JPS62260283A - Processor for sensor signal of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify an input interface circuit, etc., by processing plural signals from various sensors mounted on an automobile so that respective control units use them easily, and distributing the control units. CONSTITUTION:The signals inputted from the sensors such as an automobile speed sensor 1 and an engine rotating speed sensor 2 are read in a microcomputer 43 through the input interface circuit 41 of a sensor signal processor 40. The microcomputer 43 computes the automobile speed, acceleration, etc., with the signal from the automobile speed sensor 1. The measurement and arithmetic results are read out of the sensor processor 40 in microcomputers 13 and 23 of control units such as an engine control unit 10 and a change gear control unit 20 through the output interface 44.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention provides a system that processes signals from various sensors that are redundantly used in each electronically controlled control unit and distributes them to various control units. The present invention relates to a senna signal processing device for an automobile.

[Conventional technology]

Automobiles are equipped with many electronic control devices, including engine control, transmission control, suspension control, steering control, brake control, and information control.

These electronic control units receive many signals from the sensor, including vehicle speed, engine speed, engine coolant temperature, throttle opening, and accelerator switch.

Conventionally, these electronic control units each had their own various sensors, or shared only the sensor, and had its input interface within the control unit. Well done,
The input sensor signals are processed and used in each electronic control unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional senna signal processing device for an automobile. In FIG. 2, 10 is a carrot control unit, 20 is a transmission control unit, 30 is a display device, a vehicle speed sensor 1, an engine rotation speed sensor 2, an idle switch 3, a throttle opening sensor 4, etc. In addition to the sensors commonly used by each unit, there are sensors unique to each control unit.

Collectively, they are referred to as sensors 5 for engine control, sensors 6 for transmission control, and sensors 7 for display device 30.

-! In addition, each control unit outputs to actuators (not shown).

Engine control unit 10. Transmission control unit) 20
, the display device 30, and other control devices each have a companion interface circuit for reading signals from sensors.

Engine control unit 1o, speed change m control unit 2
01 display device 30 is provided with interface circuits 11, 21, 31 and microcomputers 13, 23, 33, respectively.

The signals from the sensors are transferred to the microcomputers 13, 23 . . . by the interface circuits 11 , 21 .
33 is converted into a signal that is easy to process, and is input to each microcomputer 13, 23, and 33, where the signal is processed.

These microcomputers 13, 23, and 33 process the sensor signals in a manner convenient for calculation.
Generally speaking, all control units perform almost the same processing.

For example, vehicle speed is input as a nocelus signal, but the signal processing method is to measure the pulse period or the number of pulses input per unit time, convert it to vehicle speed, and store it in the internal memory. I remember 7. Depending on the object of measurement, time calculations may be performed on several measured values.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In conventional automotive sensor signal processing devices, signals from sensors required by each control unit are directly read into each control unit, so each control unit has a human interface circuit.

When a large number of such control units are installed, each of them can perform the same work t i %M,
This results in a lot of waste in terms of cost and mounting space.

However, the microcomputer that processes the sensor signals also spends some time processing the signals from the sensors, and uses internal ROM for programs and R for temporary memory.
There were problems such as the need to increase the AM.

The present invention is a ninth step in solving such problems, and can eliminate many duplications between control devices such as the use of sensor signal input interface circuits and microcomputer memory, thereby improving the system as a whole. An object of the present invention is to obtain an entire sensor signal processing device for an automobile, which can be made at low cost, requires less space, and can improve the performance of the device.

[Means for solving problems]

The automotive sensor signal processing device according to the present invention collects sensor signals that are commonly required by control units installed in a vehicle, processes them so that each control unit can easily use them, and processes them so that each control unit can easily use them. A sensor signal processing ifk is provided to be distributed to the control unit.

[For production]

In this invention, a plurality of signals are all inputted from each one sensor mounted on an automobile, and the signals are processed so as to be easily used by various control units mounted on the automobile, and distributed to the control device.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the sensor signal processing device for an automobile according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of one embodiment.

In FIG. 1, parts that are the same as those in FIG. 2 will be described with the same reference numerals in order to avoid redundant explanation, and parts that are different from those in FIG. 2 will be mainly described.

In FIG. 1, an engine control unit 1o1 transmission control unit 20, a display device 30, input interface circuits 12, 22, 32, microcomputers 13, 23, 33, and a simple input interface I
P! J paths 14, 24 and 34 are provided.

Input interface circuit 12 + 22 + 32i
'! Each receives signals from unique sensors 5 to 7. In addition, the input interface circuit 14.2
4.34 can read many sensor signals from the output interface circuit 44 of the sensor 1g processing device 40.

The sensor signal processing device 40 is the input interface circuit 4
1 all through, vehicle speed sensor 1, engine speed sensor 2,
Signals from the idle switch 3 and throttle opening sensor 4 are input, and a microcomputer 43 converts them into easily readable signals.

The microcomputer 43 inputs the signal from the input interface circuit 41, performs predetermined arithmetic processing, and outputs the signal through all the output interface circuits 44 to each of the input interface circuits 14 and 24 described above.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained. The original signals input from sensors such as the engine speed sensor 1, engine speed sensor 2, idle switch 3, and throttle opening sensor 4 are input to the input interface circuit 41 of the sensor signal processing device 40, where they are processed by the microcomputer 43. After being converted into an easily readable signal, it is read into the microcomputer 43.

In the microcomputer 43, for example, since the input from the vehicle speed sensor 1 is an e-Rus input, the period of the Nors is calculated by counting the number of Nors input per unit time. Calculate vehicle speed.

In addition, since the throttle opening sensor 4 is often an analog signal, the input interface circuit 41
Analog values are converted to digital values by providing an analog-to-digital converter or by using a microcomputer with a built-in analog-to-digital converter. This microcomputer 43 converts the read values in an easy-to-use manner.In addition, the microcomputer 43 has a built-in timer, so it can also calculate the rate of change in vehicle speed, rate of change in throttle opening, etc. can.

Furthermore, calculations between the measured values of these sensors, e.g.
If the relationship between throttle opening and engine rotation is stored in advance as a pattern, engine output power and output torque can also be calculated.

In this way, the sensor signal processing device 40 is provided in a form that is easy for each control unit to use. Sensor signal processing bag f
40, the measured and calculated results are outputted through the output interface circuit 4411: 1. The input interface circuit 14.24.34ft of each control unit is outputted to the microcomputer 13.23.33 of each control unit.
is loaded into.

The communication line that distributes this signal may be a single copper wire,
It can be just a few lines. Of course, the original fiber may also be used.

In the example, four sensors were used as an example: vehicle speed sensor 1, engine speed sensor 2, throttle opening sensor 4, and idle switch 3. However, the sensors are not limited to these, and the overall All you have to do is consider the system and decide which sensors to use, how many to use, and what kind of processing to use.

Furthermore, the more the number of control devices to be distributed increases, the more useful the sensor signal processing device 40 becomes.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention inputs a plurality of signals from various sensors installed in a car into a sensor signal processing device, processes them so that each control unit can easily process them, and distributes them to each control unit. This eliminates a lot of duplication between control devices, such as the use of conventional sensor signal input interface circuits and microcomputer memory, making the system as a whole cheaper and saving space. becomes smaller.

Furthermore, since the computer memory is freed up, there is an effect that the cutting power can be increased accordingly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is the origin of this invention! 1JllI Vehicle Sensor Signal Processing System [(7) Block Diagram of One Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle sensor signal processing system. 1...Vehicle speed sensor, 2...Engine speed sensor,
3... Idle switch, 4... Throttle opening sensor, 5-7... Sensor d, 10... Engine control unit, 12, 14, 22.24, 32, 34.41
...Input interface circuit, 13,23,33゜43...Microcomputer, 44...Output interface circuit. Note that the same reference numerals in the drawings indicate corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Sensor signals that input multiple signals from a plurality of control units installed in a car and various sensors installed in the car, process the signals so that they can be easily used by each control unit, and distribute them to each control unit. An automotive sensor signal processing device comprising a processing device.