Control device for a brake system, system for controlling a brake system, and method for controlling a brake system

Abstract

The invention relates to the control of a brake system, in particular a brake-by-wire system. To this end, in addition to a purely local calculation of parameters for converting brake requirements into control commands for the brake actuators, the parameters are also calculated by a remote processing device, for example in a cloud or similar environment. This can mitigate the load of hardware required locally.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for a braking system, a system for controlling a braking system, and a method for controlling a braking system. In particular, the present invention relates to the control of a system in a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A braking system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car or a truck, can be implemented as an electrohydraulic braking system. Generally, such a braking system has a master brake cylinder with an actuator piston. The master brake cylinder can be either directly manually actuated or actuated via a brake force amplifier. The hydraulic pressure generated in the master brake cylinder is transmitted to the wheel brakes to build up a braking pressure.

[0003] So-called brake-by-wire systems are also increasingly being used. Such a system is described, for example, in DE 10 2011079 454A1. This braking system generates a hydraulic pressure in a simulation device by actuating the master brake cylinder. The pressure generated by the master brake cylinder is detected, and a target braking pressure is determined with the aid of the detected pressure. The target braking pressure is regulated in an active circuit for actuating the wheel brakes by a pressure generating device having an electric motor and a squeezing piston movable by the electric motor. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a control device for a braking system, a system for controlling a braking system, and a method for controlling a braking system having the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] It is thus provided that:

[0006] A control device for a braking system, having a processing device and a radio interface. The processing device is designed to receive data from a setpoint generator. In addition, the processing device is designed to determine an adjustment command for a brake actuator. The adjustment command can in particular be determined in the use of the data received from the setpoint generator and control data. In addition, the processing device is designed to output the determined adjustment command for the brake actuator. The radio interface is designed to receive control data, in particular control data for determining the adjustment command, from a remote processing device.

[0007] It is further provided that:

[0008] A system for controlling a braking system in a motor vehicle, the system having a control device according to the invention and a processing device remote from the motor vehicle. The control device is arranged in the motor vehicle here. The processing device is designed to receive data from the radio interface of the control device in the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the processing device is designed to generate, i.e. calculate, control data in the case of using the received data. Furthermore, the processing device is designed to send the generated control data to the radio interface of the control device in the motor vehicle.

[0009] Finally provided is:

[0010] A method for controlling a braking system in a motor vehicle. The method includes a step for receiving control data for a braking process. The control data can in particular be received from a remote processing device via a wireless communication connection. Furthermore, the method includes a step for receiving data from a local setpoint generator. The local setpoint generator can for example be a sensor for detecting the current position of the brake pedal. Furthermore, the method includes a step for determining an adjustment command for a brake actuator. In particular, the adjustment command for the brake actuator can be determined in the case of using the data received from the setpoint generator and the control data from the remote processing device. Finally, the method can include a step for outputting the determined adjustment command to the brake actuator.

[0011] Advantages of the invention

[0012] In modern braking systems, especially brake-by-wire systems, the braking demand of a motor vehicle can be provided by a setpoint generator as a digital signal or, if necessary, also as an analog signal, and transmitted to the control unit via a communication connection. For example, a sensor can detect the current position of the brake pedal and provide a signal corresponding to the position of the brake pedal, which signal is transmitted to the control unit via a communication connection. Additionally or alternatively, the braking demand can also be generated by components of a system for fully or at least partially autonomous driving and transmitted to the control unit of the braking system.

[0013] Then, the control unit of the braking system processes the received demand for the braking demand, which demand is received, for example, in the form of the current position of the brake pedal or in any other form. Here, the control unit of the braking system determines a control command for the actuator of the braking system and outputs the control command to the corresponding actuator. Thereby, the actuator of the braking system can be controlled such that the actuator can establish a braking pressure corresponding to the received demand in the braking system.

[0014] The present invention is now based on the recognition that it is very important to process the demand for the braking demand until the corresponding adjustment command for the brake actuator is output. Therefore, very high reliability and redundancy must be ensured here. However, this is associated with high effort and cost.

[0015] Therefore, the concept of the present invention takes this recognition into account and provides a control device for a braking system, in particular a brake-by-wire system, which can ensure a high degree of operational safety at as low a local cost as possible. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that, in addition to the pure local processing of the received setpoint for the braking expectation to generate an adjustment command for the brake actuator, there is also provided a processing path in which the data processing can be carried out at least in part by a remote processing device.

[0016] For example, the remote processing device can be a remote server, such as a server or server architecture in the cloud. The data exchange between the local control device for the braking system and the remote processing device can be accomplished here by a wireless communication connection. For example, the data exchange can be carried out via a mobile radio connection or the like. However, in principle, any other wireless communication connection, in particular a radio connection with as little latency as possible, is also possible.

[0017] Thus, by using remote resources to process the braking expectation, the local hardware cost required in the motor vehicle can be minimized. If, for example, mainly the remote infrastructure is used to process the braking expectation, it is sufficient to provide a fallback level in the motor vehicle to process the braking expectation. Thus, even in the case of a failure or outage of the communication connection to the remote processing device, sufficient safety for processing the braking expectation can be ensured.

[0018] In addition to simplifying the required local system in the motor vehicle, the at least partial data processing implemented by the remote processing device for controlling the braking system in the motor vehicle can also offer additional advantages. Thus, for example, it may be possible to provide a higher-power hardware infrastructure for data processing in the remote processing device, which can also execute complex calculations very efficiently. Thereby, the accuracy and / or processing speed of the processing of the corresponding data can be increased if necessary. In addition, the remote processing device can also use additional resources, such as databases, if necessary. User-specific data can be stored, for example, in the remote processing device. Thus, the braking characteristics of the vehicle can be adapted, for example, according to these user-specific presets. This can, for example, make it possible to provide the user with at least approximately the same or similar braking characteristics of the vehicle in use even in the case of a vehicle replacement. Subsequent adaptations, such as manufacturer-specific presets, can also be provided in a simple manner on the central remote processing device, and for this purpose it is not necessary to recall all vehicles to the workshop for software updates.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the radio interface is designed to transmit operating data of the braking system to a remote processing device. The operating data can be, for example, technical data of the braking system or braking system components. Information, such as the current temperature at a component of the braking system, detected error messages, etc., can be transmitted to the remote processing device, for example. In addition, information locally stored in the vehicle of the corresponding braking system, such as calibration data, etc., can also be transmitted to the remote processing device, for example. Thereby, it is possible for the remote processing device to adapt the processing as precisely as possible to the corresponding braking system.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the radio interface is designed to transmit user-specific data to a remote processing device. The user-specific data can be, for example, the identifier of the corresponding user / driver. Thus, the remote processing device can identify the corresponding user in a simple manner and adapt the data processing to the corresponding user. For example, a previously specified and stored user profile can be read from the database of the remote processing device and taken into account in the data processing. Thereby, it is possible for the user to individually implement an adapted braking characteristic of the vehicle. In this way, an individually adapted curve of the braking characteristic can be realized for different users in one and the same vehicle, respectively. It is also possible, in this way, in the case of vehicle replacement, to provide the user with the same or at least approximately the same braking characteristic on the correspondingly used vehicle. Thereby, in the case of vehicle replacement, the corresponding user does not have to adjust to a significantly different braking characteristic.

[0021] In addition to transmitting the user identifier to identify the user in the remote processing device, it is also possible for the user in the vehicle to specify their preferences. In this case, the user presets can be transmitted to the remote processing device via the radio interface, so that the remote processing device can take these user-specific presets into account.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the processing device is designed to determine first data for an adjustment command for a brake actuator when using control data received by a radio interface. In addition, the processing device may be designed to determine second data for an adjustment command for the brake actuator when using local control data. In addition, the processing device may be designed to output the first data for the adjustment command for the brake actuator if the deviation between the first data and the second data for the adjustment command is below a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, in the case where the deviation between the first data and the second data exceeds the predetermined threshold, an adjustment command may be generated and output based on the locally determined second data. In this way, the plausibility of the control data from the remote processing device can be checked. If it is determined that there is too large a difference between the locally determined data and the data from the remote processing device, the data received from the remote processing device is discarded and the control is performed based on the locally determined data. Conversely, if the data from the remote processing device can be confirmed as plausible, the usually more accurate data from the remote processing device can be used.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the processing device is designed to monitor the communication connection between the radio interface and the remote processing device. In this case, the processing device may also be designed to output the second data for the adjustment command for the brake actuator if a fault in the communication connection between the radio interface and the remote processing device has been detected. The check of the communication connection can be carried out here by any suitable measure. For example, the time period between sending data from the local radio interface to the remote processing device and receiving a response from the remote processing device can be determined. If this time period exceeds a preset limit value, this may be an indication of a possible fault in the communication connection. In addition, any other measures can also be taken to check the communication connection. In the case of detecting a fault in the communication connection, the locally determined data can be used here.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the processing device is designed to determine the signal duration between the radio interface and the remote processing device and to determine a control command for the brake actuator when using the determined signal duration. By monitoring the signal duration, on the one hand, possible faults in the communication connection can be identified. In addition, the delay that may occur due to the determined signal duration can also be taken into account, and the control of the brake actuator can be adapted accordingly.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the processing device is designed to monitor the local determination of adjustment commands for a brake actuator. In addition, the processing device can be designed to determine control data for the adjustment commands for the brake actuator using control data from a radio interface if a malfunction has been detected in the local determination. Here, the local hardware is mainly used to determine the adjustment commands for the brake actuator. However, if a malfunction is detected in the local hardware, for example due to a software error or a memory access error, the processing in a remote processing device can be used as a redundancy.

[0026] As long as it makes sense, the above-described design concepts and improvement concepts can be combined with each other arbitrarily. Further design concepts, improvement concepts and implementation concepts of the present invention also include combinations of features not explicitly mentioned before or after the description of the embodiments of the present invention. In particular, those skilled in the art will also add a plurality of individual aspects as improvements or supplements to the corresponding basic forms of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0027] The following explains further features and advantages of the present invention with the aid of the drawings. Here:

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a block diagram of a system for controlling a braking system according to an embodiment is shown; and

[0029] Figure 2 A flowchart based on a method for controlling a braking system according to an embodiment is shown. Detailed Embodiment

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a block diagram of a system for controlling a braking system according to an embodiment is shown. The braking system further includes a setpoint generator 10, which provides a setpoint corresponding to the braking desire. The setpoint generator 10 can be, for example, a sensor that provides a digital sensor value corresponding to the position of the brake pedal in a motor vehicle or, if necessary, also an analog sensor value. The sensor value can be transmitted to the control device 20 via a communication connection (such as a data bus, etc.). In addition to or alternatively to the data regarding the attitude of the brake pedal in the motor vehicle, it is also possible that a system for fully or at least partially autonomous driving generates a braking requirement and provides this braking requirement to the control device 20. Here, the braking requirement can also be transmitted via a suitable communication connection (such as a data bus, etc.).

[0031] The control device 20 calculates an adjustment command for the brake actuator based on the received braking requirement and outputs the adjustment command to the brake actuator 30. For example, the brake actuator 30 can establish a corresponding braking pressure in the braking system according to the adjustment command, so that the vehicle can use the braking system to be decelerated according to the braking requirement. For example, the simulation of the braking process can be implemented to obtain the adjustment command. Through this simulation, for example, control data can be generated, and the control data can be considered for obtaining the command for the brake actuator 30.

[0032] In order to calculate the adjustment command for the brake actuator 30, the control device 20 can use local hardware, for example, which is implemented in the processing device 21 of the control device 20. Since it is very important to convert the braking requirement into an appropriate control command for the brake actuator 30, sufficient reliability and redundancy must be ensured.

[0033] Therefore, in addition to the pure local calculation of the control command for the brake actuator 30, at least partially transferred calculations can also be implemented in the remote processing device 100. For this purpose, a radio interface 22 is provided in the local control device 20 of the braking system. The control device 20 can send data to the remote processing device 100 through the radio interface 22 and receive data from the remote processing device 200. For example, the radio interface 22 can use a communication connection based on a suitable mobile radio standard for this purpose. However, in addition, any other standardized or proprietary wireless communication connection is also possible in principle.

[0034] For example, the control device 20 can transmit data to the remote processing device 100 through the radio interface 22. Then, the remote processing device 100 can perform the calculation of the control data for the braking system based on the transmitted data of the control device 20 and transmit the calculated control data to the control device 20. The radio interface 22 of the control device 20 can receive the data and provide it to the processing device 21 in the control device 20, for example. Then, the processing device 21 can obtain the adjustment command for the brake actuator 30 using the control data from the remote processing device 100 and provide it to the brake actuator. In this way, at least a part of the data processing can be transferred from the local control device 20 to the remote processing device 100. Therefore, the required hardware for the control device 20 can be implemented more simply and inexpensively accordingly. For example, if the calculation of the control data is mainly transferred to the external processing device 100, it is sufficient to provide only simple redundant processing possibilities in the local control device 20, especially in the processing device 21. Thus, it is possible to ensure the safe acquisition of the control data even in the case of a failure of the communication connection between the remote processing device 100 or the radio interface 22 and the remote processing device 200.

[0035] The remote processing device 100 can, for example, generate control data that respectively correspond to the current conditions of the relationship or characteristic curve between the received data and the manipulation of the brake actuator 30. The control data can be dynamically adapted according to the current conditions respectively. Here, the dynamic adaptation can be performed, for example, in the remote processing device 100.

[0036] For example, the control data can be adapted according to the current operating parameters, such as the temperature in the braking system, detected faults or error messages, etc. For this purpose, the processing device 20 can, for example, have a suitable interface that receives the corresponding operating parameters and then forwards them to the remote processing device 100.

[0037] In addition, it is also possible, for example, to adapt the control data individually for the user. For example, the user can specify their preferences, such as a rather hard direct or preferably soft response of the brake. For this purpose, a user interface (not shown) can be provided, through which the user can specify their preferences. These user inputs can also be transmitted to the remote processing device 100 via the radio interface 22.

[0038] Additionally or alternatively, the user identifier can also be transmitted to the remote processing device 100. Thus, the individual details of the user can be assigned to the corresponding user according to this user identifier. For example, it is possible that the corresponding user-specific parameters are stored in a database or the like in the remote processing device 100. In this way, the remote processing device 100 can automatically obtain the user-specific parameters, such as reading the user-specific parameters from the database, after receiving the corresponding user identifier, and adapt the control parameters according to the user-specific parameters. For example, the user can be authenticated through corresponding user inputs or identification media (such as RFID chips, smartphones, etc.).

[0039] If the corresponding user is known to the remote processing device 100, then the control data for the corresponding braking system can also be adapted so that the user also obtains at least approximately the same or similar braking characteristics in different vehicles respectively. In this way, even when using different vehicles, the user can correspondingly obtain familiar braking characteristics.

[0040] By calculating the control data in the remote processing device 100, it may be sufficient to obtain the control data for adapting the braking system in an appropriate manner. In this case, it is sufficient to perform the corresponding adaptation in the central local processing device 100. Thereby, complex updates of the software in individual vehicles by calling back to the workshop, etc. can be cancelled or at least postponed if necessary.

[0041] In order to check the reasonableness of the control data from the remote processing device 100, for example, the adjustment command transmitted through the control data from the remote processing device 100 can be compared with the adjustment command obtained through local calculation in the control device 20. If the values of the adjustment commands from the local calculation and the remote calculation do not deviate significantly from each other, that is, the deviation from each other is less than a preset threshold value, then the corresponding adjustment command can be classified as reasonable. In this case, for example, the adjustment command based on the control data from the remote processing device 100 can be preferably used. On the contrary, if a significant deviation in the two adjustment commands is detected, then in this case, an error in the calculation of the control data from the remote processing device 100 or in the communication connection between the local control device 20 and the remote processing device 100 can be inferred. In this case, the data based on the locally obtained control data can preferably be used for the control command of the braking actuator 30.

[0042] In addition, it is also possible, for example, to monitor the communication connection between the radio interface 22 and the remote processing device 100. For example, for this purpose, the time period between sending data from the local radio interface 22 to the remote processing device 100 and subsequently receiving data from the remote processing device 100 through the radio interface 22 can be analyzed. If this time period exceeds a preset limit value, then this can be indicated as an indication of a fault in the communication connection. Therefore, when a fault is detected, the locally obtained control data and the resulting control command for the braking actuator 30 can preferably be used.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that, first, the local acquisition of the control data is mainly used, and the adjustment command based on the control data is used for the braking actuator 30, and only when a fault or the like is detected, the calculation of the control data in the remote processing device 100 is used. For this purpose, the processing in the local processing device 21 can be monitored, for example, by a higher-level instance. If a software error, a memory access error, or other serious errors are detected, then in this case, the calculation of the control data by the remote processing device 100 can be used.

[0044] Figure 2 A flowchart based on the method for controlling a braking system in a motor vehicle according to an embodiment is shown. In principle, the method can include any of the steps previously described in connection with the braking system according to Figure 1 Therefore, the previously described braking system can also include any components required to implement the method described subsequently.

[0045] The method includes step S1 of receiving control data for a braking process from the remote processing device 100 through a wireless communication connection. The remote processing device 100 can obtain the control data for the braking process in the manner previously described.

[0046] Furthermore, the method includes step S2 for receiving data from the local setpoint generator 10. The local setpoint generator 10 can be, for example, a sensor that determines the position of the brake pedal in a vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, setpoints for the braking process can also be received from a control system for fully or at least partially autonomous driving.

[0047] In step S3, an adjustment command for the brake actuator 30 is determined. The determination of the adjustment command is achieved in particular when using the data received from the setpoint generator 10 and the control data from the remote processing device 100.

[0048] Finally, in step S4, the determined adjustment command is output to the brake actuator 30.

[0049] Furthermore, the method can include steps for wirelessly transmitting user-specific data, operating data of the braking system, and / or environmental data to the remote processing device. Thereby, as has been implemented previously, the control data can be individualized, for example, to the specifications of each user. Additionally, the control data can also be dynamically adapted to the current operating data of the braking system, for example. Furthermore, the control data can also be adapted according to environmental parameters, such as the detected humidity, the risk of slipping on the street, or any other environmental parameter.

[0050] In summary, the present invention relates to the control of a braking system, in particular a brake-by-wire system. For this purpose, in addition to the pure local calculation of the parameters for converting the braking requirement into an adjustment command for the brake actuator, parameter calculation is also provided by a remote processing device, for example, in a cloud or a similar environment. This can reduce the load on the locally required hardware.

Claims

1. A control device (20) for a braking system, comprising: a processing device (21) designed to receive data from a setpoint generator (10), to determine an adjustment command for a brake actuator (30) using the data received from the setpoint generator (10) and control data, and to output the determined adjustment command for the brake actuator (30); and a radio interface (22) designed to receive the control data from a remote processing device (100).

2. The control device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the radio interface (22) is further designed to transmit operating data of the braking system to the remote processing device (100).

3. The control device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the radio interface (22) is further designed to transmit user-specific data to the remote processing device (100).

4. The control device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the processing device (100) is designed to determine first data of an adjustment command for the brake actuator (30) using the control data already received from the radio interface (22), and to determine second data of an adjustment command for the brake actuator (30) using local control data; and wherein the control device (20) is further designed to output the first data of the adjustment command for the brake actuator (30) if the deviation between the first data and the second data for the adjustment command is below a predetermined threshold.

5. The control device (20) according to claim 4, wherein the processing device is designed to monitor the communication connection between the radio interface (22) and the remote processing device (100); and if a fault in the communication connection between the radio interface (22) and the remote processing device (100) has been detected, then output the second data of the adjustment command for the brake actuator (30).

6. The control device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the processing device (21) is designed to determine the signal duration between the radio interface (22) and the remote processing device (100), and to determine a control command for the brake actuator (30) using the determined signal duration.

7. The control device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processing device (21) is designed to monitor the local determination of the adjustment command for the brake actuator (30); and if a malfunction has been detected in the local determination, then determine control data of an adjustment command for the brake actuator using the control data from the radio interface (22).

8. A system for controlling a braking system in a motor vehicle, comprising: A control device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the control device being arranged in the motor vehicle; and A processing device (100) remote from the motor vehicle, the processing device being designed to receive data from a radio interface (22) of the control device (20) in the motor vehicle, generate control data using the received data, and send the generated control data to the radio interface (22) of the control device (20) in the motor vehicle.

9. A method for controlling a braking system in a motor vehicle, having the following steps: Receiving (S1) control data for a braking process from a remote processing device (100) via a wireless communication connection; Receiving (S2) data from a local setpoint generator (10); Determining (S3) an adjustment command for a brake actuator (30) using the data received from the setpoint generator (10) and the control data from the remote processing device (100); and Outputting (S4) the determined adjustment command to the brake actuator (30).

10. The method according to claim 9, having a step of wirelessly transmitting user-specific data, operating data of the braking system, and / or environmental data to the remote processing device (100).

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