Vehicle load power distribution control method and device and computer program product

Abstract

The invention discloses a vehicle load power distribution control method and device and a computer program product, and the method comprises the steps: automatically closing a power distribution port of a power distribution unit of a load when a fault of the load of a vehicle is monitored; identifying whether a state jump triggered based on the operation of the driver exists on the vehicle bus communication network; and when the state jump is identified, sending a power-on request to a power distribution unit of the load so as to recover power distribution of the load. According to the invention, the abnormal turn-off power distribution function is recovered in unconscious usual operation of a customer in the driving process, so that the recovery process is non-sensitive, and the bad experience of the customer is greatly reduced. According to the method, fault recovery can be carried out under the condition of no parking, the driving safety and convenience are remarkably improved, and smoother and more secure driving experience is provided for a driver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive electronics technology, specifically to a vehicle load power distribution control method, device, and computer program product. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of intelligent power distribution technology in automobiles, power semiconductor devices such as HSD (High-Side Driver) and MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) have gradually replaced traditional fuses for power distribution control of vehicle load subsystems. These devices are widely used in modern automotive electronic systems due to their fast response speed and high control precision.

[0003] However, during vehicle operation, the load subsystem may encounter occasional abnormal high current surges or short circuits, which could cause the power semiconductor devices in the smart power distribution port to shut down, thus affecting the normal operation of vehicle functions. For example, a power outage in the headlights could affect nighttime driving safety. Currently available smart power distribution units typically require the vehicle to be stopped and powered on and off to clear fault codes and restore power when faced with such problems. This process not only inconveniences users but may also compromise driving safety to some extent.

[0004] While some vehicle models employ software restart strategies, which use an automatic retry mechanism at certain time intervals after a power device is hard-shut down to achieve automatic hardware restart, this method has limitations. Software restart logic is fixed and may not be adaptable to all hardware restart scenarios, especially when abnormal current surges exhibit significant variability. In such cases, a fixed restart strategy may fail to restart the hardware, leading to functional failure.

[0005] Therefore, existing technologies have significant shortcomings in dealing with the hardware shutdown problem of power semiconductor devices in intelligent power distribution units caused by abnormal current surges. A more flexible and reliable solution is urgently needed to improve user experience and ensure driving safety. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a vehicle load power distribution control method, device and computer program product to achieve fast, safe and reliable automatic power restoration of the load.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a vehicle load power distribution control method, comprising the following steps:

[0008] When a fault is detected in a load of the vehicle, the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of that load is automatically shut down;

[0009] Identify whether there are state transitions triggered by driver actions on the vehicle bus communication network;

[0010] Upon detecting the state transition, a power-on request is sent to the power distribution unit of the load to restore the load power distribution.

[0011] Preferably, identifying whether there is a state transition triggered by the driver's operation on the vehicle bus communication network specifically involves:

[0012] Monitor whether any of the brake pedal status signal value, accelerator pedal status signal value, or turn signal value on the vehicle bus communication network changes; a change in the brake pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is decelerating, a change in the accelerator pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is accelerating, and a change in the turn signal value indicates that the driver is changing lanes.

[0013] Preferably, the step of sending a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load when the state transition is detected, in order to restore the power distribution to the load, specifically includes:

[0014] Upon detecting the state transition, the logic unit sends a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load;

[0015] After receiving a power-on request, the power distribution unit reopens the power semiconductor devices at the power distribution port of the load, thereby completing the power distribution restoration process.

[0016] Preferably, if the power semiconductor device at the power distribution port of the load is reopened, and then the power distribution port is closed again, the method further includes:

[0017] The power distribution restoration process is executed n times in a loop.

[0018] If the power distribution port still fails to open successfully after executing the power distribution restoration procedure n times, the procedure is terminated.

[0019] Preferably, automatically shutting down the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of the load when a fault is detected in a vehicle load specifically includes:

[0020] If the abnormal current generated by the load exceeds the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the power semiconductor device is directly shut down and a fault signal is sent to the logic operation unit, which records the fault signal.

[0021] If the abnormal current value generated by the load does not exceed the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the power distribution unit of the load sends a fault signal and the abnormal current value of the load to the logic operation unit; when the logic operation unit determines that the abnormal current value exceeds the value set by the software logic arbitration, it sends a power-down request signal to the power distribution unit of the load, and the power distribution unit of the load shuts down the power distribution port of the load according to the power-down request signal.

[0022] The present invention also provides a vehicle load power distribution control device, comprising:

[0023] The shutdown unit is used to automatically shut down the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of the load when a fault is detected in a load of the vehicle.

[0024] The identification unit is used to identify whether there is a state transition triggered by the driver's operation on the vehicle bus communication network;

[0025] The logic operation unit is used to send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load when the state transition is detected, so as to restore the power distribution of the load.

[0026] Preferably, the identification unit is specifically used to: monitor whether any one of the brake pedal status signal value, accelerator pedal signal value, and turn signal value on the vehicle bus communication network changes; a change in the brake pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is decelerating, a change in the accelerator pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is accelerating, and a change in the turn signal value indicates that the driver is changing lanes.

[0027] Preferably, the logic operation unit is specifically used to: when the identification unit detects the state transition, send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load, and control the power distribution unit to reopen the power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load according to the power-on request, thereby completing the power distribution restoration process.

[0028] Preferably, if the power semiconductor device at the power distribution port of the load is reopened, and then the power distribution port is closed again, the control module is further configured to:

[0029] The power distribution restoration process is executed n times in a loop.

[0030] If the power distribution port still fails to open successfully after executing the power distribution restoration procedure n times, the procedure is terminated.

[0031] Preferably, if the abnormal current value generated by the load exceeds the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the shutdown unit is specifically used to: directly shut down the power semiconductor device and send a fault signal to the logic operation unit, and the logic operation unit records the fault signal.

[0032] If the abnormal current value generated by the load does not exceed the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the power distribution unit of the load sends a fault signal and the abnormal current value of the load to the logic operation unit; the logic operation unit is used to send a power-down request signal to the power distribution unit of the load when it determines that the abnormal current value exceeds the value set by the software logic arbitration, and control the power distribution unit of the load to shut down the power distribution port of the load according to the power-down request signal.

[0033] The present invention also provides a vehicle load power distribution control device, comprising:

[0034] One or more processors;

[0035] Memory;

[0036] One or more applications, wherein the one or more applications are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the one or more applications are configured to perform the vehicle load distribution control method.

[0037] The present invention also provides a computer program product, including computer instructions that instruct a computer device to perform an operation corresponding to the method.

[0038] Implementing this invention offers the following advantages: By enabling customers to unconsciously restore abnormally shut-off power distribution functions during driving, the restoration process is seamless, significantly reducing negative customer experiences. This invention also allows for fault recovery without stopping the vehicle, significantly improving driving safety and convenience, and providing drivers with a smoother and safer driving experience. Furthermore, the retry mechanism of this invention has temporal randomness, triggering based on unconscious, habitual driver actions. This effectively avoids the problem of software-automatic retry mechanisms failing to cover and span the entire fault current state, significantly enhancing system robustness. This invention not only minimizes negative customer experiences caused by abnormal power distribution shutdowns, achieving seamless recovery, but also reduces the safety impact of functional failures during driving, significantly increasing the probability of reliable function restart and the fault tolerance rate, providing strong technical support for improving overall driving experience and safety. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a vehicle load power distribution control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the specific process of a vehicle load power distribution control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of fault-triggered hardware shutdown in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of fault-triggered software shutdown in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a severe fault triggering software shutdown and a retry strategy in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The following description of the embodiments is taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 As shown, Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a vehicle load power distribution control method, comprising the following steps:

[0047] When a fault is detected in a load of the vehicle, the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of that load is automatically shut down;

[0048] Identify whether there are state transitions triggered by driver actions on the vehicle bus communication network;

[0049] Upon detecting the state transition, a power-on request is sent to the power distribution unit of the load to restore the load power distribution.

[0050] As can be seen from the above steps, the present invention can automatically detect the fault status of the vehicle load without stopping the vehicle, and automatically shut off the power distribution port when the load fails. At the same time, it can intelligently identify and restore the load power supply through the state transition triggered by the driver's usual operation. This not only improves the reliability and safety of the vehicle system, but also enhances the user experience, thereby reducing the inconvenience and potential driving risks caused by load failure.

[0051] Specifically, please combine Figure 2As shown in this embodiment of the invention, the load is a load device or system powered by the power distribution unit in the vehicle's intelligent power distribution system. During use, the load device or system may experience abnormalities, such as abnormally large current surges, thereby triggering the intelligent protection mechanism of the power distribution unit. Power semiconductor devices are key components in the power distribution unit used for power conversion and control, monitoring and controlling the load current, and shutting off the power distribution port to protect the system when an abnormality is detected.

[0052] Taking a vehicle load (referred to as load X) as an example, during vehicle use (such as when the driver unlocks the door and gets in, parks on the side of the road, or is driving), an abnormality occurs in the load X itself or its wiring harness circuit (such as an abnormally large current surge in the load X system, i.e., a low-probability, intermittent event), causing the intelligent power distribution port of the power distribution unit (such as the domain controller ZCU / BCM) supplying power to load X to shut down. Depending on the specific fault situation, this can be divided into hardware shutdown and software shutdown:

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, when the abnormal current value generated by the X load exceeds the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of the power distribution unit, the power semiconductor device will be directly shut down and send a fault signal to the logic unit / MCU; the logic unit / MCU records the fault signal of the X load.

[0054] For example Figure 4 As shown, if the power distribution unit of load X identifies that the power distribution port of load X does not meet the hardware shutdown condition based on the fault condition, it sends a fault signal and the abnormal current value of load X to the logic operation unit / MCU. When the logic operation unit / MCU determines that the abnormal current value exceeds the value set by the software logic arbitration, it sends a power-down request signal to the power distribution unit of load X, and the power distribution unit of load X shuts down the power distribution port of load X accordingly.

[0055] Whether it's a hardware or software shutdown, the X load will lose power distribution (i.e., lose functionality). Therefore, a mechanism is needed to detect when to attempt to restore power without affecting driving safety and experience. Compared to existing technologies that require stopping the vehicle and then re-energizing it to restore power to the power semiconductor devices at the distribution port, this invention provides a self-recovering power distribution mechanism that does not require stopping the vehicle and is imperceptible to the driver.

[0056] The self-resetting power distribution mechanism is triggered by driver actions, such as pressing the brake pedal or moving the turn signal lever. These actions are very common and frequently used while the vehicle is in motion, and therefore can be considered natural and inconspicuous triggering conditions.

[0057] Regardless of whether the driver notices that the X load has failed, when the driver presses the brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or moves the turn signal lever, i.e., intentionally or unintentionally decelerates or changes lanes during driving, the relevant status signal values ​​on the vehicle bus communication network will change (i.e., switch from one state to another): (1) the brake pedal status signal value will change (indicating that the driver has pressed or released the brake pedal); or (2) the accelerator pedal status signal value will change (indicating that the driver has pressed or released the accelerator pedal); or (3) the turn signal value will change (indicating that the driver has moved the left or right turn signal).

[0058] When the logic unit / MCU detects any of the above state transitions, it sends a power-on request to the power distribution unit, instructing it to attempt to re-energize the X load. Upon receiving the power-on request, the power distribution unit attempts to re-energize the power semiconductor devices at the X load's power distribution port. If the abnormal current surge in the X load is indeed an occasional, low-probability fault, the X load will regain power, thus restoring its function. During this process, the driver will be almost unaware that their routine operation has already restarted the X load's power distribution, achieving "seamless recovery."

[0059] However, if the abnormal current surge in load X is not an occasional, low-probability fault, but a genuine short circuit or sustained overload, even after the aforementioned "inductive recovery," the abnormal current from the short circuit or overload will still exist, and the short circuit or overload conditions will trigger the shutdown of load X's distribution port again. Please refer to [further details]. Figure 5 As shown, for this situation, the embodiments of the present invention set up a retry strategy, that is, retrying the aforementioned seamless recovery process n times (i.e., recognizing a state transition triggered by the driver's operation on the vehicle bus communication network, triggering the logic unit / MCU to send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of load X), attempting to open the power distribution port of load X. After n cyclic retryings, if the power distribution port of load X still cannot be opened successfully (i.e., the short circuit or overload condition still exists), it indicates that load X is indeed in a serious fault state. In order to protect the hardware from further damage, no further attempts will be made to open the power distribution port of load X.

[0060] Corresponding to the vehicle load power distribution control method described in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, Embodiment 2 of the present invention further provides a vehicle load power distribution control device, comprising:

[0061] The shutdown unit is used to automatically shut down the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of the load when a fault is detected in a load of the vehicle.

[0062] The identification unit is used to identify whether there is a state transition triggered by the driver's operation on the vehicle bus communication network;

[0063] The logic operation unit is used to send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load when the state transition is detected, so as to restore the power distribution of the load.

[0064] Preferably, the identification unit is specifically used to: monitor whether any one of the brake pedal status signal value, accelerator pedal signal value, and turn signal value on the vehicle bus communication network changes; a change in the brake pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is decelerating, a change in the accelerator pedal status signal value indicates that the driver is accelerating, and a change in the turn signal value indicates that the driver is changing lanes.

[0065] Preferably, the logic operation unit is specifically used to: when the identification unit detects the state transition, send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load, and control the power distribution unit to reopen the power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load according to the power-on request, thereby completing the power distribution restoration process.

[0066] Preferably, if the power semiconductor device at the power distribution port of the load is reopened, and then the power distribution port is closed again, the control module is further configured to:

[0067] The power distribution restoration process is executed n times in a loop.

[0068] If the power distribution port still fails to open successfully after executing the power distribution restoration procedure n times, the procedure is terminated.

[0069] Preferably, if the abnormal current value generated by the load exceeds the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the shutdown unit is specifically used to: directly shut down the power semiconductor device and send a fault signal to the logic operation unit, and the logic operation unit records the fault signal.

[0070] If the abnormal current value generated by the load does not exceed the hardware shutdown limit of the power semiconductor device of its power distribution unit, the power distribution unit of the load sends a fault signal and the abnormal current value of the load to the logic operation unit; the logic operation unit is used to send a power-down request signal to the power distribution unit of the load when it determines that the abnormal current value exceeds the value set by the software logic arbitration, and control the power distribution unit of the load to shut down the power distribution port of the load according to the power-down request signal.

[0071] Corresponding to the vehicle load power distribution control method described in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, Embodiment 3 of the present invention also provides a vehicle load power distribution control device, comprising:

[0072] One or more processors;

[0073] Memory;

[0074] One or more applications, wherein the one or more applications are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the one or more applications are configured to perform the vehicle load distribution control method.

[0075] Corresponding to the vehicle load power distribution control method described in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, Embodiment 4 of the present invention also provides a computer program product, including computer instructions, which instruct a computer device to perform the operation corresponding to the method.

[0076] Preferably, the processor can be a central processing unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor, or the processor can be any conventional processor. The processor is the control center of the device, connecting various parts of the device through various interfaces and lines.

[0077] The memory mainly includes a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area can store the operating system, applications required for at least one function, etc., while the data storage area can store related data, etc. Furthermore, the memory can be a high-speed random access memory, or a non-volatile memory, such as a plug-in hard drive, a SmartMedia Card (SMC), a Secure Digital (SD) card, and a Flash Card, or other volatile solid-state storage devices.

[0078] It should be noted that the above-mentioned devices may include, but are not limited to, processors and memory, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0079] For the working principle and process of the above embodiments, please refer to the description of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, which will not be repeated here.

[0080] As explained above, compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By enabling customers to restore abnormally shut-off power distribution functions unconsciously during routine operations while driving, this invention achieves a seamless restoration process, greatly reducing negative customer experiences. This invention can also perform fault recovery without stopping the vehicle, significantly improving driving safety and convenience, and providing drivers with a smoother and safer driving experience. Furthermore, the retry mechanism of this invention has temporal randomness, triggering based on unconscious routine operations by the driver, effectively avoiding the problem that the duration and number of automatic retry mechanisms in software cannot cover and span the complete state of the fault current, significantly enhancing system robustness. This invention not only minimizes the negative customer experience caused by abnormal power distribution shutdowns and achieves seamless recovery, but also reduces the safety impact of functional failures during driving, significantly increasing the probability of reliable functional restart and the fault tolerance rate, providing strong technical support for improving the overall driving experience and safety.

[0081] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Therefore, any equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle load power distribution control method characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: automatically closing a power distribution port of a power distribution unit of the load when a failure of a certain load of the vehicle is monitored; identifying whether a state jump triggered by an operation of the driver exists on the vehicle bus communication network; sending a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load to restore power distribution of the load when the state jump is identified.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The identification of whether a state jump triggered by an operation of the driver exists on the vehicle bus communication network specifically comprises: monitoring whether any of a brake pedal state signal value, an accelerator pedal signal value, and a turn signal state signal value on the vehicle bus communication network jumps; a jump of the brake pedal state signal value indicates that the driver performs a deceleration operation, a jump of the accelerator pedal state signal value indicates that the driver performs an acceleration operation, and a jump of the turn signal state signal value indicates that the driver performs a lane change operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The sending of the power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load to restore power distribution of the load when the state jump is identified specifically comprises: sending, by a logic operation unit, the power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load when the state jump is identified; after the power distribution unit receives the power-on request, reopening a power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load, thereby completing a power restoration process.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, If the power distribution port of the load is closed again after the power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load is reopened, the method further comprises: cyclically executing the power restoration process n times; if the power distribution port is still not successfully opened after the power restoration process is executed n times, terminating the process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The automatic closing of the power distribution port of the power distribution unit of the load when a failure of a certain load of the vehicle is monitored specifically comprises: if an abnormal current value generated by the load exceeds a hardware shutdown limit value of a power semiconductor device of the power distribution unit of the load, the power semiconductor device is directly shut down and sends a failure signal to a logic operation unit, and the logic operation unit records the failure signal; if the abnormal current value generated by the load does not exceed the hardware shutdown limit value of the power semiconductor device of the power distribution unit of the load, the power distribution unit of the load sends a failure signal and the abnormal current value of the load to the logic operation unit; when the logic operation unit determines that the abnormal current value exceeds a value set by software logical arbitration, the logic operation unit sends a power-off request signal to the power distribution unit of the load, and the power distribution unit of the load shuts down the power distribution port of the load according to the power-off request signal.

6. A vehicle load power distribution control device characterized by comprising: The method comprises: a shutdown unit configured to automatically close a power distribution port of a power distribution unit of the load when a failure of a certain load of the vehicle is monitored; an identification unit configured to identify whether a state jump triggered by an operation of the driver exists on the vehicle bus communication network; a logic operation unit configured to send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load to restore power distribution of the load when the state jump is identified.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, The identification unit is specifically configured to monitor whether any of a brake pedal state signal value, an accelerator pedal signal value, and a turn signal state signal value on the vehicle bus communication network jumps; a jump in the brake pedal state signal value indicates that the driver is performing a deceleration operation, a jump in the accelerator pedal state signal value indicates that the driver is performing an acceleration operation, and a jump in the turn signal state signal value indicates that the driver is performing a lane change operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, The logic operation unit is specifically configured to, when the identification unit identifies the state jump, send a power-on request to the power distribution unit of the load, and control the power distribution unit to reopen the power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load according to the power-on request, thereby completing the power distribution recovery process.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, If the power semiconductor device of the power distribution port of the load is reopened and the power distribution port is closed again, the control module is further configured to: execute the power distribution recovery process n times in a loop; if the power distribution port is still not successfully opened after the power distribution recovery process is executed n times, terminate the process.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, If the abnormal current value generated by the load exceeds the hardware shutdown limit value of the power semiconductor device of the power distribution unit, the shutdown unit is specifically configured to directly shut down the power semiconductor device and send a fault signal to the logic operation unit, and the logic operation unit records the fault signal; If the abnormal current value generated by the load does not exceed the hardware shutdown limit value of the power semiconductor device of the power distribution unit, the power distribution unit of the load sends a fault signal and the abnormal current value of the load to the logic operation unit; the logic operation unit is configured to, when it is determined that the abnormal current value exceeds a value set by software logic arbitration, send a power-off request signal to the power distribution unit of the load, and control the power distribution unit of the load to shut down the power distribution port of the load according to the power-off request signal.

11. A vehicle load power distribution control device characterized by comprising: comprise: one or more processors; a memory; one or more application programs, wherein the one or more application programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, and the one or more application programs are configured to perform the vehicle load power distribution control method according to any one of claims 1-5.

12. A computer program product, characterised in that, comprise computer instructions instructing a computer device to perform operations corresponding to the method according to any one of claims 1-5.

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