Motor vehicle control system and method for controlling a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle control system consisting of at least two separate control units (S1-Sx), which are connected with one another by way of a bus system (5), whereby the control devices (S1-Sx) are provided for controlling individual vehicle components, in each instance. It is the task of the invention to effectively utilize the resources of memory space and computing time that exist within a combination of control devices of a motor vehicle and, in this connection, to assure processing of the routines that can take place in real time. The method is supposed to assure utilization of the existing resources, without additional hardware expenditure.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle control system having at least two separate control units, which are connected with one another by way of a bus system, and a method for controlling motor vehicle components by means of the motor vehicle control system.

[0002] It is generally and previously known to provide a combination of control devices in vehicles, whereby a separate control device is provided for individual functions (engine control, transmission control, ABS, etc.), in each instance. In this connection, the control devices are connected by way of a bus system and can communicate with one another, exchange data, etc. The constant expansion of functionality has the result, particularly in the case of complex control devices, such as the engine control device, of rapid changes in the control device hardware, whereby the memory space, I/O ports, and computer performance are expanded. As soon as control devices and software are ready for series production, their capacity limits are already reached. Time-consuming and cost-intensive adaptation of the control devices to the increased demand for memory space and computing speed, in each instance, are the result.

[0003] A method for operating a control device for a motor vehicle, in which two control units are connected by way of a data bus, is previously known from DE 197 50 026 A1. If it is determined, during operation of the control units, that one of the control devices has reached its performance limit, control device functions are temporarily transferred to the second control device and performed there. In this connection, the program code of the function is transmitted to this control device, or a function implemented in dual manner, that is already present on the second control device, is utilized. It is a disadvantage with this method of procedure that the entire program code has to be transmitted once, or that the functions have to be implemented in the control devices in dual manner. This results in additional memory requirements and is impossible for complex functions. Furthermore, a significant effort has to be made for temporarily transferring the functions. The capacity of the control device to which they are transferred must be checked, the program structures are switched over to the control device to which the function is being delegated, since a new function has to be linked. This is impossible, in particular, for time-critical and safety-relevant functions.

[0004] The use of a client/server architecture on a vehicle control device combination is previously known from DE 19/48 536 C2. Here, the individual application functions are described independent of the devices and addressed by way of a communication interface. Any communication between the processes therefore generates a data exchange, which must take place by way of the bus system. The individual application functions can therefore be implemented only once, in order to save space, and are available to several requesters. The method requires an additional level (function monitor level) that functions as a central control unit as well as a central memory for the individual systems (clients/servers). It is a problem, in this connection, that the individual functions can be called up by several requesters at the same time, and that the response times are lengthened due to the sequential processing. Use under real-time conditions, such as for an engine control device, for example, is therefore problematic.

[0005] The significant advantage of the client/server architecture lies in the central management of the functions, whereby these only have to be implemented once for the applications, in each instance. The individual vehicle control devices, e.g. engine control device, transmission control device, ABS control device, have only very few functions in common, however, so that the construction of a client/server architecture for common use of the functions does not produce any decisive advantages.

[0006] It is the task of the invention to effectively utilize the resources of memory space and computing time that exist within a combination of control devices of a motor vehicle and, in this connection, to assure processing of the routines that can take place in real time. The method is supposed to assure utilization of the existing resources, without additional hardware expenditure.

[0007] This task is accomplished, in the case of motor vehicle control systems of the type stated, according to the invention, by means of the characterizing features of claims 1-8 and, in the case of methods for controlling a motor vehicle, of the type stated, according to the invention, by means of the characterizing features of claims 9-16.

[0008] Usually, the processing of control functions takes place in a control device specifically provided for the vehicle component. Thus, for example, the engine control algorithms such as calculation of the characteristic variables for injection and ignition, AGR, cooling, error management, driving speed regulation, etc., are processed in the engine control device, while a transmission control device is provided for controlling the transmission, and an ABS control device is provided for implementing anti-lock strategies to brake the vehicle.

[0009] If the functions stored in the control device must be expanded, or if new functions have to be added, one rapidly reaches the limits of the individual control devices with regard to memory space and computing capacity, so that a new generation of control devices, having expanded memory space and higher processing speeds, must be introduced. However, expansion of the functions does not proceed uniformly in all the control devices, so that memory space might still be available in the transmission control device, for example, and computing capacity is also available, while adding a new function, e.g. for direct fuel injection, to the engine control device, is not possible because its memory space and computing capacity are no longer sufficient. Until now, if a control device had reached its capacity limit with regard to memory space and/or computing performance, the use of a new control device took place.

[0010] It is now advantageous that according to the invention, a program that is to be processed in a control device is divided up, whereby functions from the control device that has reached its capacity limit are transferred to a control device having available resources. In this connection, the program code of the function that was taken out of the program is transferred to the “foreign” control device. Processing of the transferred function also takes place on the processor of the “foreign” control device. The requirements for computing, any transfer values, as well as the input and output variables are exchanged by way of a bus system that connects the control devices.

[0011] It is advantageous that according to the invention, the functions that require a large amount of memory space and/or computing time but for which no great requirements in terms of real-time capability are set are those that are transferred out of the control devices. The overall system remains real-time capable, since the lengthened response times that result from communication by way of the bus system only affect the non-time-critical functions that have been transferred out. By means of transferring out non-time-critical functions, room is made for those functions for which greater requirements with regard to the response times are set.

[0012] The selection of the transferred functions can also be based on purely practical considerations, in that newly added functions are transferred to a foreign control device independent of their need for memory space and computing time. The function to be newly implemented in the combination of control devices is then not implemented in the control device that is specifically intended for the control task of the vehicle component, if the latter has reached its capacity limit. This newly added function is transferred to a foreign control device. The algorithms that previously ran on the control device do not have to be changed for this, whereby the structure that might already have been tested and proven can be maintained.

[0013] It is advantageous that according to the invention, the functions that set low requirements with regard to the data exchange with the actual main program are those that are transferred from a control device that is working at its capacity limit in terms of memory space and/or computing time. The amount of additional data to be transmitted by way of the bus system can therefore be kept low, and this assures a lower load for the bus system, for one thing, and faster processing of the transferred function, for another thing.

[0014] At present, the design of control device functions for vehicle control devices extensively takes place using hardware-independent development tools such as ASCET-SD or MATLAB. In this connection, the functions are described by means of block schematics, status graphs, signal links, etc. Here, the generation of the control code for a specific platform takes place only after the hardware-independent design. The design method thereby makes it possible to isolate individual functions from the total program, in simple manner.

[0015] It is advantageous that according to the invention, if the free resources of all of the control devices of the combination of control devices are utilized, and if the control functions are distributed to other control devices, new control devices that have been expanded in terms of computing performance and memory capacity have to be introduced only if the resources of all the control devices that were present in the vehicle before and were connected by way of a bus system have been exhausted.

[0016] It is advantageous that according to the invention, functions from the engine control device, in particular, are transferred to a different control device, for example the transmission control device of the vehicle. The expansion of the engine control device that becomes necessary due to new algorithms that have been introduced into the control device, for example for direct fuel injection, or due to expansion of existing algorithms, is postponed by means of transfer of non-time-critical functions, such as driving speed regulation and/or air conditioning system control and/or engine cooling/fan control and/or anti-theft lock, until all the control devices arranged in the combination of control devices of the vehicle have been utilized to their full capacity in terms of computing time and memory space.

[0017] The motor vehicle control system according to the invention offers the possibility of transferring a large number of functions from one control device to one or more other, different control devices. In this connection, distributing the functions is possible without any change in the existing control devices and their connections with one another. The possibility therefore exists of fitting expanded and/or additional algorithms into an existing control device structure. New algorithms can therefore not only be introduced in connection with a new design, but also retrofitted into existing structures, as long as resources with regard to memory space and computing performance are still available in one of the control devices that is part of the combination of control devices.

[0018] In the following, am exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described using a drawing.

[0019] It shows an exemplary embodiment of the motor vehicle control system according to the invention. A control device S1 that serves to control an engine 1, a control device S2 that controls a transmission that belongs to the engine, and a control device Sx, which controls the brake pressure of the vehicle brakes, for example (ABS control device), are shown as examples. The control devices S1-Sx are connected with one another by way of a bus system 5 of the vehicle, e.g. a CAN bus. Sensors SM and actors AM are arranged on the engine 1, the measurement and control signals SM1-SMx and AM1-AMx of which are applied to the control device S1, i.e. are controlled by the latter. Sensors SG and actors AG are arranged on the transmission 2, the measurement and control signals SG1-SGx and AG1-AGx of which are applied to the control device S2, i.e. are controlled by the latter. Sensors SD and actors AD are arranged on the brake pressure control 4, the measurement or control signals SM1-SMx and AM1-AMx of which are applied to the control device Sx, i.e. are controlled by the latter. Furthermore, the signals DZ1-DZ4 of the wheel rotation speed sensors 3 are applied to the control device.

[0020] Programs for controlling a vehicle component are stored in the control devices S1-Sx, in each instance.

[0021] A program HPM for engine control is stored in the control device S1. The program consists of the functions FM1-FMx, which determine parameters and/or process measurement values of the sensors SM and/or determine control variables for the actors AM. The program HPM for controlling the engine runs on the processor of the control device 1. As already described, greater demands on the control device S1 with regard to memory space and computing capacity can come about as the result of necessary expansion of the functions FM1-FMx, or as the result of newly added functions. If the device has reached its capacity limit, it would have to be replaced with a new control device provided with expanded memory space and a greater computing capacity. However, additional control devices S2-Sx are present in the vehicle. A program HPG, which consists of functions FG1-FGx for controlling the transmission is stored in the control device S2. The program HPG is carried out on the processor of the control device 2. Another program HPB having functions for controlling the brake pressure FB1-FBx is stored in the control device Sx, whereby it is carried out on the processor of this control device Sx.

[0022] If an increased demand for computing and/or memory capacity in the control device S1 is required, memory space and computing capacity can be made available in the control device 1 by means of transferring out individual functions, such as the function FM4, in this example, to a different control device, namely S2 here.

[0023] The function FM4, which contains the driving speed regulation, for example, is then stored on the control device S2 for controlling the transmission, and runs on the processor of this control device S2. The necessary parameters are made available by the control device S1, by way of the bus system 5. The parameters calculated by the function FM4, for example an injection amount necessary in order to implement the desired speed of the vehicle, can be called up by the control device S1 by way of the bus system 5. The parameters calculated in the control device S2 in this manner are processed further in the control device S1, i.e. they can form the setting variables for the actors AM for controlling the engine. The function FM4 is linked with the program for controlling the transmission, HPG, but runs extensively isolated from the latter in terms of data exchange.

[0024] As shown with the example of the function FM4, other functions of controlling the engine can also be transferred to the control device S2 for controlling the transmission. It is also possible to transfer the functions to other control devices, for example the control device Sx that is shown. Another possibility is to divide several functions of the engine control device FM1-FMx, which are to be transferred out, among different control devices, so that parts of the engine control are stored and carried out in the transmission control device SG and other parts in the control device Sx.

Reference Symbol List

[0025] 1 engine

[0026] 2 transmission

[0027] 3 wheel rotation speed sensor

[0028] 4 brake pressure control

[0029] 5 bus system

[0030] S1 control device for controlling the engine

[0031] S2 control device for controlling the transmission

[0032] Sx control device for controlling the brake pressure

[0033] HPM program for controlling the engine

[0034] HPG program for controlling the transmission

[0035] HPB program for controlling the brake pressure

[0036] FM1-FMx functions for controlling the engine

[0037] FG1-FGx functions for controlling the transmission

[0038] FB1-FBx functions for controlling the brake pressure

[0039] SM1-SMx signals of the sensors for controlling the engine

[0040] SG1-SGx signals of the sensors for controlling the transmission

[0041] DZ1-DZ4 signals of the wheel rotation speed sensors

[0042] SD1-SDx signals of the pressure control

[0043] AD1-ADx signals for controlling the actors for brake pressure control

[0044] AG1-AGx signals for controlling the actors for engine control

[0045] AM1-AMx signals for controlling the actors for transmission control

[0046] SM sensors for controlling the engine

[0047] AM actors for controlling the engine

[0048] SG sensors for controlling the transmission

[0049] AG actors for controlling the transmission

Claims

1. Motor vehicle control system consisting of at least two separate control devices (S1-Sx), which are connected with one another by way of a bus system (5), whereby the control devices (S1-Sx) are provided for controlling individual vehicle components, in each instance, wherein the program code of at least one function of a program that is stored in a control device (S1) and carried out by the processor of the control device (S1) is stored in a different control device (S2) that is coupled to the common bus system (5), and therefore is no longer present in the control device (S1), whereby the function transferred out of the control device (S1) in this manner is linked with the program sequence of the program running on the control device (S2) and processed on the processor of the control device (S2), whereby the input and output variables of the function can be transmitted between the control device (S2) and the control device (S1) by way of the bus system (5).

2. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein several functions of the program that is stored on a control device (S1) and runs on this device are transferred out, whereby the program code of these transferred functions is stored in another control device (S2-Sx), in each instance, and the functions on the control device (S2-Sx), in each instance, are linked with the programs that run on these control devices (S2-Sx), whereby the transferred functions are thereby distributed over other control devices (S2-Sx) with regard to their storage in memory and their implementation.

3. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the functions transferred out of the control device (S1) are new functions that have been added in the course of the development of the control device (S1).

4. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the functions that have been transferred out of the control device (S1) have longer response times than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

5. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the functions that have been transferred out of the control device (S1) have a lower number of input and/or output variables than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

6. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the functions that have been transferred out of the control device (S1) have a greater need for memory space than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

7. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (S1) from which the program code of at least one function (FM4) that has been transferred out of the program (HPM) that runs on the control device (S1) is the control device (S1) that controls the vehicle engine (1).

8. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 7, wherein the functions that have been transferred out of the program (HPM) that runs on the control device (S1) are the functions for regulating speed and/or the function for cooling the engine and/or the function for controlling the fan and/or the function of the anti-theft lock and/or the pre-glow function for the glow pins and/or the function of regulating the exhaust gas recycling and/or the function of recognizing the driver's wishes by way of the gas pedal and/or error management.

9. Motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (S2) to which the program code of at least one function (FM4) that has been transferred out of the program (HPM) that runs on the control device (S1) has been transferred is the control device (S2) that controls the transmission (2).

10. Method for controlling a motor vehicle, for a control system consisting of at least two separate control devices (S1-Sx), which are connected with one another by way of a bus system (5), whereby the control devices (S1-Sx) are provided for controlling individual vehicle components, in each instance, whereby independent programs consisting of several functions run in the control devices, in each instance, wherein at least one function for controlling a vehicle component assigned to the control device (S1), in each instance, stored in a different control device (S2) that serves to control another vehicle component, is stored in the control device (S2) and is carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S2), and not stored in the control device (S1) with its program code, whereby the input and output variables of the function are transmitted between the control devices (S1 and S2) by way of the bus system (5).

11. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein several functions of the program that is stored on a control device (S1) and runs on this device are transferred out, whereby the program code of these transferred functions is stored in another control device (S2-Sx), in each instance, and the functions are carried out within the programs that run on the control device (S2-Sx), in each instance, and the functions transferred to the control devices (S2-Sx), in each instance make output variables available for the program that is running on the control device (S1), by way of the bus system (5).

12. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the functions transferred out of the control device (S1) are new functions that have been added in the course of the development of the control device (S1).

13. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the function(s) that has/have been transferred out of the control device (S1) and run on the other control device (S2)/the other control devices (S2-Sx) have longer response times than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

14. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the function(s) that has/have been transferred out of the control device (S1) and run on the other control device (S2)/the other control devices (S2-Sx) have a lower number of input and/or output variables than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

15. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the function(s) that has/have been transferred out of the control device (S1) and run on the other control device (S2)/on the other control devices (S2-Sx) have a greater need for memory space than the functions that are stored in the control device (S1) and are carried out within the program that runs on this control device (S1).

16. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the at least program code of one function (FM4) is transferred out of a program (HPM), whereby the program (HPM) serves to control an engine (1), and the program (HPM) runs on the control device (S1) that controls the vehicle engine (1).

17. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein at least one function runs on at least one of the control devices (S2-Sx), which function has been transferred out of the program (HPM) that runs on the control device (S1), whereby the function(s) that has/have been transferred out are the function(s) that serve for regulating speed and/or for controlling the air conditioning system and/or the function for cooling the engine and/or for controlling the fan and/or for implementing an anti-theft lock and/or the pre-glow function for the glow pins and/or the function of recognizing the driver's wishes by way of the gas pedal and/or for regulating the exhaust gas recycling and/or error management.

18. Method for controlling a motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein one of the control devices (S2-Sx) on which at least one function runs that has been transferred out of the program (HPM) that runs on the control device (S1) is the control device (S2) that controls the transmission (2).