Vehicle multi-equipment control device and method based on series nodes

Abstract

The invention discloses a series node-based vehicle multi-device control device and method, and the device comprises a series line and node controllers, and a plurality of node controllers are connected in series through the series line to form a series node network; inputting a control instruction through the man-machine interaction device and sending the control instruction to the target node controller through the series circuit; a plurality of decoding modules are arranged in each node controller and can decode a plurality of groups of industrial information such as AI, AO, DI and DO so as to realize accurate control on corresponding equipment; the device is further provided with an error correction mechanism and a channel redundancy module, the error correction mechanism can report an error and locate a fault node when any node or line in the series connection line is disconnected, and the channel redundancy module ensures that normal operation of the system is not affected when a certain line is disconnected or makes an error. According to the invention, a series node structure is adopted, the circuit design is simplified, standardized production of a controller and a connecting line is realized, infinite capacity expansion is supported, a damaged single node can be directly replaced, and the maintenance cost is obviously reduced.

Description

A vehicle multi-device control device and method based on serial nodes Technical Field

[0001] This invention generally relates to the field of vehicle electronic control technology, and more specifically, to a vehicle multi-device control device and method based on serial nodes. Background Technology

[0002] In existing vehicle control technologies, complex control structures are typically planned in advance, using specific models of centralized or distributed controllers to control multiple devices on the vehicle (such as lights, doors and windows, powertrain accessories, sensors, etc.). This traditional approach has the following drawbacks: First, the control wiring is complex, often requiring separate wiring between each device and the controller, resulting in numerous and disorganized wiring within the vehicle, increasing installation and maintenance difficulties. Second, controller selection and system design rely on accurate early estimations of the number and type of devices, hindering the ability to add new devices as needed later, resulting in poor scalability. Third, a failure in a centralized controller can lead to the simultaneous failure of multiple devices, while distributed controllers, although reducing the risk of single-point failures, still present challenges in communication and coordination between controllers. Fourth, due to a lack of standardization, controllers and serial wiring for different projects or devices often need to be customized, increasing production costs and the difficulty of spare parts management. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a vehicle multi-device control device and method based on serial nodes.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes is provided, comprising: a serial line and a node controller; the serial line is provided with connection interfaces at both ends; the node controller includes an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal, the input terminal and the output terminal are provided with connection interfaces, and the control terminal is connected to vehicle equipment; multiple node controllers are connected in series through the serial line to form a serial node network.

[0005] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller includes a microprocessor, a communication interface, a decoding unit, and a power module; the communication interface is used to realize data transmission of the node controller; the decoding unit includes multiple decoding modules; the microprocessor is used to receive and parse control commands, and coordinate the operation of the decoding unit and the communication interface.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the decoding module can decode industrial control information of types AI, AO, DI, and DO to drive the corresponding connected vehicle equipment to perform corresponding operations.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller is further integrated with an error correction mechanism module, which is used to monitor the connection status and line continuity status of the node controller in real time.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller is further integrated with a channel redundancy module, which provides a backup transmission channel. When the main transmission channel is disconnected or malfunctions, it automatically switches to the backup transmission channel to ensure the normal transmission of control commands.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, human-computer interaction devices are connected in series in the serial node network.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller and the serial line adopt a standardized design. When it is necessary to add vehicle equipment, it is only necessary to add a new node controller and the corresponding serial line at the end of the serial node network and connect the new equipment to the new node controller to complete the expansion.

[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle multi-device control method based on serial nodes is provided. The method uses the aforementioned vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes, and the method includes the following steps: S1, a user inputs a control command for a specific vehicle device through a human-machine interface device, the control command including a target device identifier and a specific operation command; S2, the human-machine interface device encodes the control command and sends it to a serial node network through a serial line; S3, the control command is transmitted in the serial node network, and each node controller receives and identifies the target device identifier in the control command. When a node controller identifies itself as a target node controller, it parses the control command; S4, the target node controller, according to the parsed operation command, calls the corresponding built-in decoding module to decode control information of type AI, AO, DI, or DO, and generates a device drive signal; S5, the target node controller sends the device drive signal to the vehicle device connected to it, controlling the device to perform the corresponding operation.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during steps S2 to S5, the error correction mechanism module monitors the status of the serial node network in real time. If a line disconnection or node failure is detected, an error signal is immediately issued and the faulty node is located.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, during steps S2 to S5, the channel redundancy module monitors the status of the main transmission channel and automatically switches to the backup channel when the main channel is abnormal, ensuring the continuous transmission of control commands.

[0014] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the advantages and positive effects of the vehicle multi-device control device and method based on serial nodes of the present invention are as follows: 1. Simplified circuit design and installation: The distributed control method based on serial node structure replaces the large number of parallel lines between devices and controllers in the traditional star or complex bus structure, which greatly reduces the number and routing complexity of cables in the vehicle, making the wiring inside the vehicle simpler and reducing installation time and error probability.

[0015] 2. Achieve standardized production: All node controllers adopt a unified hardware architecture, communication interface, and physical dimensions, and the series circuits also use standardized connection interfaces and wire specifications. This enables large-scale standardized production of node controllers and series circuits, reducing manufacturing costs and facilitating supply chain management and quality control.

[0016] 3. Supports unlimited expansion: When new vehicle equipment needs to be added, there is no need to redesign the entire control network architecture. Simply add a new node controller at the end of the existing serial node network and connect the new equipment to that node controller. This "plug-and-play" expansion method is very convenient and can adapt to the future trend of continuously increasing vehicle functions.

[0017] 4. Reduced maintenance costs: When a node controller or the equipment it controls fails, maintenance personnel can directly locate the faulty node, remove it from the serial network, and replace it with a new standardized node controller. The whole process is fast and efficient, without the need for complex debugging of other lines or controllers, which significantly reduces the time and material costs of maintenance.

[0018] 5. Improve system reliability: The error correction mechanism can detect and report faults in a timely manner, preventing the fault from escalating; channel redundancy ensures that a single point of failure will not lead to the overall failure of the system, greatly improving the operational reliability and safety of the vehicle control system. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the topology network of a vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic flowchart of a vehicle multi-device control method based on serial nodes in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Series circuit; 2. Node controller; 3. Vehicle equipment; 4. Human-machine interface equipment. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings are used to illustrate the principles of this application by way of example, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application. This application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

[0023] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, they should be considered part of the specification.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes is provided, comprising: a serial line 1 and a node controller 2; the serial line 1 is provided with connection interfaces at both ends; the node controller 2 includes an input end, an output end and a control end, the input end and the output end are provided with connection interfaces, and the control end is connected to vehicle equipment 3; multiple node controllers 2 are connected in series through the serial line 1 to form a serial node network.

[0025] In practical use, the two ends of series line 1 can be connected to another set of series lines 1 or node controllers 2; the input and output terminals of node controllers 2 can be connected to another set of node controllers 2 or series lines 1; it is only necessary to maintain multiple node controllers 2 connected in series via series lines 1 to form a series node network. Through the design of the series node network, the control and management of multiple devices within the vehicle are realized. Series line 1 serves as the data transmission channel, ensuring stable signal transmission between each node controller 2; while node controllers 2 are not only responsible for receiving instructions from the human-machine interface device 4, but also for precisely controlling the vehicle equipment 3 according to preset logic. Furthermore, the input and output terminals of node controllers 2 are equipped with connection interfaces, facilitating connection with other node controllers 2 or series lines 1, thereby expanding the functionality and application range of the entire control device.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller 2 includes a microprocessor, a communication interface, a decoding unit, and a power module. The communication interface is used to realize data transmission of the node controller 2. The decoding unit includes multiple decoding modules. The microprocessor is used to receive and parse control commands and coordinate the operation of the decoding unit and the communication interface. The power module provides a stable operating voltage for the entire node controller 2, ensuring that all components can operate normally. As the core of the node controller 2, the microprocessor has powerful data processing capabilities and can quickly and accurately receive control commands from the human-machine interface device 4 or other node controllers 2 and parse them. The communication interface realizes efficient and stable data transmission with the serial line 1 or other node controllers 2 according to different communication protocols, ensuring the real-time nature and accuracy of information. The multiple decoding modules in the decoding unit can accurately decode different types of control commands so that the microprocessor can perform corresponding control operations on the vehicle equipment 3 based on the decoding results.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present invention, the decoding module can decode industrial control information of types AI, AO, DI, and DO to drive the corresponding connected vehicle equipment 3 to perform corresponding operations. Specifically, for AI type industrial control information, the decoding module can parse it into analog input signals, thereby controlling components in the vehicle equipment 3 that require analog input, such as speed regulators and temperature controllers, to achieve precise analog control operations; for AO type industrial control information, the decoding module can convert it into analog output signals to drive actuators in the vehicle equipment 3, such as hydraulic valves and electric push rods, to make them act according to preset analog parameters; for DI type industrial control information, the decoding module can identify it as digital input signals to monitor digital information such as switch states and sensor signals on the vehicle equipment 3, so that the microprocessor can make corresponding control decisions based on this information; and for DO type industrial control information, the decoding module will convert it into digital output signals to directly control digital actuators such as relays and solenoid valves on the vehicle equipment 3 to achieve switching control, state switching, and other operations on the vehicle equipment 3. This precise decoding and processing of different types of industrial control information ensures that vehicle equipment 3 can execute various control commands accurately and without error.

[0028] It is worth noting that the decoding module can also decode, but is not limited to, PI and PWM type industrial control information. For PI type industrial control information, the decoding module can parse it into signals related to process parameters, such as pressure and flow rate, based on its characteristics. This allows for precise control of relevant regulating mechanisms in the vehicle equipment, ensuring that these process parameters remain stable within the set range and guaranteeing stable operation of the vehicle equipment. For PWM type industrial control information, the decoding module converts it into pulse width modulation signals to precisely control components in the vehicle equipment that require speed, power, and other adjustments. This further enriches the information range that the multi-device control device for vehicles can process, improving the comprehensiveness and accuracy of vehicle equipment control, enabling the vehicle equipment to operate efficiently and stably under various complex industrial environments and operating conditions. In some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller 2 also integrates an error correction mechanism module, which is used to monitor the connection status and line continuity status of the node controller 2 in real time. The error correction mechanism can detect and report faults in a timely manner. When a node controller 2 or the device it controls fails, maintenance personnel can directly find the faulty node, remove it from the serial network, and replace it with a new standardized node controller 2. The whole process is fast and efficient, without the need for complex debugging of other lines or controllers, which significantly reduces the time and material costs of maintenance.

[0029] In some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller 2 is further integrated with a channel redundancy module. This module provides a backup transmission channel, automatically switching to the backup channel when the primary transmission channel is disconnected or malfunctions, ensuring the normal transmission of control commands. Channel redundancy ensures that a single point of failure will not lead to overall system failure, significantly improving the operational reliability and safety of the vehicle control system.

[0030] In some embodiments of the present invention, a human-machine interface device 4 is connected in series in the serial node network. The human-machine interface device 4 is used to receive control commands input by the user and transmit these commands to the node controller 2. At the same time, the human-machine interface device 4 can also display the operating status and parameter information of the vehicle equipment 3 in real time, so that the user can intuitively understand the specific situation of the vehicle equipment 3, realize convenient interaction between the user and the vehicle equipment 3, and further improve the flexibility and convenience of controlling the vehicle equipment 3.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, the node controller 2 and the serial line 1 adopt a standardized design. When it is necessary to add vehicle equipment 3, it is only necessary to add a new node controller 2 and the corresponding serial line 1 at the end of the serial node network, and connect the new equipment to the newly added node controller 2 to complete the expansion. All node controllers 2 adopt a unified hardware architecture, communication interface and size, and the serial line 1 also adopts a standardized connection interface and wire specifications. This allows the node controller 2 and the serial line 1 to be mass-produced in a standardized manner, reducing manufacturing costs, and also facilitating supply chain management and quality control. Moreover, this "plug-and-play" expansion method is very convenient and can adapt to the future development trend of continuously increasing vehicle functions.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, according to a second aspect of the present invention, a vehicle multi-device control method based on serial nodes is provided. The method uses the aforementioned vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes, and the method includes the following steps: S1, a user inputs a control command for a specific vehicle device 3 through a human-machine interface device 4, the control command including a target device identifier and a specific operation command; S2, the human-machine interface device 4 encodes the control command and sends it to the serial node network through a serial line 1; S3, the control command is transmitted in the serial node network, and each node controller 2 receives and identifies the target device identifier in the control command. When a node controller 2 identifies itself as a target node controller 2, it parses the control command; S4, the target node controller 2 calls the corresponding built-in decoding module to decode control information of AI, AO, DI, or DO types according to the parsed operation command, and generates a device drive signal; S5, the target node controller 2 sends the device drive signal to the vehicle device 3 connected to it, controlling the device to perform the corresponding operation.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, during steps S2 to S5, the error correction mechanism module monitors the status of the serial node network in real time. If a line disconnection or node failure is detected, an error signal is immediately issued and the faulty node is located. After the error correction mechanism module issues an error signal, it quickly initiates an emergency handling process and displays detailed fault information to the user through the human-computer interaction device 4, including the location of the faulty node, possible causes of the fault, etc., so that the user can understand the situation in a timely manner and make a decision.

[0034] In some embodiments of the present invention, during steps S2 to S5, the channel redundancy module monitors the status of the main transmission channel and automatically switches to the backup channel when the main channel is abnormal, ensuring the continuous transmission of control commands. Once an abnormality is detected in the main channel, such as signal interruption, data loss, or transmission delay exceeding a preset threshold, the module will automatically trigger the switching mechanism within a very short time, seamlessly switching to the backup channel, thereby minimizing the impact of the fault on the control of vehicle equipment 3 and ensuring the stable operation of the vehicle multi-equipment control system.

[0035] The embodiments of this application have now been described in detail. To avoid obscuring the concept of this application, some details known in the art have not been described. Those skilled in the art can fully understand how to implement the technical solutions disclosed herein based on the above description.

[0036] While specific embodiments of this application have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the scope and spirit of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any manner.

Claims

1. A vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes, characterized in that, include: A series circuit is provided, with connection interfaces at both ends; a node controller is provided, including an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, with connection interfaces provided at the input and output terminals, and the control terminal is connected to the vehicle equipment; multiple node controllers are connected in series through the series circuit to form a series node network.

2. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to claim 1, characterized in that, The node controller includes a microprocessor, a communication interface, a decoding unit, and a power module; the communication interface is used to realize data transmission of the node controller; the decoding unit includes multiple decoding modules; the microprocessor is used to receive and parse control commands, and coordinate the operation of the decoding unit and the communication interface.

3. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to claim 2, characterized in that, The decoding module can decode and process industrial control information of types AI, AO, DI, and DO to drive the corresponding connected vehicle equipment to perform corresponding operations.

4. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to claim 3, characterized in that, The node controller is also equipped with an error correction mechanism module, which is used to monitor the connection status and line continuity status of the node controller in real time.

5. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to claim 4, characterized in that, The node controller also integrates a channel redundancy module, which provides a backup transmission channel. When the main transmission channel is disconnected or malfunctions, it automatically switches to the backup transmission channel to ensure the normal transmission of control commands.

6. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to claim 5, characterized in that, Human-computer interaction devices are connected in series in the serial node network.

7. The vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The node controller and serial lines adopt a standardized design. When it is necessary to add vehicle equipment, it is only necessary to add a new node controller and corresponding serial lines at the end of the serial node network and connect the new equipment to the newly added node controller to complete the expansion.

8. A method for controlling multiple devices in a vehicle based on serial nodes, characterized in that, The method uses the vehicle multi-device control device based on serial nodes as described in claim 6. The method includes the following steps: S1, the user inputs a control command for a specific vehicle device through a human-machine interface device, the control command including a target device identifier and a specific operation command; S2, the human-machine interface device encodes the control command and sends it to the serial node network through a serial line; S3, the control command is transmitted in the serial node network, each node controller receives and identifies the target device identifier in the control command, and when a node controller identifies itself as the target node controller, it parses the control command; S4, the target node controller calls the corresponding built-in decoding module to decode the control information of AI, AO, DI or DO type according to the parsed operation command, and generates a device drive signal; S5, the target node controller sends the device drive signal to the vehicle device connected to it, controlling the device to perform the corresponding operation.

9. The vehicle multi-device control method based on serial nodes according to claim 8, characterized in that, During steps S2 to S5, the error correction mechanism module monitors the status of the serial node network in real time. If a line disconnection or node failure is detected, an error signal is immediately issued and the faulty node is located.

10. The vehicle multi-device control method based on serial nodes according to claim 9, characterized in that, During steps S2 to S5, the channel redundancy module monitors the status of the main transmission channel and automatically switches to the backup channel when the main channel is abnormal, ensuring the continuous transmission of control commands.

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