JPH0626955B2 - Control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a handle rotatable relative to a chassis has control information to be supplied to an input device of an operating unit of the vehicle, the control signal being transmitted to the handle. By means of a common conductor to at least one receiver mounted on another vehicle part except the steering wheel, said receiver transmitting the control signal to the control signal for the actuation unit. An electrical control device for a vehicle adapted to convert.

In known control devices of this kind (see German published gazette 2847).
No. 922), an electric operating device is provided at the buffer cylinder of the steering wheel and can be used to supply information to the electric device inside the vehicle. Since a transmitter and receiver are used, one conductor is sufficient to convey information to all operating devices, the information being transmitted in the form of different pulses. Also, only one slip ring is required in this transmission line, which is considerably simpler than such a control device, which requires its own transmission line for each operating device. Furthermore, mounting an operating device such as a push button on the steering wheel instead of for example on the instrument panel has the advantage that the driver can more easily see and operate the operating device.

Furthermore, it is common practice to provide the handle with a horn contact, which is connected to the horn or a horn relay via a horn lead wire divided into the handle side and the chassis side by a slip ring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical control device as described at the outset, which does not require transmission conductors and slip rings and requires only a slight modification of the handle during installation.

This object is solved according to the invention by the following features: a) the handle has a horn contact as is known, which horn contact is the handle-side part (8) of the horn lead (5) and It is connected via a slip ring (7) to the horn (6) or to the part with the horn relay (9), b) the transmitter is designed to emit high frequency signals and its output blocks direct current Via the coupling element, it is connected to the horn lead wire portion on the handlebar side, and c) the receiver is connected to the horn lead wire portion on the chassis side via a coupling element for blocking direct current.

In such arrangements, most of the horn conductors also have been used to carry control signals. Also, no other loading slip rings are required. The high frequency signal can be directly coupled to the horn. This means that, on the one hand, the horn conductors have their spatial distance range (their length is about
1.5 m), and on the other hand connected horn,
Through the horn relay, it has, as a reactance, some inherent inductance that forms a potential difference for the coupled high frequency signal. Subsequently, the receiver decouples the corresponding high frequency signal. Furthermore, high frequencies have the advantage that they can be operated with very low currents and that the slip rings are not contaminated by high frequency currents even if they become dirty and form a capacitance. Since the high-frequency signal can include different control signals with different frequencies, different frequency modulations, and different amplification modulations, the number of control signals that can be input to the handle is not limited.

The transmitter advantageously has a voltage supply connected in parallel with a horn contact, one of which is connected to ground.
Therefore, the supply voltage of the transmitter is formed by the current flowing from the battery through the horn. Due to the small output of the high frequency signal, it is actually 5 mA, or about 1/100 of the horn operating current. This has the advantage that the transmitter does not require any further connection with the vehicle's battery, and that the transmitter does not have to be equipped with its own, occasionally-replaceable battery. There is. The high frequency range is actually about 10 KHz. The transmitter is reasonably 40 to 60 KHz, preferably about
Designed to 50KHz. This frequency gives the best transmission results, taking into account the usual horn leads and horns or horn relays.

Advantageously, the transmitter output and / or the receiver input comprises capacitive coupling elements.

In the most preferred embodiment, the transmitter has a modulator capable of supplying a high frequency carrier signal for generating a high frequency signal and a binary code containing a control signal, and the receiver has a corresponding demodulator. It seems to be doing. The high frequency signal modulated by such a binary code allows very easy discrimination between various control information.

In particular, the binary signal is modulated onto the carrier signal as a Bi-Phase-Code. This gives a higher degree of certainty in the transmission.

In yet another embodiment, the transmitter has an actuation sequence control (ablaufsteuerung) that modulates the binary signal in a multiplex, continuous manner onto the carrier signal, and the receiver is a multiplex sequence of the above binary signals. It is possible to have a test device that emits a control signal when it receives a code. In this way high redundancy is achieved.

It is further advantageous if the transmitter has an operating sequence control that issues a clear signal after the input of the control information.
From this clear signal, the receiver detects that no further information is transmitted. In this way, for example, the control signal can be terminated at the actuation unit.

A switching device for switching the transmitter from the rest position to the transmission operation position by inputting a control signal is also recommended. Energy can be saved by switching from the "standby mode" to the "transmission mode".

An encoder in which one or more actuated pushbuttons of the pushbutton group used as input device are indicated by a binary code, and a parallel-series-in which the binary code is supplied to the modulator.
If it has a transformer, it will have a very simple structure on the transmitter side.

Similarly, if the receiver decodes the binary signal given by the demodulator and feeds it through the series-parallel-transformer as a control signal to the corresponding actuating unit, it is very easy to feed on the receiver side. If so, the configuration becomes very simple on the receiver side.

In another solution, the input device is infrared (1R-Strahlun
g) is provided by means of which a transmitter for emitting infrared radiation is provided for transmitting control information by means of radiation pulses. Such an oscillator also has the advantage that the control signal is input to the steering wheel directly from elsewhere. In this case, the means attached to the handle can fulfill its purpose particularly well for infrared radiation. For example, the transmitter, when activated,
It is possible to have a selector device which emits binary coded continuous radiation. In this way one or more control signals are produced by the oscillator.

A reservoir formed on the side of the handle for the receiver adjacent to the infrared responsive means is also convenient. The transmitter is thus kept in a fixed position by the steering wheel during travel, ie it can be operated freely, for example when the transmitter can provide control information for opening and closing the latch of the door. In another embodiment, the transmitter comprises a rechargeable storage battery, wherein charging contacts are provided on the side of the reservoir, among these charging contacts,
One is connected to the horn conductor and the other is connected to earth. Therefore, the storage battery of the transmitter is charged via the horn lead wire while traveling.

In another embodiment, each of the plurality of actuating units is correlated with its adjacent receiver, said receiver being coupled to a mains supply lead carrying a battery voltage.
It is also possible to check the high-frequency signal available by the receiver with a lead carrying the battery voltage. Furthermore,
Since the actuation unit is connected to the mains power supply, it does not need any additional control conductors.

Furthermore, the voltage supply of the transmitter has a diode circuit for balancing the DC voltage. In this way, high frequency short circuits via the capacitors of the voltage supply are prevented.

An assembly having a component attachable to the handle and having at least a transmitter with a terminal for connection to the handle-side horn lead and a ground terminal is also advantageous. Therefore, in the simplest case, this component simply needs to be incorporated additionally or instead of other handle parts. Minimal changes should be made to typical implementations.

In most cases, if the assembly is at least attachable to a handle unrelated to the component and has an input connected to the component by a conductor,
The handle can be easily refitted.

The term "horn" is meant to include all acoustic signal generators and all controls via relays.

The invention is explained in detail below by means of preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 clearly shows a steering wheel area 1 and a chassis area 2, which are separated by a dotted line 3. The chassis area includes all parts of the vehicle except the steering wheel. The steering wheel has a horn contact 4 which is connected on one side to ground, which is connected to the battery voltage U on one side via the horn conductor 5 and is located in the chassis area. It is connected to the horn 6. The horn lead wire 5 has a slip ring 7 in a separated portion of the area 1 and the area 2, and is divided into a steering wheel side portion 8 and a chassis side portion 9 by this slip ring.

Mounted on the handle is a transmitter 10 with an input device 11 formed as a pushbutton area. The output 12 of the transmitter is connected to the horn lead wire section 8 on the handle side. The transmitter 10 is, for example, a transmitter operating at 50 KHz.
Have 13. Via the operation sequence controller 14,
The oscillator is connected to the modulator 15. Encoder 16
Produces a binary code by pressing the pushbutton 11a of the input device 11. This is converted into a series of pulses in the parallel / series transformer 17 and supplied to the modulator 15. At its output side, a high frequency signal modulated into a bi-phase code (Bi-Phase-Code) is generated. It is amplified via the driver stage 18 and coupled to the horn conductor 5 via the coupling capacitor 19. Also connected to the output 12 is a voltage supply 20, which has a voltage stabilizing circuit which is supplied from the battery voltage U via the horn lead 5. This voltage stabilizing circuit usually includes a capacitor. Furthermore, the voltage supply 20 is equipped with a diode which balances the two currents and voltages, so that a short circuit which weakens the high-frequency signal via this capacitor does not occur.

In the chassis area 2, a receiver 21 is provided, the input 22 of which is connected to the horn lead wire portion 9 on the chassis side. Controls one of a number of actuating units 23, shown as a relay connected to. Similarly, the receiver also has an oscillator 24 operated at 50 KHz.
This oscillator 24 is connected via an actuation sequence controller 25 to a demodulator and decoder 26, to which a high frequency signal is fed from an input 22 via a coupling capacitor 27 and a bandpass filter amplifier 28. The decoded signal is tested in a test device 29 and converted via a series-parallel transformer 30 into a control signal, which control signal is controlled via a driver stage 31 and an output conductor 32.
Supplied to 23. The receiver 21 has a voltage supply 33 corresponding to the voltage supply of the transmitter 10.

In operation, pushbutton 11a is constantly checked for operation. When the push button 11a is pressed, the transmitter 10 is switched from the rest position to the transmission operating position. Specific control information is converted into a binary signal, that is, a two-phase code in the encoder 16 by the selected push button 11a, and in the modulator 15,
The carrier frequency is modulated to 50KHz.

The operation sequence controller 14 is designed so that the high-frequency signal thus formed is repeated, for example, every 40 ms. When the push button 11a is released, a clear signal is transmitted, from which the receiver 21 detects that no further information can be transmitted. Due to the inherent inductance of the horn conductor 5 and the horn 6, a potential difference is formed due to the high frequency signal. In this case, the signal amplitude is about 0.3 to 0.7 volt.

External disturbance voltage stray effect (externe strspann-ungseinst
Due to the presence of a significant disturbance (Strundergrund) due to reuung (ignition spark, electric motor), the high frequency signal is capacitively decoupled from the horn conductor 5 in the receiver 21 and fed to the tuned broadband amplifier 28. , Which can further selectively amplify the 0.5 mV signal. A square wave signal is obtained from the high frequency signal in demodulator 26 and represents the transmitted two-phase code. Corresponding information serially −
In order to supply the desired actuating unit 23 via the parallel transformer 30 and the driver stage 31, the next code test in the test equipment 29 requires three transmissions of the same binary code. As the operating unit, various controllable devices of the vehicle, such as a headlight, a window switch, a ventilation / air-conditioning device, etc. can be considered. The actuating unit may also be a measuring and / or indicating device for making and / or displaying measurements upon the generation of the corresponding control signal.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the corresponding parts of FIG.
Reference numbers plus 0 are used. The arrangement of the horn 4, the horn lead wire 5, and the horn 6 is the same as in FIG. In this case, the transmitter 10 with the output 12 is connected to the horn conductor part 9 on the handle side. However, the receivers 121 and 121a are eccentrically mounted on the vehicle and are closely adjacent to their associated actuation units 123, 123a, respectively. Inputs 122 and 122a come from conductor 33 which carries the battery voltage U of the mains supply. However, the high frequency signal at this position is slightly weaker than that at the horn lead wire portion 9 on the vehicle body side. However, the receivers 121, 121a are immediately implemented by this selection and amplification so that the control information is received correctly. Each receiver provides a control signal to its associated actuation unit only when its associated coded signal is received.

In FIG. 3, a rim 34, a hub 35 with a plate 36 for actuating the horn 4 and a connecting link (Vervindung
The handle 1 which has sstreben) 37 is specified. The receiver 10 is built into the hub. Input device
11 comprises two pushbutton housings 38 and 39, each of which has three pushbuttons 11a, each of which has a symbol mark. 40 are arranged.

FIG. 4 shows the handle of FIG. 3 in a disassembled state. The handle 1 is connected to a hub 41 attached to a handle post 42. This handle post 42 is a bearing
Held at 43. Below the hub 41 is the sliding surface 44 of the slip ring 7. The bearing 43 is fitted with an associated slider 45. The sliding surface 44 is connected to a handle-side part 8 of the horn conductor and a slider 45 with a chassis-side part 9 of the horn conductor. All "-" marked parts are at ground potential, whether they be specific wire connections or parts that are communicated to each other through mechanical devices. In the area of the hub 41, below the horn contact 4, there is a component 46 containing the transmitter 10. This component 46
Are connected to the pushbutton housings 38 to 39 via conductors 47 and 48, respectively. The output 12 is formed by a penetrating pin, so that the plug 49 of the original horn conductor is inserted directly into one end of said pin, only the short additional conductor 50 being connected to the other end of the pin and the horn contact 4. Must be installed between terminal 51 and. Such an arrangement can be easily retrofitted and installed in current vehicles.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a recessed reservoir 52 is provided in the fixed center plate 136 of the handle 101. On the front wall is an input device 111 in the form of means responsive to infrared radiation. On its opposite side there are charging contacts 53 and 54 formed as two plugs, of which one is connected to the output 12 of the transmitter and the other to ground. The transmitter 55 is able to transmit the control signal to the input device 111 via radiation pulses by means 56 for producing infrared radiation. For example, a selector device 57 equipped with a contactless switching sensor can be used to select specific control information and transmit it to the transmitter via the coupling position 56/111. The transmitter 55 has two plug sockets 59 and 60 with which the filling contacts and plugs engage when the transmitter is inserted into the reservoir 52. Via these plugs the storage battery of the transmitter can be charged while running. The input device 111 is, however, also when it is not in storage, and for example from outside the vehicle, especially when unlatching doors.
Can be operated by a transmitter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a control device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a modified embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a handle equipped according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of this handle. FIG. 5 is a partial view of another embodiment. 4 ... horn contact, 5 ... horn conductor, 6 ... horn, 10 ... transmitter, 11 ... input device, 12 ... transmitter output, 16 ... encoder, 19 ... coupling capacitor, 22 ... … Input, 23 …… actuator unit, 24 …… transmitter, 26 …… demodulator and decoder.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Reiner Buchmann, Federal Republic of Germany, 6000 Frankfurt Main, 7 Mairendelsciutrace (56) References JP-A-59-32540 (JP, A) JP-A-58-58- 36742 (JP, A)

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A steering wheel rotatable relative to a chassis has control information to be supplied to an input device of an operating unit of the vehicle, the control signal being removed by a transmitter mounted on the steering wheel Electrical control device for a vehicle, which is capable of being transmitted via a common conductor to a receiver mounted on at least a part of the vehicle of the said vehicle, said receiver converting the control signal into a control signal for said actuation unit. A) the handle (1) has a horn contact (4), and the horn contact passes through the handle-side portion (8) and the slip ring (7) of the horn lead wire (5), Of the horn (6) to the part of the horn conductor (9) with a horn relay, b) the transmitter (10) is designed to emit a high frequency signal, and its output is a direct current Via a coupling element (19) that prevents Is connected to Le side horn conductor portion (8), c) a receiver (21) is a coupling element for blocking a direct current (27)
It is directly connected to the vehicle body side horn signal wire portion (9) of the vehicle body side slip ring (7), horn (6) and horn relay via the A control device, wherein a binary code signal is converted into a control signal of the actuation unit. 2. A voltage supply unit in which the transmitter (10) is connected in parallel with the horn contact (4) whose one side is grounded.
Claim (1) is characterized by having (20)
Control device according to the item. 3. Controller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transmitter (10) is set to a frequency of 40 to 60 KHz, preferably 50 KHz. 4. The transmitter output (12) and / or the receiver input comprises a capacitive coupling element (19, 27), as claimed in claims 1 to 3. The control device according to any one of the above items. 5. The transmitter (10) has a modulator (15) capable of supplying a binary code containing a high frequency carrier signal and the control information for generating a high frequency signal, and the receiver (10) twenty one)
Has a corresponding demodulator (26), wherein the binary code is modulated on the high-frequency carrier signal as a binary phase code. The control device according to any one of the items. 6. The transmitter (10) has an operating sequence (14) for continuously multiplexing the binary code onto the high frequency carrier signal, and the receiver (21) is multiplexed. Of consecutive,
6. Control device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has a test device (29) which emits said control signal when the same binary signal is received. 7. The transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter (10) has an operation sequence (14) for issuing a clear signal after the input of the control information is completed. The control device according to any one of the above items. 8. A switching device for switching the transmitter (10) from a pause device to a transmission position by inputting control information, according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The control device according to one item. 9. An encoder in which the transmitter (10) is used as an input device (11) and one or a plurality of operated pushbuttons (11a) of a group of pushbuttons is indicated by a binary signal. (16),
9. A parallel-series transformer (17) for supplying the binary code to the modulator (15), as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8. The control device described in one section. 10. The receiver (21) decodes the binary code supplied from the demodulator to obtain a serial-parallel transformer (30).
Control device according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a decoder (26) for feeding as a control signal to the corresponding actuating unit (23) via . 11. The input device (111) is an infrared ray (1R-Stra).
HLung) responsive means, on which means is provided an oscillator (55) for generating infrared radiation for transmitting control information by means of radiation pulses. The control device according to any one of items 8 to 10, and 10. 12. A transmitter (55), characterized in that it comprises at least one selector device (57) which, in operation, emits binary coded successive radiation pulses. The control device according to item 11. 13. A reservoir (52) for said transmitter (55) formed in a handle (101) adjacent to an infrared responsive means (111). The control device according to claim 11 or claim 12. 14. The transmitter (55) includes a rechargeable storage battery, and a charging contact (53, 54) is provided on the side of the storage, one of which is the horn conductor (5). ) Is connected to
14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the other is connected to the ground. 15. A plurality of actuating units (123; 123a) each being arranged on a receiver adjacent to it, said receiver being coupled to a mains lead (33) carrying a battery voltage. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 characterized in that: 16. The voltage supply unit (20) of the transmitter (10) has a diode circuit for DC voltage balancing, as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15. The control device according to item 1. 17. A handle comprising a terminal (12) for connecting to a horn lead wire (8) on the side of the handle and a ground terminal.
17. An assembly which is attachable to (1) and which has a component (46) containing at least said transmitter (10). The control device according to any one of the above items. 18. At least one of said components irrespective of an input portion (38,39) attachable to said handle (1), wherein said assembly is connected to said component by a conductor (47,48). The control device according to claim 17, further comprising (46).