WO2010109097A1

WO2010109097A1 - Control method and assembly for the top of a motor vehicle steering column

Info

Publication number: WO2010109097A1
Application number: PCT/FR2010/000248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Hallet
Original assignee: Sc2N
Priority date: 2009-03-26
Filing date: 2010-03-23
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Also published as: FR2943587B1; FR2943587A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a control method for the top of a motor vehicle steering column, implemented in a control assembly consisting of: a switching assembly comprising a base substrate having a plurality of locations connectable to switching modules, and a switching assembly management microcontroller, each location including two inputs that are connected respectively to two corresponding outputs of the microcontroller and including at least two outputs connected to the same inputs of the microcontroller; and at least one switching module which is connected to a location on the switching assembly, said module having at least one switch capable of going into a switching state on the basis of a control position applied by a user. The invention is characterized in that the method comprises: a first step wherein a signal is sent to each output of the microcontroller and, for each signal sent, the inputs of the microcontroller are read successively so as to identify if an input from among the set of inputs received a corresponding signal that passed through a switching module; and a second step wherein the resulting corresponding input/output combinations are associated with a command from a database so as to generate at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled. The invention also relates to a corresponding switching assembly for the top of a motor vehicle steering column.

Description

Method and control assembly for a motor vehicle steering column top

The present invention relates to a method and a control assembly for the top of a steering column of a motor vehicle. Control assemblies for a motor vehicle steering column top are widely known in the art. Such assemblies include in the same system several switching modules for, for example, controlling headlights, wipers, audio functions, telephony functions or speed controllers, connected to a sub-steering switch assembly. For many years it has been found that vehicles are more and more personalized in their equipment, which makes it necessary to adapt the switching modules around the steering wheel to the equipment actually present on the vehicle. Thus, the modularity of a control unit is an important factor in being able to easily adapt a basic set with several optional modules to the expressed needs of the customer and to be able to propose sets of orders at an acceptable cost price.

Document WO2004 / 098950 discloses a top-of-column control unit which has modules that can be connected to a motherboard with a microcontroller. In this document, the switch modules have identical connectors for connection to the motherboard and each module has an identification code. Combined with this identification code, the change of the switching state of one of the switches of a module is interpreted to provide an output signal to the equipment to be controlled.

Thus, good modularity of this control unit is guaranteed. However, it appears from this document that all the outputs of the control modules must be connected to a corresponding input of the microcontroller which will have the disadvantage of a very large number of tracks on the motherboard and especially a high number of inputs for the microcontroller , which increases the cost price of it considerably. To reduce the number of microcontroller inputs, the aforementioned document proposes to add in the electrical circuit a multiplexer. However, this solution does not seem satisfactory since it is necessary to provide an additional electronic component in the circuit.

In addition, since for each switch of a module, it is necessary to provide a dedicated input microcontroller, subsequent changes and future changes require changes to the motherboard and its components resulting in significant development costs.

According to a first control management implementation described in document WO2007028887, the switching assembly comprises a base support having a plurality of locations that can be connected to switch module connectors, each module having a specific identifier and a microcontroller. housed on a motherboard, connectable to each switching module and used to interpret a switching state according to the identifier of the module to provide an appropriate control signal. The motherboard has several branch locations having an identical number N of predefined connection tracks and each of which can accommodate the connection of a switching module. Each module has an identical number N of predefined tracks for connection to associated tracks of the motherboard. The equivalent output tracks of each switching module are interconnected and connected together on the same input of the microcontroller, and the switching assembly comprises for each location means for activating reading of a switching state of a connected module. at this location, these activation means being controlled by the microcontroller.

In this first embodiment, the microcontroller has analog inputs configured for analog and periodic readout of the switching states of the modules, for example by reading voltage or resistance ranges. This gives a low-cost modular switching assembly.

According to a second embodiment of command management, the microcontroller has digital inputs configured for a digital readout and simultaneous switching states of the modules. It can thus simultaneously activate the reading of a binary word representative of the switching states of all locations. The switching states of the switching modules can then be derived from digital signal sequences sent and corresponding digital signals received.

The present invention aims at providing a third embodiment of alternative management of the commands of the switching assembly for which the number of inputs and outputs of the microcontroller necessary to process the information from each location of the switching assembly is reduced.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a control method for a motor vehicle steering column top implemented in a control assembly comprising: a switching assembly comprising:

A base carrier having a plurality of locations connectable to switch modules, and

A microcontroller for managing the switching assembly, each location comprising two inputs being respectively connected to two corresponding outputs of said microcontroller and comprising at least two outputs connected to the same inputs of said microcontroller, at least one switching module connected to a location; of the switching assembly, said module having at least one switch that can assume a switching state as a function of a control position applied by a user, characterized in that it comprises:

a first step in which a signal is sent on each output of the microcontroller and for each signal sent, successively reads said inputs of said microcontroller to identify if one of the set of inputs has received a corresponding signal having passed through a module; switching device, a second step in which the corresponding input - output combinations obtained are combined with a command from a database to output at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled. There is thus obtained a control method for a motor vehicle steering column top for which the number of inputs and outputs of the microcontroller necessary to process the information from each location of the switching assembly is reduced. According to one characteristic of said control method, said database is in the form of a correspondence matrix table.

The invention also relates to a control assembly for the top of a motor vehicle steering column comprising:

a basic support having a plurality of locations that can be connected to switching modules, and

a microcontroller for managing the switching assembly, each slot comprising two inputs being respectively connected to two corresponding outputs of said microcontroller and comprising at least two outputs connected to the same inputs of said microcontroller, at least one switching module connected to a location of the switching assembly, said module having at least one switch that can assume a switching state as a function of a control position applied by a user, characterized in that said microcontroller comprises a memory in which is stored a base of control data according to combinations of input-outputs and in that said microcontroller is configured to successively send a signal to each output of the microcontroller, successively read the inputs of said microcontroller for each signal sent, and identify whether an input of set of inputs, received a signal corresponding having passed through a switching module, associate the resulting input-output combination with a corresponding command from said stored database, and output at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled. According to one or more features of said single combination control assembly, said database comprises a correspondence matrix table, the switching assembly comprises four locations arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the base support: a first location being dedicated to lighting functions, a second location being dedicated to the wiping functions, a third location being dedicated to the speed control functions or the telephone functions or the navigation functions and a fourth location being dedicated to the audio functions or the functions of the telephone or navigation functions, the switching modules have on the one hand a clean mechatronics which translates a movement of a user into a change of switching state and, on the other hand, a mechanical and electrical connection to said standardized support to be identical for all said switching modules It must be connected to the base support so that each switching module can be mechanically connected in each location of said support, the switching module connected to said first or second location comprises an elongated lever having at least one actuatable switch. in pivoting and at least one ring rotatably mounted on said lever and whose rotation makes it possible to actuate at least one second switch, the switching module connected to said third or said fourth location comprises a pallet-shaped lever having at least one switch at the free end of said lever and a rotary wheel partially accessible from outside said lever and whose actuation in rotation allows to actuate at least a second switch. Other advantages and features will become apparent upon reading the description of the invention, as well as the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1a is a perspective view of a first example of a control assembly; FIG. is a view similar to FIG. 1a showing a second example of a control unit, FIG. 1c is a view similar to FIG. 1a showing a third example of a control unit, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of connection of FIG. a portion of the electrical circuits of an exemplary embodiment of a control assembly, FIG. 3 represents a matrix of correspondence of commands as a function of input-output state combinations of the microcontroller of the control unit of Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a control method implementing a control assembly.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same reference numbers. For the sake of clarity, the steps of the control method are numbered starting from 100.

FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate examples of control assemblies intended to be mounted on a steering column of a motor vehicle, below a steering wheel (not shown).

The control assembly includes a switch assembly having base support having a plurality of locations connectable to switch modules and a management microcontroller of the switch assembly. At least one switching module can be connected to a location of the switching assembly, each module having at least one switch that can assume a switching state as a function of a control position applied by a user.

The switching modules have, on the one hand, intrinsic and clean mechatronics, which translates a user's movement into a change of state. switching and on the other hand a mechanical and electrical connection to the support which is standardized to be identical for all modules that can be connected to the base support so that each switching module can be mechanically connected in each location of the support. The switching modules are thus mechanically connected in a location of the base support and at the same time electrically connected. The switch modules are standardized to be interchangeable and optional. In addition, each location is dedicated to the implementation of a specific function.

Thus, each location has the same predefined number of ranges or connection terminals for connecting a predefined number of inputs e and outputs s of the microcontroller to a switching module. In addition, the slot connection pads comprise two inputs connected to two corresponding outputs of said microcontroller and two outputs connected to the same inputs of said microcontroller. This reduces the number of inputs and outputs of the microcontroller needed to process the information from each location of the switching assembly.

For example, the control assembly 1 comprises a switching assembly 3 whose base support 5 has four locations E1, E2, E3, E4, arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the base support 5, to receive modules of switching 7. A first location El in the upper left of the switching assembly 3, is dedicated to the lighting functions, a second location E2 in the top right of the switching assembly 3, is dedicated to the wiping functions a third slot E3 at the bottom left of the switching assembly 3 is dedicated to the speed control functions or the telephone functions or the navigation functions and a fourth location E4 at the bottom right of the switching unit 3, is dedicated to audio functions or telephone functions or navigation functions.

FIG. 1a illustrates a first example of a control assembly 5 comprising a first lighting module 7a connected to said first slot E1, a second wiper switching module 7b connected to said second slot E2, a third switching module. regulation of speed 7c connected to a third slot E3, and a fourth audio function switching module 7d connected to a fourth slot E4.

The switching modules 7a, 7b connected to said first or second locations comprise, for example, an elongated lever having at least one pivotable switch and at least one ring rotatably mounted on said lever and whose rotation makes it possible to operate at less a second switch.

The switching modules 7c, 7d connected to said third or fourth locations, for example comprise a pallet-shaped lever having at least one switch at the free end of said lever and a rotary wheel partially accessible from outside said lever and whose actuation in rotation allows to actuate at least a second switch.

Figures Ib and Ic represent two other examples of arrangement of the control assembly 1.

In FIGS. 1b and 1c, the control unit 1 comprises said first lighting module 7a connected to said first slot E1 and said second wiper switching module 7b connected to said second slot E2. However, the control unit 1 comprises a third telephone switching module 7e connected to said third location E3 and a fourth switching module of a navigation system 7f connected to said fourth location E4. On the other hand, in the third example of FIG. Ic, said third telephone switching module 7e is connected to said fourth slot E4 while said fourth switching module of a navigation system 7f is connected to said third slot E3. Since in the third and fourth examples, the telephone switching module 7e and the navigation module 7f are connected to the third location E3, they allow the speed regulation control. Likewise, the telephone switching module 7e and the navigation module 7f connected to the fourth location E4 allow audio regulation control. Thus, the control modules 7a-7f are interchangeable, whatever their functions or their locations. Of course, depending on the need, a higher number of switching modules can be envisaged both as regards their number for a single support 5 and for their functionalities.

Figure 2 shows a diagram of a portion of the electrical circuits of another embodiment of the control assembly.

The switching assembly comprises two locations E1, E2 for connecting two switching modules 7a, 7b, for example respectively for lighting and wiping. Each slot E1 E2 includes two inputs and ten outputs. Each input of each slot is connected to a corresponding output if, s2, s3, s4 of the microcontroller 8 and the outputs of each slot are connected to the same inputs el and el0 of said microcontroller 8. At each module 7a, 7b, the Inputs are connected to the outputs via the switches of the modules (not shown).

Each output si, s2, s3, s4 of the microcontroller 8 is connected to a power-up means so that an output signal of the microcontroller 8 makes it possible to bring a voltage or a current to the switching module 7 allowing the reading of the switching states of the switches of a given module.

For example, a current draw of 10mA is sent. By receiving a signal from an output if, s2 of the microcontroller 17, the determined switching module is powered up so as to enable the switching states of the switches to be read and in the absence of this signal, the associated connection tracks of the module possess a floating potential.

Microcontroller 8 includes a memory (not shown) in which a database of commands is stored as a function of input-output combinations. The database is for example made in the form of a correspondence matrix table.

The microcontroller 8 is further configured to: send a signal successively to each output if at s4, successively read the inputs el to elO for each signal sent, and identify whether one of the set of inputs el to elO has received a corresponding signal having passed through a switching module 7a, 7b, associating with the input / output combination obtained a corresponding command from said stored database, for example as a matrix table, and outputting at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled.

An exemplary matrix table 9, corresponding to the control unit whose electrical circuits are shown in FIG. 2, is represented in FIG. 3. The matrix array 9 comprises 10 columns corresponding to the ten inputs el and elO of the microcontroller 8 and four lines corresponding to the four outputs if s4 of the microcontroller 8. Each box of Table 9 corresponds to an input / output combination for which an input of the microcontroller 8 has received a signal at the moment a signal has been sent out of the microcontroller 8.

From the transmitted signal sequences and the corresponding received signals, at least one switch state of a switch connected to a slot E1, E2 is derived. For example, if the input e2 has received a signal at the moment when a signal has been sent at the output s3 of the microcontroller 8, it is because a signal has passed through a switching module, having, for example, a switch of which the switching state is closed.

The contents of the cells of the matrix table 9 corresponds to a function allowing the control of an element, for example the combination e2s3 allows the control of the full headlights on the lighting module 7a connected to the switching 3 sub-steering assembly. Recognition of the function thus involves the recognition of the switching module whose user has actuated the corresponding switch.

Thus, it suffices to provide two outputs per module to interpret all the functions of all the switching modules connected to the switching assembly. In the example cited for which the control unit has two modules, four outputs sl-s4 and ten inputs el-elO microcontroller 8 can code forty different functions, which represents a saving of six outputs of the microcontroller 8 shown for which outputs s5 to slO are not used. Moreover, the control unit is easily adjustable, indeed, for a higher-end version of a motor vehicle, it suffices to add for example an additional control module to a new location, two inputs of the new location being connected. to two new corresponding outputs s5, s6 of said microcontroller 8 and the outputs of the location being connected to the same inputs el and elO of said microcontroller 8. Thus adding a single module 7 and using only two new outputs of the microcontroller 8, Up to ten new functions can be coded, for example audio commands.

In addition, to modify the functions associated with each location, it suffices to change the contents of the correspondence matrix table 9.

In operation, the control method 100 can be implemented as shown in FIG. 4.

In a first step 101 of the method 100, a signal is sent periodically and periodically for each location E1, E2 on each output s1-s4 of the microcontroller 8.

For each signal sent, said el-elO inputs of said microcontroller 8 are successively read from each location E1, E2, to identify whether one of the set of inputs has received a corresponding signal having passed through a switching module 7a, 7b. . From the sent signals and the corresponding signals received, at least one switch state of a switch connected to a slot E1, E2 is derived.

Then, during a second step 102, the corresponding input-output combinations obtained are associated with a command from the database stored in memory, in order to deliver at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled. .

There is thus obtained a method and a control device for a motor vehicle steering column top for which the number of inputs and outputs of the microcontroller necessary to process the information from each location of the switching assembly is reduced.

Claims

A control method for a motor vehicle steering column top implemented in a control assembly comprising: a switching assembly comprising: a base support having a plurality of locations that can be connected to switching modules; and a microcontroller for managing the switching assembly, each location comprising two inputs being respectively connected to two corresponding outputs of said microcontroller and comprising at least two outputs connected to the same inputs of said microcontroller, at least one switching module connected to one location of the switching assembly, said module having at least one switch that can assume a switching state according to a control position applied by a user, characterized in that it comprises:

a first step (101) in which a signal is sent on each output of the microcontroller and for each signal sent, successively reads said inputs of said microcontroller to identify if one of the set of inputs has received a corresponding signal having passed through by a switching module, a second step (103) in which the corresponding input-output combinations obtained are associated with a command from a database, for outputting at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be orders.

2. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that said database is in the form of a correspondence matrix table.

3. Control assembly for a motor vehicle steering column top comprising: a base support (5) having a plurality of locations (El ₃ E2) connectable to switching modules (7), and

a microcontroller (8) for managing the switching assembly, each slot comprising two inputs being respectively connected to two corresponding outputs (si, s2) of said microcontroller (8) and comprising at least two outputs connected to the same inputs (el -elO) of said microcontroller (8),

at least one switching module (7a, 7b) connected to a slot (E1, E2) of the switching assembly (3), said module (7a, 7b) having at least one switch that can assume a switching state in function of a control position applied by a user, characterized in that said microcontroller (8) comprises a memory in which a command database is stored as a function of input-output combinations and that said microcontroller ( 8) is configured to: - successively send a signal on each output (si, s2) of the microcontroller (8), successively read the inputs (el-elO) of said microcontroller (8) for each signal sent, and identify whether one of the set of inputs (el-elO), has received a corresponding signal having passed through a switching module (7a, 7b), associate with the input-output combination obtained, a corresponding command from said database stored, and delivered er at least one control signal corresponding to the elements to be controlled.

4. Control assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said base of data comprises a matrix correspondence table (9).

5. Control assembly according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the switching assembly (3) has four locations arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the base support (5): - a first location (El) being dedicated to lighting functions, a second location (E2) being dedicated to the wiping functions, a third location (E3) being dedicated to speed control functions or telephone functions or navigation functions and a fourth location (E4) being dedicated to the audio functions or telephone functions or navigation functions.

6. Control unit according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the switching modules (7a-7f) have on the one hand a clean mechatronics which translates a movement of a user into a change of state switching device and secondly a mechanical and electrical connection to said support (5) standardized to be identical for all of said switching modules (7a-7f) connectable to the base support (5) so that each switching module (7a-7f) can be mechanically connected in each location (E1-E4) of said support (5).

7. Control assembly according to claim 5 taken together with claim 6, characterized in that the switching module (7a, 7b) connected to said first or said second location (El, E2) comprises an elongated lever having at least one pivotally operable switch and at least one ring rotatably mounted on said lever and the rotation of which actuates at least one second switch.

8. Control assembly according to claim 7 or claim 5 taken together with claim 6, characterized in that the switching module (7c, 7d, 7e, 7f) connected to said third or said fourth location comprises a lever pallet-shaped having at least one switch at the free end of said lever and a rotary wheel partially accessible from outside said lever and whose actuation in rotation allows to actuate at least a second switch.