Method and component device for providing approval identification

Abstract

A method for providing an identification, in particular an approval identification, of a component is disclosed, wherein at least one communication element arranged on the component or integrated in the component is read out visually, electronically or electromagnetically, at least one code is determined by reading out the communication element, and the determined code is used to digitally retrieve and output the identification of the component. In addition, a component device is disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing an identification, in particular an approval identification, of a component, and to a component arrangement. Background Art

[0002] As vehicles are increasingly equipped with automation, safety and comfort functions, the number of installed components is increasing. Such components can be, for example, sensors and control devices. For example, in order to implement adaptive cruise control and emergency brake assistance, radar sensors are used in most cases. The radar sensor transmits high-frequency electromagnetic waves through an antenna structure and receives the part of the electromagnetic waves reflected at the object. With the help of the received waves, the distance and direction to the object can be calculated. In addition, the relative speed of the object relative to the radar sensor can be calculated. Most radar sensors operate in the globally specified frequency range of 76 to 77 GHz.

[0003] For example, radar sensors undergo a country-specific approval process by emitting a high-frequency radar beam. The corresponding country-specific approval mark must be arranged on the radar sensor, for example in the form of a label. Similar requirements are imposed on other components (such as LIDAR sensors).

[0004] The approval mark is usually engraved on the housing or the identification label by laser. If such components are increasingly sold and approved in other countries, it is necessary to adapt the laser marking and the corresponding camera-based control. However, with an increasing number of approval marks, such changes in the laser marking are complex and cannot be carried out in a daily updating manner. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object on which the present invention is based can be seen as providing a method for providing an identification which allows a technically simple and rapid update of the identification.

[0006] This object is achieved by means of the various embodiments of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of various further developments.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing an identification, in particular an approval identification, of a component is provided.

[0008] In one step, at least one communication element arranged on the component or integrated in the component is read out visually, electronically or electromagnetically. Preferably, the communication device can be designed to be machine-readable.

[0009] Next, at least one code is determined by reading out the communication element. The determined code is used to digitally retrieve and output the identification of the component. In this case, different country-specific identifications and information about the component can be provided digitally. In particular, it is conceivable that the code is used to perform an output on a display. For example, an Internet page with data related to the identification can be called up on a display of a vehicle or a portable device with the help of the code. The portable display can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop.

[0010] In particular, the component can be designed as a control unit or a sensor, for example a LIDAR sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a camera sensor, a GNSS sensor or the like.

[0011] This method allows existing country-specific approval labels or approval marks to be replaced by a machine-readable communication element with a corresponding link (e.g. to an Internet page or cloud). Advantageously, the communication element can remain unchanged when the approval mark is changed. By adapting the Internet page or cloud, all changes can be implemented centrally, so that the manufacturing process of the component remains unchanged.

[0012] Communication elements usually contain a visible or invisible code. The code can be implemented mechanically by analyzing a sensor or reader or by keyboard input. The determined or implemented code is used to establish a data connection or to retrieve data. In this case, a daily updated identification of a component can be displayed.

[0013] By using a machine-readable communication element with a link to a centrally managed approval mark, cost savings and a reduction in the production costs of the component can be achieved. In the event of a change in the approval mark, only a number can be published on an Internet page or in the cloud. The communication element or communication device on the component remains unchanged. In this way, the approval mark can be provided in an updated manner on a daily basis.

[0014] The identification can preferably have component-specific information about approvals, quality seals, Information on usage or operating parameters, legal regulations, framework conditions or the like. In addition, testing institutes, approval authorities and quality seals can be components of the identification. This can provide, for example, a quick overview of the countries in which the component is approved or can legally be operated.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the code is configured as an Internet address, IP address or object identifier. Based on the Internet address, for example, information about the component identification stored in a centrally managed Internet page can be called or loaded. If the components are connected via an Ethernet connection, the components and in particular the memory inside the component can be associated with the IP address. Thus, read access to the memory inside the component can be provided via the IP address. Information about the identification of the component can be received in the CAN bus system via the object identifier.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the identification of the component as Internet page information, as an external storage file or as internal storage data of the component is called according to the code obtained. Therefore, the code is used as a link to the Internet page or file that can be implemented by the machine. The corresponding Internet page or file can be called and visually shown by implementing the code. For example, the Internet page can be decoded by scanning the QR code and then called up in order to learn all the relevant approval identifications of the component.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the communication element is configured as visual information in the form of a QR code, a data matrix code, a barcode arranged on the component or configured as an Internet address, wherein the communication element is optically read out by a scanner or a user. Through this measure, an optically readable link can be provided, through which a centrally maintained Internet page or file can be called. Thus, only the communication element must be created or arranged when manufacturing the component. Therefore, subsequent changes in the communication element can be omitted. Because such communication elements are created by a printing method, a stamping method or by a laser marking method, the cumbersome changes caused by additional approval marks can be omitted. If the component is approved in different countries, the corresponding approval mark is implemented in the target file or target address. Only the Internet page or file is changed. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to change the manufacturing chain of the component.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the communication element is configured as an RFID transponder or an NFC transponder, wherein the communication element is read out by a reading device to obtain a code. For this purpose, the RFID transponder or NFC transponder can contain a URL, which can be decrypted and called by the reading device. For example, an NFC-enabled smartphone can be used as a reading device to obtain a code and thus the Internet address of the communication element. Then, an Internet page or a file stored online obtained from the code can be called to show an approval mark. The data stored online can be stored in the cloud, for example. Such RFID transponders or NFC transponders can be fixed to the housing of the component or integrated in the housing of the component. This can be achieved, for example, by casting or bonding the transponder to the housing. Alternatively or additionally, such transponders can be positioned on a printed circuit board in the housing.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the communication element is designed as a component-internal memory, wherein the communication element is read out and displayed via a multimedia interface and / or via an on-board diagnostic device. For this purpose, an Ethernet connection or a CAN bus connection to the component can be established, via which the data stored in the component-internal memory with the approval identification is stored. This can be advantageous in particular in vehicle-side components. For example, the approval identification can be updated and improved quickly and uncomplicatedly by means of a vehicle update, wherein the component-internal memory is rewritten with data during such a vehicle update.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a component device is provided. The component device has a component with a housing and at least one communication element, the at least one communication element being used to provide an identification of the component by the method according to the present invention. The communication element is integrated in the component or arranged on the housing of the component.

[0021] The communication element can be used to associate an approval mark with a component, which can be changed or updated technically simply and quickly. For example, in the course of a transnational approval process for a component, an additional approval mark may be required, with which the component is marked. Such subsequent approval marks can be applied centrally and called up by the communication element.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the component is configured as a control device or as a sensor, in particular a radar sensor. In addition, the component can be configured as a LIDAR sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a camera sensor, a GNSS sensor or the like. The component is not limited to a sensor or a control device in principle. Instead, the component can also be a device, a vehicle, a device or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is further described below based on an extremely simplified schematic diagram. It is shown here:

[0024] Figure 1 shows a schematic exploded view of a component arrangement according to one embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the first embodiment is shown;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the second embodiment is shown;

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the third embodiment is shown;

[0028] Figure 5A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to a fourth embodiment is shown;

[0029] Figure 6 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the fifth embodiment is shown;

[0030] Figure 7 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the sixth embodiment is shown; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic exploded view of a component arrangement 1 according to one specific embodiment of the invention is shown. The component arrangement 1 has a component 2 which is designed as a radar sensor, for example.

[0032] The component 2 has a housing 4 which is divided into two half-shells 6, 8. The housing 4 has connections 10 which serve for energy- and data-conducting connections of the component 2.

[0033] The connection 10 is connected to a printed circuit board 12 or a functional unit of the component 2. The printed circuit board 12 can have, for example, a receiving antenna and a transmitting antenna with corresponding control electronics.

[0034] Furthermore, the component arrangement 1 has communication elements 14 , 16 . The communication elements 14 , 16 can be designed as visible communication elements 14 or as invisible communication elements 16 .

[0035] The visible communication element 14 can be arranged, for example, on the first housing half 6 . The invisible communication element 16 can be read out electronically or electromagnetically and integrated into the housing 4 or positioned on the printed circuit board 12 , for example.

[0036] Figure 2 A schematic sequence is shown for explaining the method according to a first embodiment. In this case, the communication element 14 is visibly embodied and positioned on the housing 4 of the component device 1. The communication element 14 is designed as a QR code or as a data matrix code and can be read and evaluated by a reader 18. By reading out the communication element 14, a code 20, for example in the form of an Internet address, can be determined by the reader 18 and an Internet page can be called up on which approval identifications 22 are listed in a daily updated manner.

[0037] Figure 3A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to a second embodiment is shown. In contrast to the first embodiment, the communication element 14 is designed as an Internet address or URL. The URL serves as a code 20 and can be entered into the address bar of a web browser in order to call up an Internet page with an approval mark 22. The Internet address can be entered, for example, by a user 24 or by machine text recognition or so-called OCR.

[0038] exist Figure 4 A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the third embodiment is shown in . Here, the communication element 16 is implemented as an invisible communication element 16 in the form of an RFID transponder. Here, the communication element 16 is integrated into the housing 4 of the component 2 or is bonded to the housing 4.

[0039] The RFID transponder 16 is read out by a reading device 19, which may be an RFID scanner, and a code 20 in the form of an Internet address is determined. The determined Internet address can then be called up to display one or more approval identifiers.

[0040] Figure 5 A schematic sequence is shown for explaining the method according to a fourth embodiment. In contrast to the previously described exemplary embodiments, the communication element 16 is designed as an NFC transponder or chip, which is positioned on the printed circuit board 12 of the component 2. The communication element 16 can be read out by an electromagnetic scanner 19 and a code 20 in the form of an Internet address or a download link to a file can also be determined. The code 20 can then be retrieved, for example, by a portable device or a computer in order to display an approval mark 22.

[0041] exist Figure 6 , a schematic sequence for explaining the method according to the fifth embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the communication element 16 is implemented as a component-internal memory and is also positioned on the printed circuit board 12. In this case, the component 2 can be arranged on the vehicle and can be read out via a so-called multimedia interface 26.

[0042] For example, the display of the approval symbol 22 may be realized via a vehicle display 28 , such as a cockpit display or a central display.

[0043] Analogously to the vehicle identification number, the communication element 16 designed as a component-internal memory can be read out via the multimedia interface 26. The code 20 with the approval identification 22 stored in the communication element 16 can be updated by a vehicle update, for example by a so-called software flash over the air process.

[0044] Figure 7A schematic flow chart for explaining the method according to the fifth embodiment is shown. Figure 6 In the exemplary embodiment shown, communication element 16 is designed as a component-internal memory. In this case, approval identification 22 can be called up via a CAN bus interface of on-board diagnostic device 30 (eg, an OBDII interface of the vehicle).

[0045] Then, the display of the approval mark 22 may be realized via the screen 32 of the diagnostic device or via the screen of a portable device (eg, a tablet computer coupled to the interface 30 via Bluetooth).

Claims

1. A method for providing an identification (22) of a component (2), wherein: visually, electronically or electromagnetically reading out at least one communication element (14, 16), the at least one communication element being arranged on the component (2) or integrated in the component (2); By reading out the communication element (14, 16), at least one code (20) is determined, using the determined code (20) for digitally retrieving and outputting the identification (22) of the component (2), wherein the communication element (16) is designed as a component-internal memory, wherein the communication element (16) is read out and displayed via a multimedia interface (26) and / or via an on-board diagnostic device (30), Wherein, the mark (22) is an approval mark, Therein, the code (20) with the approval identification (22) stored in the communication element (16) is updated by means of a vehicle update.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The code (20) is configured as an Internet address, IP address or object identifier.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The identifier (22) of the component (2) is retrieved as a function of the determined code (20) as Internet page information, as an external storage file or as component internal storage data.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The communication element (14) is configured as visible information in the form of a QR code, a data matrix code, a barcode arranged on the component (2), or in the form of an Internet address, wherein the communication element (14) is optically read out by a reading device (18) or a user (24).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The communication element (16) is designed as an RFID transponder or an NFC transponder, wherein the communication element (16) is read out by a reader device (19) in order to determine the code (20).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: Memory within the component is rewritten during the vehicle update.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The code (20) with the approval identification (22) stored in the communication element (16) is updated by a software flash over-the-air download process.

8. A component arrangement (1), comprising a component (2) having a housing (4) and at least one communication element (14, 16), the component having a housing (4), the at least one communication element being used to provide at least one identification (2) of the component (2) by means of a method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The communication element (14, 16) is integrated into the component (2) or arranged on the housing (4) of the component (2).

9. The component according to claim 8, wherein The component (2) is designed as a control unit or as a sensor, in particular as a radar sensor.

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