Ultrasonic Sensor Control Method, System and Vehicle

Abstract

The ultrasonic sensor control method, system, and corresponding vehicle disclosed in this invention establish a communication connection between each channel of a single transceiver chip on the controller side and the transceiver chips of at least two ultrasonic sensors. By providing a controllable power supply circuit, the transceiver chips of at least two ultrasonic sensors connected to each channel of the same transceiver chip on the controller side are powered in a time-sharing manner. Based on the time-sharing power supply cycle, the corresponding transceiver chip on the controller side locates the corresponding ultrasonic sensor in a time-sharing manner and determines the source of the current sensing signal. This invention optimizes the system structure from a cost perspective while maintaining functionality and performance, reducing the number of transceiver chips on the controller side, significantly lowering system costs and enhancing product competitiveness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of sensing and intelligent control, and particularly relates to an ultrasonic sensor control method, system and corresponding vehicle. Background Art

[0002] With the gradual popularization of functions such as automatic parking, lane change assistance, and driverless driving, as well as the continuous improvement of recognition accuracy and intelligence level, the vehicle's usage of ultrasonic sensors is increasing. In the traditional ultrasonic sensor control system, the communication between the controller and the sensor is realized by a single-wire hard-wired communication method. This method does not require a dedicated transceiver chip, but its safety level, information volume, and communication speed cannot be guaranteed.

[0003] Currently, more single-wire buses such as DSI3 and PSI5 are used to connect the controller and the sensor. The advantage of this bus method is that it has a large communication information volume, high speed, and high safety level, but it requires transceiver chips to be set at both ends (controller end and sensor end). When the ultrasonic sensing control system uses more sensors, a large number of bus transceiver chips need to be configured at the controller end, and the transceiver chips are expensive, resulting in high system costs.

[0004] Figure 1 The ultrasonic sensing control system using the point-to-point method in the prior art is shown. In the figure, R2 to R5 represent four sensors arranged at the rear end of the vehicle body, F2 to F5 represent four sensors arranged at the front end of the vehicle body, R1 and F1 respectively represent two sensors arranged at the left rear side and the left front side of the vehicle body, and R6 and F6 respectively represent two sensors arranged at the right rear side and the right front side of the vehicle body. Existing transceiver chips generally have two channels. Then, when twelve sensors need to be connected, the sensor controller needs to configure six transceiver chips. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an ultrasonic sensor control method and system that can effectively control multiple ultrasonic sensors while reducing the usage of transceiver chips at the controller end and lowering the overall system cost. The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] An ultrasonic sensor control method is applied to control a controller and multiple ultrasonic sensors connected through a bus, and each ultrasonic sensor is respectively configured with a transceiver chip; the control method is characterized in that it includes:

[0007] (1) Divide some or all of the ultrasonic sensors into N sensor groups, where N is an even number greater than or equal to 2, and each sensor group includes M sensors, M≥2; configure at least X control-end transceiver chips at the controller end, X≥1, and the N sensor groups are evenly distributed and communicatively connected to the X control-end transceiver chips;

[0008] (2) Control the on / off of each ultrasonic sensor in a time-sharing manner through a power supply controllable circuit, and combine the control-end transceiver chips connected to the corresponding ultrasonic sensors to locate the specific ultrasonic sensor; or, control the on / off of some ultrasonic sensors in a time-sharing manner through a power supply controllable circuit, identify the attribute information of another part of the ultrasonic sensors, and combine the control-end transceiver chips connected to the corresponding ultrasonic sensors to locate the specific ultrasonic sensor.

[0009] Specifically, each of the X control-end transceiver chips has two communication channels, and the sensor groups assigned to the X control-end transceiver chips are evenly distributed and connected to the two communication channels.

[0010] An ultrasonic sensor control system includes a controller and multiple ultrasonic sensors connected by a bus, and each ultrasonic sensor is configured with a transceiver chip; characterized in that: the control system executes the control method described above.

[0011] Specifically, the control system includes S ultrasonic sensors, S is an even number greater than or equal to 6, and is evenly divided into a first sensor group and a second sensor group; one control-end transceiver chip is configured at the controller end, and the first sensor group and the second sensor group are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the control-end transceiver chip.

[0012] More specifically, the control system is configured with Y power supply controllable circuits, Y * 2 = S, and each power supply controllable circuit controls the on / off of the power supply of one ultrasonic sensor connected to the first channel and one ultrasonic sensor connected to the second channel.

[0013] More specifically, according to the different positions set on the vehicle body, the S ultrasonic sensors classify the attribute information into front-end sensors, rear-end sensors, and left / right side sensors, and each sensor records its own attribute information; the control system is configured with Y power supply controllable circuits, Y * 3 = S, and each power supply controllable circuit controls the on / off of the power supply of one rear-end sensor connected to the first channel, one front-end sensor connected to the second channel, and one left / right side sensor connected to the first channel or the second channel.

[0014] Specifically, the control system includes S ultrasonic sensors, S is an even number greater than or equal to 12, and is evenly divided into a first to a fourth sensor group; the controller end is configured with first and second control-end transceiver chips, the first and second sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the first control-end transceiver chip, and the third and fourth sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the second control-end transceiver chip.

[0015] More specifically, according to different positions set on the vehicle body, the S ultrasonic sensors classify the attribute information into front-end sensors, rear-end sensors, and left and right side sensors, and each sensor records its own attribute information; each sensor group includes one rear-end sensor, one front-end sensor, and one left and right side sensor, and one sensor group is connected to each channel of the first and second control-end transceiver chips; the control system is configured with Y power supply controllable lines, Y * 6 = S, and the rear-end sensor and the front-end sensor in each sensor group are respectively controlled by two power supply controllable lines to supply power on and off, and the left and right side sensors in each sensor group are controlled by one of the two power supply controllable lines to supply power on and off.

[0016] Specifically, the Y power supply controllable lines are respectively controlled by Y switches; alternatively, one of the Y power supply controllable lines is a long-through line, and the other Y - 1 are respectively controlled by Y - 1 switches.

[0017] A vehicle is characterized in that it is provided with the ultrasonic sensor control system described above.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: Each channel of the same transceiver chip at the controller end is respectively communicatively connected to the transceiver chips of at least two ultrasonic sensors. By setting power supply controllable lines to supply power to the transceiver chips of at least two ultrasonic sensors connected to each channel of the same transceiver chip at the controller end in a time-sharing manner, according to the period of time-sharing power supply, the corresponding control-end transceiver chip locates the corresponding ultrasonic sensor in a time-sharing manner to determine the source of the current sensing signal. Based on the premise of unchanged cost, function, and performance, the present invention optimizes the system structure, reduces the number of control-end transceiver chips, greatly reduces the system cost, and improves the product competitiveness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the composition of a traditional ultrasonic sensor control system.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the composition of the ultrasonic sensor control system provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the composition of the ultrasonic sensor control system provided in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

[0023] Embodiment 1

[0024] As Figure 2As shown in the figure, the ultrasonic sensor control system of this embodiment includes a sensor controller and twelve ultrasonic sensors. The controller is connected to S ultrasonic sensors through a bus, where S is an even number greater than or equal to 6. In this embodiment, S = 12. Each ultrasonic sensor is equipped with a transceiver chip, and the controller is equipped with a control-end transceiver chip.

[0025] Specifically, this embodiment includes four rear sensors R2 - R5, four front sensors F2 - F5, a left rear sensor R1, a left front sensor F1, a right rear sensor R6, and a right front sensor F6. In this embodiment, the 12 ultrasonic sensors are evenly divided into two groups, that is, the first sensor group composed of four rear sensors R2 - R5, the left rear sensor R1, and the right rear sensor R6, and the second sensor group composed of four front sensors F2 - F5, the left front sensor F1, and the right front sensor F6. The control-end transceiver chip has two communication channels. The sensors in the first sensor group are respectively connected to the first communication channel of the control-end transceiver chip, and the sensors in the second sensor group are respectively connected to the second communication channel of the control-end transceiver chip.

[0026] In this embodiment, different attribute information is given to the 12 ultrasonic sensors according to their different installation positions on the vehicle body. Specifically, the attribute information can be classified into front sensors, rear sensors, and left and right side sensors (here, the left and right sides mentioned include the left rear, left front, right rear, and right front). Each sensor records its own attribute information. In actual application, the attribute information will be fed back to the controller together with the sensing signal.

[0027] The ultrasonic sensor control system is configured with Y power supply controllable lines, where Y * 3 = S. In this embodiment, 4 power supply controllable lines are configured (i.e., Y = 4), and the power supply is the IGN power supply of the vehicle (the power supply system controlled by the ignition switch) or directly powered by the vehicle battery. Each power supply controllable line controls the power on and off of a rear sensor connected to the first channel of the control-end transceiver chip, a front sensor connected to the second channel, and a left and right side sensor connected to the first channel or the second channel.

[0028] Specifically, four switches SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4 respectively control a power supply controllable circuit. Among them, the power supply controllable circuit where switch SW1 is located controls the power on / off of a rear-end sensor R4 connected to the first channel, a front-end sensor F4 connected to the second channel, and a right-front sensor F6 connected to the second channel (or the first channel); the power supply controllable circuit where switch SW2 is located controls the power on / off of a rear-end sensor R2 connected to the first channel, a front-end sensor F2 connected to the second channel, and a left-front sensor F1 connected to the second channel (or the first channel); the power supply controllable circuit where switch SW3 is located controls the power on / off of a rear-end sensor R5 connected to the first channel, a front-end sensor F5 connected to the second channel, and a right-rear sensor R6 connected to the first channel (or the second channel); the power supply controllable circuit where switch SW4 is located controls the power on / off of a rear-end sensor R3 connected to the first channel, a front-end sensor F3 connected to the second channel, and a left-rear sensor R1 connected to the first channel (or the second channel).

[0029] In the above solution, Y power supply controllable circuits are respectively controlled by Y switches; of course, in order to reduce the number of switches and further reduce costs, the following solution can also be adopted: One of the Y power supply controllable circuits is set as a long-through circuit, and the other Y - 1 are respectively controlled by Y - 1 switches; for example, in this embodiment, the setting of switch SW4 is cancelled, and the power supply controllable circuit where switch SW4 is located is directly connected to the IGN power supply.

[0030] As can be seen from the above, one power supply controllable circuit controls three sensors. According to the time-sharing power supply control of Y power supply controllable circuits, the corresponding three sensors can be located; among the three located sensors, the rear-end sensor and the front-end sensor are respectively connected to the first communication channel and the second communication channel of the control-end transceiver chip, so the specific left-side sensor or right-side sensor can be located according to the channel; in addition, among the three located sensors, the left / right-side sensors and the front / rear-end sensors have different attributes. Whether they are connected to the first communication channel or the second communication channel, they can be distinguished and located by their attributes. That is to say, in the above solution, the time-sharing on / off of some ultrasonic sensors can be controlled through the power supply controllable circuit, the attribute information of another part of the ultrasonic sensors can be identified, and combined with the control-end transceiver chip to which the corresponding ultrasonic sensors are connected (when there are two or more channels, it can be specific to the communication channel of the control-end transceiver chip), the specific ultrasonic sensor can be located, and thus the source of the current sensing signal can be determined.

[0031] It can be understood that if the attributes of the sensors are not classified, there will be fewer control conditions for identification and positioning through attributes. At this time, more Y power supply controllable lines need to be configured, and it is required that Y * 2 = S. For the case of 12 sensors in this Embodiment 1, Y = 6. That is to say, each of the 6 power supply controllable lines only controls the power on and off of one ultrasonic sensor connected to the first channel of the control end transceiver chip and one ultrasonic sensor connected to the second channel. That is to say, the power on and off of each ultrasonic sensor can be controlled by the power supply controllable line and combined with the control end transceiver chip (when there are more than two channels, it can be specific to the communication channels of the control end transceiver chip) connected to the corresponding ultrasonic sensor to locate the specific ultrasonic sensor.

[0032] Embodiment 2

[0033] As Figure 3 shown, the difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 lies in: the number of control end transceiver chips configured at the controller end, the number of power supply controllable lines configured in the system, and the grouping of the sensors.

[0034] Specifically, two control end transceiver chips are configured at the controller end. The first control end transceiver chip and the second control end transceiver chip each have a first communication channel connection and a second communication channel connection. In this embodiment, 12 ultrasonic waves are evenly divided into four groups. Specifically, the rear sensor R2, the left rear sensor R1, and the front sensor F2 form the first sensor group; the rear sensor R3, the left front sensor F1, and the front sensor F3 form the second sensor group; the rear sensor R4, the right rear sensor R6, and the front sensor F4 form the third sensor group; the rear sensor R5, the right front sensor F6, and the front sensor F5 form the fourth sensor group.

[0035] Among them, the first and second sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the first control end transceiver chip, and the third and fourth sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the second control end transceiver chip.

[0036] Similarly, in this embodiment, 12 ultrasonic sensors are given different attribute information according to their different installation positions on the vehicle body. Specifically, specifically, the attribute information can be classified into front sensors, rear sensors, and left and right side sensors (here, the left and right sides mentioned include the left rear side, the left front side, the right rear side, and the right front side). Each sensor records its own attribute information. In actual application, the attribute information will be fed back to the controller together with the sensing signal.

[0037] In addition, the control system of this embodiment is configured with Y power supply controllable lines, where Y * 6 = S. When S = 12, Y = 2, that is, this embodiment is configured with two power supply controllable lines. The rear sensors and front sensors in each sensor group are respectively controlled for power on and off by two power supply controllable lines, and the left and right sensors in each sensor group are controlled for power on and off by one of the two power supply controllable lines. Specifically, two switches SW1 and SW2 are used to control one power supply controllable line respectively. Among them, the power supply controllable line where switch SW1 is located controls the power on and off of four rear sensors R2 - R5, the left rear sensor R1, and the right rear sensor R6, and the power supply controllable line where switch SW2 is located controls the power on and off of four front sensors F2 - F5, the left front sensor F1, and the right front sensor F6.

[0038] In the above solution, the Y power supply controllable lines are respectively controlled by Y switches; of course, in order to reduce the number of switches and further reduce costs, the following solution can also be adopted: one of the Y power supply controllable lines is set as a long - on line, and the other Y - 1 are respectively controlled by Y - 1 switches; for example, in this embodiment, the setting of switch SW1 is cancelled, and the power supply controllable line where switch SW1 is located is directly connected to the IGN power supply.

[0039] As can be seen from the above, one power supply controllable line controls six sensors. According to the time - sharing power supply control of the two power supply controllable lines, the corresponding six sensors can be located; among the six located sensors, the rear sensors and front sensors in each group of sensors are identified and located according to different communication channels connected to different control - end transceiver chips; in addition, the left and right sensors in each group of sensors have different attributes from the front and rear sensors. Whether they are connected to the first communication channel or the second communication channel, they can be distinguished and located through their attributes. That is to say, the above solution can control some ultrasonic sensors to be turned on and off in a time - sharing manner through the power supply controllable lines, identify the attribute information of another part of the ultrasonic sensors, and combine the control - end transceiver chips (when there are more than two channels, it can be specific to the communication channels of the control - end transceiver chips) to which the corresponding ultrasonic sensors are connected to locate the specific ultrasonic sensors, and then determine the source of the current sensing signal.

[0040] The above embodiments are only for fully disclosing rather than limiting the present invention. Any equivalent technical feature substitution that is based on the creative concept of the present invention and can be obtained without creative labor should be regarded as the scope disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic sensor control method for controlling a controller and S ultrasonic sensors connected via a bus, where S is an even number greater than or equal to 6, and each ultrasonic sensor is equipped with a transceiver chip; characterized in that, The control method includes: (1) Classify the attribute information of the ultrasonic sensors into front-end sensors, rear-end sensors, and left / right side sensors according to the different positions of the S ultrasonic sensors on the vehicle body, and each sensor records its own attribute information; (2) Divide the S ultrasonic sensors into N sensor groups, where N is an even number greater than or equal to 2, each sensor group includes M sensors, and each sensor group includes a rear-end sensor, a front-end sensor, and a left / right side sensor; (3) Configure at least X control-end transceiver chips for the controller end, X≥1, and the N sensor groups are evenly distributed and communicatively connected to the X control-end transceiver chips; (4) Configure Y power supply controllable lines. The rear-end sensor and the front-end sensor in each sensor group are respectively controlled by two power supply controllable lines to turn on and off the power supply, and the left / right side sensor in each sensor group is controlled by one of the two power supply controllable lines to turn on and off the power supply; while controlling some of the ultrasonic sensors to turn on and off at different times through the power supply controllable lines, locate the specific ultrasonic sensors by identifying the attribute information of the other part of the ultrasonic sensors and combining the control-end transceiver chips connected to the corresponding ultrasonic sensors.

2. The ultrasonic sensor control method according to claim 1, wherein Each of the X control-end transceiver chips has two communication channels, and the sensor groups assigned to the X control-end transceiver chips are evenly distributed and connected to the two communication channels.

3. An ultrasonic sensor control system, comprising a controller and a plurality of ultrasonic sensors connected by a bus, each ultrasonic sensor being configured with a transceiver chip; characterized in that: The control system executes the control method described in claim 2.

4. The ultrasonic sensor control system according to claim 3, wherein, The S ultrasonic sensors are evenly divided into a first sensor group and a second sensor group; one control-end transceiver chip is configured for the controller end, and the first sensor group and the second sensor group are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the control-end transceiver chip.

5. The ultrasonic sensor control system according to claim 4, wherein The control system is configured with Y power supply controllable lines, Y*3 = S, and each power supply controllable line controls the power on and off of a rear-end sensor connected to the first channel, a front-end sensor connected to the second channel, and a left / right side sensor connected to the first channel or the second channel.

6. The ultrasonic sensor control system according to claim 3, wherein, S is an even number greater than or equal to 12, and the S ultrasonic sensors are evenly divided into a first to fourth sensor groups; the controller end is configured with first and second control-end transceiver chips, the first and second sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the first control-end transceiver chip, and the third and fourth sensor groups are respectively communicatively connected to the first channel and the second channel of the second control-end transceiver chip.

7. The ultrasonic sensor control system according to claim 6, wherein One sensor group is connected to each channel of the first and second control-end transceiver chips; the control system is configured with Y power supply controllable lines, Y*6 = S, and the rear-end sensor and the front-end sensor in each sensor group are respectively controlled by two power supply controllable lines to turn on and off the power supply, and the left / right side sensor in each sensor group is controlled by one of the two power supply controllable lines to turn on and off the power supply.

8. The ultrasonic sensor control system according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that, The Y power supply controllable lines are respectively controlled by Y switches; or, one of the Y power supply controllable lines is a long-connected line, and the other Y - 1 are respectively controlled by Y - 1 switches.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that, An ultrasonic sensor control system described in any one of claims 3-8 is provided.

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