JP6551746B2 - Vehicle sensor device and vehicle sensor system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle sensor device having a function of detecting a vehicle behavior and also having a function of performing self-diagnosis, and a sensor system including the vehicle sensor device.

  BACKGROUND Conventionally, a vehicle sensor device having a function of performing a self-diagnosis such as failure or power supply abnormality is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The self-diagnosis in the vehicle sensor device is performed in the initial stage after the vehicle power source is started, such as when the ignition is turned on. The vehicle sensor device transmits and outputs the result of the self-diagnosis to a microcontroller (that is, a microcomputer) as a master device connected to the vehicle sensor device. When the self-diagnosis result from the sensor indicates a sensor failure or the like in the initial state after the vehicle is started, the microcomputer detects the sensor failure or the like and executes a reset process such as stopping the power supply to the sensor.

  Moreover, the sensor device for vehicles carries out arithmetic processing of the data according to the physical quantity (For example, what shows vehicle behavior, such as acceleration, a pressure, a yaw rate, etc.) which arises in a vehicle in the always state after the said initial state. And the data according to the produced | generated vehicle behavior are transmitted and output to a microcomputer. In the normal state after the initial state, the microcomputer receives data corresponding to the vehicle behavior transmitted and output from the sensor, and performs control processing (for example, collision determination processing and airbag expansion processing) based on the data. Run.

JP, 2013-184484, A

  By the way, in general, the self-diagnosis in the above-described vehicle sensor device is performed only in the initial state after the vehicle is started, and the self-diagnosis result is transmitted to the microcomputer only in the initial state. In this case, the microcomputer can not know the self-diagnosis result performed by the sensor itself in the constant state after the initial state, and can only detect the presence or absence of an abnormality of the sensor based on data corresponding to the vehicle behavior from the sensor. It is. For this reason, when the microcomputer detects an abnormality of the sensor based on the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior in the normal state, the microcomputer will detail the sensor even if it can be restored if the sensor is reset. The state could not be known, and there was a problem that the microcomputer forced to stop communication with the sensor to stop the sensor function.

  On the other hand, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, it is conceivable that the vehicle sensor device performs self-diagnosis even in a normal state after the start of the vehicle and supplies the self-diagnosis result to the microcomputer. However, if the sensor always transmits and outputs the self-diagnosis result to the microcomputer regardless of the vehicle behavior in the normal state, there may occur a situation in which the data communication of the vehicle behavior from the sensor to the microcomputer is interrupted or delayed in the normal state. There is a risk that control processing (for example, collision determination processing, airbag deployment processing, etc.) based on vehicle behavior data will not be performed immediately after the vehicle collision.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a normal state after the start of the vehicle, the master device is not affected without affecting the data transmission of the vehicle behavior from the vehicle sensor device to the master device. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle sensor device and a vehicle sensor system capable of notifying a self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device.

The vehicle sensor device (12) according to claim 1 made to solve the above problem is a sensor unit (40) that generates behavior data according to the vehicle behavior, and self at least in an initial state after the vehicle is started. A master device that executes control processing of a diagnosis check unit (42) that performs diagnosis, and the behavior data generated by the sensor unit or self-diagnosis data indicating the result of self-diagnosis performed by the diagnosis check unit (38) A transmitting unit (48) transmitting and outputting to (38), and data to be transmitted and output from the transmitting unit to the master device in the normal state after the initial state, the behavior data and the self-diagnosis data based on the vehicle behavior and the setting unit for setting to be switched (46), wherein the setting unit is sent from the transmitting unit in the constantly state to said master device The data to be output is set as the self-diagnosis data before the vehicle behavior shows a predetermined threshold or more, and the self-diagnosis data is switched to the behavior data after the vehicle behavior shows the predetermined threshold or more. When a predetermined time has elapsed after switching to the behavior data, the behavior data is switched to the self-diagnosis data .
The vehicle sensor device (12) according to claim 2 made to solve the above-mentioned problems includes a sensor unit (40) for generating behavior data according to the vehicle behavior, and at least an initial state after the vehicle is started. Control processing is performed on a diagnosis check unit (42) performing self-diagnosis in the step and the behavior data generated by the sensor unit or self-diagnosis data indicating a result of the self-diagnosis performed by the diagnosis check unit A transmitting unit (48) for transmitting and outputting to a master device (38), and data for transmitting and outputting from the transmitting unit to the master device in a constant state after the initial state, the behavior data and the self based on the vehicle behavior. A setting unit (46) configured to be switchable with diagnostic data, and the setting unit from the transmission unit to the master device in the normal state. The data to be transmitted and output to the self-diagnosis data is set before the vehicle behavior shows a predetermined threshold or more, and the self-diagnosis data is switched to the behavior data after the vehicle behavior shows the predetermined threshold or more Further, after switching to the behavior data, when a predetermined command is issued from the master device, the behavior data is switched to the self-diagnosis data.

  According to this configuration, the data transmitted and output from the vehicle sensor device (12) to the master device (38) in the normal state after the vehicle activation and the initial state is a behavior according to the vehicle behavior based on the vehicle behavior. Switch between data and self-diagnosis data. Therefore, it is possible to notify the master device (38) of the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device (12) in the normal state. Also, in the normal state, when the vehicle behavior does not require, for example, control processing of the master device (38), the sensor device for vehicle (12) transmits and outputs self-diagnosis data to the master device (38). For example, when it becomes necessary to control the master device (38), the behavior data can be transmitted from the vehicle sensor device (12) to the master device (38). Therefore, the vehicle sensor device (12) in the master device (38) does not affect the data transmission of the vehicle behavior from the vehicle sensor device (12) to the master device (38) in the normal state after the vehicle activation. Can report the self-diagnosis result of

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis written after each component described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence of those each component and the component of the below-mentioned embodiment description.

1 is a configuration diagram of an occupant protection system including a vehicle sensor device and a vehicle sensor system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view showing the mounting position in the vehicle of the vehicle sensor apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, and the component of a vehicle sensor system. It is a figure for demonstrating the difference of the output function to exhibit in the initial state after power activation of the vehicle sensor apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, and a normal state. It is a figure for demonstrating switching of the output function made to exhibit in the normal state of the vehicle sensor apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of an example of the control routine performed in a normal state in the vehicle sensor device according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a vehicle sensor device and a vehicle sensor system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A vehicle sensor system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sensor system mounted on a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle sensor system 10 includes a vehicle sensor device 12 and a determination device 14. The vehicle sensor system 10 is a part of an occupant protection system 18 that controls the activation of the occupant protection device 16 based on the vehicle behavior detected by the determination device 14 using the vehicle sensor device 12.

  The vehicle sensor system 10 is a device that detects a collision between the host vehicle 20 and an object, and activates a device that protects an occupant getting on the host vehicle 20 when the collision is detected. As objects to which the vehicle collides, there are various vehicles such as other vehicles, walls, utility poles, standing trees, guard rails, etc. where a large load acts on the vehicle at the time of collision, etc.

  The vehicle sensor device 12 is a sensor that calculates and outputs data corresponding to a vehicle behavior necessary for detecting that the host vehicle 20 collides with an object. The vehicle sensor device 12 performs arithmetic processing of data according to the vehicle behavior at a high cycle, and samples and outputs data according to the vehicle behavior at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 500 μs or every 1 ms). Note that the above-described calculation processing of data includes various calculations necessary for appropriately performing collision detection, such as difference processing with the previously calculated value, time integration processing, and time change. Examples of the vehicle sensor device 12 include a left front sensor 22, a right front sensor 24, a left side sensor 26, a right side sensor 28, an acceleration sensor 30, a gyro sensor 32, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the left front sensor 22 and the right front sensor 24 are disposed at the front of the vehicle body of the vehicle 20, for example, at the front of the front bumper or bumper reinforcement or at the front end of the left and right front side members. The left front sensor 22 outputs data corresponding to an impact applied to the left side of the vehicle body. The left front sensor 22 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to acceleration in the vehicle longitudinal direction, or a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to pressure or load in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The right front sensor 24 outputs data corresponding to the impact applied to the right side of the vehicle body. The right front sensor 24 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal according to the acceleration in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal according to the pressure or load in the vehicle longitudinal direction, or the like.

  The left side sensor 26 and the right side sensor 28 are disposed on the side of the vehicle body of the host vehicle 20 such as a B pillar, a center pillar, a door, or a body. The left side sensor 26 outputs data corresponding to an impact applied to the left side of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (that is, the left-right direction of the vehicle body). The left side sensor 26 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to acceleration in the vehicle width direction, or a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to pressure or load in the vehicle width direction. The right side sensor 28 outputs data corresponding to the impact in the vehicle width direction applied to the right side of the vehicle body. The right side sensor 28 is, for example, an acceleration sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the acceleration in the vehicle width direction, or a pressure sensor / load sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the pressure or load in the vehicle width direction.

  The acceleration sensor 30 and the gyro sensor 32 are disposed in the vehicle body central portion of the host vehicle 20 (for example, inside the casing of the determination device 14 described above). The acceleration sensor 30 outputs data corresponding to the acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The gyro sensor 32 outputs data corresponding to the angular velocity generated around the vehicle body center of gravity of the vehicle 20.

  The left front sensor 22, right front sensor 24, left side sensor 26, right side sensor 28, acceleration sensor 30, and gyro sensor 32 are electrically connected to the determination device 14. The connection between each sensor 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and the determination device 14 may be performed via, for example, a wired or wireless communication bus. The output signals of the sensors 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are transmitted to the determination device 14.

  The determination device 14 determines whether or not the host vehicle 20 has collided with the object based on the output signals of the sensors 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and, based on the determination result, the occupant. It is determined whether or not to activate the protection device 16. For example, when the occupant protection device 16 is an airbag device, the determination device 14 is an electronic control unit for an airbag (that is, an airbag ECU). The collision determination in the determination device 14 may be performed based on the output signal of one or more of the sensors 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32.

  The determination device 14 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and mounted on a semiconductor substrate in a housing, a CPU (that is, a central processing unit) 34 and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Circuit) 36. The CPU 34 and the ASIC 36 are connected to each other through, for example, an SPI (= Serial Peripheral Interface). In addition, the determination device 14 is a read-only memory in which processing programs and tables necessary for operations are stored in advance, a random access memory used as a work area, and a bidirectional bus connecting those elements And so on.

  The CPU 34 is a physical quantity of the vehicle behavior (hereinafter referred to as a collision impact degree) generated in the host vehicle 20 necessary to determine the presence or absence of a collision based on output signals from the respective sensors 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32. ) To detect. This degree of impact is, for example, acceleration, pressure, load, etc. generated in the host vehicle 20. When a plurality of load sensors are mounted on the vehicle as the front sensors 22 and 24, the magnitude of the load acting on the front of the vehicle body is the sum of the loads based on the outputs of the front sensors 22 and 24. May be

  The determination device 14 stores in advance a threshold value related to the degree of collision impact used for collision presence / absence determination. This threshold value may be determined for each vehicle type of the mounted vehicle, or may be determined according to a collision mode such as a frontal collision, a side collision, or an oblique collision. The CPU 34 determines whether or not the collision impact level detected as described above is equal to or greater than the threshold value. When it is determined that the collision impact level is equal to or higher than the threshold value, it is determined that the host vehicle 20 has collided with the object, and the passenger protection device 16 is activated (specifically, the activation signal is supplied to the ASIC 36). To do).

  The CPU 34 also detects a self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 based on data indicating a self-diagnosis result performed by the vehicle sensor device 12 as described later. Then, when the self-diagnosis result indicates a failure of the vehicle sensor device 12, data indicating the self-diagnosis result is stored in the storage unit 37 and failure processing such as lighting a warning lamp regarding the failure is executed. Do.

  The ASIC 36 includes analog elements such as transistors and resistors, and constitutes a drive circuit for driving the occupant protection device 16. The ASIC 36 activates the occupant protection device 16 by driving an appropriate transistor or the like when the activation signal is supplied from the CPU 34.

  The occupant protection device 16 is a device that absorbs an impact applied to an occupant of the host vehicle 20 when the host vehicle 20 collides with an object to protect the occupant. For example, the occupant protection seat 16 is a driver seat or a passenger seat. They are an airbag apparatus, a seat belt apparatus, etc. provided correspondingly. An occupant protection device 16 is electrically connected to the determination device 14 described above. If the determination device 14 determines that a collision with the object has occurred in the host vehicle 20, the determination device 14 issues an activation command to the occupant protection device 16. The occupant protection device 16 is activated when an activation command is received from the determination device 14.

  Hereinafter, the sensors 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 that are the vehicle sensor device 12 are collectively referred to as the slave device 12, and the CPU 34, the ASIC 36, and the storage unit 37 of the determination device 14 are collectively referred to as the master device 38. , Respectively.

  Further, in the present embodiment, each slave device 12 has a function of calculating and outputting data according to the vehicle behavior necessary to detect that the host vehicle 20 has collided with the object (hereinafter, behavior data (Also referred to as output function), and self-diagnosis as to whether or not the own slave device 12 can normally detect a collision between the own vehicle 20 and an object, and outputs data indicating the self-diagnosis result. Function (hereinafter referred to as a diagnostic data output function).

  The behavior data output function performs arithmetic processing on data corresponding to the vehicle behavior at a high cycle, and samples and outputs the calculated data at a predetermined cycle toward the master device 38. The diagnostic data output function performs self-diagnosis of the slave device 12 and samples and outputs data indicating the self-diagnosis result to the master device 38 at a predetermined cycle. The sampling period in the behavior data output function and the sampling period in the diagnosis data output function may be the same. On the other hand, the self-diagnosis in the diagnosis data output function in the slave device 12 is less in load than the arithmetic processing in the behavior data output function.

  Each slave device 12 selectively switches the data output function to be exhibited between the behavior data output function and the diagnostic data output function, that is, the data to be transmitted and output to the master device 38 is the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior and the self It is possible to selectively switch between the data indicating the diagnosis result. Each slave device 12 includes a MEMS (= Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) 40, a diagnostic block 42, a register memory 44, a setting unit ASIC 46, and a transmitting / receiving unit 48.

  The MEMS 40 is a part that generates data according to the vehicle behavior necessary to detect that the host vehicle 20 has collided with the object. The diagnostic block 42 is a self-diagnosis circuit that checks the internal state of the slave device 12. The internal state checked as a self-diagnosis by this diagnosis block 42 is a logic circuit such as a power supply circuit or a booster circuit, a clock circuit, a digital circuit, an analog circuit, an amplifier, a filter, a memory, etc. A state that indicates normality / abnormality.

  The register memory 44 is a memory for storing a threshold value of a vehicle behavior that should be used when the slave device 12 performs function switching in a normal state after the vehicle power supply is activated and after the initial check. The vehicle behavior threshold value stored in the register memory 44 is set to a value smaller than the threshold value for starting the occupant protection device 16 used in the master device 38. The threshold value for the vehicle behavior may be determined for each slave device 12.

  The setting unit ASIC 46 is an integrated circuit that determines the function switching timing of the slave device 12 and sets the function. The determination of the switching timing in the normal state by the setting unit ASIC 46 is performed based on the result of comparing the vehicle behavior detected by the MEMS 40 with the threshold value set in the register memory 44 of the slave device 12. This is performed based on a predetermined elapsed time.

  The transmission / reception unit 48 is a part that transmits and outputs data to be supplied from the slave device 12 to the master device 38 and receives command data supplied from the master device 38. The transmission / reception unit 48 may be one in which the transmission unit and the reception unit are integrated, or may be divided from each other.

  Next, operations of the slave device 12, the sensor system 10 for a vehicle, and the occupant protection system 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, when the ignition switch is turned on in the host vehicle 20, each slave device 12 is supplied with power by activating the vehicle power source and becomes operable thereafter. Each slave device 12 becomes inoperable because the power supply is stopped when the ignition switch in the host vehicle 20 is turned off after the power supply is started.

  Each slave device 12 performs a self-diagnosis of its own slave device 12 by realizing a diagnostic data output function in the initial state during the initial check immediately after the vehicle power supply is activated, and transmits from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38. Data to be transmitted and output is set to data indicating the self-diagnosis result, and is sampled and output to the master device 38 at a predetermined cycle. In this case, the master device 38 detects the self-diagnosis result of the slave device 12 based on the data indicating the self-diagnosis result sent from each of the slave devices 12 in the above-mentioned initial state, and the details of the slave device 12 It is possible to detect any kind of situation.

  Further, when the initial check immediately after the start of the vehicle power supply is completed and the initial state is completed, each slave device 12 executes the process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 in the subsequent normal state. The process shown in FIG. 5 is executed at each start of the normal state.

  Specifically, in step 100, setting unit ASIC 46 first determines whether data DATA corresponding to the vehicle behavior detected by MEMS 40 is less than threshold SH0 set in register memory 44. Do. The threshold value SH0 is a vehicle behavior threshold value used for switching the function of the slave device 12 from the diagnosis data output function to the behavior data output function. As described above, the occupant protection device used in the master device 38 is used. It is set to a smaller value (for example, 2G, 3G, etc.) than the threshold for 16 activations.

  If the setting unit ASIC 46 determines in step 100 that the data DATA is less than the threshold SH0 and the vehicle behavior indicates less than the threshold SH0, then, as in the initial state, next, in step 110, a diagnosis is performed. Realize data output function. As described above, in the diagnostic data output function, self-diagnosis of the slave device 12 is performed, and data transmitted and transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 is set as data indicating the self-diagnosis result, and at a predetermined cycle. It is sampled and output to master device 38. Accordingly, the master device 38 detects the self-diagnosis result of the slave device 12 based on the data indicating the self-diagnosis result sent from each slave device 12 even in the above-described normal state, and the details of the slave device 12 are detected. It is possible to detect the condition.

  When the setting unit ASIC 46 determines in step 100 that the data DATA is equal to or greater than the threshold value SH0 and the vehicle behavior indicates the threshold value SH0 or more (time t1), first, in step 120, the timer Timer is set to “0”. Reset to Note that the timer Timer is a timer that measures the time after the vehicle behavior indicates the threshold SH0 or more, and is reset each time it is determined that the vehicle behavior indicates the threshold SH0 or more.

  After resetting the timer Timer to “0” in step 120, the setting unit ASIC 46 realizes the behavior data output function in step 130 to increase data corresponding to the vehicle behavior detected by the MEMS 40. The calculation processing is performed in a cycle, and the data transmitted and transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 is set to data corresponding to the calculated vehicle behavior, and is sampled and output to the master device 38 in a predetermined cycle. In this case, the master device 38 can perform the collision determination by detecting the degree of collision impact based on the data according to the vehicle behavior sent from each slave device 12 in the above-described normal state. .

  When the setting unit ASIC 46 transmits and outputs data corresponding to the vehicle behavior calculated at step 130 to the master device 38, next, at step 140, whether or not the timer Timer has reached the predetermined time Tsh. Determine. The predetermined time Tsh is less than the threshold value SH0 after the vehicle behavior shows the threshold value SH0 or more, so that the function of the slave device 12 is switched from the behavior data output function to the diagnostic data output function and returned. The threshold of the time used is set to 10 ms or 100 ms, for example.

  If the setting unit ASIC 46 determines in step 140 that the timer Timer has not reached the predetermined time Tsh, then in step 150, the data DATA corresponding to the vehicle behavior detected by the MEMS 40 is stored in the register. It is determined whether the threshold value SH0 set in the memory 44 is equal to or greater than the threshold value SH0. As a result, when it is determined that the data DATA is equal to or more than the threshold value SH0, next, the timer Timer is reset to "0" in step 120, and the behavior data output function is continuously realized in step 130. The subsequent processing is executed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data DATA is less than the threshold value SH0, next, the behavior data output function is continuously realized in the above step 130 without resetting the timer Timer to “0”. Execute the process

  If the setting unit ASIC 46 determines in step 140 that the timer Timer has reached the predetermined time Tsh (time t2), next, in step 110, the diagnosis data output function is realized, and the subsequent processing is performed. Run.

  As described above, according to the processing of the slave device 12 of the present embodiment, that is, the sensor device 12 for a vehicle, the slave device 12 always transmits data to be transmitted and output from the transmitting and receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 in the initial state after the vehicle power is turned on. In the normal state after the initial state, the data to be transmitted and output from the transmitting / receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 is switched to the data indicating the self-diagnosis result and the data according to the vehicle behavior Can be set.

  Specifically, in the normal state, the data to be transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 is the data indicating the self-diagnosis result of the slave device 12 continuously from the initial state before the vehicle behavior shows the threshold value SH0 or more. When the vehicle behavior shows a threshold value SH0 or more, the data indicating the self-diagnosis result can be switched to the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior. After the switching, when the predetermined time Tsh has elapsed with the vehicle behavior indicating less than the threshold value SH0, that is, when the state of the vehicle behavior less than the threshold value SH0 continues for the predetermined time Tsh or more, self-diagnosis is performed from the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior. It is possible to switch to data showing the result.

  If the diagnosis data output function is executed in which the slave device 12 performs self-diagnosis and transmits the self-diagnosis result to the master device 38 in the normal state after the vehicle power supply is started, the self-diagnosis performed by the slave device 12 even in the normal state. The master device 38 can know the result. If the master device 38 can know the detailed self-diagnosis result of the slave device 12 in the constant state, the failure level of the slave device 12 is properly determined from the self-diagnosis result from the self-diagnosis result not only in the initial state but also in the constant state. In addition, it is possible to quickly grasp, and depending on the failure level, it is possible to quickly recognize the situation in which the slave device 12 is returned by reset activation.

  Therefore, when the master device 38 detects an abnormality of the slave device 12 based on the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior from the slave device 12 in the normal state, the communication with the slave device 12 is always forcibly stopped. Is not necessary, and it is not always necessary to stop the function of the slave device 12. In this case, even in the normal state, depending on the failure level of the slave device 12, a reset command can be supplied from the master device 38 to the slave device 12 so that the slave device 12 can be promptly recovered by the reset activation. Communication between the master device 38 and the slave device 12 can be continued.

  Further, as described above, the threshold value SH0 is set to a value smaller than the threshold value for starting the occupant protection device 16 used in the master device 38. For this reason, if it is before or after the vehicle behavior indicates the threshold SH0 or below, it can be determined that it is the timing at which the control process of the master device 38 is not required, so the slave device 12 performs self-diagnosis Even if the self-diagnosis result is transmitted and output to the master device 38, the slave of the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior of the threshold value SH0 or higher that requires the occupant protection device 16 to be activated due to the execution of the diagnostic data output function. The transmission output from the device 12 to the master device 38 is prevented from being hindered or delayed. In this regard, when data corresponding to a vehicle behavior that is equal to or higher than the threshold SH0 that requires activation of the occupant protection device 16 is input to the slave device 12, data corresponding to the vehicle behavior from the slave device 12 is input to the master device 38. It is possible to perform detection of collision impact degree based on the above, collision presence / absence judgment based on the detection result, and activation control of the occupant protection device 16 promptly after a vehicle collision.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the slave device 12 is connected to the master device 38 without affecting the transmission of data according to the vehicle behavior from the slave device 12 to the master device 38 in the normal state after the vehicle power supply is activated. Can report the self-diagnosis result of

  Further, if not only the behavior data output function but also the diagnosis data output function is realized in the normal state after the vehicle power supply is activated, the opportunity for the slave device 12 to perform arithmetic processing for generating behavior data in the normal state is reduced. be able to. As described above, the self-diagnosis in the diagnosis data output function in the slave device 12 has a lower load than the arithmetic processing in the behavior data output function. For this reason, the processing load of the slave device 12 can be reduced in the normal state, whereby power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, as described above, in the normal state after the vehicle power supply is activated, after the data transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 is switched from the data indicating the self-diagnosis result to the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior, the vehicle behavior is changed. When the predetermined time Tsh elapses in a state indicating less than the threshold SH0, the data transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 is switched from data corresponding to the vehicle behavior to data indicating the self-diagnosis result, and is restored. . For this reason, it is possible to avoid the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior being transmitted and output from the slave device 12 to the master device 38 unnecessarily for a long time in the normal state, and to the slave device 12 in the master device 38. It is possible to easily and surely secure an opportunity to notify the self-diagnosis result in

  Further, in the sensor system 10 for a vehicle of the present embodiment, when data indicating the self-diagnosis result transmitted and output from the slave device 12 to the master device 38 indicates a failure of the slave device 12, the data indicating the self-diagnosis result is It is stored in the storage unit 37. Therefore, the self-diagnosis result of the sensor device 12 for vehicle can be stored in the storage unit 37 of the master device 38 not only in the initial state after starting the vehicle power source but also in the normal state. It is possible to have the operator check the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 in a normal state at the time of vehicle repair or the like.

  As is apparent from the above description, the vehicle sensor device 12 includes the MEMS 40 that generates behavior data corresponding to the vehicle behavior, the diagnostic block 42 that performs self-diagnosis at least in an initial state after the vehicle starts, and the MEMS 40. A transmitting / receiving unit 48 for transmitting and outputting the generated behavior data or self-diagnosis data indicating the result of self-diagnosis performed by the diagnosis block 42 to the master device 38 of the determination device 14 that executes control processing; And a setting unit ASIC configured to set data to be transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit to the master device in the normal state in a switchable manner between behavior data and self-diagnosis data based on vehicle behavior.

  According to this configuration, the data transmitted and output from the sensor device 12 for the vehicle to the master device 38 in the normal state after the start of the vehicle and the initial state are the behavior data and self-diagnosis according to the vehicle behavior based on the vehicle behavior. Switch with data. For this reason, it is possible to inform the master device 38 of the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 in a normal state. Also, in the normal state, when the vehicle behavior does not require, for example, control processing of the master device 38, the sensor device 12 for vehicle transmits and outputs self-diagnosis data to the master device 38, and the vehicle behavior controls the master device 38, for example. Behavior data can be transmitted and output from the vehicle sensor device 12 to the master device 38 when processing becomes necessary. Therefore, in the normal state after the start of the vehicle, the master device 38 is notified of the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 without affecting the data transmission of the vehicle behavior from the vehicle sensor device 12 to the master device 38. it can.

  In addition, the sensor unit 12 for vehicle sets data transmitted and output from the transmitting / receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state as the self-diagnosis data before the vehicle behavior indicates the predetermined threshold SH0 or more. After the vehicle behavior shows a predetermined threshold value SH0 or more, the self-diagnosis data is switched to the behavior data.

  According to this configuration, if it is before the vehicle behavior indicates the threshold value SH0 or more, it can be determined that it is the timing at which the control process of the master device 38 is not required. Therefore, the vehicle sensor device 12 performs self-diagnosis and the self-diagnosis result Is transmitted to the master device 38, the vehicle sensor device of the data corresponding to the vehicle behavior equal to or greater than the threshold SH0 which requires activation of the occupant protection device 16 due to the execution of the diagnosis data output function. The transmission output from 12 to the master device 38 is prevented from being hindered or delayed. Therefore, in the normal state after the start of the vehicle, the master device 38 is notified of the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 without affecting the data transmission of the vehicle behavior from the vehicle sensor device 12 to the master device 38. it can.

  In addition, the vehicle sensor device 12 is configured such that the setting unit ASIC 46 performs the behavior when a predetermined time Tsh has elapsed after the data to be transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state is switched to the behavior data. It is to switch from data to self-diagnosis data.

  According to this configuration, when the predetermined time Tsh elapses after switching to the behavior data in the normal state, data to be transmitted and output from the transmitting and receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 is switched from the behavior data to the self-diagnosis data. For this reason, it is possible to avoid transmitting and outputting behavior data corresponding to the vehicle behavior from the vehicle sensor device 12 to the master device 38 for an unnecessarily long time in a normal state after the vehicle activation. An opportunity to inform the master device 38 of the self-diagnosis result in the vehicle sensor device 12 can be ensured easily and reliably.

  Further, in the vehicle sensor device 12, the data transmitted and output from the transmitting and receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 in the initial state is self-diagnosis data. According to this configuration, since the self-diagnosis data is transmitted and output from the transmitting and receiving unit 48 to the master device 38 in the initial state after the vehicle is started, the master device 38 is notified of the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 in the initial state. Can.

  The vehicle sensor device 12 is one in which the vehicle behavior is acceleration, angular velocity or pressure acting on the vehicle. According to this configuration, in the normal state after the start of the vehicle, the master device 38 is not affected by transmission of acceleration, angular velocity, or pressure data acting on the vehicle from the vehicle sensor device 12 to the master device 38. The self-diagnosis result of the sensor device 12 can be notified.

  In addition, the sensor system 10 for vehicle includes the sensor device 12 for vehicle and the master device 38, and the master device 38 stores the self-diagnosis data transmitted and output from the transmitting and receiving unit 48 of the sensor device 12 for vehicle. A portion 37 is provided. According to this configuration, the self-diagnosis result of the sensor device 12 for the vehicle in the normal state after the start of the vehicle can be stored in the storage unit 37 of the master device 38, and at the time of vehicle maintenance or vehicle repair after the storage. The operator can check the self-diagnosis result of the vehicle sensor device 12 in the normal state.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the setting unit ASIC 46 transmits the data to be transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state for a predetermined time in a state where the vehicle behavior is less than the threshold value SH0 after switching to the behavior data. When Tsh has elapsed, the behavior data is switched to the self-diagnosis data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle collision is expected to end after the setting unit ASIC 46 switches the data transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state to the behavior data. When the predetermined time elapses, the behavior data may be switched to the self-diagnosis data. Also in this modification, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the data that the setting unit ASIC 46 transmits and outputs from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state is switched from the master device 38 to the behavior data. When a switching command is issued, the behavior data may be switched to the self-diagnosis data. In such a modified example, the data transmitted and output from the transmission / reception unit 48 to the master device 38 in the normal state is switched from the behavior data to the self-diagnosis data according to the command command from the master device 38, so that the vehicle behavior that the slave device 12 transmits and outputs. The master device 38 forcibly outputs the output function of the slave device 12 from the master device 38, for example, when the master device 38 detects that the data according to has been fixed in the high state or that the vehicle behavior has dropped below the threshold SH0. It is possible to shift to the function, and thereby to return to the mode of informing the master device 38 of the detailed state of the slave device 12.

  In the above embodiment, the vehicle sensor system 10 and the vehicle sensor device 12 are applied to an occupant protection system 18 including the occupant protection device 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a system that controls the turning behavior (that is, VSC) of the vehicle.

  10 vehicle sensor system, 12 vehicle sensor device, 14 determination device, 16 occupant protection device, 37 storage unit, 38 master device, 40 MEMS, 42 diagnosis block, 44 register memory, 46 setting unit ASIC, 48 transmission / reception unit.

Claims (5)

A sensor unit (40) that generates behavior data according to the vehicle behavior;
A diagnostic check unit (42) for performing a self-diagnosis at least in an initial state after the start of the vehicle;
Transmission unit (48) for transmitting and outputting the behavior data generated by the sensor unit or self-diagnosis data indicating the result of self-diagnosis performed by the diagnosis check unit to a master device (38) that executes control processing )When,
A setting unit (46) configured to switch data transmitted and output from the transmission unit to the master device in the normal state after the initial state, between the behavior data and the self-diagnosis data based on the vehicle behavior;
Equipped with a,
The setting unit sets data to be transmitted and output from the transmission unit to the master device in the normal state, in the self-diagnosis data before the vehicle behavior shows a predetermined threshold or more, and the vehicle behavior is the predetermined threshold A sensor apparatus for a vehicle , wherein after switching to the behavior data from the self-diagnosis data after switching to the behavior data, the behavior data is switched to the self-diagnosis data when a predetermined time has elapsed . A sensor unit (40) that generates behavior data according to the vehicle behavior;
A diagnostic check unit (42) for performing a self-diagnosis at least in an initial state after the start of the vehicle;
Transmission unit (48) for transmitting and outputting the behavior data generated by the sensor unit or self-diagnosis data indicating the result of self-diagnosis performed by the diagnosis check unit to a master device (38) that executes control processing )When,
A setting unit (46) configured to switch data transmitted and output from the transmission unit to the master device in the normal state after the initial state, between the behavior data and the self-diagnosis data based on the vehicle behavior;
With
The setting unit sets data to be transmitted and output from the transmission unit to the master device in the normal state, in the self-diagnosis data before the vehicle behavior shows a predetermined threshold or more, and the vehicle behavior is the predetermined threshold After showing the above, switching from the self-diagnosis data to the behavior data, and after switching to the behavior data, the self-diagnosis data from the behavior data when a predetermined command is issued from the master device Sensor device for vehicles to switch to. The data to be transmitted output to the master device from the transmitting unit, the vehicular sensor device of the self-diagnosis is data according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the initial state. The vehicle behavior, the acceleration acting on the vehicle, the angular velocity, or vehicle sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is the pressure. A vehicle sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 (12), a sensor system for a vehicle comprising, said master equipment (10),
The master equipment, the sensor system for a vehicle having a storage unit (37) for storing the self-diagnostic data sent outputted from said transmitting portion of the vehicle sensor device.

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