Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Patent
1997-07-11
1999-04-20
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
701 36, G06G 776
Patent
active
058954341
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a microprocessor arrangement for use in a complex vehicle control system which includes a plurality of microprocessor systems that are linked by bus systems and perform at least anti-lock control (ABS) and/or traction slip control (ASR) and at least one other high-computation control function, such as yaw torque control (GMR), and monitoring functions, the microprocessor systems including the conditioning of input signals.
Electronic control systems for automotive vehicles become more and more important which relieve the work of the driver and enhance safety and driving stability. This applies, above all, to anti-lock systems (ABS), traction slip control systems (ASR), systems for the electronic control of brake force distribution (EBV), etc. Most recent developments include yaw torque control and driving stability control (GMR and FSR). These are only some examples. Combining a plurality of control systems in a compound unit is also known in the art.
To achieve complex control objectives, microprocessor structures of most different types are employed nowadays. For example, German patent No. 32 34 637 discloses an ABS system with a controller which has two (or more) parallel operating microcontrollers to produce braking pressure control signals. These microcontrollers process like input signals pursuant to an identical computer program. The output signals and, if necessary, also internal signals of the microcontrollers are monitored for coincidence to detect malfunctions in any one of the two controllers. In the event of non-coincidence of the signals which are redundantly processed in the microcontrollers, the electronic control is disconnected to ensure that at least braking without control remains possible.
Further, German patent application No. 41 37 124 discloses a circuit arrangement of this type which has a so-called asymmetrical redundance. The input signals, i.e. the signals produced by wheel sensors and representing the rotational behavior of the wheels, are sent to two parallel microcontrollers, as in the above-mentioned case. However, only one of the two microcontrollers performs the complete control program, while the second microcontroller reproduces the control philosophy in a simplified form or, rather, processes the input signals by way of simplified algorithms, as compared to the main microcontroller. Comparison of the output signals of both microcontrollers will then permit identifying, despite the simplified processing in one of the two microcontrollers, whether data processing is faulty or correct.
When an automotive vehicle control system, for example an ABS/ASR system, is extended by a high-computation driving stability control system (FSR or GMR), it is principally possible to additionally install a complete control system which also includes safety functions. The advantage is that the individual components, i.e., both the previous ABS/ASR system and the driving stability control system, are independent of each other, and that only the affected component will fail when defects or malfunctions occur.
It would, principally, also be possible in a basic structure (ABS/ASR) that is extended by driving stability control to include the additional calculating operations, including the monitoring functions, in the processor structure when microprocessor systems of a sufficient capacity are provided. However, there is the shortcoming that the overall system would have to be disconnected when a defect occurs in one component. Because an overall system of this type is comparatively complex and sophisticated, the occurrence of malfunctions is relatively likely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to develop a microprocessor arrangement for a complex vehicle control system which includes ABS/ASR and GMR (FSR), for example, which involves great reliability in operation and relatively low effort and structure and necessitates disconnection of the affected component only when an error occurs.
It has been foun
REFERENCES:
patent: 4629259 (1986-12-01), Brauninger
patent: 4656588 (1987-04-01), Kubo
patent: 5001641 (1991-03-01), Makino
patent: 5053950 (1991-10-01), Naganuma et al.
patent: 5193887 (1993-03-01), Bleckmann et al.
patent: 5241677 (1993-08-01), Naganuma et al.
patent: 5255962 (1993-10-01), Neuhaus et al.
patent: 5684702 (1997-11-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5694321 (1997-12-01), Eckeret et al.
patent: 5697681 (1997-12-01), Ghaem et al.
Esselbrugge Hermann
Fennel Helmut
Giers Bernhard
Kant Bernhard
Zydek Michael
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
LandOfFree
Microprocessor arrangement for a vehicle control system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Microprocessor arrangement for a vehicle control system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Microprocessor arrangement for a vehicle control system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2245148