Whole vehicle electrical architecture with upper and lower body separation and automobile

Abstract

The application is applied to the technical field of automobile architecture, and provides a whole vehicle electrical architecture with separated upper and lower vehicle bodies and an automobile, wherein the whole vehicle electrical architecture comprises: an upper vehicle body electrical module, a lower vehicle body electrical module and an intelligent gateway; the intelligent gateway comprises: a first gateway chip module, a second gateway chip module, a first microcontroller module, a microprocessor module and a plurality of second microcontroller modules; the first gateway chip module is connected with the first microcontroller module and the upper vehicle body electrical module, so as to realize the communication between the first microcontroller module and the upper vehicle body electrical module in a first network segment; the microprocessor module, the lower vehicle body electrical module and the plurality of second microcontroller modules are connected through the second gateway chip module, so as to realize the communication between the microprocessor module, the lower vehicle body electrical module and the plurality of second microcontroller modules in a second network segment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive architecture technology, and more particularly to a vehicle electrical architecture and automobile with separate upper and lower body structures. Background Technology

[0002] In the past, vehicle electrical architecture was considered as an integrated whole vehicle. Based on the hardware and software support capabilities of the electrical architecture, the adaptability of the project, and the selection of key electrical components, a suitable vehicle electrical architecture was designed to realize the network communication of vehicle electrical components and the electrical functions of the whole vehicle.

[0003] However, as a smart chassis can be designed to accommodate different upper bodies to create different vehicle models, the overall vehicle electrical architecture design also needs to be separated from the upper and lower bodies. Currently, the electrical architecture is a single, integrated system that cannot separate the upper and lower bodies, nor can it accommodate different upper bodies to create different vehicle models. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a vehicle electrical architecture and automobile with separate upper and lower body structures, in order to solve the problem of separating the upper and lower body structures and deriving different vehicle models depending on the different upper body structures mounted on the lower body.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body is provided, comprising: an upper body electrical module, a lower body electrical module, and an intelligent gateway, wherein the upper body electrical module is disposed in the upper body of the vehicle, and the lower body electrical module is integrated in the vehicle chassis;

[0006] The smart gateway includes: a first gateway chip module, a second gateway chip module, a first microcontroller module, a microprocessor module, and several second microcontroller modules; wherein,

[0007] The first gateway chip module connects the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module to enable communication between the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module in the first network segment;

[0008] The microprocessor module, the undercarriage electrical module, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules are connected through the second gateway chip module to enable communication between the microprocessor module, the undercarriage electrical module, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules in the second network segment.

[0009] Wherein, the first network segment and the second network segment are different communication network segments;

[0010] Furthermore, the first microcontroller module is also connected to the second gateway chip module, enabling communication between the upper vehicle electrical module and the lower vehicle electrical module.

[0011] Optionally, both the first gateway chip module and the second gateway chip module include at least one gateway chip.

[0012] Optionally, the lower body electrical module includes: a sensor module and a zone controller module;

[0013] The sensor module includes multiple sensor units, each corresponding to a different network segment.

[0014] The area controller module includes: a first area controller and a second area controller;

[0015] The first area controller is connected to the second area controller, and the first area controller and the second area controller are connected to the second gateway chip module; the first area controller, the second area controller and the second gateway chip module form a TSN ring backbone Ethernet network.

[0016] Optionally, the sensor module includes: a main sensor unit and an auxiliary sensor unit;

[0017] The main sensor unit is connected to the second gateway chip module;

[0018] The auxiliary sensor unit is connected to the first area controller or the second area controller.

[0019] Optionally, the main sensor unit and the auxiliary sensor unit contain multiple sensors, and the multiple sensors are respectively connected to the hardware in the lower vehicle body electrical module;

[0020] The communication methods of the hardware connected within the same sensor unit are consistent.

[0021] Optionally, the network bandwidth of the TSN ring backbone Ethernet network is 2.5G.

[0022] Optionally, the upper vehicle electrical module includes a smart antenna, which communicates with the cloud via 4G / 5G to achieve vehicle-to-cloud communication.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an automobile is provided, including the vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body sections as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0024] The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body provided by this invention divides the vehicle's communication network into a first network segment belonging to the upper body electrical module and a second network segment belonging to the lower body electrical module. The first gateway chip module and the second gateway chip module in the smart gateway serve as network segment identifiers for the first and second network segments, thereby enabling communication between the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module in the first network segment, and communication between the microprocessor module, the lower body electrical module, and several second microcontroller modules in the second network segment.

[0025] In its alternative solution, since the undercarriage electrical module also includes multiple sensor units corresponding to different network segments, and each sensor unit contains multiple sensors, and the multiple sensors are respectively connected to the hardware in the undercarriage electrical module, and the communication method of the hardware connected to the same sensor unit is consistent, the second controller module separates multiple different communication network segments in the undercarriage electrical module to achieve more convenient separation of undercarriage communication. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower vehicle bodies in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of the area controller module in the vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower vehicle bodies in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of the sensor module in the vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower vehicle bodies in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0031] 100 - Upper body electrical module;

[0032] 101-Smart Antenna;

[0033] 200-Undercar electrical module;

[0034] 201-Sensor Module;

[0035] 2011 - Main sensor unit;

[0036] 2012 - Auxiliary sensor unit;

[0037] 202-Area Controller Module;

[0038] 2021 - First Area Controller;

[0039] 2022 - Second Area Controller;

[0040] 300-Smart Gateway;

[0041] 301 - First Gateway Chip Module;

[0042] 302 - Second Gateway Chip Module;

[0043] 303 - First Microcontroller Module;

[0044] 304 - Microprocessor Module;

[0045] 305 - Second Microcontroller Module. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0048] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1This invention provides a vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body components, including: an upper body electrical module 100, a lower body electrical module 200, and a smart gateway 300. The upper body electrical module 100 is disposed in the upper body of the vehicle, and the lower body electrical module 200 is integrated in the vehicle chassis.

[0050] Specifically, the vehicle chassis in this embodiment of the invention refers to an intelligent chassis that integrates a chassis, electric drive system, thermal management system, wheelbase of 3000mm, and four-wheel drive, capable of achieving L4 driving level.

[0051] The smart gateway 300 includes: a first gateway chip module 301, a second gateway chip module 302, a first microcontroller module 303, a microprocessor module 304, and several second microcontroller modules 305.

[0052] The first gateway chip module 301 connects the first microcontroller module 303 and the upper vehicle electrical module 100 to enable communication between the first microcontroller module 303 and the upper vehicle electrical module 100 in the first network segment.

[0053] The microprocessor module 304, the lower vehicle electrical module 200, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules 305 are connected through the second gateway chip module 302 to enable communication between the microprocessor module 304, the lower vehicle electrical module 200, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules 305 in the second network segment.

[0054] Specifically, the microprocessor module is used to separate the communication between different network segments of the lower vehicle body electrical module; the first controller module is directly connected to the first gateway chip module and the second gateway chip module to enable communication between the upper vehicle body electrical module and the lower vehicle body electrical module on Ethernet, and the second controller module is directly connected to the second gateway chip module to enable non-Ethernet communication in the lower vehicle body electrical module.

[0055] The first network segment and the second network segment are different communication network segments; and the first microcontroller module 303 is also connected to the second gateway chip module 302 so that the upper body electrical module 100 and the lower body electrical module 200 can communicate with each other.

[0056] Both the first gateway chip module 301 and the second gateway chip module 302 include at least one gateway chip.

[0057] In one example, the intelligent gateway in this embodiment of the invention is a high-performance vehicle-mounted computer (HPVC), used to enable communication between the upper and lower vehicle electrical modules via Ethernet. Specifically, the number of gateway chips in the first and second gateway chip modules within the high-performance vehicle-mounted computer (HPVC) is determined by calculating the number of Ethernet ports. Furthermore, the high-performance vehicle-mounted computer (HPVC) also fulfills the function of highly automated driving, i.e., it can achieve driving without any driver intervention throughout the entire process.

[0058] In one example, a gateway chip is provided in both the first and second gateway chip modules. The gateway chip in the first gateway chip module is used to enable Ethernet communication between components in the upper vehicle electrical module; the gateway chip in the second gateway chip module is used to enable Ethernet communication between components in the lower vehicle electrical module. Specifically, the gateway chip in the second gateway chip module is directly connected to the main sensor unit.

[0059] The lower body electrical module includes 200: a sensor module 201 and a region controller module 202;

[0060] The sensor module 201 includes multiple sensor units, each corresponding to a different network segment. These different network segments include CAN network segments, CAN FD network segments, LIN network segments, and other similar network segments.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 2 The area controller module 202 includes a first area controller 2021 and a second area controller 2022. The first area controller 2021 is connected to the second area controller 2022, and the first area controller 2021 and the second area controller 2022 are connected to the second gateway chip module 302. The first area controller 2021, the second area controller 2022, and the second gateway chip module 302 form a TSN ring backbone Ethernet network, enabling the transmission link requirements of ASIL-D (Automotive Safety Integrity Level - the highest level of system safety) within the vehicle's electrical modules. The network bandwidth of the TSN ring backbone Ethernet network is 2.5G, enabling the communication bandwidth of L4 level intelligent driving data within the vehicle's electrical modules.

[0062] Please refer to Figure 3 The sensor module 201 includes a main sensor unit 2011 and an auxiliary sensor unit 2012; the main sensor unit 2011 is connected to the second gateway chip module 302; and the auxiliary sensor unit 2012 is connected to the first area controller 2021 or the second area controller 2022.

[0063] The first and second area controllers are connected to electrical components in the lower vehicle body hardware module, such as electrical components in the power system PT domain, chassis system CH domain, and thermal management system TC domain, to realize the function of the area gateway in the lower vehicle body electrical module. Secondly, the connection between the first and second area controllers and the auxiliary sensing unit is to alleviate the pressure of the number of Ethernet ports of the high-performance on-board computer HPVC and realize the network communication of the lower vehicle body.

[0064] The main sensor unit 2011 and the auxiliary sensor unit 2012 contain multiple sensors, and the multiple sensors are respectively connected to the hardware in the lower vehicle electrical module 200; wherein the communication method of the hardware connected to the same sensor unit is consistent.

[0065] The upper vehicle electrical module 100 includes a smart antenna 101, which communicates with the cloud via 4G / 5G to achieve vehicle-cloud communication.

[0066] The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body provided in this embodiment of the invention divides the vehicle's communication network into a first network segment belonging to the upper body electrical module and a second network segment belonging to the lower body electrical module. The first gateway chip module and the second gateway chip module in the smart gateway serve as the network segment identifiers for the first and second network segments, so as to realize the communication between the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module in the first network segment, and the communication between the microprocessor module, the lower body electrical module, and several second microcontroller modules in the second network segment.

[0067] In its alternative solution, since the undercarriage electrical module also includes multiple sensor units corresponding to different network segments, and each sensor unit contains multiple sensors, and the multiple sensors are respectively connected to the hardware in the undercarriage electrical module, and the communication method of the hardware connected to the same sensor unit is consistent, the second controller module separates multiple different communication network segments in the undercarriage electrical module to achieve more convenient separation of undercarriage communication.

[0068] This invention provides an automobile, including the above-described vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body sections.

[0069] The automobile provided in this invention can rapidly derive different upper bodies while keeping the lower body intelligent chassis unchanged, while ensuring that the key components and network communication of the lower body remain unchanged. Furthermore, depending on the derived upper body, the upper body communication, primarily the network communication within the upper body area, changes accordingly with the selection of components, resulting in minimal changes to the overall vehicle electrical architecture and optimal cost. In particular, it saves significant time in electrical architecture design, component design, and production, enabling rapid matching with the upper body.

[0070] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body sections, characterized in that, include: The vehicle includes an upper body electrical module, a lower body electrical module, and a smart gateway. The upper body electrical module is installed in the upper body of the vehicle, and the lower body electrical module is integrated into the vehicle chassis. The smart gateway includes: a first gateway chip module, a second gateway chip module, a first microcontroller module, a microprocessor module, and several second microcontroller modules; wherein, The first gateway chip module connects the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module to enable communication between the first microcontroller module and the upper body electrical module in the first network segment; The microprocessor module, the undercarriage electrical module, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules are connected through the second gateway chip module to enable communication between the microprocessor module, the undercarriage electrical module, and the plurality of second microcontroller modules in the second network segment. Wherein, the first network segment and the second network segment are different communication network segments; Furthermore, the first microcontroller module is also connected to the second gateway chip module, enabling communication between the upper vehicle electrical module and the lower vehicle electrical module.

2. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the first gateway chip module and the second gateway chip module include at least one gateway chip.

3. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower body electrical module includes: a sensor module and a zone controller module; The sensor module includes multiple sensor units, each corresponding to a different network segment. The area controller module includes: a first area controller and a second area controller; The first area controller is connected to the second area controller, and the first area controller and the second area controller are connected to the second gateway chip module; the first area controller, the second area controller and the second gateway chip module form a TSN ring backbone Ethernet network.

4. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The sensor module includes: a main sensor unit and an auxiliary sensor unit; The main sensor unit is connected to the second gateway chip module; The auxiliary sensor unit is connected to either the first area controller or the second area controller.

5. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The main sensor unit and the auxiliary sensor unit contain multiple sensors, and the multiple sensors are respectively connected to the hardware in the lower vehicle body electrical module; The communication methods of the hardware connected within the same sensor unit are consistent.

6. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The network bandwidth of the TSN ring backbone Ethernet network is 2.5G.

7. The vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The upper vehicle electrical module includes a smart antenna, which communicates with the cloud via 4G / 5G to achieve vehicle-to-cloud communication.

8. A car, characterized in that, Including the vehicle electrical architecture with separate upper and lower body as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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