Apparatus for triggering a warning device

Details Apparatus for triggering a warning device Apparatus for triggering a warning device

1996-05-13

1998-04-21

Hofsass, Jeffery

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

340458, 340452, 340507, 340511, 34081545, 307 108, B60Q 100

Patent

active

057422303

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Controllers that, depending on the behavior of the vehicle wheels and/or of the vehicle, influence braking pressure and/or engine torque and/or steering, are often carried in motor vehicles. Such a controller can, for example, be an antilock braking control system, an automatic slip controller, or a vehicle dynamics controller.
With controllers of this kind, there is arranged in the driver's field of view a warning device, e.g. a warning lamp, which in the event of a fault in the controller, which might possibly even result in deactivation of the controller, is connected to ground by the control unit of the controller. The fault is thereby displayed, and the driver warned.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the innovation, an interruption in the control unit's ground contact is indicated; and additionally the triggering line for the warning lamp is monitored.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment, of the present invention.
FIG. 3A illustrates signals from a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3B illustrates potentials as a function of signals from a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first exemplary embodiment of the innovation will be described with reference to FIG. 1. A block 1 is housed in the driver's vicinity, for example in the dashboard. It contains a warning device that can be implemented as a warning lamp 1a or a warning LED 1b. Block 1 further contains two comparison means 1c and 1d. Supply voltage is applied to a terminal 2. This is preferably the battery voltage applied via the ignition system.
In addition, block 1 has a ground connection 3. Located between terminal 2 and ground connection 3 is a first voltage divider consisting of resistors 1e (e.g. 10 kOhm), 1f (e.g. 10 kOhm), and 1g (e.g. 10 kOhm); by this means comparators 1c and 1d are supplied with comparison voltages. Located between terminal 2 and ground connection 4 of a remotely located control unit 5 is a second voltage divider with resistors 1h (e.g. 2 kOhm) and 5a (e.g. 2 kOhm). This voltage divider utilizes ground 4 of control unit 5.
By means of a switch 5b, the control unit can apply ground potential to the warning lamp via comparator 1d when a fault in the controller is to be indicated to the driver.
Applied to the comparator are on the one hand a comparison voltage that is made available by the first voltage divider, and on the other hand a further voltage that is made available by the second voltage divider. The comparator conducts the ground applied to it to the warning device if the further voltage is less than a first comparison voltage and/or greater than a second comparison voltage.
The voltages at the comparator are selected so that if ground contact is interrupted, if the triggering line between control unit and warning lamp breaks, and/or if the power supply lines of the control unit break, the comparators become conductive and apply to the warning device the ground applied to them.
If ground connection 4 is interrupted, the voltage at the lower (-) input of comparator 1c and at the lower (+) input of comparator 1d changes. As a result, comparator 1c conducts the ground applied to it from connection 3 to warning lamp 1a (or 1b), and illumination thereof warns the driver.
If connecting line 6 between control unit 5 and block breaks, the lower input voltages of comparators 1c and 1d then also change. Comparator 1c then also becomes conductive, and applies ground 3 to warning device 1a or 1b.
Comparator 1c thus ensures triggering of warning devices 1a or 1b in the event of an unforeseen fault (breakage of conductors 6 or 4).
When there are no faults in control unit 5 or connecting lines 4 or 6, there occurs by means of voltage divider resistors 1h and 5a, at comparators 1c and 1d, a voltage potential that does not cause either of the two to trigger warning devices 1a or 1b

REFERENCES:
patent: 5515027 (1996-05-01), Billig et al.
patent: 5631626 (1997-05-01), Zydek et al.

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