JP7226195B2 - Network system and controller - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a network system mounted on a vehicle or the like and a control device included in the system .

A vehicle is equipped with a plurality of devices such as electronic devices and electrical components called ECUs (Electronic Control Units). Even if the vehicle's power supply is in the ignition off state or accessory off state, the amount of power stored in the battery decreases due to standby current, leakage current, etc. (collectively referred to as dark current) of the device, and the amount of power stored in the battery decreases if left for a long time. There is a risk that the battery will be in a state below the fixed amount (depleted battery).

Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for suppressing the dead battery during transportation after vehicle manufacture. In the technique of Patent Document 1, a first power supply line used during the transportation period and a second power supply line used after the transportation period are provided between the battery and the device, and the second power supply line is electrically connected during the transportation period. Remove the fuse that causes the A relay that is controlled to be in a closed state when the ignition is turned on is provided on the second power line. As a result, during transportation, the current to the device is interrupted to suppress the dark current except when the ignition is turned on for temporary running.

JP 2010-137748 A

In the technique of Patent Document 1, a new relay is provided that is used only during transportation. However, it is not realistic in terms of cost to provide such parts whose use opportunities are extremely limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a network system and a control device included in the network system that can suppress the dead battery at low cost during the transportation period after the vehicle is manufactured.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a network system mounted on a vehicle , including a control device as a host device, an intermediate device under control of the control device, and a low-level device under control of the intermediate device. The control device includes a detection unit for detecting that a predetermined fuse has been removed from a predetermined power line and that the predetermined fuse has been attached to a predetermined power line; a control unit that notifies an intermediate device to which power is supplied without a fuse, and the control unit of the control device detects that a predetermined fuse has been removed, the control unit of the control device notifying the intermediate device . When the detection unit detects that a predetermined fuse is installed, it notifies the intermediate device to cancel the suppression of current consumption, and the control unit of the intermediate device sends a control When receiving a notification to suppress the current consumption from the device, the notification to suppress the current consumption is transferred to the lower device, and when the notification to cancel the suppression of the current consumption is received from the control device, the lower device sends the notification to the lower device. A network system that forwards notifications to unthrottle .

According to the present invention, the network system and the control device detect the removal of the fuse and perform control to suppress the power consumption. A control device can be provided that can be suppressed.

1 is a configuration diagram of a control device and its peripherals according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing processing during transportation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

In one embodiment of the present invention, removal of a predetermined fuse during transit removes power to a device that can be shut down during transit. When the control device detects that a predetermined fuse has been removed, the control device shifts the device, which requires constant operation even during transportation, to a state of suppressing unnecessary power consumption. As a result, it is possible to suitably suppress the dead battery. In addition, the control device can simply monitor the voltage of a predetermined power line, for example, in order to detect removal of a predetermined fuse.

(embodiment)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a control device 10 and its peripheral parts according to this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the control device 10 is provided as an upper node of the network system 1 as an example. The control device 10 is a high-level device that is a high-level node, under which there is a device (middle-level device) 20 that is a middle-level node, and under the middle-level node there is a device (lower-level device) 30 that is a low-level node. In the example shown in FIG. 1, one intermediate node and one lower node under it are shown. A plurality of subordinate nodes exist in the neighborhood.

The control device 10, which is a host device, is, for example, a relatively sophisticated ECU that collectively executes calculations for various vehicle control functions.

The device 30, which is a lower device, is, for example, a sensor or an actuator, and an ECU having relatively specialized functions for individually controlling them.

The device 20 as an intermediate device is, for example, an ECU that functions as a gateway that relays communication between the control device 10 and the device 30 . The device 20 is connected to the control device 10 via a communication line 101 and is connected to a subordinate device 30 via a communication line 102 .

In this example, a control device 10, which is a host device, collects information about the vehicle and its surroundings from a sensor control device 30 via a device 20, which is a gateway. This information includes, for example, the operating state of actuators, etc., the running state of the vehicle, such as speed and acceleration, the environmental conditions of roads and targets around the vehicle, the seating conditions of the occupants, and the details of operations performed on each part of the vehicle. etc. Some switches such as the start switch and sensors may be directly connected to the control device 10, and the control device 10 acquires information from these switches and sensors without going through the device 20. You may Based on these pieces of information, the control device 10 performs calculations and generates control data. Control data includes automatic driving functions, automatic parking functions, collision avoidance, lane keeping, following the vehicle in front, driving support functions such as speed maintenance, operation control of the engine, transmission, cooler, air conditioner, and charge/discharge control of the battery. , lighting of headlamps according to illuminance, permission to unlock doors by authentication of a portable device (electronic key), presentation of information to the user, and other vehicle control data. The control device 10 transmits control data to the device 20 and causes the device 20 to perform operations according to the control data. In addition, the control device 10 transmits control data to the device 30 via the device 20, which is a gateway, and causes it to perform an operation according to the control data. In such a network system 1, by consolidating various control functions of the vehicle in the highly functional control device 10, the configuration of the device 20 and the device 30 can be relatively simplified to reduce overall costs. We are trying to

Each of the above devices typically includes a control unit such as a processor or microcomputer and a memory, but some subordinate devices include sensors and actuators but do not include a control unit or memory. There may be

Battery 50 powers controller 10 , device 20 , and device 30 . The battery 50 also supplies power to other devices mounted on the vehicle. FIG. 1 illustrates a DC cut target device 40 as part of another device. The DC cut target device 40 is a device that does not need to operate during the period from the manufacture of the vehicle to the delivery to the user, and there is no problem even if the power supply itself is stopped during this period. The DC cut target device 40 is, for example, a navigation device, an ETC (electronic toll collection device), a HUD (head-up display), or the like. Although the DC cut target device 40 is not included in the network system 1 described above in FIG. Moreover, the number may be plural.

The control device 10 receives power supply from a battery 50 via a power line 52 . A fuse 62 may be provided in the power line 52 . Device 20 is powered by battery 50 via power line 53 . A fuse 63 may be provided in the power line 53 . Device 30 is powered by battery 50 via power line 54 . A fuse 64 may be provided on the power line 54 .

The DC cut target device 40 receives power supply from the battery 50 via the power line 51 . A fuse (DC cut fuse) 61 is provided in the power line 51 . The power line 51 is also connected to the control device 10 . The power line 51 may be provided with fuses 65 and 66 in addition to the fuse 61 . When the fuse 61 is removed, power supply to the DC cut target device 40 is stopped, but power supply to the control device 10, device 20, and device 30 is not stopped.

The control device 10 includes a detection unit 11 that detects whether the fuse 61 has been removed from or attached to the power line 51, and, as described later, when detecting that the fuse 61 has been removed from the power line 51, It includes a control unit 12 that notifies subordinate devices 20 to suppress current consumption. The control unit 12 also performs various vehicle control functions as described above. Note that the connection topology of the network system 1 is not particularly limited and can be changed as appropriate as long as the control device 10 can execute such control.

After the vehicle is manufactured at the factory, it undergoes final inspections, protective wraps, etc., is stored in the yard, and from there it is loaded onto trucks or ships for transportation, or mounted during transportation. and then brought to the dealer. Vehicles brought to the dealer are handed over to the user. Here, for example, the period from the end of the final inspection until delivery to the dealer is called the transportation period. Even during transportation, there are minimum necessary operations such as the vehicle running by itself for a short period of time, so the network system 1 is required to operate at least a part of its functions.

Conventionally, during transportation, for example, at the end of inspection or when wrapping is applied, some fuses are removed and the power supply to some devices is stopped. Suppression of dark current has been performed. Focusing on this, the present embodiment not only stops the power supply to the DC cut target device 40 but also reduces the current consumption of other devices included in the network system 1 with the removal of the fuse 61 from the power supply line 51 as a trigger. Suppression is performed. This processing will be described below.

<Processing>
Processing of the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed during transportation.

(Step S101): The detection unit 11 of the control device 10 detects that the fuse 61 has been removed based on, for example, a change in the voltage of the power line 51 connected to the control device 10 .

(Step S102): The control unit 12 of the control device 10 notifies the intermediate device 20 via the communication line 101 to reduce power consumption.

(Step S103): Upon receiving the notification from the control device 10, the device 20 stops all processes other than the necessary predetermined processes during the transportation period. For example, the device 20 stops processing that periodically activates and communicates with the control device 10 and the device 30 . In addition, the device 20 appropriately transfers a notification for suppressing power consumption to the device 30, which is a subordinate device, via the communication line 102. FIG. When the device 30 receives the notification, it also suspends processes other than those necessary during the transportation period.

As a result, the operation mode of the network system 1 transitions from the normal mode to the transportation mode in which power consumption is suppressed. Even in the transportation mode, when the worker presses the start switch and performs an operation such as turning on the ignition for the purpose of making the vehicle self-propelled, the control device 10 controls the devices 20 and 30 to start the engine. start-up and other processing. Thus, in the transportation mode, the control device 10 and the devices 20 and 30 perform predetermined operations that are permitted as necessary operations during transportation, such as starting the engine, and control for ensuring safety thereof. . However, the control device 10 and the devices 20 and 30 do not perform any other control. In addition, even when the control device 10 and the devices 20 and 30 control the permitted predetermined operations in the transport mode, it is assumed that the vehicle will travel in limited situations such as short-distance movement within the yard. Based on this, it is possible to perform specific control that is not in the normal mode control, such as setting a vehicle speed limit.

(Step S104): The detection unit 11 of the control device 10 detects that the fuse 61 has been attached based on, for example, a change in the voltage of the power line 51 or the like.

(Step S<b>105 ): The control unit 12 of the control device 10 notifies the intermediate device 20 via the communication line 101 to cancel the suppression of power consumption.

(Step S106): Upon receiving the notification from the control device 10, the device 20 resumes the stopped predetermined process. In addition, the device 20 notifies the device 30, which is a subordinate device under it, via the communication line 102 to cancel the suppression of power consumption. When the device 30 receives the notification, it also resumes the stopped process.

As a result, the operating mode of the vehicle transitions from the transportation mode to the normal mode. After that, the control device 10 and the devices 20 and 30 perform control according to general product specifications for users as control in the normal mode. After that, the process ends, and the vehicle is ready to be handed over to the user.

(effect)
In this embodiment, the power supply to the DC cut target device 40 for which there is no problem even if the power supply itself is stopped is stopped during the transportation period, and the device that may need to operate during the transportation period. As for 20 and 30, the control device 10 limits the contents of the operation and makes a transition to a transportation mode that suppresses unnecessary power consumption. As a result, it is possible to suitably suppress the dead battery during transportation.

The control device 10 detects the removal and installation of the fuse, which is conventionally performed during transportation, and thereby suppresses and cancels the suppression of power consumption, respectively. There is no need to introduce new tools or add new processes for the work. In addition, in order for the control device 10 to detect the removal and installation of the fuse, it is sufficient to simply monitor the voltage of the power line, for example, and the cost can be reduced compared to providing a relay or the like.

The control device 10 can be implemented as a host device that collectively executes vehicle control in the network system 1, and suitably controls the devices 20 and 30 to ensure necessary operations and safety during transportation. and necessary processing can be reliably executed in accordance with predetermined specifications. It should be noted that if the control device 10 can appropriately notify devices such as the devices 20 and 30 of power consumption suppression and suppression release according to the removal and installation of fuses, the control device 10 can be implemented as such a host device. It doesn't have to be.

The present invention includes not only a control device, but also a network system including the control device, a control method executed by the control device having a processor and a memory, a control program, a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium storing the control program, It can be regarded as a vehicle or the like equipped with a network system. Moreover, the present invention can be applied to a control device other than a control device mounted on a vehicle.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for control systems mounted on vehicles and the like.

1 network system 10 control device 20, 30 device 40 DC cut target device 50 battery 51, 52, 53, 54 power line 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 fuse 101, 102 communication line

Claims (1)

A network system mounted on a vehicle including a control device that is a host device, an intermediate device that is subordinate to the control device, and a subordinate device that is subordinate to the intermediate device,
The control device is
a detection unit for detecting that a predetermined fuse has been removed from a predetermined power line and that the predetermined fuse has been attached to the predetermined power line ;
a control unit that performs a predetermined notification to the intermediate device mounted on the vehicle and supplied with power without passing through the predetermined fuse ;
The control unit of the control device,
when the detection unit detects that the predetermined fuse has been removed, notifying the intermediate device to suppress current consumption;
when the detection unit detects that the predetermined fuse is attached, notifying the intermediate device to cancel suppression of current consumption;
The control unit of the intermediate device,
Upon receiving a notification for suppressing the current consumption from the control device, transferring the notification for suppressing the current consumption to the lower device;
Upon receiving a notification for canceling the suppression of current consumption from the control device, transferring the notification for canceling the suppression of current consumption to the lower device;
network system.

Images