U.S. patent application number 12/999780 was filed with the patent office on 2011-12-08 for electrically actuatable module of a motor vehicle and method for identifying an electrically actuatable module of a motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to AUDI AG. Invention is credited to Thomas Ferstl, Maik Hofmann, Tim Christopher Meissner, Gerhard Mullner, Karl Reisinger, Ralf Schwarz.
Application Number | 20110301820 12/999780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41130351 |
Filed Date | 2011-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110301820 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mullner; Gerhard ; et
al. |
December 8, 2011 |
ELECTRICALLY ACTUATABLE MODULE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR
IDENTIFYING AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATABLE MODULE OF A MOTOR
VEHICLE
Abstract
The invention relates to an electrically actuatable assembly of
a motor vehicle having at least one component comprising a
non-volatile memory. The component has base functionality
characteristic for the component and required for the operation of
the assembly. The memory comprises a memory region not utilized for
realizing the base functionality of the component, in said memory
region is stored a characteristic value that identifies the
assembly with a predetermined probability. Furthermore, the
characteristic value can be read out from the memory region of the
component. Finally, the invention describes a method for
identifying such an electrically actuatable assembly.
Inventors: |
Mullner; Gerhard; (Markt
Hartmannsdorf, AT) ; Reisinger; Karl; (Graz, AT)
; Schwarz; Ralf; (Ingolstadt, DE) ; Meissner; Tim
Christopher; (Ingolstadt, DE) ; Hofmann; Maik;
(Gaimersheim, DE) ; Ferstl; Thomas; (Ingolstadt,
DE) |
Assignee: |
AUDI AG
Ingolstadt
DE
Magna Powertrain AG & Co. KG
Lannach
AT
|
Family ID: |
41130351 |
Appl. No.: |
12/999780 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 22, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/004492 |
371 Date: |
April 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/67 ;
701/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C 5/00 20130101; B60W
50/0098 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/67 ;
701/1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 030 092.6 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. An electrically actuable module of a motor vehicle having at
least one component including a non-volatile memory, wherein the
component has a basic functionality characteristic for the
component and required for the operation of the module, wherein the
memory includes a memory region not used for the realization of the
basic functionality of the component; in that an identifier
identifying the module with a preset probability is stored in the
memory region; and in that the identifier can be read out of the
memory region of the component.
25. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein a control unit
for actuating the module is provided and is connected to the
module; and in that the module is configured for transferring the
identifier stored in the memory region to the control unit.
26. The module in accordance with claim 25, wherein the control
unit includes a non-volatile memory for storing the identifier
transferred by the module in a teach-in mode.
27. The module in accordance with claim 26, wherein the control
unit includes a comparison section for comparing the identifier
stored in the teach-in mode with an identifier transferred to the
control unit by the module in an operating mode.
28. The module in accordance with claim 26, wherein the control
unit includes an evaluation unit by which an error signal can be
generated when a difference is found by the comparison section
between the identifier stored in the memory and the currently
transferred identifier.
29. The module in accordance with claim 28, wherein the module can
be deactivated by the error signal.
30. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the module is
made as a torque transfer clutch or as an actuator for a torque
transfer clutch.
31. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the module is
configured as a transfer case.
32. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the component
is configured as a sensor, in particular as a measured value
sensor.
33. The module in accordance with claim 32, wherein the component
is configured as a pressure sensor.
34. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the identifier
is stored distributed in different memory regions of different
components of the module, with none of the memory regions being
used for the realization of the basic functionality of the
respective component.
35. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the module is
configured for automatically transferring the identifier at a
preset time, in particular after at least one of switching on the
module and receiving a preset request signal.
36. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the identifier
is transferred as a digital number.
37. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the identifier
is formed by a random number.
38. The module in accordance with claim 24, wherein the identifiers
of different assemblies are formed by running numbers.
39. A method for identifying an electrically actuable module of a
motor vehicle, wherein the module includes at least one component
including a non-volatile memory and having a basic functionality
characteristic for the component and required for the operation of
the module, wherein an identifier identifying the module with a
preset probability is read out of a memory region not used for the
realization of the basic functionality of the component.
40. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein, in an
operating mode, the identifier is read out of the memory region, is
transferred to a control unit connected to the module for actuating
it and is compared by the control unit with an identifier stored in
the control unit in a teach-in mode.
41. The method in accordance with claim 40, wherein, in the
teach-in mode, the identifier is read out of the memory region, is
transferred from the module to the control unit and is stored by
the control unit.
42. The method in accordance with claim 40, wherein an error signal
is generated by the control unit when a difference is found between
the identifier transferred in the operating mode and the identifier
stored in the teach-in mode.
43. The method in accordance with claim 42, wherein the module is
deactivated when the error signal is generated.
44. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein the identifier
is repeatedly read out of the memory region and transferred to the
control unit at preset points in time, in particular after at least
one of switching on the module and receipt of a preset request
signal.
45. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein respective
stored part identifiers are read out of memory regions of different
components of the module and the identifier is generated from the
part identifiers, with none of the memory ranges being used for the
realization of the basic functionality of the respective
component.
46. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein the identifier
is transferred to the control unit as a digital number.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrically actuable
module of a motor vehicle having at least one component including a
non-volatile memory, wherein the component has a basic
functionality characteristic for the component and required for the
operation of the of the module. The invention furthermore relates
to a method for identifying such an electrically actuable
module.
[0002] A module of this kind can, for example, be a differential
unit having a torque transfer clutch by which a direct distribution
of a drive torque between two wheels of an axle of a motor vehicle
takes place. The module can furthermore, for example, also be
formed by a torque transfer clutch or by an actuator for a torque
transfer clutch which serves for the direct distribution of the
drive torque between a front axle and a rear axle in an all-wheel
drive vehicle.
[0003] Such assemblies have to be able to be actuated with high
precision. The existing tolerances are therefore individually
determined for each produced module in the manufacture for the
purpose of a calibration, with the assemblies being divided into
different variants or tolerance categories in accordance with a
predetermined classification scheme. The respective determined
variant of a specific module can thus be taken into account by an
associated control unit of the vehicle to actuate the module with
the desired precision.
[0004] A problem in connection with such a calibration and
classification of electrically actuable assemblies is that the
assemblies and the associated control units are sometimes installed
in the vehicle independently of one another at the vehicle
manufacturer's. A teach-in process therefore usually takes place
after the installation of the module and of the control unit in
which the respective current classification of the module used is
communicated to the control unit and is stored therein so that it
can actuate the module with the desired precision. If, for example,
an exchange of the electrically actuable module or of the control
unit takes place later in a service case, this teach-in process has
to be carried out again so that the correct actuation of the module
by the control unit is in turn ensured.
[0005] It has already been proposed to encode the respective
classification of a module in an additional coded plug and to
fasten it to the module. The coded plug is connected to the control
unit by which the current classification is read out of the coded
plug and decoded. A correct actuation of the module is then
possible on the basis of the read out classification.
[0006] It is disadvantageous in this solution that an additional
failure risk of the electrically actuable module arises on the
basis of the coded plug formed as an additional component. The
reading out, decoding and comparing of the classification stored in
the coded plug with the classifications stored in the control unit
is furthermore relatively complex to realize. It ultimately can
also not be precluded that a coded plug is connected to the
electrically actuable module and contains an incorrect
classification so that the classification read out from the coded
plug by the control unit is not correct.
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to configure an
electrically actuable module of the initially named kind so that it
can be ensured in a simple and reliable manner that the
electrically actuable module is in each case correctly actuated by
the control unit. A method should furthermore be provided for the
safe identification of such an electrically actuable module.
[0008] In accordance with the invention, this object is satisfied
starting from an electrically actuable module of the initially
named kind in that the memory includes a memory region not used for
the realization of the basic functionality of the component, in
that an identifier identifying the module with a preset probability
is stored in the memory region and in that the identifier can be
read out of the memory region of the component. A method in
accordance with the invention is characterized in that an
identifier identifying the module with a preset probability is read
out of a memory region not used for the realization of the basic
functionality of the component.
[0009] In accordance with the invention, it is thus not the
respective classification of the electrically actuable module which
is stored in a separate component, but rather an identifier
identifying the module with a preset, sufficient probability is
stored in a component of the module, with this component already
being a component required for the basic function of the
electrically actuable module.
[0010] The component is thus a component which is also present in a
module not configured in accordance with the invention and has a
basic functionality which is necessary for the basic operation of
the module. In accordance with the invention, it is thus not an
additional component which is used for the storage, but rather a
component is used in which the possibility of a storage of an
identifier is already inherently present, with the corresponding
memory which is required for the realization of the basic
functionality of the component including a memory region which is
not used for the realization of this basic function. This memory
region which is unused without a realization of the invention is
used in accordance with the invention for the storage of the
identifier of the module so that no additional module parts are
required and thus no increase in the failure risk of the
electrically actuable module is present.
[0011] A classification of the module is furthermore not stored in
the memory region, but rather an identifier identifying the module
with a preset probability. The identifier is selected in this
respect so that the module can be identified with sufficient
probability on the basis of the identifier. If, for example, the
module is replaced in a service case, the exchange can be
recognized on the basis of the identifier which is thereby likewise
changed. In this case, the required steps can be carried out, for
example a service routine can be performed in which the current
classification of the new module is taught to the control unit. The
classification which can be input manually to the control unit can,
for example, be indicated at the housing of the electrically
actuable module.
[0012] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, a control unit for actuating the module is provided and
is connected to the module, with the module being configured for
transferring the identifier stored in the memory region to the
control unit. The transfer can in this respect, for example, take
place on the basis of a control signal output by the control unit.
It is, however, also possible that the identifier is output by the
module without application of an external control signal in that it
is, for example, applied to a separate output line of the module.
The identifier stored in the module can thus be transferred to the
control unit and stored, for example in a teach-in mode, in the
control unit and can be used in an operating mode for identifying
the electrically actuable module. The control unit can for this
purpose include a non-volatile memory for storing the identifier
transferred by the module in the teach-in mode. In this teach-in
mode, the identifier characterizing the module is thus transferred
to the control unit and stored therein. It is generally also
possible that the identifier is not transferred to the control unit
by the module, but is rather, for example, input manually into the
control unit and stored there in the teach-in mode.
[0013] The identifier stored in the control unit in the teach-in
mode can then be compared in an operating mode with an identifier
transferred to the control unit by the module during operation. For
this purpose, the control unit can include a comparison section for
comparing the identifier stored in the teach-in mode with an
identifier transferred to the control unit by the module in an
operating mode. In the operating mode, no storage of the
transmitted identifier in the memory of the control unit thus takes
place, but rather only a comparison of the currently transferred
identifier with the identifier already stored in the control unit.
In accordance with the invention, the identifier is thus read out
of the memory region in the operating mode, is transferred to the
control unit connected to the module for the actuation thereof and
is compared by the control unit with an identifier stored in the
control unit in the teach-in mode.
[0014] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the control unit includes an evaluation section by which
an error signal can be generated when a difference is found by the
comparison section between the identifier stored in the memory and
the currently transferred identifier. The module can in particular
be deactivated by the error signal.
[0015] In accordance with the invention, it is thus detected in the
operating mode if the pairing of the module and of the control unit
originally installed in the motor vehicle and coordinated with one
another was changed in that either the module or the control unit
or both elements were replaced. In each of these cases, the
identifier stored in the control unit no longer coincides with the
currently transferred identifier of the module so that the control
unit generates the error signal and optionally deactivates the
module.
[0016] Subsequently, in a service mode, a new teach-in process can
be carried out in which the identifier of the currently used module
is transferred to the control unit and is stored in its
non-volatile memory. At the same time, for example, a
classification indicated at the housing of the current module can
be manually stored in the control unit so that the module and the
control unit are coordinated with one another again after the end
of the teach-in process and the termination of the service mode. In
the further operation, the module used is again recognized by a
comparison of the transferred identifier with the identifier stored
in the control unit as the correctly associated module so that
normal operation can be continued with a correct actuation of the
module.
[0017] Only on a renewed replacement of one of the two elements
(module or control unit) does a difference again arise between the
identifier stored in the control unit and the identifier
transmitted by the module so that an error signal is in turn
generated by the control unit and a new service mode is
necessary.
[0018] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the identifier is read out of the memory region and
transferred to the control unit repeatedly at preset points in
time, in particular after switching the module on and/or after
receipt of a preset request signal. For example, in each case when
the ignition of the motor vehicle is switched on, the identifier
can be read out of the base unit and transferred to the control
unit and compared with the identifier stored in the control unit.
Since it can be assumed that the control unit or the module will
only be replaced when the ignition is switched off, the check of
the identifier transmitted by the currently used module with the
identifier stored in the control unit is in each case suitable at
the time of the switching on of the ignition of the motor vehicle
to ensure a safe check that the module and control unit belong
together.
[0019] In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the module is configured as a torque transfer clutch or
as an actuator for a torque transfer clutch. The module can in this
respect in particular be configured as a differential unit or as a
transfer case. It is generally possible that the module is any
desired other electrically actuable module which can be actuated by
a control unit and in which an identification with a preset
probability is required.
[0020] In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the component is configured as a sensor, in particular
as a measured value sensor. The components can thus, for example,
be configured as a pressure sensor such as is used in torque
transfer clutches. In particular when the component includes a
so-called ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), a
non-volatile memory can be present in it which includes memory
regions not used for the realization of the basic functionality of
the component. They can then be used for realizing the invention.
The component can generally be configured as any desired component
required for the basic functionality of the electrically actuable
module as long as it includes a non-volatile memory having a memory
region not used for the realization of the basic functionality of
the component.
[0021] In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the identifier is stored distributed in different memory
regions of different components of the module, with none of the
memory regions being used for the realization of the basic
functionality of the respective component.
[0022] If, for example, the memory region of the memory of an
individual component is not large enough to store a sufficiently
unambiguous identifier, the described distributed storage of the
identifier in different memory regions of different components is
possible. In this case, the failure risk and the complexity of the
electrically actuable module is also not increased since only
components required for the realization of the basic functionality
are used.
[0023] In accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the identifier is transferred as a digital numerical
value. A very simple processing as well as a high process security
is achievable by the use, in particular the storage and transfer as
well as evaluation, as a digital numerical value.
[0024] In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the
invention, the identifier is formed by a random number. It is
generally also possible that the identifiers of different
assemblies are formed by running numbers. What is important for the
formation of the identifier is only that a sufficiently large
disambiguity and thus a sufficiently large probability is ensured
for an unambiguous identification of the module by the
identifier.
[0025] Further advantageous embodiments are set forth in the
dependent claims.
[0026] The invention will be described in more detail in the
following with reference to embodiments and to the drawings; there
are shown in these:
[0027] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a part of a motor
vehicle having an electrically actuable module configured in
accordance with the invention; and
[0028] FIG. 2 a schematic structure of an electrically actuable
module configured in accordance with the invention having a control
unit connected thereto.
[0029] A vehicle powertrain 1 is shown in FIG. 1 having a drive 2
which includes a power transmission path 3, an engine 4 and a
transmission 5. The power transmission path 3 includes a drive
shaft 6 which is driven by the transmission 5 and two half shafts 7
of which each is connected to a driven wheel 8. A differential unit
9 is arranged between the half shafts 7 and the drive shaft 6 and
the drive torque transferred by the engine 4 to the drive shaft 6
can be transferred to one or both half shafts 7 by it. Whereas in
FIG. 1, the basic structure of a vehicle with rear-wheel drive is
shown, the invention can naturally also be applied to a motor
vehicle having front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
[0030] The differential unit 9 is connected to a control unit 10
which actuates the differential unit 9 in dependence on a plurality
of vehicle parameters to realize a so-called torque-vectoring
operation (TV operation) and to distribute the drive torque
delivered by the engine 4 as required to the driven wheels 8.
[0031] To determine the corresponding vehicle parameters, the
control unit 10 is connected to a plurality of sensors 23, 24 which
can include, for example, a yaw rate sensor 23, wheel speed sensors
24, a steering wheel angle sensor, not shown, and/or a steering
angle sensor, not shown, as well as other suitable sensors such as
lateral and longitudinal acceleration sensors. The driving
parameters detected by the sensors are characteristic for a
plurality of operating states, e.g. the yaw rate of the vehicle or
the speed of the driven wheels 8. Based on the vehicle parameters
determined by the sensors 23, 24, a differential control signal is
generated by the control unit 10 which serves for the control of
the differential unit 9 and in particular of an actuator arranged
within the differential unit 9.
[0032] A very simplified schematic representation of the structure
of the differential unit 9 is shown in FIG. 2 which forms an
electrically actuable module 11 in accordance with the present
invention as well as a representation of the control unit 10
connected thereto.
[0033] The module 11 includes two hydraulically actuable multidisk
clutches 12 which are coupled to the half shafts 7 and which can be
situated via a fluid pump 22 driven by an electric motor 13 for the
direct transfer of a torque. A pressure sensor 14 is furthermore
provided by which the respective set hydraulic pressure can be
measured, wherein, for example, the pressure is measured
selectively in the left or right multidisk clutch 12 via shuttle
valves, not shown. It is generally also possible to provide a
plurality of corresponding pressure sensors 14. The pressure sensor
14 in this respect forms a component 15 of the electrically
actuable module 11 which is required for the basic functionality of
the module 11, namely the direct distribution of the torque to the
multidisk clutches 12.
[0034] The pressure sensor 14 further includes a memory 16 in which
values required for the tasks defined for its realization as a
pressure sensor are stored. The memory 16, however, also includes a
memory region 17 which is not required for the realization of the
basic function of the pressure sensor and thus for the realization
of the basic functionality of the component 11 and thus forms a
region of the memory 16 not used for the basic function.
[0035] In accordance with the invention, an identifier is stored in
an in particular digital form in the memory region 17 and can, for
example, represent a random number or a running number and has a
length to ensure an identification of the module 11 with a
sufficient preset probability. This identification is, for example,
already written to the memory region 17 in the production of the
module 11 and is advantageously unchangeable thereafter.
[0036] To achieve a sufficient disambiguity, the identifier can,
for example, be a digital number having a length of 16 bits so that
the number of possible different identifiers amounts to 65,536. An
identifier defined with a preset probability and identifying the
module 11 can thus be generated by a corresponding large length of
the identifier. If required, a larger or optionally also a smaller
length can be used.
[0037] As can furthermore be recognized from FIG. 2, a plurality of
characteristics 18 is stored in the control unit 10 (for example
pressure/torque dependencies) which each correspond to different
variants or classifications of assemblies 11. Each manufactured
module 11 is assigned to one of the predefined classifications
which is in each case represented by one of the characteristics 18.
To ensure a correct actuation of the module 11 by the control unit
10, it is necessary that the respective characteristic 18 is used
which corresponds to the current classification of the module 11
used.
[0038] On the installation of the module 11 as well as of the
control unit 10 into a motor vehicle, the classification of the
currently used module 11 is thus taught into the control unit 10 so
that the correct characteristic 18 corresponding to the current
module 11 is used by the control unit 10.
[0039] At the same time, the identifier stored in the memory region
17 is read out of the module 11 and is stored in a non-volatile
digital memory 19 of the control unit 10 after the installation of
the module 11 and of the control unit 10 and the corresponding
setting of the control unit 10 to the correct classification. This
first-time storage of the current identifier in the memory 19 takes
place in a so-called teach-in mode and can take place via the
control line of the module 11 or, for example, via a separate
line.
[0040] After the first-time installation of the control unit 10 and
of the module 11 and the concluded teach-in mode, the identifier
identifying the used module 11 substantially without ambiguity is
thus stored both in the memory region 17 of the module 11 and in
the memory 19 of the control unit 10.
[0041] On every switching on of the ignition of the motor vehicle,
a check is made whether the identifier stored in the memory region
17 of the module 11 coincides with the identifier stored in the
memory 19 of the control unit 10. For this purpose, the control
unit 10 includes a comparison section 20 by which the identifier
stored in the memory 19 is compared for coincidence with the
identifier read out from the memory region 17 of the module 11
after the switching on of the ignition. The identification can in
this respect again take place via the control line of the module 11
or via a separate line. An evaluation section 21 is furthermore
provided by which an error signal can be generated in the event of
a difference between the two identifiers. This error signal can,
for example, result in the switching off of the electrical module
11 as well as in the generation of a corresponding optical or
acoustic error signal.
[0042] It is ensured in this manner that the module 11 is only put
into operation with an unchanged association of the module 11 and
control unit 10 originally coordinated with one another by which
the correct use of the correct characteristic 18 is ensured.
[0043] If, in contrast, the module 11 or the control unit 10 has
been replaced without a new coordination between these elements
having taken place, on the next switching on of the ignition of the
motor vehicle, a difference is found by the comparison section 20
between the identifier stored in the memory 19 of the control unit
10 and the identifier read out of the memory region 17 of the
module 11 after the switching on of the ignition so that the module
11 is deactivated by the evaluation unit 21.
[0044] In order again to coordinate the module and the control unit
10 with one another, the classification of the currently used
module 11 must first again be input into the control unit 10. This
can, for example, take place in that the classification of the
current module 11 is visibly applied to the housing outer side and
can be manually input into the control unit 10 so that the control
unit 10 selects the correct characteristic 18 for the further
actuation of the module 11 on the basis of the input
classification.
[0045] Subsequently, in a new teach-in mode, the identifier stored
in the memory region 17 of the module 11 has to be transferred to
the control unit 10 and has to be stored in the memory 19 there.
From this time onward, the module 11 and the control unit 10 are
again coordinated with one another.
[0046] A check can be made regularly and it can be ensured that
neither the module 11 nor the control unit 10 were replaced via the
repeating comparison of the identifier stored in the memory 19 of
the control unit 10 with the identifier read out of the memory
region 17 of the module 11.
[0047] Since the memory 16, and thus also the memory region 17,
represents a part of the component 15 and since the component 15 is
required for the basic functionality of the module 11, no
additional component is required for identifying the module 11 and
for checking in accordance with the invention the mutually
coordinated elements (module 11 and control unit 10) so that the
failure risk of the module 11 is not increased by the
invention.
[0048] Whereas the invention has been described by way of example
for a differential unit with which a torque can be distributed
directly between two wheels of an axle, the invention can generally
be applied to any desired electrically actuable assemblies which
can be actuated via a control unit and in which a fixed association
between the module and the control unit is important. This is, for
example, also the case with transfer cases with which a
corresponding torque can be distributed between a front axle and a
rear axle of a motor vehicle, with here the actuation being able to
take place, for example, via an electrically activatable actuator,
for example an electric motor having a downstream step-down
gear.
Reference Numeral List
[0049] 1 vehicle powertrain [0050] 2 drive [0051] 3 power
transmission path [0052] 4 engine [0053] 5 transmission [0054] 6
drive shaft [0055] 7 half-shafts [0056] 8 wheels [0057] 9
differential unit [0058] 10 control unit [0059] 11 module [0060] 12
multidisk clutches [0061] 13 electric motor [0062] 14 pressure
sensor [0063] 15 component [0064] 16 non-volatile memory [0065] 17
memory region [0066] 18 characteristics [0067] 19 non-volatile
memory [0068] 20 comparison section [0069] 21 evaluation section
[0070] 22 fluid pump [0071] 23 yaw rate sensor [0072] 24 wheel
speed sensors
* * * * *