Control system, control device and method for providing a control and / or regulation signal

Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated circuit (1000) for providing a control system (10) for providing control and / or regulation signals. The integrated circuit (1000) includes a system bus (14) having a system controller (16) configured to perform system functions (18) of the control system (10). The control system is characterized in that the control system (10) also has a measurement bus (20) having at least one measurement controller (22) configured to perform a measurement function for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or an output function for outputting the measurement data. The output function is used for adjusting and / or outputting a control and / or regulation signal. Furthermore, the control system (10) has a bus interface (24), which is configured to provide a communication connection (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Provided are a control system, a control device, the use of a RISC processor as a measurement controller in a control system, and a method for providing a control and / or regulation signal. Therefore, these embodiments are particularly suitable for use in the field of control systems and control devices, in particular in the automotive field. Background Art

[0002] Control systems can include complex, integrated measurement systems for acquiring measurement signals and generating output data. Processing and control of the measurement components are typically performed by a microcontroller. In addition to processing the measurement data and controlling the measurement components, the microcontroller is often responsible for controlling control system functions. The large number of functions a microcontroller must perform often results in a loss of speed and makes it difficult to ensure functional safety. Consequently, conventional microcontrollers often reach their limits when performing measurement and control functions beyond system control. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Against the background of the prior art, the present disclosure aims to provide an improved operating unit suitable for improving the prior art. A specific embodiment of the present disclosure can solve the problems of simplifying the guarantee of functional safety and improving the speed of the control system.

[0004] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. The dependent claims contain optional further developments of the invention.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure includes an integrated circuit for providing a control system for providing control and / or regulation signals. The integrated circuit includes a system bus having a system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to perform system functions of the control system. The integrated circuit also includes a measurement bus having at least one measurement controller, wherein the at least one measurement controller is configured to perform a measurement function for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and an output function for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals. Furthermore, the integrated circuit includes a bus interface configured to provide a communication connection between the system bus and the measurement bus.

[0006] In another aspect, a control system is provided that is configured to provide control and / or regulation signals. The control system includes a system bus having a system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to perform system functions of the control system. The control system is characterized in that the control system also includes a measurement bus having at least one measurement controller, wherein the at least one measurement controller is configured to perform a measurement function and / or an output function, wherein the measurement function is for collecting and / or processing measurement data, and the output function is for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals, wherein the measurement controller is designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and is configured such that the measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller can be fully simulated. In addition, the control system includes a bus interface that is configured to provide a communication connection between the system bus and the measurement bus.

[0007] In another aspect, there is provided use of a RISC processor as a measurement controller in a control system.

[0008] In another aspect, a control device for a motor vehicle is provided, the control device including a control system according to the present disclosure.

[0009] In another aspect, a method for providing control and / or regulation signals is provided. The method includes providing a system bus having a system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to perform system functions of the control system. The method also includes providing a measurement bus having at least one measurement controller, wherein the at least one measurement controller is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data, wherein the measurement controller is designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and is configured such that measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller can be fully simulated. Furthermore, the method includes sending a command for performing the measurement function from the system controller to the measurement controller via a bus interface, wherein the bus interface provides a communication connection between the system bus and the measurement bus. Furthermore, the method includes performing the measurement function by the measurement controller and preventing the system controller from accessing the measurement controller while the measurement controller is performing the measurement function, and providing output data generated during the execution of the measurement function, wherein the output data is provided to the system controller via the bus interface.

[0010] A control system is a system used to control and / or regulate related systems or control loops. A control system may include several components, such as a system controller and one or more measurement controllers. These components may be arranged as a single unit and optionally housed together on a circuit board and / or within a housing. Alternatively, the components of a control system may exist independently of one another.

[0011] Control and / or regulation signals are those signals provided by the control system for controlling connected measuring parts and / or for controlling control loops. Control and / or regulation can include the acquisition of measurement signals, the processing of measurement signals and the control of the measuring parts.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, the term "bus" should be understood as the commonly used abbreviation of the English term "binary unit system". Therefore, a bus is a system for transmitting data between multiple participants via a common transmission path. Therefore, a "system bus" is understood to be a system for transmitting data between multiple participants that at least partially participate in the execution of system functions. The system controller is one of the participants of the system bus. The measurement bus is a system for transmitting data between several participants that at least partially participate in the execution of measurement functions and / or output functions. The measurement controller is one of the participants of the measurement bus. The system bus and the measurement bus are designed separately from each other, that is, each is an independent bus. The system bus and the measurement bus are connected to each other via a bus interface, so that communication can occur between the participants of the system bus and the measurement bus. The communication and / or exchange of data can be limited to specific types of data and / or information, specific information flow directions, specific participants and / or specific time periods.

[0013] System functions are functions used to control a control system. Therefore, they may form part of the control system's operating system and serve the basic functions of the system. An operating system may include several system functions that, together with the control system's hardware characteristics, form the basis for the control system's operation, particularly the processing of control and monitoring programs and more specific functions. System functions are executed by a system controller, which may include or be designed as a microcontroller.

[0014] A measurement function is a function for performing a predetermined measurement. Individual or different measurement functions may involve the acquisition and / or processing of measurement data. A measurement function is performed by a measurement controller. A measurement controller may be designed to perform one or more measurement functions. Acquiring measurement data may include reading sensor data from one or more sensors participating in a measurement bus. Processing measurement data may include improving the quality of the measurement data, for example, by filtering and / or amplifying the measurement data and / or applying noise suppression.

[0015] An output function is a function for adjusting a control and / or regulating signal and / or outputting the control and / or regulating signal, for example, to a control loop and / or an actuator. A measurement controller can be designed to perform one or more output functions and, optionally, one or more measurement functions. Adjusting a control and / or regulating signal can include modifying a predefined control and / or regulating signal, for example, based on instructions provided by a system controller and / or based on information determined by the measurement controller itself or another measurement controller. Outputting a control and / or regulating signal can generally mean providing the control and / or regulating signal to an actuator, a measurement component, or a control loop.

[0016] An integrated circuit may refer to an electronic component in which all of the components of the integrated circuit are integrated. The integrated circuit may optionally be provided in monolithic form and / or arranged on a common board. The integrated circuit may optionally provide a control system as a "system on a chip," i.e., a control system in which all relevant components are in the form of an electronic chip, and optionally a semiconductor chip.

[0017] The fact that at least one measurement controller can be designed as a finite state machine means that the at least one measurement controller can only be in one of a finite number of possible states. The fact that the finite state machine can be a deterministic finite state machine means that the finite state machine changes from one state to another in a deterministic manner, i.e. in a predetermined manner, wherein the predetermined manner can depend on the initial state and the inputs provided to the finite state machine. The fact that the finite state machine is programmable means that a program sequence executed by the finite state machine can be specified and / or changed by programming, which program sequence determines, for example, the deterministic manner in which the finite state machine changes to another state depending on the initial state and the inputs provided. Designing at least one measurement controller as a deterministic programmable finite state machine can provide the advantage that the measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller can be fully simulated.

[0018] The present disclosure offers the advantage of flexible, fast, and easy control system design, as components suitable for the respective application can be assembled in a modular fashion. For example, depending on the intended functionality, one or more measurement controllers can be combined with a system controller. Since measurement tasks are performed by one or more corresponding measurement controllers, the system controller can primarily perform system functions without having to allocate a large portion of its computing power to measurement functions.

[0019] Furthermore, the present disclosure offers the advantage that the measurement controller can be programmed and optimized independently of the system controller, and vice versa. Alternatively, the system controller can be used across various control systems, and one or more different measurement controllers can be added to the control system depending on its intended use. Furthermore, this offers the advantage that the system controller can be adapted or programmed to suit specific customer requirements, for example by the manufacturer or the customer, while the measurement controller for hardware-related tasks such as measurement value acquisition can be provided in a manner that cannot be modified by the customer.

[0020] The present disclosure also offers the advantage that the measurement controller and the system controller can each be provided as self-contained systems, which can correspondingly simplify the validation of the control system with respect to functional safety. In particular, the bus interface allows for a clear separation of the system bus and the measurement bus. This allows for the hardware-related measurement signal acquisition and processing to be separated from the control on the one hand, and from the higher-level system functions performed by the system controller on the other hand, which is beneficial for functional safety.

[0021] The measurement controller, or optionally multiple measurement controllers, may each have one or more RISC processors. The one or more RISC processors may represent the measurement controller's sole arithmetic logic unit (ALU), or, if multiple RISC processors are present, they may represent the measurement controller's only ALU. "RISC" stands for "reduced instruction set computer" and means that a RISC processor may have a reduced or even minimized instruction set compared to a system processor designed as a microcontroller. Due to the reduced or even minimized instruction set and low logic depth, the RISC processor must examine fewer possible alternatives when executing a function, and thus the time required is also reduced accordingly. Consequently, RISC processors can offer the advantage of providing high computing power in a short period of time. Furthermore, RISC processors can consume less power than microcontrollers, which have higher logic depth and more detailed instruction sets than RISC processors. Given their low complexity, measurement controllers are often referred to as "nanocontrollers" rather than microcontrollers.

[0022] Traditionally, RISC processors are used to achieve either exceptionally fast processors or processors with exceptionally low power consumption. Furthermore, RISC processors are not traditionally used in control systems; instead, to conserve hardware components, both system functions and measurement functions are performed by a system controller, which can be designed as a microcontroller, for example. According to the present disclosure, a RISC processor can be used as a measurement controller and integrated into the measurement bus to perform small, compact functions related to outputting measurement data and control and regulation signals. This provides significant flexibility in the modular design of measurement systems and can provide module-based protection for functional safety.

[0023] The measurement controller can be operated using a predefined program code. For this purpose, the measurement controller can have a ROM memory, wherein the predefined program code can be provided in the ROM memory. Alternatively, the ROM memory can be in wired form.

[0024] This offers the advantage that the program code provided in the ROM memory cannot be manipulated or altered, so that the functions and program code can only be changed within the context of hardware modifications. This offers the advantage that a high level of protection of functional safety can be achieved; in particular, accidental or unauthorized changes to the program code provided to the measurement controller by unauthorized persons can be prevented or made more difficult.

[0025] The measurement controller can optionally be designed as a finite state machine. The measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller can be fully simulated. This can provide the following advantage: the measurement controller can each be regarded as a finite state machine within the framework of functional safety, in particular when a predefined program code is provided in a ROM memory and the functions of the measurement controller can be fully simulated. Therefore, within the framework of functional safety, the workload required for testing and / or verifying the functions of the measurement controller can be reduced or even minimized. In addition, this can provide the following advantage: the functions of the measurement controller can optionally be fully mapped in the simulation, so that the testing and / or verification workload can be further reduced. Therefore, the measurement controller can be fully simulated in the form of a finite state machine and its compliance with safety rules can be checked using rule-based verification. This provides significant advantages compared to more complex processors (such as microcontrollers), in which simulation and rule-based verification are generally not possible due to the large number of possible states.

[0026] The measurement controller can be configured to execute each measurement function or output function executable by the measurement controller from an initial state within a predetermined finite period, and to return to the initial state after the predetermined finite period has expired. This can be advantageous in terms of functional safety, as the measurement controller is regularly reset and malfunctions of the measurement controller due to prolonged pauses in operation can be avoided. The duration of the predetermined finite period can be, for example, 50 μs or less, and optionally 20 μs or less. This ensures that the measurement controller functionality is restored at the latest after the finite period has expired.

[0027] The measurement controller can optionally be configured to execute a maximum of 32 or even only 16 different commands. This enables a particularly efficient use of a RISC processor for implementing the measurement controller, thereby also allowing a particularly efficient verification of functional safety.

[0028] The measurement controller may further include a RAM memory and be configured to store output data generated when performing the measurement function in the RAM memory. The RAM memory may optionally be used only for storage, in particular temporary storage, of measurement data or output data to be transmitted to the system controller via the bus interface. Therefore, specifically, the RAM memory may represent a portion of the interface from the measurement bus to the system bus and provide a suitable platform for data exchange between the measurement bus and the system bus. Therefore, the control system may be configured so that the system controller can access the RAM memory of the measurement controller via the bus interface and read output data from the RAM memory of the measurement controller. In addition, the system controller may also have a RAM memory, wherein the control system may be configured to store output data in the RAM memory of the system controller via the bus interface.

[0029] Alternatively, predefined program codes can be provided in a RAM memory, and the measurement controller can operate in a test mode using the predefined program codes stored in the RAM memory. For example, the RAM memory can be designed as a flash memory in the measurement controller. This provides the following possibility: the predefined program codes are provided in an alterable form during the test operation, for example, in order to test adjustments and / or changes to the predefined program codes during the test operation, without having to provide a new ROM memory for each change. However, for functional operations, i.e., expected operations during regular use of the control system, it may be necessary to provide predefined program codes in a ROM memory, and it is necessary for the measurement controller to operate in functional operations exclusively through the predefined program codes stored in the ROM memory. This can prevent the manipulation of the predefined program codes or make the manipulation of the predefined program codes more difficult.

[0030] The measurement and / or output functions that can be executed by the measurement controller can optionally be included in safety-related applications within the framework of functional safety. This allows for separate verification of the measurement controller and the applications executed by it, without having to include more complex components, such as a system controller designed as a microcontroller.

[0031] The control system can be configured to prevent the system controller from accessing the measurement controller during the execution of measurement and / or output functions by the measurement controller. This allows for the avoidance of interference and / or other influences that could affect the operation of the measurement controller during the execution of the measurement and / or output functions, thereby improving functional safety. In particular, this prevents unintended manipulation of the functions of the measurement controller by intervention by the system controller.

[0032] The control system can be configured to provide a clock signal and synchronize the system controller and the at least one measurement controller with the clock signal. This can provide the advantage that the system controller and the at least one measurement controller are operable in the same clock domain. This in turn can provide the advantage that the operation of the system controller and the at least one measurement controller can be synchronized. This in turn can facilitate the temporal coordination and / or distribution of the working processes and / or working results of the system controller and the at least one measurement controller. The clock signal can optionally be provided by a clock generator of the control system.

[0033] The control system can be configured such that at least one measurement controller can operate independently of the system controller and / or the system controller can operate independently of at least one measurement controller. This can provide the advantage that any undesirable influence of the system controller on the operation of the measurement controller, or vice versa, can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, this can provide the advantage that the measurement controller can be designed separately from the system controller as a self-contained component or system, and can optionally be designed to be fully simulated, without their operation being dependent on the functionality of the system controller.

[0034] The system controller, at least one measurement controller, and the bus interface can optionally be integrated into an integrated circuit. Alternatively, all components of the control system can be integrated into an integrated circuit. This can provide the advantage of providing the control system as a system-on-a-chip. This can provide the advantage of providing the control system as a single component and, if desired, optionally mounting it as a unit on a circuit board and / or other electrical system.

[0035] The control system may further include a RAM memory, wherein the control system may be configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller when performing measurement functions in the RAM memory, and to access and read the output data from the RAM memory via the system controller. The RAM memory may be integrated with other components of the control system into an integrated circuit. The RAM memory may form part of the system controller, or part of the measurement controller, or may be formed separately from the system controller and the at least one measurement controller.

[0036] The integrated circuit may be designed such that the measurement controller is designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and configured such that the measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller can be fully simulated.

[0037] The integrated circuit may further include a RAM memory and may be configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller when performing a measurement function in the RAM memory, and to access the RAM memory through the system controller and read the output data from the RAM memory. The RAM memory may optionally be designed to be separate from the system controller and separate from the at least one measurement controller.

[0038] The integrated circuit may further include a clock generator for providing a clock signal, wherein the integrated circuit may be configured to synchronize the system controller and the at least one measurement controller via the clock signal. This may provide the advantage that the system controller and the at least one measurement controller are operable in the same clock domain. This in turn may provide the advantage that the operation of the system controller and the operation of the at least one measurement controller may be synchronized. This in turn may provide the advantage that the time coordination and / or distribution of the working processes and / or working results of the system controller and the at least one measurement controller may be facilitated.

[0039] The integrated circuit can be configured such that the at least one measurement controller can operate independently of the system controller and / or the system controller can operate independently of the at least one measurement controller. This can provide the advantage that any undesirable influence of the system controller on the operation of the measurement controller, or vice versa, can be reduced or avoided. Furthermore, this can provide the advantage that the measurement controller can be designed separately from the system controller as a self-contained component or system, and can optionally be designed to be fully simulated, without their operation being dependent on the functionality of the system controller.

[0040] All disclosures relating to the control system should also be considered as disclosures relating to the integrated circuit and method, and vice versa.

[0041] Furthermore, a control device for a motor vehicle is provided. The control device may include a control system according to the present disclosure. Features disclosed for the control system are also considered to be features disclosed for the control device.

[0042] The features and embodiments mentioned above and explained below are to be regarded as disclosed not only in the respectively explicitly mentioned combination, but also encompassed by the disclosure in other technically meaningful combinations and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further details and advantages will now be explained in more detail using the following examples and alternative embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] In the attached figure:

[0045] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a control system according to a first alternative embodiment;

[0046] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a measurement controller according to an optional embodiment;

[0047] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a control system according to another optional embodiment;

[0048] Figure 4 A control device according to an alternative embodiment is shown;

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating a method of providing a control and / or regulation signal; and

[0050] Figure 6 An integrated circuit according to an alternative embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] In the following drawings, the same or similar elements in various embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals for the sake of brevity.

[0052] Figure 1A schematic diagram of a control system 10 according to an alternative embodiment is shown, which is configured to provide control and / or regulation signals for controlling a control portion 12. The control system 10 includes a system bus 14 having a system controller 16, wherein the system controller 16 is configured to perform a system function 18 of the control system 10. The control system 10 is characterized in that it also includes a measurement bus 20 having at least one measurement controller 22, wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform a measurement function for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and an output function for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals. According to the embodiment shown, the control system 10 has three measurement controllers 22 in the measurement bus 20. In addition, the control system 10 has a bus interface 24, which is configured to provide a communication connection 26 between the system bus 14 and the measurement bus 20.

[0053] The system controller 16 may include a microcontroller 28 or be designed as a microcontroller 28. The system controller may also be configured to enable communication 19 between other components that are not part of the measuring system 10 and the measuring system 10.

[0054] The control portion 12 may be an analog system. Thus, the control system may further include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 30 at the input of the measurement bus 20 and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 32 at the output of the measurement bus 20. The control system 10 may be configured such that the measurement controller 22 disposed directly after the ADC has exclusive access to the output of the ADC 30 and / or the measurement controller 22 disposed directly before the DAC 32 has exclusive access to the data input into the DAC 32.

[0055] Figure 2A schematic diagram of a measurement controller 22 according to an alternative embodiment is shown. The measurement controller 22 has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 34, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a RISC processor 36. The RISC processor 36 represents the only ALU 34 of the measurement controller 22. In addition, the measurement controller 22 may have a ROM memory 38 and a RAM memory 40 connected to the ALU 34. The ALU 34, and thus the RISC processor 36 and the measurement controller 22, operate using predefined program code, wherein the predefined program code is provided in the ROM memory 38. In other words, the ALU 34 can operate solely using the predefined program code provided in the ROM memory 38. By using the RISC processor 36, the complexity of the measurement controller 22 can be kept low. Due to its low complexity, the measurement controller 22 can often be referred to as a "nanocontroller" compared to the microcontroller 28. This also ensures that the measurement controller 22 can only execute those commands and functions required for its intended task. The measurement controller 22 can alternatively be designed as a finite state machine. This may provide the advantage that measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller 22 can be fully simulated, thereby facilitating the verification of the functionality of the measurement controller 22 with regard to functional safety.

[0056] The measurement controller 22 can be configured to execute each measurement function or output function executable by the measurement controller 22 from an initial state within a predetermined finite period, and to return to the initial state after the predetermined finite period expires. The predetermined finite period may have a duration of 50 μs or less. Furthermore, the measurement controller 22 can be configured to execute up to 32 different commands, thereby facilitating verification of the measurement controller 22 with respect to functional safety.

[0057] The measurement controller 22 may also include a RAM memory 40 and be configured to store output data generated when performing measurement functions in the RAM memory 40. Thus, the control system may be configured such that the system controller 16, via the bus interface 24, can access the RAM memory 40 of the measurement controller 22 and read the output data from the RAM memory of the measurement controller. Furthermore, the system controller 16 may also have a RAM memory, wherein the control system 10 may be configured to store the output data in the RAM memory of the system controller 16 via the bus interface 24. Furthermore, the measurement controller 22 may have a connection 42 to the bus interface 24.

[0058] Alternatively, a predefined program code can be provided in the RAM memory 40 so that the measurement controller 22 can operate in a test mode using the predefined program code stored in the RAM memory 40. This can be advantageous for testing modified program codes in test mode without having to provide a modified ROM memory 38 for each change. In addition, however, a predefined program code can be provided in the ROM memory 38 so that the measurement controller 22 can be operated in a functional mode exclusively by means of the predefined program code stored in the ROM memory 38. This may be advantageous or necessary with respect to functional safety. The measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller 22 may include safety-related applications within the framework of functional safety. The control system 10 can be configured to prevent the system controller 16 from accessing the measurement controller 22 during the execution of the measurement functions and / or output functions by the measurement controller 22.

[0059] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a control system 10 according to another alternative embodiment is shown for controlling and / or regulating a control section 12 using an analog system. The control system 10 has a system bus 14 and a measurement bus 20. On the input side of the measurement bus 20 there is a front end 44, an ADC 30 and a control unit 46 of the ADC 30. In addition, the measurement bus 20 contains two measurement controllers 22 designed as nanocontrollers, as described above with reference to FIG. Figure 2 On the output side, the measurement bus 20 includes a control unit 48 for the DAC 32, the DAC 32 and a driver 50 for the control section 12. The system bus 14 includes a system controller 16, which is designed as a microcontroller 28, and registers 52, which provide the system controller 16 with data for particularly fast access.

[0060] The system controller 16 can have its own ROM memory, RAM memory and / or flash memory. The system controller 16 can obtain measurement data collected and optionally processed and / or analyzed by one or more measurement controllers 22 through the bus interface 24 and use them to control the system. For example, one of the measurement controllers 22 can be responsible for collecting measurement values ​​or measurement data, while the other measurement controllers 22 are responsible for processing the measurement values ​​or measurement data and controlling the DAC. Therefore, the system controller 16 is decoupled from the components of the measurement bus not only in terms of development but also in terms of the bus. The measurement controllers 22 can be designed in the same or different ways and can be suitable for their respective functions or tasks. For example, different measurement controllers can be provided for data acquisition, processing and control. In addition, this can provide the following advantages: the measurement system (i.e., the components of the measurement bus in the control system) can be designed to be programmable while maintaining the same front end. For example, reprogramming can be completed by replacing the ROM memory, thereby adjusting the predefined program code of the measurement controller.

[0061] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a control device 54 according to an alternative embodiment for a motor vehicle is shown. The control device 54 includes a control system 10 according to the present disclosure.

[0062] refer to Figure 5 , a method 500 for providing a control and / or regulating signal is explained below.

[0063] The method 500 includes providing the system bus 14 with a system controller 16 at step 502 , wherein the system controller 16 is configured to execute the system function 18 of the control system 10 .

[0064] In step 504 , the method 500 includes providing the measurement bus 20 with at least one measurement controller 22 , wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data.

[0065] At step 506 , the method 500 includes sending a command to perform the measurement function from the system controller 16 to the measurement controller 22 via the bus interface 24 , thereby providing the communication connection 26 between the system bus 14 and the measurement bus 20 .

[0066] At step 508 , the method 500 includes executing the measurement function by the measurement controller 22 and preventing the system controller 16 from accessing the measurement controller 22 while the measurement function is executed by the measurement controller 22 .

[0067] At step 510 , the method 500 includes providing output data generated during execution 508 of the measurement function, wherein the output data is provided to the system controller 16 via the bus interface 24 .

[0068] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of an integrated circuit 1000 for providing a control system 10 for providing control and / or regulation signals is shown according to an alternative embodiment. The integrated circuit 1000 includes a system bus 14 having a system controller 16, wherein the system controller 14 is configured to perform system functions 18 of the control system 10 (see Figure 1 Integrated circuit 1000 also includes a measurement bus 20 having at least one measurement controller 22, wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform a measurement function for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or an output function for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals. Furthermore, integrated circuit 1000 includes a bus interface 24 configured to provide a communication connection 26 between system bus 14 and measurement bus 20.

[0069] The measurement controller 22 may be designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and configured such that measurement functions and / or output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller 22 can be fully simulated.

[0070] The integrated circuit may further include a RAM memory 40 , wherein the integrated circuit 1000 is configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller 22 during execution of a measurement function in the RAM memory 40 , and to access the RAM memory 40 and read the output data from the RAM memory 40 through the system controller 16 .

[0071] The integrated circuit 1000 may further include a clock generator 1002 for providing a clock signal, wherein the integrated circuit may be configured to synchronize the system controller 16 and the at least one measurement controller 22 via the clock signal.

[0072] The integrated circuit may be configured to enable the at least one measurement controller 22 to operate independently of the system controller 16 and / or the system controller 16 to operate independently of the at least one measurement controller 22 .

[0073] Reference Signs List

[0074] 10 Control System

[0075] 12 Control section

[0076] 14 System Bus

[0077] 16 System Controller

[0078] 18 System Functions

[0079] 19 Communication

[0080] 20 Measurement bus

[0081] 22 Measurement Controller

[0082] 24 bus interface

[0083] 26 Communication Connections

[0084] 28 microcontrollers

[0085] 30 Analog-to-digital converters

[0086] 32 Digital-to-Analog Converters

[0087] 34 Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

[0088] 36 RISC processor

[0089] 38 ROM memory

[0090] 40 RAM memory

[0091] 42 Connection to bus interface

[0092] 44 Front End

[0093] 46 ADC control unit

[0094] 48 DAC control unit

[0095] 50 Drive

[0096] 52 registers

[0097] 54 Control Device

[0098] 500 Method for providing control and / or regulation signals

[0099] 502-510 Methods and Steps

[0100] 1000 integrated circuits

[0101] 1002 Clock Generator

Claims

1. An integrated circuit (1000) for providing a control system (10) for providing control and / or regulation signals, the integrated circuit comprising: a system bus (14) having a system controller (16), wherein the system controller (16) is configured to perform system functions (18) of the control system (10); Characterized in that the integrated circuit (1000) further comprises: a measurement bus (20) having at least one measurement controller (22) configured to perform a measurement function for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or an output function for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulating signals; and A bus interface (24) configured to provide a communication connection (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20).

2. The integrated circuit (1000) according to claim 1, wherein the measurement controller (22) is designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and is configured such that the measurement functions and / or the output functions that can be performed by the measurement controller (22) can be fully simulated.

3. The integrated circuit (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a RAM memory (40), wherein the integrated circuit (1000) is configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller (22) during execution of the measurement function in the RAM memory (40), and to access the RAM memory (40) and read the output data from the RAM memory (40) through the system controller (16).

4. The integrated circuit (1000) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a clock generator (1002) for providing a clock signal, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to synchronize the system controller (16) and the at least one measurement controller (22) by means of the clock signal.

5. An integrated circuit (1000) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the integrated circuit is configured such that the at least one measurement controller (22) can operate independently of the system controller (16) and / or the system controller (16) can operate independently of the at least one measurement controller (22).

6. A control system (10), the control system (10) being configured to provide control and / or regulation signals, the control system (10) comprising: a system bus (14) having a system controller (16), wherein the system controller (14) is configured to perform system functions (18) of the control system (10); Characterized in that the control system (10) further comprises: a measurement bus (20) having at least one measurement controller (22), the at least one measurement controller (22) being configured to execute measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or output functions for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals, the measurement controller (22) being designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and being configured such that the measurement functions and / or the output functions that can be executed by the measurement controller (22) can be fully simulated; and A bus interface (24) configured to provide a communication connection (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20).

7. The control system (10) according to claim 6, wherein the system controller (16) comprises a microcontroller (28) or is designed as a microcontroller (28).

8. The control system (10) of claim 6 or 7, wherein the measurement controller (22) comprises a RISC processor (36).

9. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the measurement controller (22) is operable by using a predefined program code.

10. The control system (10) according to claim 9, wherein the measurement controller (22) has a ROM memory (38), and wherein the predefined program code is provided in the ROM memory (38).

11. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the measurement controller (22) is configured to execute each measurement function or output function that can be executed by the measurement controller (22) from an initial state within a predetermined finite period and to return to the initial state after expiration of the predetermined finite period.

12. The control system (10) of claim 11, wherein the duration of the predetermined finite period is 50 μs or less.

13. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the measurement controller (22) is configured to execute a maximum of 32 different commands.

14. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the measurement controller (22) further comprises a RAM memory (40) and is configured to store output data generated when performing the measurement function in the RAM memory (40).

15. The control system (10) of claim 14, wherein the control system (10) is configured to enable the system controller (16) to access the RAM memory (40) of the measurement controller (22) through the bus interface (24) and to read the output data from the RAM memory (40) of the measurement controller (22).

16. The control system (10) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the system controller (16) has a RAM memory, and wherein the control system (10) is configured to store the output data in the RAM memory of the system controller (16) via the bus interface (24).

17. A control system (10) according to claim 9 or any one of claims 10 to 16 when dependent on claim 9, wherein - providing the predefined program code in the RAM memory (40), and the measurement controller (22) being operable in a test mode using the predefined program code stored in the RAM memory (40); and - providing the predefined program code in the ROM memory (38) such that the measurement controller (22) can operate in a functional mode exclusively by means of the predefined program code stored in the ROM memory (38).

18. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 17, wherein the measurement functions and / or the output functions executable by the measurement controller (22) include safety-related applications within the framework of the functional safety.

19. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 18, wherein the control system (10) is configured to prevent the system controller (16) from accessing the measurement controller (22) during the period when the measurement controller (22) is performing the measurement function and / or the output function.

20. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 19, wherein the control system (10) is configured to provide a clock signal and to synchronize the system controller (16) and the at least one measurement controller (22) with the clock signal.

21. A control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 20, wherein the control system is configured so that the at least one measurement controller (22) can operate independently of the system controller (16) and / or the system controller (16) can operate independently of the at least one measurement controller (22).

22. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 21, wherein the system controller (16), the at least one measurement controller (22) and the bus interface (24) are integrated into an integrated circuit.

23. The control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 22, further comprising a RAM memory (40), wherein the control system is configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller (22) during the execution of the measurement function in the RAM memory (40), and to access the RAM memory (40) and read the output data from the RAM memory (40) through the system controller (16).

24. Use of a RISC processor (36) as a measurement controller (22) in a control system (10).

25. The use according to claim 24, wherein the measurement controller (22) is operable by means of a predefined program code provided in a ROM memory (38), and wherein the measurement controller (22) is operable as a finite state machine by means of the predefined program code.

26. A control device (54) for a motor vehicle, comprising a control system (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 23.

27. A method (500) for providing a control and / or regulation signal, the method comprising: - providing (502) a system bus (14) having a system controller (16), wherein the system controller (16) is configured to perform a system function (18) of the control system (10); - providing (504) a measurement bus (20) having at least one measurement controller (22), the at least one measurement controller (22) being configured to execute measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data, the measurement controller (22) being designed as a deterministic programmable finite state machine and being configured such that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller (22) can be fully simulated; - sending (506) a command for executing the measurement function from the system controller (16) to the measurement controller (22) via a bus interface (24), thereby providing a communication connection (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20); - performing (508) the measurement function by the measurement controller (22) and preventing the system controller (16) from accessing the measurement controller (22) during the performance of the measurement function by the measurement controller (22); and - providing (510) output data generated during the performance of the measurement function, wherein the output data is provided to the system controller (16) via the bus interface (24).

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