A connector for use in intelligent connected vehicle electronics systems

Abstract

A kind of connector for intelligent network connection car electronic system, including connector body, temperature sensor, current monitoring sensor, contact resistance monitoring circuit, control module, circuit control module;Connector body is mixed interface, contains high-speed differential signal channel, power supply channel and diagnostic signal channel;Temperature sensor is arranged around high-speed differential signal channel connector, current monitoring sensor is arranged in the internal circuit of power supply channel connector, circuit control module is connected in series in the internal circuit of power supply channel connector, control module is driven circuit control module according to the current data monitored, and the circuit is controlled to be on-off / voltage reduction / current limiting;Control module is connected with whole car or ECU, while according to the data collected by monitoring module, temperature control and self-regulation are carried out, information is stored, fault early warning etc., so as to realize the real-time monitoring and fault early warning of the connection state, working state of connector, improve the reliability and safety of automobile electronic system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of automotive electronic connector technology, specifically relating to a connector used in intelligent connected vehicle electronic systems. Background Technology

[0002] Automotive connectors, as core components for circuit conduction in the field of electronic engineering, are also known as sheaths, plugs, or plastic shells. They consist of four main structures: contacts, shell, insulator, and accessories, transmitting current through the mating of male and female contacts. With the increasing centralization of automotive electronic and electrical architectures, the number of connectors used per vehicle has reached 600-1000, widely applied in automotive electronic systems. However, existing automotive connectors have significant shortcomings in intelligent applications. They cannot monitor their own working status in real time, and when potential failures occur due to electrical, mechanical, or environmental factors, they lack early warning capabilities. They cannot effectively address connection stability issues under complex operating conditions, and thus fail to meet the high reliability and intelligent requirements of intelligent connected vehicles for connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings and deficiencies of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a connector for intelligent connected vehicle electronic systems. This connector integrates micro sensors and intelligent monitoring modules to realize real-time monitoring and fault warning of the connector connection status and working status (key parameters such as temperature and current), which greatly improves the reliability and safety of the automotive electronic system.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A connector for use in an intelligent connected vehicle electronic system includes a connector body, a monitoring module, a control module, and a circuit control module. The connector body is a hybrid interface comprising a high-speed differential signal channel, a power channel, and a diagnostic signal channel. The monitoring module includes a temperature sensor and an electrical signal monitoring module. The temperature sensor is arranged around the high-speed differential signal channel connector to monitor the temperature of the surrounding environment and the contact point. The electrical signal monitoring module is located within the power channel connector's internal circuitry to monitor the current, voltage, and contact resistance, and transmits the monitoring results to the control module within the connector body. The electrical signal monitoring module includes a current monitoring sensor and a contact resistance monitoring circuit.

[0006] The circuit control module is connected in series in the internal circuit of the power channel connector. The control module drives the circuit control module according to the monitored current data to perform on / off / voltage reduction / current limiting control on the circuit.

[0007] The control module is connected to the vehicle or ECU, and performs temperature control and self-adjustment based on the data collected by the monitoring module, stores information, provides fault warnings, and reports information.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the control module includes a microcontroller unit and a memory. The monitoring module continuously collects data and transmits the monitoring data to the microcontroller unit of the control module, while also storing it in the memory of the control module. The microcontroller unit sends warning information to the vehicle control system via the CAN bus.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the contact element of the connector body is made of phosphor bronze C52100 material, and the gold plating thickness of the contact area is 1.27μm.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of this invention, the temperature sensor is a miniature NTC thermistor, with six miniature NTC thermistors embedded around the 12-channel high-speed differential signal contacts; the current monitoring sensor is a Hall effect current sensor, with four Hall effect current sensors integrated in the eight power channels.

[0011] Advantages and beneficial effects of this utility model:

[0012] (1) The connector provided by this utility model meets the stringent requirements for high reliability, high stability and high-speed data transmission of connectors in the process of intelligentization and electrification of modern automobiles. It is not only applicable to the electronic systems of intelligent connected vehicles (ADAS), but also applicable to the electrical connection and data transmission between automotive electronic control units, vehicle-to-everything (V2X), in-vehicle infotainment systems, as well as new energy vehicle batteries, high-voltage distribution boxes, on-board chargers and various sensors.

[0013] (2) The connector provided by this utility model has a self-diagnostic function, which can detect and solve problems in a timely manner.

[0014] (3) The connector provided by this utility model has self-protection. When the electrical parameters exceed the reasonable range, it will give feedback to the system, thereby protecting the electrical appliances.

[0015] (4) The connector provided by this utility model has recordability and traceability. The storage unit and wireless communication method make all the data generated possible to be found, so that some physical quantities in the circuit are no longer black boxes.

[0016] (5) The connector provided by this utility model is intelligent and expandable. The existence of the MCU enables it to have a certain degree of autonomous control over the electrical parameters directly facing the connector, and also facilitates the addition of various functions. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal connection of the connector provided by this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "set" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a connector for an intelligent connected vehicle electronic system, including a connector body, a monitoring module, a control module, and a circuit control module; wherein, the connector body is a 24-pin hybrid interface, including 12 high-speed differential signal channels, 8 power channels, and 4 diagnostic signal channels;

[0022] The monitoring module includes a temperature sensor and an electrical signal monitoring module. The temperature sensor is arranged around the 12-channel high-speed differential signal connector and is used to monitor the temperature of the surrounding environment and the contact point of the connector.

[0023] The electrical signal monitoring module is installed in the internal circuit of the 8-channel power connector. It is used to monitor the current / voltage / contact resistance passing through and transmit the monitoring results to the control module inside the connector body. The electrical signal monitoring module includes a current monitoring sensor or a voltage monitoring sensor and a contact resistance monitoring circuit.

[0024] The circuit control module is connected in series in the internal circuit of the 8-channel power supply connector. The control module drives the circuit control module according to the monitored electrical signal (current) data to perform on / off / voltage reduction / current limiting control on the circuit.

[0025] The control module is connected to the vehicle or ECU (electronic control unit), enabling the vehicle to directly control the connectors. It also performs temperature control and self-adjustment based on data collected by the monitoring module, stores information, provides fault warnings, and reports information.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control module includes a microcontroller unit and a memory.

[0027] Working Principle: During operation, the monitoring module continuously collects temperature and current data at the connection point and transmits the data to the microcontroller unit (MCU) of the control module, while simultaneously storing it in the control module's memory. The MCU determines the connector's current status based on the monitoring data. When an abnormality is detected (such as excessive temperature or increased contact resistance), the MCU sends a warning message to the vehicle control system via the CAN bus and initiates corresponding protective measures, such as limiting current or activating the cooling system. Furthermore, the connector can share status information with other electronic control units via the vehicle network, enabling collaborative management of the entire vehicle's electronic systems. This connector conforms to the USCAR-20 design standard, has a temperature tolerance range of -40 to 120°C, and is suitable for various automotive electronic systems, especially for high-reliability applications such as intelligent driving assistance systems and battery management systems.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector body has external dimensions of 65mm × 35mm × 28mm (length × width × height), conforming to the USCAR-20 standard; the contacts of the connector body are made of phosphor bronze C52100 material, with a gold plating thickness of 1.27μm in the contact area, a rated current of 5A / pin, and a contact resistance ≤5mΩ. The high-speed differential signal pair adopts a parallel knife-fork structure, with characteristic impedance controlled within the range of 100±10Ω; the shell is made of glass fiber reinforced PPS material (polyphenylene sulfide, 40% glass fiber content), with a flame retardant rating of UL94-V0, and can withstand operating temperatures from -40℃ to 150℃; the insulator is made of LCP liquid crystal polymer material with a dielectric strength ≥25kV / mm, forming a 0.8mm thick insulating wall between the contacts; the accessories adopt a double sealing ring structure—an inner silicone sealing ring to seal the contact cavity, and an outer EPDM sealing ring to seal the panel mounting, achieving a protection level of IP67.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the temperature sensor is a miniature NTC thermistor, with six miniature NTC thermistors embedded around the 12-channel high-speed differential signal contact, providing a temperature measurement accuracy of ±1℃, a response time of <2 seconds, and a monitoring range of -40℃ to 150℃. The current monitoring sensor is a Hall effect current sensor, with four Hall effect current sensors integrated in the eight power channels, providing a range of 0-5A, a sensitivity of 185mV / A, and a bandwidth of 80kHz, used for non-contact accurate current measurement. The contact resistance monitoring circuit adopts a four-wire Kelvin detection principle, periodically injecting a 10mA pulse current through the MCU's built-in 12-bit ADC (the MCU outputs a 10mA constant current pulse, injected into the connector contact circuit; the MCU's built-in 12-bit ADC collects the small voltage drop across the contact point and calculates the contact resistance), measuring the contact voltage drop with a resolution of up to 0.1mΩ.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the microcontroller unit (MCU) is an automotive-grade 32-bit MCU (NXPS32K344) with an operating frequency of 160MHz, a built-in 2MB Flash memory, and conforms to the ISO 26262ASIL-B functional safety level.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the microcontroller unit (MCU) self-diagnostic is based on threshold-based fault diagnosis, setting three levels of early warning thresholds (normal, early warning, and alarm). For example, the temperature threshold is set as an early warning for T > 85℃ and an alarm for T > 105℃; the contact resistance threshold is set as an early warning for R > 15mΩ and an alarm for R > 30mΩ. This connector can achieve intelligent control. When the temperature exceeds 85℃, the MCU controls the micro fan (12mm×12mm×6mm, 1.5CFM airflow) to start via a PWM signal; when it exceeds 105℃, it sends a load reduction request signal to the BCU via the CAN bus; in addition, the connector can also dynamically adjust the power channel allocation strategy based on current monitoring data; when the continuous current of a certain channel is > 4A for more than 30 seconds, the current sharing mechanism is automatically activated to balance the load to the backup channel.

[0032] In this embodiment, when the connector is working normally, the temperature sensor collects the contact point temperature at a frequency of 10Hz, the Hall effect current sensor samples the current value at a frequency of 1kHz, and the contact resistance is detected every 60 seconds. All analog signals are input to the MCU's ADC channel after being RC filtered (cutoff frequency 1kHz). The MCU data processing flow is as follows:

[0033] Initialization phase: Configure CAN-FD (2Mbps baud rate), Bluetooth (100ms broadcast interval) and I / O interface;

[0034] Data acquisition phase: Sensor data is read in batches via DMA to reduce CPU usage;

[0035] Data processing stage: Run the median average filtering algorithm (sample 10 times and take the median) to eliminate noise;

[0036] Fault diagnosis phase: Execute rule engine judgment (IF-THEN logic) to detect abnormal states;

[0037] During the communication reporting phase: Status data is packaged into CAN-FD frames (ID: 0x180 + NodeID) and sent every 100ms; Fault information is sent immediately as a high-priority frame (ID: 0x100);

[0038] Protection execution phase: Trigger corresponding protection actions based on the diagnostic results;

[0039] Specifically, when an abnormal increase in contact resistance is detected (e.g., from 5mΩ to 20mΩ), the MCU determines it as a "poor contact warning" and executes the following processing procedure:

[0040] A diagnostic frame was sent via CAN-FD: "Warning: Contact resistance high on Pin X";

[0041] Initiate local self-cleaning: Inject 3 5A pulse currents (lasting 10ms) into the pin within 50ms to ablate the oxide layer using the Joule heating effect;

[0042] Record fault logs to 128KB FRAM (ferroelectric random access memory), including timestamps, resistance values, and temperature values, ensuring that data is not lost when power is lost, and can store the most recent 1000 working logs.

[0043] If the resistance returns to the normal range, a "Recovery" frame is sent; if it continues to deteriorate beyond 30mΩ, an "Alarm" frame is sent and a request is made to the BCU (Battery Control Unit) to cut off the power to that circuit.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connector also includes a wireless communication module and a Bluetooth 5.0 module. The wireless communication module integrates a CAN-FD transceiver and supports a maximum data transmission rate of 5Mbps. The Bluetooth 5.0 module is used for near-field debugging and firmware upgrades.

[0045] The connector provided in this embodiment demonstrates significant advantages in real-vehicle testing:

[0046] Fault detection timeliness: In a mass-produced SUV test, it successfully provided an early warning of a contact loosening fault caused by vibration 72 hours in advance, avoiding the risk of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) failure.

[0047] Data transmission reliability: In an ambient temperature cycling test from -30℃ to 85℃, the bit error rate of the 12-channel GMSL2 vehicle-mounted camera signal (6Gbps) is <10%. -12 It is two orders of magnitude better than traditional connectors.

[0048] Durability: Performed insertion and removal durability test (1000 cycles), temperature cycle test (-40℃~125℃, 1000 cycles), and vibration test (10-2000Hz, 20G) according to USCAR-2 standard, with 100% integrity of smart functions.

[0049] Power consumption control: The static operating current is only 8mA and the peak operating current is 35mA, which has a negligible impact on the overall vehicle power consumption.

[0050] The above describes specific embodiments of this utility model, but the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the scope of protection of this utility model. Therefore, the scope of protection of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A connector for use in an intelligent connected vehicle electronic system, characterized in that, The system includes a connector body, a monitoring module, a control module, and a circuit control module. The connector body is a hybrid interface, comprising a high-speed differential signal channel, a power channel, and a diagnostic signal channel. The monitoring module includes a temperature sensor and an electrical signal monitoring module. The temperature sensor is located around the high-speed differential signal channel connector to monitor the temperature of the surrounding environment and the contact points. The electrical signal monitoring module is located within the power channel connector's internal circuitry to monitor the current, voltage, and contact resistance, and transmits the monitoring results to the control module within the connector body. The electrical signal monitoring module includes a current monitoring sensor and a contact resistance monitoring circuit. The circuit control module is connected in series in the internal circuit of the power channel connector. The control module drives the circuit control module according to the monitored current data to perform on / off / voltage reduction / current limiting control on the circuit. The control module is connected to the vehicle or ECU, and performs temperature control and self-adjustment based on the data collected by the monitoring module, stores information, provides fault warnings, and reports information.

2. The connector for use in an intelligent connected vehicle electronic system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module includes a microcontroller unit and a memory. The monitoring module continuously collects data and transmits the monitoring data to the microcontroller unit of the control module, while also storing it in the memory of the control module. The microcontroller unit sends warning information to the vehicle control system via the CAN bus.

3. A connector for use in an intelligent connected vehicle electronic system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The temperature sensor is a miniature NTC thermistor, with six miniature NTC thermistors embedded around the 12-channel high-speed differential signal contacts; the current monitoring sensor is a Hall effect current sensor, with four Hall effect current sensors integrated in the eight power channels.

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