provided with sharp-pointed pins 5, which may be two in parallel to ensure contact.

The bending of the conductors 16, 17 serves the bending of the cable 3.

Once the sockets have been programmed and connected to the cable, the next step is to connect the output terminals 20 to the sockets. This step (step 3 in Figure 1) can also be automated, at least for the most part, if desired. Automation involves selecting the right connector 20 20 from a plurality of different connectors which may differ in length of the connecting cable 21: Y; and / or actuator connectors at one end of the cable 21 and / or internal connections of the connector 20 itself. Structurally, the output terminals 20 are similar to each other so that they can be connected to one another! The correct connector 20 is selected based on the location of the socket, and the selected output connector 20 is connected to the socket output pins 8. Alternatively, the actuator connectors 30 can be directly connected to the socket connector, eliminating the need for any connecting cable 21.

In the next step (step 4 in Figure 1), the following is performed! bending the cable to a future installation location to provide one complete cable branch to the power distribution system. In each case, all the cable ends (eg 8 pieces) of a single system are manufactured in succession, whereby, for example, the cables required for the car's 114418 9 progression on the adjacent line are obtained in the order of installation. Alternatively, vehicle-specific bundles of cables are provided, which bundle is transferred to a different vehicle manufacturing line.

5

In the manufacturing method according to the invention, the four different work steps of Figure 1 are performed at four different workstations and the cable is moved from one position to another. In Figure 1, various process steps are illustrated in the same Figure 10 for illustrative purposes.

Claims (7)

114418 10 A method for manufacturing an intelligent power distribution system, particularly for vehicles, comprising connecting smart power circuits (1, 2) to a power distribution cable (3) having output pins (8) for supplying power to actuators to be connected to the system and switches (18a) pins (8) and control electronics (19) for controlling switches (18a) on the basis of control commands received from the communication bus (17) of the kaa-game (3) or the socket input connector (10), in the manufacture of sockets (1, 2) (A1, A2, B1, B2) are provided with a similar basic program (25) and the blind control electronics (19) 15 are programmed with individual behavior programs (26) which select from the basic programs only the functions specific to each blind, characterized in that connection to the cable (3) or thereafter individual behavioral program The mat is fed to the 20 blinds (1, 2) based on the location of each blind (1, 2) in the cable and the corresponding socket identification number. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the programmable socket · (1, 2) is selected from at least two different types of sockets (A1, A2, B1, B2) and that each type of socket (e.g., AI) ) blinds (1, 2) have a similar structure and basic program (25) for control electronics (19). 30 Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the individual behavior programs (26) are programmed via the socket communication interfaces (5) or separate programming interfaces to perform programming testing by providing control messages for the socket communication interfaces (5) or via the input connector (10) while the power sockets (4) of the sockets are connected to the power source (14), and that the functions provided by the control messages are checked from the outputs of the sockets output sockets (8). Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that after testing, the socket (1,2) 10 is connected to the cable (3) by pressing the power take-off surfaces (4) through the cable power conductors (16) and the communication terminals (5) through the cable communication conductors (17). Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the power take-off terminals (4) and the communication terminals (5) are pressed into the cable (3) on opposite sides thereof. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an output terminal is determined by a plurality of different connection cables and / or actuator connectors and / or internal terminals, determined by the location of the socket. »• * ·" with the output terminals provided with it and ♦ connect the selected output terminal (20) to the output pin of the socket: ·· 25 (8). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said individual behavior programs control: 30. upper and lower limits of the current drawn by the load (31) to be connected to the output pins (8) - the load (31) to be connected to the output pins (8). ) dip- * ♦ * ", allowable duration of current * and is controlled by: 114418 12 - Operational options in case of failure - Priority level of actuators connected to different output pins (8). 13 114418