Electronic component with ground coding for a motor vehicle

By evaluating the signal processing of the circuit and the combination circuit, using multiple ground wire interfaces to identify the position of electronic components, and eliminating soldered connectors, the space and cost issues caused by ground wire coding in motor vehicles are solved, and a lightweight and low-cost cable harness design is achieved.

CN115427264BActive Publication Date: 2025-09-16BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202180028299.X
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2020-06-04
Filing Date
2021-03-30
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Estimated Expiration
2041-03-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing ground coding technology for electronic components in motor vehicles requires a large number of additional wires and soldered connectors, resulting in space issues, increased weight and cost, and preventing fully automated cable harness production.

Method used

Evaluation circuits and combination circuits are used to evaluate signal information through multiple external and internal ground interfaces, and a ground line is used to realize the position identification of electronic components, eliminating soldered connectors, and using logic blocks and semiconductor components for signal processing.

Benefits of technology

It simplifies the cable bundle structure, reduces weight and cost, enables lighter cable bundle design, supports high current applications, and is suitable for automated production.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic component with ground coding for a motor vehicle. The electronic component includes a plurality of external ground connections for selective connection to a cable harness of the motor vehicle and a plurality of internal ground connections, each internal ground connection being electrically coupled to an associated external ground connection such that the potential present at the corresponding internal ground connection corresponds to the potential present at the associated external ground connection. An evaluation circuit is configured to determine at which internal ground connections a first signal information item is present and at which internal ground connections a second signal information item is present in order to infer the coding of the component. A combining circuit connects the plurality of internal ground connections to the plurality of external ground connections such that when a ground line is connected to exactly one external ground connection, the first signal information item is present in a predetermined manner at a first portion of the internal ground connections that are different, depending on which external ground connection the ground line is connected to.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an electronic component with ground coding for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In motor vehicles, structurally identical electrical or electronic components are often installed multiple times. Examples of such electronic components include radar sensors installed at multiple locations on or near the front bumper and / or on or near the rear bumper, seat modules for electrically adjusting motor vehicle seats, seat heating controls, seat pneumatic modules, rear seat displays, wireless charging trays, etc. In order to locate the locations of corresponding structurally identical electrical or electronic components in the motor vehicle so that they can be controlled by a central controller, the so-called ground coding principle is used.

[0003] In ground coding, in addition to the main ground line of an electrical or electronic component, other ground connections are interconnected via a cable harness. For this purpose, the cable harness, which is electrically contacted with the component, has so-called solder connectors that electrically connect the different ground lines to each other—for example, by ultrasonic welding. The corresponding new position of the electrical or electronic component in the vehicle can be achieved by selectively contacting the different ground connections of the component. An evaluation circuit determines to which ground connection the ground line of the cable harness is connected using an evaluation circuit. For this purpose, the evaluation circuit typically has an analog / digital (A / D) converter that detects a reference voltage generated within the component for ground coding. The measured values ​​for each ground connection can then be used to determine the variant and, therefore, the location of the electrical or electronic component in the vehicle.

[0004] The principle of position identification through ground wire coding is based on Figure 1 Shown, where Figure 1 a to Figure 1 d each shows an electronic component 10 of the same structure, which has three ground connections 11-13, which are connected to different ground contacts via differently constructed cable harnesses 50. In addition to the ground connections referred to as external ground connections 11-13, the electronic component 10 also includes internal ground connections 21-23 that are respectively provided. For the sake of simplicity, the evaluation circuit required for evaluating the ground coding and other functional components of the electronic component 10 are not shown. Figure 1It can be easily seen that the corresponding external ground connections 11-13 are directly connected to the associated internal ground connections 21-23. Internal ground connection 21 constitutes the so-called main ground or vehicle ground. The remaining internal ground connections 22 and 23 constitute grounds connected to main ground 21 and are referred to as coded grounds, wherein the ground connections are not explicitly shown in the figure.

[0005] The cable harness 50 is constructed individually for each coding of the electronic assembly 10. Figure 1 In the variant shown in a, the cable harness 50 includes a ground wire 51; Figure 1 In the variants shown in b and 1d, the cable harness 50 includes two grounding wires 51 and 52 or 51 and 53 in addition to a main line 55. Figure 1 In the variant shown in FIG, the cable harness 50 includes three grounding wires 51, 52 and 53 in addition to the main line 55. The corresponding grounding wires 51 and 52 ( Figure 1 b) 51 to 53 ( Figure 1 c) and 51 and 53 ( Figure 1 d) Each is electrically connected to a busbar 55 via a weld connector 54. Weld connectors 54 can be produced, for example, by ultrasonic welding and are referred to in this case as ultrasonic weld connectors. Weld connectors 54 are typically configured as so-called end connectors, onto which a shrink cap or shrink tube—each with internal adhesive—is heat-shrunk. Flanging and tie-backs for strain relief of the welded connection are not shown in the schematic diagram.

[0006] like Figure 1 a to Figure 1 d, the external ground connections 11-13 are contacted in different ways via the cable harness 50. In all four variants, the ground line 51 is coupled to the external ground connection 11 of the main ground. The addition of two coded ground lines results in a total of four different coding variants, wherein the external ground connections 11-13 are contacted in different ways via the cable harness 50. In all four variants, the ground line 51 is coupled to the external ground connection 11 of the main ground. Figure 1 In the variant of b, the external ground interface 12 is connected to the ground line 52. Figure 1 In the variant of c, the external ground interface 12, 13 is connected to the ground line 52, 53, and Figure 1 In the variant of d, the external ground interface 13 is connected to the ground line 53. Figure 1Variants a do not require explicit coding. Each of these variants, through contact connection, can define a component position. The corresponding variant is determined by applying a reference voltage to the internal ground connections 21-23 in the electronic component 10 and detecting this reference voltage via an A / D converter of an evaluation circuit (not shown). If the external ground connection to be read is connected to the reference potential via a ground line in the cable harness, the reference voltage collapses, and a very low value is measured at the output of the A / D converter. If the external ground connection to be read is not connected to any ground line in the cable harness, the reference voltage remains unchanged, and a high value corresponding to the reference voltage is measured at the output of the A / D converter. The variant and, therefore, the position can then be determined using the values ​​measured for the corresponding external ground connection and, therefore, the internal ground connection.

[0007] Therefore, for position identification, the ground wire of the cable harness must be connected to the aforementioned solder connector (sometimes also called a solder joint) for each ground connection to be contacted in each component of identical design. To seal the solder connector against moisture and longitudinal water flow, it must be provided with a shrink cap or shrink hose—each with internal adhesive. Tiebacks and flanges are required to relieve strain on the soldered wires of the cable harness.

[0008] Depending on how many different locations must be coded with ground wire coding, the number of additional conductors can be considerable. The additional ground wire leading to the connecting solder connector, the solder connector itself, including its shrink cap for sealing, and the strain relief device, increase the overall diameter of the cable bundle, which can lead to space constraints. The material used for the ground wire and the longitudinal watertight seal contributes to the weight and cost of the cable bundle for each installed electrical or electronic component that has its location identified via ground wire coding.

[0009] These problems are exacerbated by the fact that fully automated cable harness production, including soldered connectors, has not yet been possible. Consequently, automated solutions require expensive terminal plugs instead of soldered connectors. Alternatively, direct wiring can be performed between the electrical or electronic components and grounding nodes (e.g., comb connectors). This, too, requires additional modifications and, in particular, the provision of relatively large comb connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The object of the present invention is to specify an electronic component in which ground coding for a motor vehicle can be improved structurally and / or functionally.

[0011] This object is achieved by an electronic assembly according to the invention and a motor vehicle according to the invention having an electronic assembly according to the invention.

[0012] A ground-coded electronic component for a motor vehicle is proposed. Hereinafter, a "ground-coded electronic component" is to be understood as an electrical or electronic component that is to be installed multiple times in a motor vehicle in an identical configuration. Such components may include, for example, radar sensors, seat modules for electrically adjusting motor vehicle seats, seat heating controls, seat pneumatic modules, rear seat displays, or trays for wirelessly charging user devices. This list is to be considered illustrative and not exhaustive. Multiple ground-coded electronic components are installed at different locations in the vehicle.

[0013] To enable positionally accurate control of electronic components or positionally accurate processing of signals provided by them, ground coding is used to identify the corresponding electronic components when they are installed in a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the electronic components include multiple external ground connections for selective connection to the motor vehicle's cable harness and multiple internal ground connections. Each internal ground connection is electrically coupled to an associated external ground connection, such that the potential present at the corresponding internal ground connection corresponds to the potential present at the associated external ground connection. The external ground connections can be configured, for example, as pins for establishing a plug-in connection.

[0014] An evaluation circuit of the electronic component, coupled to the internal ground connections, is configured to determine at which of a first portion of the internal ground connections a first signal information representing a reference potential as a first potential is present and at which of a second portion of the internal ground connections a second signal information representing a supply voltage potential as a second potential is present, so as to infer a coding of the component from the pattern of the internal ground connections to which the first and second potentials are applied. This coding can be transmitted, for example, to a central controller.

[0015] The design of the evaluation circuit is not critical to the principles of the present invention. For example, the evaluation circuit may include an analog / digital converter (A / D converter) that connects a reference voltage present or generated in the electronic component to an internal ground connection and detects the potential present at the internal ground connection. The evaluation and determination of the pattern of the internal ground connection with the first and second potentials applied can be performed once during vehicle manufacturing, each time the vehicle is restarted, or at regular intervals in order to deduce the component's coding.

[0016] The electronic component also includes a combination circuit that connects the multiple internal ground interfaces with the multiple external ground interfaces, so that when one (exactly one) ground wire of the cable bundle is connected to exactly one of the external ground interfaces, first signal information exists in a predetermined manner on a first portion of the number of internal ground interfaces that are respectively different, depending on which of the external ground interfaces the ground wire is connected to.

[0017] The electronic assembly according to the present invention allows the position of structurally identical electronic assemblies in a motor vehicle to be reliably determined using only a single connected ground line. This eliminates the need for soldered connectors with longitudinal water seals for position identification. This allows for significantly simpler, lighter, and more cost-effective cable harnesses.

[0018] One advantageous embodiment provides that the plurality of external ground connections and the plurality of internal ground connections each include at least two ground connections. In particular, a first of the internal ground connections is connected to the vehicle's main ground, in particular a terminal, while all other of the internal ground connections are connected to corresponding coded grounds. The corresponding coded grounds are grounds connected to the main ground. The present invention enables the first of the internal ground connections, and therefore the associated external ground connections, to be located in the vehicle's main current path. This allows the described solution to be used in high-current applications, such as those provided in electrified vehicles.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the number of external ground connections is determined by the required number of codes. The number of codes n is determined by the number of coded grounds CM according to the following formula: n = 2 CM This means that with three external ground connections, namely one main ground and two coded grounds (CM = 2), four different positions of the electronic component can be coded. With eight external ground connections, for example, a total of eight different positions can be coded.

[0020] Another advantageous embodiment provides that the combinational circuit includes a number of logic blocks that connect the plurality of internal ground connections to the plurality of external ground connections. The logic blocks can be circuit-connected in one or at least two cascade stages.

[0021] Another advantageous embodiment provides that the logic blocks of the cascaded stages, each connected on the output side to an external ground connection, are each directly connected on the input side to a first of the internal ground connections. This ensures that the main ground is always connected to the ground of the cable harness, regardless of which of the external ground connections the ground of the cable harness is connected to.

[0022] In principle, any logic block or semiconductor element that allows current to flow in only one direction can be used as a logic block. Different types of logic blocks or semiconductor elements can be combined with one another in any desired manner. In particular, the logic blocks of a combinational circuit can be one or more of the following types: AND gates, NOT gates, NAND gates, NOR gates, XOR gates, or XNOR gates. Transistors and / or diodes can be used as unidirectional semiconductor switching elements, which also constitute logic blocks within the meaning of the present invention.

[0023] The electronic component or the combination formed by the internal ground connection, the evaluation circuit and the combination circuit can be designed as an IC module or as a discrete circuit on a carrier. In both variants, mass production can be carried out at low cost.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, a motor vehicle is described having a plurality of electronic assemblies as described above, each of which is constructed according to one or more embodiments. Then, as described, the plurality of electronic assemblies are arranged at different locations in the motor vehicle.

[0025] This motor vehicle has the advantage of a simplified cable harness, in particular for the assembly according to the invention, which no longer requires welded connectors. Thus, the cable harness can be provided with a lighter weight and at lower costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 a to Figure 1 d each shows a conventional electronic component which is designed for position detection via ground line coding;

[0028] Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d each shows an electronic component according to the present invention, in which position identification via ground line coding can be achieved with a single ground line;

[0029] Figure 3 An electronic component according to the invention is shown, which has a combination circuit for a total of eight different encodings according to a first embodiment variant; and

[0030] Figure 4 An electronic component according to the invention is shown, which has a combination circuit for a total of eight different encodings according to a second embodiment variant. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In all the drawings, the same elements are provided with the same reference numerals. For the purpose of simplicity and better presentation, only the components necessary for understanding the invention are shown.

[0032] Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d each shows an identically structured electronic component 10 according to the invention, in which position recognition via ground coding is implemented with the aid of a combination circuit 30. Figure 2 a to Figure 2 The electronic assembly 10 shown in d - as already described in Figure 1 a to Figure 1 d—for example, four external ground connections 11-14 are provided. These four external ground connections 11-14 are equipped with three internal ground connections 21-23. The (first) ground connection, designated 21, of the internal ground connections 21-23 forms the main ground line, which is connected to a terminal (not shown) of the motor vehicle. The terminal forms the negative conductor directly from the vehicle's battery or vehicle ground in a known manner. The remaining ground connections 22, 23 of the internal ground connections 21-23 are connected to corresponding coded ground lines, which are not explicitly shown. The corresponding coded ground lines are ground lines connected to the main ground line.

[0033] For the sake of simplicity, the evaluation circuit described above is not shown. This evaluation circuit is used to determine at which of a first portion of internal ground connections 21-23 a reference potential is present as a first potential and at which of a second portion of internal ground connections 21-23 a second piece of information representing a supply voltage potential as a second potential is present. As described above, the pattern of internal ground connections 21-23 to which the first and second potentials are applied is used to deduce the coding of the corresponding electronic component 10 and, therefore, its location in the motor vehicle. The sum of the first and second portions of internal ground connections 21-23 corresponds to the total number of internal ground connections 21-23.

[0034] according to Figure 2 a to Figure 2 The electronic assembly 10 according to the present invention, which has the same structure as d, includes a combination circuit 30. The combination circuit 30 is configured to connect the plurality of internal ground interfaces 21-23 with the plurality of external ground interfaces 11-14 so that when a ground line 51 of the cable harness is connected to exactly one of the external ground interfaces ( Figure 2 11 in a, Figure 2 12 in b, Figure 2 13 or Figure 2d in 14), depending on which of the external ground interfaces 11-14 the ground wire 51 of the cable harness is connected to, the first signal information, such as the reference potential, is present in a predetermined manner on the first number of internal ground interfaces 21-23 that are respectively different.

[0035] For this purpose, the combinational circuit 30 has a plurality of logic blocks 31, 41-43 connected in a cascade manner. In the embodiment shown here, the logic blocks 31, 41-43 are constructed as AND gates. Alternatively, the logic blocks 31, 41-43 can also be constructed as NOT gates, NAND gates, NOR gates, XOR gates, XNOR gates. The logic blocks can also be formed by semiconductor switching elements, in particular transistors or diodes. It is clear to those skilled in the art that the combinational circuit 30 can include any combination of different logic blocks. Then, the logic blocks are configured according to Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d in the examples must be adjusted accordingly.

[0036] exist Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d shows a total of four different codings. The number of different codings is determined by the number of external ground interfaces 11-14 or internal ground interfaces 21-23. The number of codings n is determined by the number of coding grounds CM (in accordance with Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d in the embodiment 2) is determined as follows: n = 2 CM = 4. This is due to the fact that the main ground (connected to ground interface 11 or 21) is connected to each of the external ground interfaces 11-14. Therefore, logic blocks 41 to 43 are connected to external ground interfaces 12-13 on the output side. On the input side, logic blocks 41 to 43 are directly connected to the first ground interface 21 of the internal ground interfaces 21-23. The second input of logic block 41 is connected to the coding ground 22 (i.e., internal ground interface 22). The second input of logic block 43 is connected to the coding ground 23 (i.e., internal ground interface 23). Logic block 31 is connected to the second input of logic block 42 on the output side. The two inputs of logic block 31 are connected to the coding ground 22 (i.e., internal ground interface 22) and the coding ground 23 (i.e., internal ground interface 23), respectively.

[0037] These configurations result in a total of four different coding variants.

[0038] If the ground wire 51 of the cable harness 50 is connected to the external ground interface 11, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown in FIG. a, current from a current source or voltage source (not shown) of electronic component 10 can flow from main ground 21 via external ground connection 11 into ground 51. In contrast, current cannot flow through encoding grounds 22, 23 because combinational circuit 30 does not permit coupling between encoding grounds 22, 23 and external ground connection 11. The evaluating A / D converter of the evaluation circuit then detects a low value at internal ground connection 21, while a high value due to the supply voltage is present at internal ground connections 22, 23.

[0039] If the ground wire 51 of the cable harness 50 is connected to the external ground interface 12, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 2 , current from a current source or voltage source (not shown) of the electronic component 10 can flow from both the main ground 21 and the coding ground 22 via the external ground connection 12 into the ground 51. In contrast, current cannot flow through the coding ground 23 because the combinational circuit 30 does not permit any coupling between the coding ground 23 and the external ground connection 12. The evaluating A / D converter of the evaluation circuit then detects low values ​​at the internal ground connections 21, 22, while a high value due to the supply voltage is present at the internal ground connection 23.

[0040] according to Figure 2 Electronics assembly 10 of c is connected via its external ground connection 13 to ground 51 of cable harness 50. Due to the circuit connection of combination circuit 30, when a supply voltage is applied to internal ground connections 21-23 via an evaluation circuit (not shown), current can flow through main ground 21 and the two coding grounds 22, 23. Consequently, the A / D converters evaluating the evaluation circuit measure very low values ​​at all three internal ground connections 21-23, since there is a connection to the reference potential of cable harness 50.

[0041] exist Figure 2 In the electronic assembly 10 shown in FIG. d, which is connected to the ground line 51 of the cable harness 50 at the external ground connection 14, when a supply voltage is applied to all three internal ground connections 21-23 via an evaluation circuit (not shown), current flows through the main ground 21 and the coding ground 23. The evaluating A / D converter of the evaluation circuit then detects low values ​​at the internal ground connections 21, 23, while a high value, caused by the supply voltage, is present at the internal ground connection 22.

[0042] Figure 3Another embodiment of an electronic component 10 according to the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the electronic component 10 comprises a combinational circuit 30, which connects four internal ground connections 21-24 to eight external ground connections 11-18. To this end, the combinational circuit 30 comprises logic blocks 31-33 arranged in a cascade in a first cascade stage, a logic block 34 in a second cascade stage, and logic blocks 41-47 in a final cascade stage connected to the external ground connections 11-18. As in the previous embodiment, the logic blocks 41-47 are each directly connected on the input side with their first input to the first ground connection 21 of the internal ground connections 21-24, which first ground connection forms the main ground. The electronic component 10 thus has three (3) coding grounds CM in this example, resulting in n=2 3 =8 different codes, which corresponds to the number of external ground interfaces 11-18.

[0043] Logic block 31 is connected to coded ground lines 22 and 23 on the input side and to a second input of logic block 42 on the output side, which is in turn connected to external ground interface 13. Logic block 32 is connected to coded ground lines 23 and 24 on the input side and to a second output of logic block 44 on the output side, which is connected to external ground interface 15 on the output side. Logic block 33 is connected to both coded ground lines 22 and 24 on the input side and to logic block 47 on the output side, which is connected to external ground interface 18 on the output side. Second inputs of logic blocks 41, 43, and 45 are connected directly to coded ground lines 22, 23, and 24, respectively. On the output side, logic blocks 41, 43, and 45 are connected to external ground interfaces 12, 14, and 16. The logic block 34 of the second cascade stage is connected on the input side to the outputs of the logic blocks 31 , 32 and on the output side to a second input of a logic block 46 , which is connected on the output side to the external ground connection 17 .

[0044] In this embodiment, logic blocks 31-33, 34, 41-47 are also configured as AND gates. As mentioned above, other logic blocks can also be used in the combinational circuit 30. Different types of gates can also be interconnected in the combinational circuit 30.

[0045] Figure 4 Another embodiment is shown, in which Figure 3 The logic gates described in are replaced by diodes 131-139, 141-147. Figure 4 The operating principle of the combined circuit shown in Figure 3 The combination circuit 30 shown in FIG. Figure 4The embodiment shown in FIG still has four internal ground connections 21-24 and eight external ground connections 11-18, wherein the internal ground connection 21 is the main ground and the three internal ground connections 22-24 are coding grounds. The electronic component 10 also has n=2 in this example. 3 =8 different codes, which corresponds to the number of external ground connections 11-18.

[0046] Figure 3 and 4 The functions of the electronic assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 are identical and are as follows:

[0047] If the ground wire 51 of the cable harness 50 is connected to the external ground connection 11 (see Figure 2 a to Figure 2 d), current can flow into external ground connection 11 via main ground 21, while no current flows through coding grounds 22-24 due to logic circuit 30. Consequently, an evaluation circuit (not shown) determines the following signal pattern (signalmuster), which, in the order of the reference numerals of internal ground connections 21-24, is as follows: LHHH, where L represents the first signal information (low signal level) and H represents the second signal information (high signal level).

[0048] If the ground line 51 of the cable harness 50 is connected to the external ground connection 12, current can flow into the external ground connection 12 via the main ground line 21 and the coding ground line 22. The evaluation circuit thus determines the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LLHH.

[0049] If the ground line of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 13, when the reference voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the coding ground lines 22, 23. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LLLH.

[0050] If the ground wire of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 14, when the supply voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the main ground 21 and the coding ground 23. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LHLH.

[0051] If the ground line of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 15, when the supply voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the main ground line 21 and the coding ground lines 23, 24. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LHLL.

[0052] If the ground wire of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 16, when the supply voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the main ground 21 and the coding ground 24. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LHHL.

[0053] If the ground wire of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 17, when the supply voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the main ground 21 and the coding grounds 22, 23 and 24. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LLLL.

[0054] If the ground line of the cable harness is connected to the external ground connection 18, when the supply voltage is applied to the internal ground connections 21-24, current can flow through the main ground 21 and the coding grounds 22, 24. This generates the following signal pattern at the internal ground connections 21-24: LLHL.

[0055] respectively Figures 2 to 4 The components shown in the exemplary embodiment, namely the internal ground connections 21 - 24 and the combination circuit 30 , can be designed both as an IC module and as a simple circuit on a carrier, such as a printed circuit board.

[0056] The proposed electronic component with a combined circuit eliminates the need for soldered connectors with longitudinal water seals in the vehicle's cable harness for position identification via ground coding. The combined circuit defines the component's position in the vehicle via an output at each physical interface with the cable harness (external ground connection). The number of external ground connections or outputs depends on the possible positioning of structurally identical components in the vehicle. Therefore, a theoretically unlimited number of positions can be defined.

[0057] The evaluation circuit can also detect the location of the relevant electronic component in the motor vehicle via the input of the combination circuit.

[0058] Reference Signs List

[0059] 10 Electronic components (sensors, actuators, controllers)

[0060] 11-17 External ground wire interface

[0061] 21 Internal ground interface (main ground)

[0062] 22-24 internal ground wire interface (encoding ground wire)

[0063] 30 Combinational Circuits

[0064] 31-33 logic blocks

[0065] 34 logic blocks

[0066] 41-47 logic blocks

[0067] 50 cable harnesses

[0068] 51-53 ground wire

[0069] 54 ultrasonic welding connector

[0070] 55 total lines

[0071] 131-139 diodes

[0072] 141-147 diodes

Claims

1. An electronic component (10) with ground coding for a motor vehicle, the electronic component comprising: - a plurality of external ground connections (11-18) for selective connection to a cable harness of a motor vehicle; - a plurality of internal ground connections (21, 22-24), each internal ground connection (21, 22-24) being electrically coupled to an associated external ground connection (11-18) such that the potential present at the corresponding internal ground connection (21, 22-24) corresponds to the potential present at the associated external ground connection (11-18); - an evaluation circuit coupled to the internal ground connections (21, 22-24), the evaluation circuit being designed to determine at which of a first portion of the internal ground connections (21, 22-24) a first signal information representing a reference potential as a first potential is present and at which of a second portion of the internal ground connections (21, 22-24) a second signal information representing a supply voltage potential as a second potential is present, in order to infer a coding of the component from a pattern of the internal ground connections (21, 22-24) to which the first potential and the second potential are applied; - a combination circuit (30) connecting the plurality of internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) to the plurality of external ground interfaces (11-18) such that, when a ground line (51-53) of the cable harness (50) is connected to exactly one of the external ground interfaces (11-18), first signal information is present in a predetermined manner on a first portion of the number of internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) that are different, depending on which of the external ground interfaces (11-18) the ground line (51-53) is connected to. The combination circuit (30) includes a certain number of logic blocks (31-33, 34, 41-47), and the logic blocks connect the multiple internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) with the multiple external ground interfaces (11-18).

2. The electronic component according to claim 1, wherein: The multiple external ground interfaces (11-18) and the multiple internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) respectively include at least two ground interfaces.

3. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A first ground wire interface among the internal ground wire interfaces (21, 22-24) is connected to a main ground wire of a motor vehicle, and all other ground wire interfaces among the internal ground wire interfaces (21, 22-24) are connected to corresponding coded ground wires, which are ground wires derived from the main ground wire.

4. The electronic component according to claim 3, wherein: The first ground interface (21) of the internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) is connected to a terminal of a motor vehicle.

5. The electronic component according to claim 3, wherein: The number of external ground interfaces (11-18) is determined by the required number of codes, and the number of codes n is determined by the number of coding grounds CM: n = 2 CM .

6. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The logic blocks (31-33, 34, 41-47) are circuit-connected in one or at least two cascade stages.

7. The electronic component according to claim 3, wherein: The logic blocks (31-33, 34, 41-47) are circuit-connected in one or at least two cascade stages.

8. The electronic component according to claim 7, wherein: The logic blocks of the cascaded stages are respectively connected to an external ground interface (11-18) on the output side and are respectively directly connected to the first ground interface of the internal ground interfaces (21, 22-24) on the input side.

9. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The logic blocks (31-33, 34, 41-47) of the combinational circuit (30) are one or more of the following types: AND gate, NOT gate, NAND gate, NOR gate, XOR gate, XNOR gate, transistor, diode.

10. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electronic component is configured as an IC module.

11. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electronic components are designed as discrete circuits on a carrier.

12. The electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electronic component is constructed as follows: - Radar sensor; - Seat modules; - Seat heating controls; - Seat pneumatic module; - Rear seat monitors; - Wireless charging tray.

13. A motor vehicle having a plurality of assemblies configured according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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