Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-22
2003-07-15
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C307S009100, C307S010100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06594572
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a plurality of control devices that can be activated through an activation element. When the activation element is in a switched-on condition, it emits an ignition signal V
Z
to the control devices, and when the activation element is in a switched-off condition, it does not emit the ignition signal. The control devices, which are in signal communication with each other, are activated by the ignition signal V
Z
and deactivated by the absence of the ignition signal V
Z
.
In motor vehicles of the foregoing description, if the ignition signal fails to reach, e.g., only one of the control devices, this one control device is deactivated while the other control devices are or remain activated. This can have the result that a blown fuse in the ignition circuit of a control device will cause the one control device to become deactivated although the ignition is not in the switched-off condition. The deactivated state of the one control device can affect the proper functioning of the vehicle.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a device that allows the functions of a motor vehicle to remain operable safely and substantially without restriction even if the ignition signal V
Z
fails to reach the input of one of the control devices, as long as the same signal is still being received by one or more of the other control devices.
As a further objective, the invention aims to provide a method by which the functions of a motor vehicle are kept operable safely and substantially without restriction even if the ignition signal V
Z
fails to reach the input of one of the control devices, as long as the same signal is still being received by one or more of the other control devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To meet the foregoing objective, the invention provides the concept that at least one of the control devices is designed so that it is not deactivated by the absence of an ignition signal V
Z
, if the ignition signal V
Z
is present in at least one other control device, or if another signal indicating the presence of an ignition signal exists at the one control device. The presence of the ignition signal at the at least one other control device is communicated through a signal connection such as a data bus transmission to the control device that failed to receive the ignition signal. If for example the at least one other control device is an engine control device that regulates the rpm-rate of the engine, the presence of an rpm-signal from the engine, combined with the fact that the engine is running, can be taken as an indication that an ignition signal is present at the engine control device.
In a practical embodiment of the invention, if an ignition signal V
Z
is received by the at least one other control device, the latter sends a signal through the signal connection or at least emits a signal indicating or representing the presence of an ignition signal.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention use the concept that the control device is not deactivated in the absence of an ignition signal if a signal from at least one other control device is received that indicates or represents the presence of an ignition signal.
It is likewise advantageous if a control device is allowed to send signals through the signal connection only if an ignition signal is present. This has the advantageous result that a control device will send signals only if an ignition signal is present at that particular control device. Thus, the presence of an ignition signal can be detected alone by the fact that signals are being sent through the signal connection. If a control device detects that signals are being sent from another control device, this means that the sending device is activated and that it is receiving an ignition signal.
According to a practical concept of the present invention, control devices in the activated condition send at least one signal through the signal connection or emit at least one signal. It is further practical, if a control device that is not receiving an ignition signal sends a defined signal through the signal connection which indicates that an ignition signal is not present at that particular control device.
According to a further concept of the invention it can be advantageous if at least two of the following control devices are provided in a motor vehicle and are in signal communication with each other:
a control device of a clutch with automated clutch-actuation;
a control device of an engine control;
a control device of a transmission control;
a control device of an anti-slip regulation;
a control device of an anti-lock braking system;
a control device of a traction control arrangement;
a control device of a climate control system;
a control device of a navigation system; or
another control device.
A further advantageous concept of the invention can be used in a motor vehicle that is equipped with an automated clutch, an engine, a transmission, a clutch control device for controlling the automated clutch, and a unit for determining the rpm-rate n
mot
of the engine, wherein the clutch control is normally activated by an activation element which sends an ignition signal V
Z
to the clutch control device when the ignition is switched on. According to the invention, even if the clutch control device fails to receive an ignition signal, it nevertheless remains activated as long as an engine rpm-signal indicates that the engine rpm-rate n
mot
is above a predetermined rpm-limit n
limit
.
The following concept of the invention can likewise be used to advantage in a motor vehicle that is equipped with an automated clutch, an engine, a transmission, a clutch control device for controlling the automated clutch, and a further control device, wherein the clutch control device and the further control device are normally activated by an activation element which sends an ignition signal V
Z
to the control devices when the ignition is switched on. According to the invention, even if the clutch control device fails to receive an ignition signal, it nevertheless remains activated as long as the clutch control device receives a signal from the further control device indicating that an ignition signal V
Z
is present at the further control device.
Another advantageous concept within the scope of the invention can be used in a motor vehicle that is equipped with an automated clutch, an engine, a transmission, a clutch control device for controlling the automated clutch, and a further control device, wherein the clutch control device and the further control device are normally activated by an activation element which sends an ignition signal V
Z
to the control devices when the ignition is switched on. According to the invention, even if the clutch control device fails to receive an ignition signal, it nevertheless remains activated as long as the clutch control device receives a signal from the further control device indicating that the further control device is in an activated state.
Yet another advantageous concept within the scope of the invention can be used in a motor vehicle that is equipped with an automated clutch, an engine, a transmission, a clutch control device for controlling the automated clutch, and a further control device, wherein the clutch control device and the further control device are normally activated by an activation element which sends an ignition signal V
Z
to the control devices when the ignition is switched on. According to the invention, even if the clutch control device fails to receive an ignition signal V
Z
, it nevertheless remains activated as long as the clutch control device receives a signal from the further control device indicating that an ignition signal V
Z
is present at the further control device and/or that the engine rpm-rate n
mot
is above a predetermined rpm-limit n
limit
.
Yet another advantageous concept within the scope of the invention can be used in a motor vehicle that is equipped with an automated clutch, an engine, a transmission, a clutc
Amendt Oliver
Mack Rolf
Schindler Michael
Cuchlinski, Jr. William A
Darby & Darby
Hernandez Olga
LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
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