Steering wheel heating and HOD function time division multiplexing control device

Abstract

The invention discloses a steering wheel heating and HOD function time division multiplexing control device. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time division multiplexing control device comprises a multifunctional key switch, a heating pad assembly, a heating control module, an HOD detection module, a time division multiplexing control module, an MCU signal processing module and an LIN bus communication interface which are integrally installed in a steering wheel. The system has the advantages of being high in system integration degree, free of function interference, energy-saving, environment-friendly, capable of improving driving safety and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive steering wheel technology, and more particularly to a steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the steering wheel multifunction button switch, heating controller, and hands-off detection (HOD) controller are typically implemented as three separate products. The steering wheel multifunction button switch is usually triggered directly by pressing or touching, and the MCU processes the signal before sending it to the host computer. The steering wheel heating controller is implemented through a heating pad covered under the steering wheel leather and is a separate controller. The HOD control is implemented through a HOD pad covered under the steering wheel leather, using a capacitive sensor to detect the driver's hand gestures, and the MCU processes the signal before sending it to the host computer; this is also a separate controller.

[0003] The independent existence of three systems results in complex internal wiring in the steering wheel, occupies a large space, increases costs, and poses a risk of electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, interference exists when the heating controller and HOD controller operate simultaneously, affecting the detection accuracy of the HOD and increasing the risk of false alarms.

[0004] Therefore, through beneficial exploration and research, the applicant has found a solution to the above problems, and the technical solution to be introduced below is the result of this research. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device to address the shortcomings of the prior art, so as to improve system reliability, reduce cost and optimize spatial layout.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this invention can be achieved by the following technical solution: A steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device includes: A multi-function push-button switch installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the vehicle battery; A heating pad assembly that is wrapped under the leather surface of the steering wheel rim and connected to the vehicle battery; A heating control module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating pad assembly for controlling the heating pad assembly to heat the steering wheel; A HOD detection module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating pad assembly for detecting the driver's hand contact status through the heating pad assembly; A time-division multiplexing control module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating control module and the HOD detection module respectively, for controlling the alternating operation of the heating control module and the HOD detection module; An MCU signal processing module, installed within the steering wheel and connected to the multi-function push-button switch and the time-division multiplexing control module respectively, for processing signals transmitted from the heating control module or the HOD detection module; and A LIN bus communication interface, installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the MCU signal processing module, is used to send the signal processing results to the vehicle control system.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heating pad assembly includes: Foam substrate covering the leather surface of the steering wheel rim; An electric heating wire disposed within the foam substrate and connected to the heating control module and the HOD detection module, respectively; and Temperature-measuring NTC is installed inside the foam substrate and connected to the heating control module.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heating control module adopts a smart high-side switch BTS7010-1EPA, which reads the resistance value of the temperature-sensing NTC and precisely controls the temperature by modulating the pulse width of the PWM.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the HOD detection module adopts a highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates capacitance detection function.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the time-division multiplexing control module adopts a power chip BST6008LADJ, which drives the heating control module to realize the switching function of heating and HOD.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the MCU signal processing module adopts a highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which complies with the ISO 26262 automotive safety standard and supports functional safety development.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LIN bus communication interface adopts a highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates LIN physical layer functions.

[0013] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. High system integration: Compared with the traditional solution of three independent products, it saves about 30% of installation space and reduces manufacturing costs by 20%; 2. Functions do not interfere with each other: The multi-function button switch is used in a constant power state, and the time-division multiplexing control ensures that heating and HOD detection will not occur at the same time, avoiding signal crosstalk and improving the detection accuracy to over 99%; 3. Energy saving and environmental protection: Heating power and detection frequency can be adjusted according to actual needs, reducing energy consumption by 15%; 4. Enhance driving safety: The real-time and reliable HOD function can work in conjunction with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to enhance vehicle safety. Attached Figure Description

[0014] 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.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below with reference to specific illustrations.

[0017] See Figure 1 The figure shows a steering wheel heating and HOD function time-division multiplexing control device, including a multi-function push-button switch 100, a heating pad assembly 200, a heating control module 300, an HOD detection module 400, a time-division multiplexing control module 500, an MCU signal processing module 600, and a LIN bus communication interface 700.

[0018] The multi-function push-button switch 100 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and connected to the vehicle battery 20. It is directly triggered by pressing or touching and generates a signal, which is powered by the vehicle battery 20.

[0019] The heating pad assembly 200 is wrapped under the leather surface of the steering wheel 10 rim and connected to the vehicle battery 20. It is used to heat the steering wheel or detect the driver's hand contact status and is powered by the vehicle battery 20. In this embodiment, the heating pad assembly 200 includes a foam substrate, an electric heating wire, and a temperature-sensing NTC. The foam substrate is wrapped under the leather surface of the steering wheel 10 rim. The electric heating wire is disposed within the foam substrate and is connected to the heating control module 300 and the HOD detection module 400, respectively. The electric heating wire is made of copper-plated and nickel-plated material. The temperature-sensing NTC is disposed within the foam substrate and connected to the heating control module 300.

[0020] The heating control module 300 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and connected to the heating pad assembly 200. It is used to control the heating pad assembly 200 to heat the steering wheel 10. In this embodiment, the heating control module 300 adopts a smart high-side switch BTS7010-1EPA, which reads the resistance value of the temperature-sensing NTC and precisely controls the temperature by modulating the pulse width of the PWM. It also has overload protection and other functions.

[0021] The HOD detection module 400 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and connected to the heating pad assembly 200. It is used to detect the driver's hand contact status through the heating pad assembly 200. In this embodiment, the HOD detection module 400 uses a highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates a capacitance detection function. It realizes the off-hand detection function by detecting the capacitance value of the heating wire of the heating pad assembly 200.

[0022] The time-sharing multiplexing control module 500 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and is connected to the heating control module 300 and the HOD detection module 400 respectively. It is used to control the heating control module 300 and the HOD detection module 400 to work alternately. In this embodiment, the time-sharing multiplexing control module 500 uses a power chip BST6008LADJ to drive the heating control module (intelligent high-side switch BTS7010-1EPA) to realize the switching function between heating and HOD.

[0023] The MCU signal processing module 600 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and connected to both the multi-function push-button switch 100 and the time-division multiplexing control module 500. It is used to process the signals from either the multi-function push-button switch 100 or the multi-function push-button switch 100. In this embodiment, the MCU signal processing module 600 uses the highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which complies with automotive safety standards such as ISO 26262 and supports functional safety development.

[0024] The LIN bus communication interface 700 is installed inside the steering wheel 10 and connected to the MCU signal processing module 600, which is used to send the signal processing results to the vehicle control system. In this embodiment, the LIN bus communication interface 700 uses the highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates the LIN physical layer function.

[0025] The working principle of the steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device of the present invention is as follows: After the vehicle is powered on, the multi-function button switch 100 is in constant power mode to ensure timely processing and sending of commands after the function is triggered.

[0026] The time-sharing multiplexing control module 500 controls the heating control module 300 and the HOD detection module 400 to switch at a specific frequency within a certain period of time. When entering the time-sharing multiplexing cycle, during the heating period (e.g., 100ms), the HOD detection module 400 is turned off, and the heating control module 300 drives the heating pad assembly 200 to work; during the HOD detection period (e.g., 20ms), the heating control module 300 is turned off, and the HOD detection module 400 determines the driver's hand contact status through the heating pad assembly 200.

[0027] The MCU signal processing module 600 filters, amplifies, and digitizes all signals, and determines whether the multi-function push-button switch 100 is triggered, whether the heating control module 300 is turned on or controlling the temperature, and whether the HOD detection module 400 determines whether the driver is holding the steering wheel. The signal processing results are then sent to the vehicle control system via the LIN bus communication interface 700.

[0028] This invention employs a time-division multiplexing mechanism, using high-frequency switching to avoid interference from heating on capacitance detection. Simultaneously, the heating gradient at different stages can be adjusted according to customer needs, ensuring adaptive HOD detection accuracy. Furthermore, a shared power management and communication interface reduces the number of wiring harnesses and connectors.

[0029] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A time-sharing control device for steering wheel heating and HOD functions, characterized in that, include: A multi-function push-button switch installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the vehicle battery; A heating pad assembly that is wrapped under the leather surface of the steering wheel rim and connected to the vehicle battery; A heating control module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating pad assembly for controlling the heating pad assembly to heat the steering wheel; A HOD detection module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating pad assembly for detecting the driver's hand contact status through the heating pad assembly; A time-division multiplexing control module installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the heating control module and the HOD detection module respectively, for controlling the alternating operation of the heating control module and the HOD detection module; An MCU signal processing module, installed within the steering wheel and connected to the multi-function push-button switch and the time-division multiplexing control module respectively, for processing signals transmitted from the heating control module or the HOD detection module; and A LIN bus communication interface, installed inside the steering wheel and connected to the MCU signal processing module, is used to send the signal processing results to the vehicle control system.

2. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heating pad assembly includes: Foam substrate covering the leather surface of the steering wheel rim; An electric heating wire disposed within the foam substrate and connected to the heating control module and the HOD detection module, respectively; and Temperature-measuring NTC is installed inside the foam substrate and connected to the heating control module.

3. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heating control module uses a smart high-side switch BTS7010-1EPA, which reads the resistance value of the temperature-sensing NTC and precisely controls the temperature by modulating the pulse width of the PWM.

4. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The HOD detection module uses a highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates capacitance detection function.

5. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The time-division multiplexing control module uses a power chip BST6008LADJ, which drives the heating control module to achieve the switching function between heating and HOD.

6. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The MCU signal processing module uses the highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which complies with the ISO 26262 automotive safety standard and supports functional safety development.

7. The steering wheel heating and HOD function time-sharing multiplexing control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The LIN bus communication interface uses the highly integrated chip CY8C4147LDE-HVS114, which integrates LIN physical layer functionality.

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