The present teachings relate to a vehicle management system and more particularly relate to a controller area network based vehicle management system for utility and recreational vehicles that self-configures based on a type of vehicle.
Some recreational and utility vehicles have relatively simple electronic controls for vehicle and engine management. Some electronic controls may include an engine computer that receives signals from a plurality of sensors. The signals may be indicative of respective operating states, temperatures, pressures, etc. throughout the vehicle. Each sensor may require one or more individual wires to connect with the engine computer. A large amount of sensors, thus a large amount of wires, typically requires relatively complex thus costly components, for example, wiring harnesses and engine computers. Changing the configuration of the electronic controls, whether during development or maintenance, may require complex thus costly changes to the components.
The present teachings generally include a vehicle management system that includes a first module having a plurality of functions. The vehicle management system also includes a second module and a system bus. At least the first module and the second module communicate on the system bus. The vehicle management system further includes an identifier based on one of a plurality of vehicle types. When a first vehicle type is identified, a first set of the plurality of functions is utilized based on the identifier associated with the first vehicle type. When a second vehicle type is identified, a second set of the plurality of functions is utilized based on the identifier associated with the second vehicle type.
Further areas of applicability of the present teachings will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the various embodiments of the present teachings, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings.
The present teachings will become more fully understood from the detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the various embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the teachings, their application, or uses.
As used herein, the term module and/or device may refer to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital and/or analog electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit or other suitable electronic and/or mechanical components, which may provide the described functionality.
With reference to
In one example, the modules 18, 20, 26 may include one or more internal modules 30 (
In one example, the sensor signals 24 may define discrete values that may be received, for example, as a voltage. By way of the above example, the voltage (or change therein) may be indicative of a value (or change therein) of a vehicle parameter e.g., a vehicle speed (or acceleration). The voltage may also be indicative of a condition of the vehicle (or change therein) e.g., a headlight on or off. In one example, the sensors signals 24 are a continuous and analog signal.
In one example, the first module 18, the second module 20, and/or the other vehicle modules 26 may exchange the module messages 28 (i.e., discrete digital messages) via a digital system bus 34. Each of the messages 28 may be specifically addressed to one or more of the modules 18, 20, 26 such that all (or some) of the modules 18, 20, 26 may detect (i.e., read) the message 28. Only the modules 18, 20, 26 to which the message 28 is specifically addressed, however, will accept the message 28. The system bus 34 may use a controller area network (CAN) protocol, which also may be specified as International Standards Organization standard 11898. The digital system bus 34 my use (or form) a single-wire, a twisted pair, a two-wire connection, a three-wire connection, a fiber optic connection or other suitable types of hardware and combinations thereof.
In one example and with reference to
In one example and with reference to
In one example, the engine 12 and the transmission 14 may provide a torque output via a drivetrain 62. The drivetrain 62 may connect to a single driven wheel 64 (
The engine 12 ingests air through an intake manifold 70 that is regulated by a throttle 72. A throttle sensor 74 and an intake manifold sensor 76 may generate a throttle sensor signal 78 and an intake manifold sensor signal 80 respectively. The control module 36, an intake module 81 and/or other modules may receive the signals 78, 80 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on the signals 78, 80. The throttle sensor signal 78 may be based on the position of the throttle 72 (or control the throttle 72 to the position) and the intake manifold signal 80 may be based on a manifold pressure from which an engine load may be determined.
A fuel system 82 and/or an ignition system 84 may regulate combustion and thus power output from the engine 12. A fuel system sensor 86 and/or an ignition sensor 88 may generate a fuel system signal 90 and an ignition signal 92 respectively. The control module 36, a fuel system module 95, the engine module 42 and/or other modules receive at least the respective signals 90, 92 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the signals 90, 92. The fuel system signal 90 may be based on a signal from a fuel pressure sensor, a fuel flow rate sensor, a fuel tank level in a fuel tank 93, an engine vacuum sensor or other suitable sensors and combinations thereof. The ignition signal 92 may be based on coil sensors, distributor sensors, battery sensors, other suitable sensors and combinations thereof.
An engine sensor 94 may generate an engine signal 96. The control module 36, the engine module 42 and/or other modules may receive at least the engine signal 96 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the signal 96. The engine signal 96 may be based on at least one of an engine speed (e.g., revolutions per minute), a crankshaft angular position, an engine phase, engine coolant temperatures, an oil pressure sensor, an oil temperature sensor, a cylinder head temperature sensor, an exhaust gas oxygen concentration sensor, a camshaft position, other suitable parameters and combinations thereof.
A transmission sensor 98 may generate a transmission signal 100. The control module 36, the transmission module 46 and/or other modules may receive at least the transmission signal 100 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on the signal 100. The transmission signal 100 may be based on a crankshaft angular position, a transmission output speed, a transmission gear position sensor, transmission fluid temperature, other suitable parameters and combinations thereof. The transmission output speed may define the rotational velocity of a transmission output shaft 102. It will be appreciated that a speed of the vehicle 10 may be determined based on the transmission 14, the drivetrain 62 and/or a speed of the transmission output shaft 102. In one example, the transmission 14 may be a continuously-variable transmission. In a further example, the transmission 14 may be a toroidal-type continuously-variable transmission.
An ambient conditions sensor 104 may generate an ambient condition signal 106. The control module 36 and/or other modules may receive the ambient condition signal 106. The control module 36 (or other modules) may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the signal 106. The ambient condition signal 106 may be based on an ambient temperature, an ambient humidity, an ambient pressure, other suitable parameters and combinations thereof.
A body sensor 108 may generate a body signal 110. In one example, the control module 36, the body module 44 and/or other modules receive the body signal 110 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the signal 110. The body signal 110 may be based on position indicators (e.g., potentiometers) connected to one or more structural members 112 that may form a frame or unit body (
An emissions sensor 114 may generate an emission signal 116. In one example, the control module 36, the emissions module 52 and/or other modules receives at least the emissions signal 116 and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the signal 116. The emissions signal 116 may be based on oxygen concentration sensor and signal therefrom. The oxygen concentration sensor may connect to the exhaust system 118.
In one example, the vehicle 10 and the vehicle management system 16 may include the entertainment module 38. The entertainment module 38 may communicate one or more entertainment signals 120 to and/or from the following entertainment components: a digital video disc player, a video compact disc player, an audio compact disc player, a digital tape player, a radio, a navigation system, a satellite radio, an intercom, a citizens' band radio, an active noise cancellation system. The entertainment module 38 and/or other modules may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the entertainment signal 120. The modular messages 28 from the entertainment module 38 may include, but are not limited to the following messages: volume up button pressed, volume down button pressed, volume mute button pressed, tune up button pressed, tune down button pressed, source/exit button pressed, push-to-talk button pressed, squelch up button pressed, squelch down button pressed, COM/ICOM button pressed, skip/seek CD tracks, skip CD discs, fast forward tape, rewind tape, satellite radio tune up/down, other suitable messages and combinations thereof.
In one example, the vehicle 10 and the vehicle management system 16 include the turn signal module 40. The turn signal module 40 and/or other modules may receive (or generate) one or more turn signals 122 to and/or from a turn signal mechanism (e.g. a stalk or foot buttons) and may broadcast one more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on at least the turn signal 122. The turn signal module 40 and/or other modules may accordingly illuminate a turn signal indicator 124 based on the module message 28.
In one example, the vehicle 10 and the vehicle management system 16 may include the display module 50. The display module 50 and/or other modules may generate one or more display signals 126 that may be received by one or more displays 128 connected to the vehicle 10. The display signals 126 may be based on the module messages 28 and one or more sensor signals 24 and indicate for example vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel level, battery level, etc.
The vehicle 10 and the vehicle management system 16 may include an operator input module 130. One or more operator inputs 132 (e.g., an accelerator pedal, grip and/or lever 134) may have an operator input sensor 136 that detects a position of the operator input 132. The operator input sensor 136 may generate an operator input signal 138 indicative of the position of the operator input 132. The operator input module 130 and/or other modules may receive the operator input signal 138 and may generate one or more of the module messages 28 based on the operator input signal 138.
The vehicle 10 and the vehicle management system may include a diagnostic module 140. The diagnostic module 140 and/or other modules may connect with one or more of the external modules 32 and may exchange one or more module messages 28 on the system bus 34 based on one or more suitable diagnostic routines and, as such, form a diagnostic link therebetween. The external module 32 may define a diagnostic tool that directly connects (i.e., a hard wire connection) to the one or more modules on the system bus 34. In another example, the external module 32 may define a remote diagnostic tool that wirelessly connects (i.e., electromagnetic wave communication) to the one or more modules on the system bus 34. In a further example, the external module 32 may define a diagnostic tool that connects to the one or more modules on the system bus 34 via the internet.
With reference to
In one example, one or more of the structural members 112 may define a steering assembly journal 146 (
In one example, the vehicle 10 includes a winch 164. The vehicle management system 16 may include a winch module 166. The winch module 166 may operate winch 164 based on the module messages 28 received by the winch module 166. The vehicle 10 may include a towing connector 168 that communicates with a towing module 170. The towing module 170 may operate the towing connector 168 (e.g., activate lights and/or brakes) based on the module messages 28 received by the towing module 170.
The vehicle 10 may have one or more suspension components 172 that may connect, for example, the drivetrain 62 to one or more the structural members 112. It will be appreciated that the suspension components 172 and components connected thereto may move relative to the structural members 112. The body sensors 108 may send body signals 110 based on movement of the suspension components 172 to the body module 44.
In one example, the vehicle 10 has a dry weight that is less than about two thousand pounds (about 900 kg). The dry weight is defined as the weight of the vehicle 10 minus any operational fluids such as fuel, oil and/or coolant.
In the above examples, various modules 18, 20, 26 may be used, not used, or replaced in the vehicle 10 by easily removing the module 18, 20, 26 from the system bus 34. As modules 18, 20, 26 are replaced and/or swapped, connection of the modules 18, 20, 26 only requires a simple connection to the system bus 34, thus providing modularity of the vehicle management system 16. It will be appreciated that a new module and/or newly configured module may simply be connected to the system bus 34. The new module has access to all of the module messages 28 broadcast on the system bus 34 without interfering with the existing modules on the system bus 34 or the vehicle management system 16.
In one example and with reference to
The vehicle identifier 174 may be located in the engine module 42, a vehicle identification module 176 (
With reference to
In one example, the display indicator 182 may have a plurality of features that correspond to the functions 180 of the certain configuration 178 of the first module 18. One feature may include a trip computer. Other features may include a tachometer, a speedometer, a fuel gauge, an oil pressure gauge, a battery voltage gauge, an engine coolant temperate gauge and/or other suitable display indicators and/or gauges. Based on the vehicle identifier 174, a certain configuration is determined and a subset of one or more of the above functions or other suitable functions may be used (or activated). For example, the engine identifier 174 may correspond to a first configuration, which activates only two functions that support a tachometer and a speedometer. A different vehicle identifier 174 may have the display module 50 to use a second configuration. The second configuration may activate the following functions to support the following features: the speedometer, the tachometer, the trip computer and the battery voltage gauge. It will be appreciated that one or more functions of the first module 18 may be activated (or deactivated) to support one or more features available on (or in) the vehicle 10. In the second configuration, for example, the trip computer feature may not be used and thus certain functions 180 that correspond to the trip computer feature may be deactivated (or not used).
In one example, one function of the plurality of functions of the modules may include a sampling rate 184, a channel resolution 186, an amount of channels 188, and an amount of processes 190. Other functions may include, but are not limited to memory allocation, clock rates, switching frequencies, bit rates, etc. It will be appreciated that various functions and/or features of the vehicle 10 may demand that one or more of the modules adjust one of the above functions (e.g., increase a sampling rate).
By acquiring (i.e., reading) the vehicle identifier 174, the configuration of one or more of the modules may be adjusted such that one or more of the above functions and/or features may be adjusted accordingly. For example, based on a vehicle identifier 174, the sampling rate of one or more channels (i.e., inputs) of one ore more of the modules may be adjusted (e.g., from high to medium to low etc.) to a higher sampling rate to accommodate the additional functionality of one or more of the modules. When additional modules are added to the system bus, the added module may read the vehicle identifier 174 and configure itself accordingly.
In one example, an external module 32 (
In one example, a speed bias 192 of the vehicle 10 may be adjusted (e.g., from high to medium to low etc.) based on the vehicle identifier 174. The speed bias 192 may, for example, cause the speed indicated on the speedometer to be higher than an actual ground speed. Other modules, however, may depend on an actual speed (not affected by the speed bias) and as such one or more modules may be adjusted based on the system identifier 174 to read the actual speed and/or display the altered speed by the speed bias.
The vehicle identifier 174 may be configured via software and/or hardware. For example, the vehicle identifier 174 may be stored in read-only memory (ROM) within one or more of the modules (e.g., the vehicle identifier module 176 or the engine module 42) via a software configuration. In another example, the vehicle identifier 174 may be set via jumpers and/or dip switches via a hardware configuration associated with one or more of the modules. In either configuration, the vehicle identifier 174 remains accessible to one or more of modules on the system bus 34.
The vehicle identifier 174 may be programmed at the same facility where the vehicle is assembled. The vehicle identifier 174 may be configured such that changes to the vehicle identifier 174 may only be made by the vehicle manufacturer. In some instances, the vehicle manufacturer may make available updates to the vehicle identifier 174 and configuration of the modules based thereon to various authorized service facilities. For example, a service facility may reprogram the vehicle identifier 174 (e.g. re-flash the ROM) when an update of the corresponding software and/or hardware becomes available.
In one example, one or more of the modules may be adjusted to implement or adjust a body height 194, an engine response 196, a throttle response 198 and/or a vehicle demonstration mode 200. The throttle response 198, the engine response 196, and/or body height 194 may include utilizing one or more functions and/or features on one or more of modules based on the vehicle identifier 174. The ride height, engine and/or throttle response may include, but are not limited to, adjusting shift patterns, active aerodynamics, suspension stiffness, etc.
The vehicle identifier 174 may correspond to a certain demonstration mode 200. In the demonstration mode 200 (i.e., demonstration mode on), the vehicle speed, the throttle and/or the engine, shift patterns, etc. may be limited and/or adjusted. The demonstration mode may be used for test-drives, loaners, training vehicles and/or other suitable uses where the full performance of the vehicle may be limited.
In one example, the vehicle types may be based on different engine configurations, such that the vehicle identifier 174 is unique to a certain type of engine (e.g., four-stroke versus two-stroke, one cylinder versus two cylinder, etc.). The vehicle type may also be unique to a type of vehicle, for example, a snow mobile 56 (
In this regard, a module having the plurality of functions may be installed in multiple vehicles and in multiple vehicle types. In each vehicle and/or vehicle type, the module may self-configure based on the vehicle identifier 174. Because one module with the plurality of functions may be installed, for example, in complete product line a savings may be realized in purchasing a single module. Specific modules per specific vehicle types are no longer needed and the module having the plurality of functions that self-configures per the vehicle identifier may serve the entire (or portions of the) product line (i.e., multiple vehicle types, engines, options etc.).
In one example and with reference to
In step 306, one or more modules may read the vehicle identifier 174 (
In step 310, the module utilizes (e.g., activates or deactivates) a default (or saved) set of functions and/or features because the module is unable to read (or acquire) the vehicle identifier 174 (
Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the teachings have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the teachings should not be so limited because other modifications will become apparent to the practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.