Method for operating electric steering column adjustment device, steering column adjustment device, control unit and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an electric steering column adjustment device (3), the steering column adjustment device (3) having an electric actuator (4), which is configured to adjust the position of one or more components (2, 6) of a steering column (2) of a motor vehicle, and having a control unit (5) for controlling the activation of the at least one actuator (4). The method comprises the following steps:-detecting (201), by means of the control unit (5), a transition of the actuator (4) from a deactivated state into an activated state in which the actuator (4) is operated or can be operated in order to adjust the position, and-deactivating the actuator (4) by means of the control unit (5) once a duration of the activated state exceeds a predetermined limit value. The invention further relates to a control unit for carrying out such a method, to a steering column adjustment device designed for operation according to such a method, and to a motor vehicle having such a control unit or such a steering column adjustment device.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating an electric steering column adjustment device, a steering column adjustment device, a control unit, and a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In a motor vehicle, the steering column generally forms a connection between, on the one hand, the steering wheel and, on the other hand, the steering gear, or the components for converting the steering movement of the steering wheel into a corresponding steering movement of the steered wheels.

[0003] In connection with comfort functions for adjusting or regulating the position or orientation of interior components such as seats, steering wheels, etc., electric adjustment devices are increasingly being used, which enable a motorized adjustment or regulation of the corresponding components. There is still a need for improvement with respect to the reliability and operational safety of such electric comfort functions and the associated electric drives, especially in the case of steering column adjustment devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method for operating an electric steering column adjustment device. For the same purpose, a steering column adjustment device, a control unit, and a motor vehicle should also be provided.

[0005] This object is solved by the independent claims. Some embodiments result from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0006] According to one embodiment, a method for operating an electric steering column adjustment device of a motor vehicle is provided. The steering column adjustment device should in particular be understood as a device which is configured and arranged to electrically adjust or regulate the steering column or components of the steering column in a motor vehicle. The term "regulation" in particular means that the steering column and / or its components, such as the steering wheel, are changed, in particular user-specifically changed, in terms of their position, orientation, and / or direction, in particular relative to the chassis of the motor vehicle or relative to other interior components, such as the vehicle seat. In the present context, the expression "electrically regulate" in particular means that one or more electrically operated actuators, in particular one or more electric motors, are provided, which are mechanically coupled to the components of the steering column such that the activation of the actuators, in particular of the electric motors, causes a change in the position, orientation, and / or direction of the steering column or the components of the steering column. In order to activate the actuators, a corresponding user interface or operating interface may in particular be provided. The user interface may in particular include one or more operating means or operating elements, in particular switches, touch switches, touch-sensitive elements, and / or the like.

[0007] According to the invention, the steering column adjustment device comprises:

[0008] a) At least one electric actuator, which is configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more components of a steering column of a motor vehicle.

[0009] The actuator can be an electric motor. In particular, the at least one actuator is configured such that when the actuator is activated, the position and / or orientation of one or more components can be adjusted by the actuator. Activation should be understood here in particular as a transition from a deactivated state to an activated state. Here, different from the deactivated state, the activated state corresponds in particular to the state in which the actuator can perform its actuation function to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more components, in particular to adjust the height and / or distance relative to the vehicle seat, etc.

[0010] The steering column adjustment device further comprises:

[0011] b) At least one control unit for controlling the activation of at least one actuator.

[0012] The control unit can in particular comprise one or more processors, in particular a microprocessor. On the control unit configured for controlling the activation of the actuator, in particular a program code comprising a state machine can be implemented, wherein the control unit is advantageously configured to at least control the operation or activation of the actuator and accordingly control the deactivation of the actuator, and thus in particular perform activation control. In particular, it can be provided that the methods and corresponding method steps proposed here can be performed by the control unit based on software.

[0013] The method comprises the following steps:

[0014] c) Identifying, by the control unit, the transition of the actuator from the deactivated state to the activated state, in which the actuator is operated or can be operated for the purpose of adjusting the position and / or orientation, and

[0015] d) Deactivating the actuator by the control unit once the duration of the activated state exceeds a predetermined limit value.

[0016] Thus, it is advantageously recognized or detected whether at least one actuator is activated or should be activated for the purpose of adjusting the position and / or orientation. Detecting or recognizing the transition of the actuator into the activated state can in particular be ascertained based on a signal which indicates that the user interacts with a user interface for activating at least one actuator. The corresponding signal can in particular be directly detected by the control unit, or the signal can be provided to the control unit by another controller unit, in particular by a superior controller unit.

[0017] Furthermore, when the limit value for the duration of the activated state is exceeded, the at least one actuator is advantageously deactivated by the control unit, in particular powered off or stopped or shut off.

[0018] The expressions "at least one actuator" and "at least one control unit" should be understood as taking into account different combinations of actuators and control units. In particular, it is possible to provide a control unit only for one actuator respectively, that is to say, in this case, each actuator is assigned a control unit in terms of control technology. However, it is also possible to assign a plurality of actuators to one control unit in order to control the activation of these actuators. If the steering column adjustment device has, for example, two actuators (in particular one for adjusting the height and one for adjusting the length), then it is possible that there is a single control unit for the two actuators, or that there is a control unit for each actuator respectively.

[0019] In order to confirm the duration of the activation state, that is, the condition that the duration of the activation state exceeds a limit value, in one design, it can be stipulated that the control unit respectively determines the time difference between the current moment and the moment when the transition to the activation state is confirmed, compares this difference with the limit value, and deactivates or shuts off the actuator when the limit value is exceeded. It is also possible that a trigger signal is generated or triggered when transitioning into the activation state, and the control unit initializes a timer or a time limiter in response to this trigger signal, where the time determined by the timer respectively corresponds to the duration of the activation state. If the time determined by the timer exceeds the limit value, which can be confirmed in particular by comparing the determined time with the limit value, the actuator is advantageously deactivated.

[0020] In some designs, it can be stipulated that the limit value of the duration of the activation state corresponds to 1 to 3 minutes, in particular 2 minutes. This limit value can be determined in particular by testing, calculation and / or experience.

[0021] The proposed solution has the advantage that, when the steering column adjustment device is operated incorrectly, in particular when it is operated for too long, or when there is a long-term, repeated and / or excessive operation or operation attempt of the actuator by the user, overheating of the actuator can be avoided by deactivating the actuator. Similarly, if the actuator is inappropriately activated for too long, excessively or even continuously, especially due to a system failure or system fault, especially in the on-board electronics of a motor vehicle, the proposed method can prevent overheating of the actuator.

[0022] The advantage of the proposed method also lies in the fact that the method can be implemented relatively simply and inexpensively. In particular, the method can be implemented software-based on a processor or a microprocessor, especially on a control device that already exists for controlling the actuator. Advantageously, relatively expensive and complex measures such as thermal sensors or thermal switches are not required.

[0023] According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that a transition to the activated state is recognized based on the manipulation signal for activating the actuator. The manipulation signal can in particular be a control signal generated or produced in the control unit, or can be a signal received by another controller unit, in particular a signal received by a user interface or a user interface control device.

[0024] According to another design, it can be provided that in step d), the actuator is deactivated for a predetermined deactivation time interval, in particular a predetermined duration. In particular, it can be provided that after confirmation of exceeding the limit value, the actuator is switched off for a predetermined deactivation time interval, that is to say in particular further activation is prevented. Similar to determining the duration of the activated state, the duration of the deactivation time interval can be determined by determining the time difference or based on a timer. If the deactivation time interval has elapsed (which can in particular be determined by the control unit), the deactivation is advantageously cancelled and the actuator is available for further activation in order to adjust or change the position and / or orientation of the steering column and / or its components.

[0025] The proposed method steps can in particular be carried out iteratively. If the monitoring period for monitoring the duration of the activated state ends, the control unit can advantageously start a new monitoring period.

[0026] According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that after a cycle or monitoring period including deactivating the actuator and cancelling the deactivation after confirmation of exceeding the limit value, the control unit returns again to the mode of monitoring the duration of the activated state.

[0027] The advantage of deactivation is that after overoperation (which can be confirmed by exceeding the limit value in step d)), a regeneration time for cooling the actuator can be provided. Thus, by appropriately selecting a deactivation time interval of in particular 3 minutes, overheating or heating of the electric motor used can be at least largely avoided.

[0028] In some designs, it can be provided that the deactivation time interval is between 2 and 5 minutes, in particular 3 minutes. The limit value can in particular be determined by testing, calculation and / or experience.

[0029] According to another advantageous design, as already indicated above, it can be provided that the duration of the activated state is monitored by the control unit, and / or this duration is determined by a running time counter implemented in the control unit, in particular a timer or a time limiter. The running time counter can in particular be activated by the control unit confirming that the actuator has changed from the deactivated or non-activated state to the activated state, that is to say the operating state of the actuator has changed from non-activated to activated, and in response to this confirmation, the running time counter is activated. The running time counter can be implemented relatively simply and in particular based on software.

[0030] According to another advantageous design, the activation state can include one or more activation phases of the actuator. The activation phase is particularly understood here as an operating phase in which the actuator is manipulated with respect to its operation. The activation phase is delimited by the actuator transitioning to the activation state and transitioning to the deactivated state.

[0031] In particular, the activation state can relate to only one activation phase, where each successive activation phase, which includes a transition from the deactivated state to the activation state once, is monitored or observed separately with respect to exceeding a limit value. In some designs, the activation state can also relate to a plurality of successive activation phases or operating phases, where each activation phase or operating phase includes a transition from the deactivated state to the activation state, and where the duration, i.e., the length of time, of the operating phase is totaled or accumulated. In successive, cumulative activation phases, these activation phases are particularly interrupted by deactivation phases in which the actuator is deactivated. In such a design, the cumulative duration of the activation phases is advantageously used as the duration of the activation state. If only one operating phase is considered separately, the cumulative duration advantageously corresponds to the respective durations of the activation state. In the cumulative duration, when the cumulative duration exceeds a limit value within a predetermined first time interval, the actuator is deactivated accordingly in accordance with step d).

[0032] Using the cumulative duration, it is possible to detect incorrect operating conditions in particular, where the actuator is activated successively several times or briefly several times, and where each individual activation phase itself does not exceed the limit value set in accordance with step d), but the total may lead to overloading or overheating of the actuator.

[0033] According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that when the control unit determines or recognizes a transition from the activated state to the deactivated state, and / or when the control unit does not recognize or confirm the existence of a further transition to the activated state within a second time interval, the determined duration of the activated state, in particular the duration of the activated state confirmed by a running time counter or timer, is reset to, for example, zero. In the first alternative, the running time counter can be reset especially whenever the operation and activation of the actuator initiated by the user for adjusting the steering column have ended or terminated. Here, each operation initiated by the user can itself be monitored in terms of exceeding a limit value. When accumulating the duration, especially when no activation, i.e., especially no transition to the activated state, is confirmed during the duration of the second time interval, the running time counter can be reset. The second time interval can be determined especially by testing, experimentation, or experience, especially such that the second time interval corresponds to a sufficient time period during which the actuator can cool down. The second duration can especially be between 10 minutes and 20 minutes, especially 15 minutes, and is especially determined by testing, calculation, and / or experience.

[0034] According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that the method includes the initialization of the control unit, and after the control unit has completed the initialization, the value of the counter is incremented each time step d) is executed, and when the value of the counter exceeds a predetermined maximum value, the control unit prevents the activation of the actuator until the next initialization. The initialization can especially be performed when starting the motor vehicle, especially when starting or attempting to start or initialize the drive motor of the motor vehicle. The advantage of using a counter for each initialization is that it can prevent the actuator from being damaged, especially overheated, due to repeated incorrect operations or improper use. By preventing the actuator, especially by deactivating other operations during the ongoing initialization cycle, it is possible to at least indirectly indicate to the user at the same time an incorrect operation or improper use of the steering column adjustment device. In this regard, it can be advantageously provided that the counter is reset, especially to zero, each time the control unit is initialized or reinitialized. According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that the prevention and / or deactivation of the actuator are displayed to the user on the user interface, and / or other visual, auditory, and / or tactile signals are generated. The corresponding signals can especially be initiated by the control unit at least.

[0035] The maximum value can especially be in the range between 3 and 5, especially 3. The maximum value can especially be determined by testing, experimentation, or experience.

[0036] According to another advantageous design, a steering column adjustment device is provided, which has a control unit and at least one actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more components of a steering column of a motor vehicle. The control unit may include a configured non-volatile memory on which instructions executable by the control unit are stored, and / or include executable logic which, when executed by the control unit, implements the method according to any one of the designs described herein.

[0037] According to another advantageous design, a control unit is provided, which includes a configured non-volatile memory on which instructions executable by the control unit are stored, and / or includes executable logic, wherein, when the instructions or the logic are executed by the control unit, the method according to any one of the designs described herein is implemented.

[0038] According to another advantageous design, a motor vehicle is provided, which has a steering column adjustment device according to any one of the designs described herein. Furthermore, advantageously, a motor vehicle having a control unit according to the design described herein is provided. As is usual, the corresponding motor vehicle has a steering column, and the steering column adjustment device or the control unit acts together with the steering column.

[0039] According to another advantageous design, it can be provided that, in a motor vehicle, the steering column adjustment device or the control unit is configured to execute a method which, in particular, uses the initialization of a counter as described above, wherein the initialization is advantageously caused by a starting process of the motor vehicle or of a drive motor for driving the motor vehicle. Description of the Drawings

[0040] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of embodiments with further details with reference to the drawings.

[0041] Shown therein are:

[0042] Figure 1 : A schematic view of a steering system of a motor vehicle having a steering column adjustment device; and

[0043] Figure 2 : A schematic flow chart of a method for operating control of a steering column adjustment device. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0044] Figure 1shows a schematic view of a steering system 1 of a motor vehicle (not explicitly shown), which steering system has a steering column 2 and a steering column adjustment device 3. The steering column adjustment device 3 includes at least one actuator 4, which actuator can be an electric motor. The steering column adjustment device 3 also includes at least one control unit 5 shown only schematically, which control unit 5 can in particular include a microprocessor. One or more control units 5 and one or more actuators 4 can be mounted at different positions separately. Figure 1 Differently and separately installed in other positions.

[0045] The steering system 1 includes a steering wheel 6 as is usual, which steering wheel is connected in a known manner, but not limited to this manner, to the wheels 8 to be steered via a steering gear 7 in the example shown.

[0046] One or more actuators 4 are configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of the steering column 2, in particular to adjust the height H and / or length L, in particular relative to a driver's seat not shown. According to some design solutions, it can be provided that for each degree of freedom of the adjustment, in particular the height H, the length L, etc., there is a separate actuator 4, where there can be a common control unit 5, or there can be a separate control unit 5 for each actuator 4.

[0047] The control unit 5 can be configured to control one or more actuators 4, but at least undertake its activation control. Here, the activation control should be understood as that one or more control units 5 at least control or supervise the activation and deactivation of one or more actuators 4.

[0048] For the sake of simplicity, the following description generally relates to one control unit 5 and one actuator 4 without limitation, where, as clearly shown above, it can include basically any combination of a plurality of actuators 4 and a plurality of control units 5.

[0049] The control unit 5 is configured to execute a method having the following steps:

[0050] c. Recognize, by the control unit 5, the transition of the actuator 4 from the deactivated state to the activated state, in which activated state the actuator 4 is operated to adjust the position and / or orientation of the steering wheel 6 or the steering column 2, in particular the height H and / or length L, and

[0051] d. Once the duration of the activated state exceeds a predetermined limit value, deactivate the actuator 4 by the control unit 5.

[0052] The corresponding exemplary method is schematically shown in the Figure 2 flowchart.

[0053] Here, in step 201, the control unit 5 recognizes that the actuator 4 is activated for adjusting the position and / or orientation. Accordingly, the transition of the actuator 4 from the deactivated state to the activated state is determined, in particular, by a state machine implemented on the control unit 5. In this activated state, the actuator 4 should be or is being run for adjusting the position and / or orientation.

[0054] If the control unit 5 recognizes or confirms the transition of the actuator 4 to the activated state, in particular, by a corresponding user action for activating the steering column adjustment device, the method proceeds to method block 210.

[0055] In method block 210, the value of a timer implemented on the control unit is incremented. The duration determined by the timer corresponds to the duration of the activated state of the actuator. If, before the actuator 4 is deactivated, in particular, by a corresponding user action, the duration of the activated state determined by the timer does not reach a predetermined limit value, as confirmed by the control unit 5 in step 202, the method proceeds to method block 211.

[0056] Method block 211 is based on the non-activated operating state of the actuator 4. This method block will be described in more detail below.

[0057] If in block 210 it is determined by the control unit 5 that the duration of the activated state exceeds the limit value, the value of a counter is incremented. This counter is configured to count the number of times the activation of the actuator during which the limit value has been exceeded.

[0058] A maximum value is implemented for the counter, which determines how frequently an exceedance of the limit value is allowed after the control unit 5 has been initialized, for example, within the scope of starting the motor vehicle.

[0059] If in block 210 the number of times the duration of the activated state exceeds the limit value, as confirmed by the counter, exceeds the maximum value, the method branches to method block 212 according to step 203. According to method block 212, the actuator 4 is blocked, i.e., any further activation of the actuator 4 is prevented. This prevention continues until a new initialization is performed by another start-up process.

[0060] If the number of times the counter in block 210 confirms exceeding the limit value does not exceed the maximum value, the method branches to method block 213 according to step 204. According to method block 213, when it is confirmed that the duration of the activation state exceeds the limit value, the actuator 4 is deactivated, where the control unit 5 can generate, for example, a fault ID for deactivating the actuator 4. However, different from method block 212, the actuator 4 is not continuously deactivated until the next initialization, but the actuator 4 is only deactivated for a predetermined first duration. The first duration can be monitored, in particular, by means of a deactivation timer. At the same time, in method block 213, the timer set for determining the duration of the activation state is reset.

[0061] If it is confirmed by the control unit 5 in step 205 that the deactivation timer has reached the first duration, the method proceeds to method block 211. If the method reaches method block 211 via method step 205, the control unit 5 continues the method of monitoring the duration of the activation state, and if the activation of the actuator is confirmed in method step 201, it proceeds to method block 210, etc.

[0062] In this exemplary method, it is further stipulated that if the control unit 5 for the actuator 4 does not confirm that the actuator has transitioned to the activated state (i.e., is not activated) within a predetermined second time interval (which can be determined, for example, by another timer), the counter mentioned in connection with method block 210 is reset. In other words, if the actuator is not actuated during the duration of the second time interval, the counter is reset.

[0063] When the control unit 5 confirms that the actuator 4 is in the non-activated state or has transitioned to the non-activated state, the other timer can be deactivated, in particular, by the control unit 5. The other timer is reset in method block 210, that is, when transitioning to the activated state, and is re-initialized when returning to method block 211, such that the other timer always detects the non-activated time of the actuator 4. It is further stipulated that the timer described in connection with method block 210 accumulates the durations of successive activation states, where if the time interval determined by the other timer is greater than the second time interval, that is, when the actuator 4 is non-activated for at least the length of the second time interval, the timer is reset.

[0064] Therefore, in this method, it can be stipulated that in method block 211, it is checked whether the time interval determined or confirmed by the other timer is greater than the second time interval. If the above condition is met, it is stipulated that the control unit 5 resets the other timer in method block 211 and starts a new increment. If the above condition is not met in method block 211, that is, the time interval of the other timer that continues to increment in the deactivated state of the actuator 4 is less than the second time interval, the increment of the other timer continues, especially until the control unit 5 confirms a transition to the activated state, where, in this case, the other timer can be reset in method block 210, or until the control unit re-initializes the other timer after the second time interval is exceeded. At the same time, if the time interval determined by the other timer is greater than the second time interval, the timer related to the duration of the activated state is also reset in method block 211. If the actuator 4 is deactivated during the duration of the second time interval, the control unit 5 advantageously resets the time accumulated for the activated state of the actuator.

[0065] In combination with the other timer for determining the duration of continuous deactivation of the actuator 4, it can be stipulated that the other timer is reset in method block 213. In this case, the other timer can be used in particular to determine the deactivation time interval.

[0066] The advantage of the other timer that can be implemented in the method according to the figures is that the steering column adjustment device is not unnecessarily blocked too often, because after the second time interval (which can be between 10 minutes and 20 minutes, especially 15 minutes), the system is reset and a new round of monitoring starts. It is assumed here that after the second time interval, it is ensured that the actuator is basically sufficiently cooled so that another monitoring cycle can be performed.

[0067] As shown above, the proposed method can achieve effective monitoring of the actuator 4. In particular, the actuator 4 can be monitored in two aspects. The first aspect is by limiting the (accumulated) duration of activation of the actuator to a predetermined limit value, and the second aspect is by limiting the number of times that the limit value can be exceeded for each initialization within the scope of the startup process.

[0068] Description of reference numerals

[0069] 1 Steering system

[0070] 2 Steering column

[0071] 3 Steering column adjustment device

[0072] 4 Actuator

[0073] 5 Control unit

[0074] 6 Steering wheel

[0075] 7 Steering transmission

[0076] 8 Wheel

[0077] H Height

[0078] L Length

[0079] 201 - 206 Method steps

[0080] 210 - 213 Method blocks

Claims

1. A method for operating an electric steering column adjustment device (3) of a motor vehicle, wherein a. The steering column adjustment device (3) comprises at least one electric actuator (4), in particular an electric motor, which is configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more components of the steering column (2) of the motor vehicle, and b. The steering column adjustment device (3) has at least one control unit (5) for controlling the activation of at least one actuator (4), and in, The method comprises the following steps: c. detecting (201) by the control unit (5) a transition of the actuator (4) from a deactivated state to an activated state, in which the actuator (4) is operated or can be operated for adjusting the position and / or orientation, and d. Once the duration of the activated state exceeds a predetermined limit value, the actuator (4) is deactivated by the control unit (5).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: A transition to an activated state is detected based on a control signal for activating the actuator (4).

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The actuator (4) is deactivated in step d) for a predetermined deactivation time interval.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The duration of the activation state is monitored by the control unit (5) and / or is determined by a run time counter implemented in the control unit (5), wherein the run time counter is preferably activated in such a way that the control unit (5) confirms the transition of the actuator (4) from the deactivated state to the activated state and activates the run time counter in response to the corresponding confirmation.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The activation state comprises one or more activation phases of the actuator (4), wherein the duration of the activation state corresponds to the accumulated duration of the activation phases, wherein the actuator (4) is deactivated according to step d) when the accumulated duration exceeds a limit value within a predetermined first time interval.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The duration of the active state is reset when a transition from the active state to the deactivated state is determined by the control unit (5) and / or when no transition to the active state is detected within a second time interval.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The method comprises initializing the control unit (5), and after completing the initialization, the control unit (5) increments the value of the counter each time step d) is performed, and when the value of the counter exceeds a predetermined maximum value, the control unit (5) prevents the activation of the actuator (4) until the next initialization.

8. A steering column adjustment device (3) having a control unit (5) and at least one electric actuator (4), which is configured to adjust the position and / or orientation of one or more components of a steering column (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein: The control unit (5) comprises an associated non-volatile memory on which instructions executable by the control unit are stored and / or comprises executable logic which, when executed by the control unit (5), causes the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to be implemented.

9. A control unit (5), comprising a non-volatile memory having stored thereon instructions executable by the control unit (5), and / or comprising executable logic, which, when executed by the control unit (5), causes the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. A motor vehicle having a steering column adjustment device (3) according to claim 8 or a control unit (5) according to claim 9.

11. A motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein: The steering column adjustment device (3) or the control unit (5) is configured to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in particular the method according to claim 7, and wherein the initialization is brought about by a starting process of the motor vehicle.

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