Control unit and transmission for a vehicle

Abstract

Control unit (200) for a vehicle having the following features: a housing (220), wherein at least one region (610) of a wall (230) of the housing is electrically conductive to form a supply voltage interface (237) to an electrically conductive carrier component (210) for the control unit; and an electrical circuit (225) arranged in the housing and having a first voltage terminal (240) and a second voltage terminal (245) for a voltage supply of the electrical circuit and at least one data connection (250, 255) for a data connection of the electrical circuit, wherein the first voltage connection is electrically conductively connected to the region of the wall of the housing, wherein at least one further region (620) of the wall (230) of the housing (220) is electrically conductive, wherein the further region is galvanically isolated from the region (610) and is designed to form a further supply voltage interface (630) to the electrically conductive carrier component (210), and wherein the second voltage connection (245) is electrically conductively connected to the further region, each comprising one half of a wall of the housing of the control device adjacent to the carrier component, wherein the two regions are separated by an insulating layer in the middle of the housing wall.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle and a transmission for a vehicle using such a control device.

[0002] Control units, especially mechatronic control units, such as those integrated into transmissions, have connectors in a wide variety of designs. It should be noted that sealing and mechanical robustness requirements are very important features. Depending on the application, connector systems with a definable number of pins are used to carry signals and current-carrying lines in both directions. In this context, a power supply (+ / -) and a bus interface, e.g., CAN or FlexRay for sensor signals, and valve or motor control via power paths are particularly suitable.

[0003] US 2006 / 0 077 643 A1 shows various ways in which a printed circuit board can be connected to a metallic plate.

[0004] US 2003 / 0 220 001 A1 discloses a stackable USB hub.

[0005] DE 22 44 565 A shows a contact device on an enveloping body.

[0006] DE 101 39 577 C1 describes an electrical device with a plastic wall.

[0007] US 6 573 447 B2 shows an electrical device with a housing and an electrical component which is arranged inside the housing and is connected to another electrical component which is arranged outside the housing.

[0008] Against this background, the present invention provides an improved control unit for a vehicle and an improved transmission for a vehicle according to the main claims. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims and the following description.

[0009] The present invention is based on the discovery that, in addition to existing paths, alternative paths can be used for power supply or data transmission of a control unit. This allows the implementation of an integrated transmission control system that requires fewer or even no connector pins compared to conventional transmission control systems. A control unit can operate without connector pins and thus without a connector if only alternative paths for power supply and signal transmission are used.

[0010] Such minimum-pin to zero-pin mechatronics offers the advantage of enabling very simple and cost-effective connector-mating connector concepts, even eliminating the need for a connector altogether. For example, complex securing of the mating connector connected to the control unit connector, e.g., via a bayonet lock in connector systems with many pins, can be eliminated. In some cases, a simple snap-in system may be sufficient to securely connect the mating connector to the control unit for a connector with one or a few pins, as proposed here.

[0011] Furthermore, very simple sealing concepts can be implemented to seal the interior of the transmission from the exterior. Using 0-pin mechatronics eliminates the need for a seal.

[0012] If the concept proposed here is used in conjunction with a transmission, it also allows for significant savings in the number of cables required in the transmission's internal wiring harness and in the vehicle's external wiring harness. Another positive aspect is the design freedom in the transmission design, as only a small connector or no connector is present. Finally, the plugging process during transmission assembly can be significantly simplified if a mating connector no longer needs to be plugged in. Alternatively, the positive potential of the control unit's power supply can be ensured by a screw connection using a screwing process already established for mechanical assembly.

[0013] The present invention provides a control device for a vehicle having the following features: a housing, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the housing is electrically conductive to form a supply voltage interface to an electrically conductive support component for the control unit; and an electrical circuit arranged in the housing and having a first voltage terminal and a second voltage terminal for supplying voltage to the electrical circuit and at least one data terminal for connecting the electrical circuit to data, the first voltage terminal being electrically conductively connected to the region of the wall of the housing.

[0014] The control unit can be used, among other things, for controlling a vehicle's transmission. The housing can be made of metal or plastic. If it is made of plastic, at least the region of the housing wall can be made of an electrically conductive material, for example metal, in order to ensure the electrical conductivity of the region of the housing wall. For example, the region of the housing wall can be made of copper or have a copper content. The supply voltage interface can serve to connect the electrical circuit to a voltage supply of the vehicle. The voltage supply is arranged outside the housing. Thus, the supply voltage interface can serve to apply an electrical voltage to the electrical circuit and thus to supply an electrical current to the electrical circuit or to discharge the electrical current from the electrical circuit.The electrically conductive carrier component can be arranged adjacent to the wall of the housing and connected to the vehicle's power supply, for example via an electrical line. The carrier component can be electrically conductively connected to the region of the wall of the housing. Thus, the region of the housing and the carrier component are part of an electrical connection between the electrical circuit and the power supply. For example, the housing can be fixed to the carrier component using an electrically conductive adhesive, or the housing and the carrier component can be screwed together. The electrical circuit can be an integrated circuit arranged on a printed circuit board that contains the logic required for the control unit. The electrical circuit can be fastened in the housing and completely enclosed by the wall of the housing.The electrical circuit can have a plurality of passive and active electrical components that can be arranged on a circuit board within the housing. The first and second voltage terminals can be coupled to the vehicle's power supply in order to supply the electrical circuit with voltage. For example, the first voltage terminal can be used for a ground connection of the electrical circuit and the second voltage terminal can be used for an operating voltage connection, for example a positive contact connection, of the electrical circuit, or vice versa. The data terminal can be coupled to a transmission device of the vehicle, e.g. a CAN bus, and can be designed to transmit information to the electrical circuit or to send information or commands from the electrical circuit.For this purpose, the data connection can have an electrical line via which data can be alternately received and sent. Alternatively, the data connection can also have two lines, one of which can be used for data transmission and the other for data reception. The first voltage connection can, for example, be electrically connected to the wall of the housing via an electrical line, in which the electrical line contacts an inner side of the housing wall at a suitable position in the area of ​​the wall serving as the supply voltage interface. The other connections of the electrical circuit can be electrically connected to other areas of the wall or to one or more connecting elements led through the wall, for example in the form of plugs.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the carrier component can be part of a transmission of the vehicle. The transmission can be an automatic or manual transmission. The transmission part can be, for example, a metal housing wall of the transmission. This embodiment offers the advantage that the supply voltage interface of the control unit can be directly coupled to the element of the vehicle to which the functionality of the control unit is primarily directed.

[0016] In particular, the transmission part can be a transmission shift plate located on the transmission. The shift plate can be a hydraulic power distribution component of an electronically controlled transmission. If the control unit is located on the shift plate, the connecting lines between the actuators or sensors of the shift plate and the control unit can be kept short.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, the control unit can have a radio communication unit for forming a radio interface. The radio communication unit can be arranged in the housing and electrically connected to the data connection. The radio communication unit can comprise a transmitting unit and additionally or alternatively a receiving unit or a combined transmitting / receiving unit. A transmitting unit can have an antenna for transmitting data via a radio interface and the receiving unit can have an antenna for receiving data via the or a further radio interface. The radio communication unit can be designed to convert data from the data connection into radio signals and to transmit or receive them to a further radio communication unit which is electrically connected, for example, to the transmission device of the vehicle.To receive radio signals from the additional radio communication unit and provide them as wired data to the data interface. This embodiment offers the advantage of eliminating the need for a through-contact through the control unit's housing to transmit data to or from the control unit.

[0018] In particular, the wireless interface can be a Bluetooth interface of the vehicle. This is advantageously already present in many vehicles, as it is required, for example, for communication between the vehicle's navigation system and a mobile device of the vehicle driver.

[0019] According to the invention, at least one further region of the wall of the housing is electrically conductive. The further region is galvanically isolated from the region and designed to form a further supply voltage interface to the electrically conductive carrier component. The second voltage connection can be electrically conductively connected to the further region. Like the first, the second voltage connection can be electrically conductively connected to the further region of the wall of the housing, for example via an electrical line, by the electrical line contacting an inner side of the housing wall at a suitable position. The region and the further region each comprise one half of a wall of the housing of the control unit adjacent to the carrier component, the two regions being galvanically isolated by an insulating layer in the middle of the housing wall.Alternatively, the different areas can be arranged at other suitable locations, for example, on one or opposite side walls of the housing. This advantageously eliminates the need for through-contacts leading through the control unit's housing to supply the control unit with electrical voltage.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the control unit can further comprise a connector with at least one through-contact. The through-contact can be routed through the wall of the housing, wherein at least either the second voltage connection or the data connection can be electrically connected to the at least one through-contact. The through-contact can be formed, for example, by a contact pin. Such a connector can, for example, have a maximum of three through-contacts, namely one for a voltage supply and two for a data connection.

[0021] Such a connector with the smallest possible number of through contacts can be contacted with little effort during assembly of the control unit, for example with a snap-in system.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the connector can have a through-contact that is electrically connected to the second voltage terminal. No through-contact is required for the first voltage terminal, as it can be contacted via the housing area.

[0023] Furthermore, the connector can have a first through-contact and a second through-contact, and the electrical circuit can have a first data connection and a second data connection. The first through-contact can be electrically connected to the first data connection, and the second through-contact can be electrically connected to the second data connection. Thus, a data connection of the control unit can be established via the connector.

[0024] In particular, the first voltage connection can be a ground connection. This is useful because a potential carrier component to which the first voltage connection is connected is often already connected to ground, so no additional connection between the carrier component and a ground connection of the power supply is required. In this case, the control unit does not require a connector to provide a ground connection, since the connection to ground can be established exclusively via the housing wall.

[0025] The present invention further provides a transmission for a vehicle having the following features: a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and an electrically conductive carrier component for the control unit, wherein the control unit is attached to the carrier component and the electrically conductive region of the wall of the housing of the control unit is electrically conductively connected to the carrier component.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of a connector with four connection contacts, according to the prior art; Fig. 2: a block diagram of a control device with a carrier component, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3: a perspective view of a connector with three connection contacts, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4: a block diagram of a control device with a carrier component, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5: a perspective view of a connector with a terminal contact, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6: a block diagram of a control device with a carrier component, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various figures and having a similar effect, whereby a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

[0028] The Min-Pin / Zero-Pin mechatronics proposed here will be clearly explained using the exemplary embodiments of control systems using different connecting plugs described in the following figures.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug connector 100 with four connection contacts 110, according to the prior art. For the sake of clarity, only one of the connection contacts 110 is provided with a reference symbol in the illustration. The plug connector or connector 100 can be used, for example, in integrated applications to connect a circuit to a power supply and / or an information system, e.g., a bus system. Current applications use plug systems that have four pins or connection contacts 110. Two of the pins 110 are used for signal transmission via a bus system. Another pin 110 is used for the ground connection, and a fourth pin 110 is required for the power supply connection, e.g., via the positive contact of a power supply. The prerequisite for this is that all signals required for control, e.g.,of a gearbox are routed to the control electronics via a two-pole bus connection.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a control unit with a carrier component according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit shown in Fig. The system schematically illustrated in Figure 2 can be part of a vehicle. It shows a control unit 200 arranged on a support component 210. A surface of the control unit 200 can lie flat against a surface of the support component 210. The support component 210 can be a housing wall of a transmission or a shift plate of a transmission of the vehicle.

[0031] The control unit 200 comprises a housing 220 and an electrical circuit 225 arranged within the housing 220. The control unit 200 is firmly connected to the carrier component 210 by a wall 230 of the housing 220 via one or more connections 235. The one or more connections form a supply voltage interface 237 between the control unit 200 and the carrier component 210. The supply voltage interface 237 can thus be formed from the wall 230 and an electrically conductive connection 235 to the carrier component 210. The carrier component 210 itself can also be part of the supply voltage interface 237. The connections 235 can be electrical and mechanical, or merely mechanical, or merely electrical. For example, the connections 235 can be screw connections.If the connections 235 shown serve only for the mechanical connection, a further electrical connection is provided between the wall 230 of the housing 220 and the support component 210. If the connections 235 shown serve only for the electrical connection, a further mechanical connection is provided between the housing 220 and the support component 210. Thus, the wall 230 of the housing 220 serves as a replacement for a connector passing through the wall 230.

[0032] The electrical circuit 225 comprises four connection contacts, which form a first voltage connection 240, a second voltage connection 245, a first data connection 250, and a second data connection 255. The wall 230 of the housing 220 further has a connector 260 with three through contacts 265, of which only one is provided with a reference numeral for the sake of clarity. A first supply voltage line 270 for supplying the electrical circuit 225 with electrical voltage is connected to the first voltage connection 240, and a second supply voltage line 272 for supplying the electrical circuit 225 with electrical voltage is connected to the second voltage connection 245.

[0033] As the representation in Fig. 2, the first supply voltage line 270 connects the first voltage terminal 240 to the wall 230 of the housing 220 and the second supply voltage line 272 connects the second voltage terminal 245 to a first through-contact 265 of the connector 260. Between the first data terminal 250 and a second through-contact 265 runs a data line 275 for sending data from the electrical circuit 225, and between the second data terminal 255 and a third through-contact 265 runs a data line 277 for transmitting data to the electrical circuit 225. According to a Fig. In the alternative embodiment of the control unit 200 not shown in Figure 2, a unidirectional or bidirectional data transmission from and to the electrical circuit 225 can also be realized via only one connection contact and one line 275.

[0034] Internal sections of lines 272, 275, 277 are connected to external sections of lines 272, 275, 277 via connector 260. The external sections run from connector 260 to devices located outside and spatially separate from housing 220 of control unit 200. Data lines 275, 277 are routed to a transmission device 280 of the vehicle. Transmission device 280 can be, for example, a CAN bus or FlexRay of the vehicle.

[0035] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the supply voltage line 272 is designed to apply an electrical voltage to the electrical circuit 225. Accordingly, the supply voltage line 272 is connected to a positive contact of a voltage supply 285. The voltage supply 285 can be, for example, a car battery or a voltage converter of the vehicle. Accordingly, the voltage connection 240 here represents the ground connection of the control unit 200. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the supply voltage line 270, as already explained, ends, unlike in the prior art, on an inner side of the wall 230 of the housing 220, and is therefore not led out of the housing 220. Accordingly, the potential of 0V from the line 270 is conducted via the supply voltage interface 237 to a line 290 connected to the carrier component 210 and thus to the voltage supply 285 to close the circuit.

[0036] The representation in Fig. 2 illustrates that, based on the prior art, the connector system to be used can be reduced by one pin 265, specifically by a direct (internal) ground connection via the hydraulic control or circuit board 210 or the metallic transmission housing 210 to the (internal) control unit 200. As already explained, this can be implemented, for example, by mechanically and electrically connecting the base plate 230 of the control unit housing 220 to the circuit board 210 via a screw connection. Thus, the connector 260 can be reduced by one pin 265 to implement a 3-pin connector system.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of an embodiment of the connector 260 as shown in Fig. 2 is used. In contrast to the prior art, the connector 260 has only three pins or contact pins 265, of which, as can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 2, two are required for data transmission to and from the electrical circuit of the control unit and one for supplying electrical voltage to the electrical circuit of the control unit. The connector 260 has three contact pins 265, which are guided parallel to one another through a connector body made of an electrically insulating material. A mating connector can be plugged onto the free ends of the contact pins 265, via which the Fig. 2 shown external sections of the lines 272, 275, 277 can be connected to the contact pins.

[0038] Fig. 4 shows a further schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of the control unit 200 from Fig. 2. The embodiment in Fig. 4 compensates for this Fig. 2, with the difference that here the control unit 200 further comprises a radio communication unit 400. The radio communication unit 400 is arranged together with the electrical circuit 225 within the housing and is responsible for implementing data communication between the electrical circuit 225 and the transmission device 280 arranged outside the housing 220 using radio signals. For this purpose, the radio communication unit 400 has a radio interface 410 to the transmission device 280. According to this approach, the data lines 275, 277 for sending and receiving data run from the data connections 250, 255 to the radio communication unit 400. There, data received via the electrical line 275 is converted into radio signals and sent to the transmission device 280 via the radio interface 410.Conversely, radio signals received by the transmission device 280 via the radio interface 410 are converted into digital data and output to the electrical circuit 225 via the data line 277.

[0039] As the representation in Fig. 4 shows, the structure of the connector 260 can be further simplified, since the data lines 275, 277 no longer need to be led out of the housing 220 via the connector 260.

[0040] This saves two additional pins 265 by transmitting the bus information wirelessly to the electronics 225. In the comfort and communication sector, a wireless Bluetooth interface, which is required, for example, for a connection between a cell phone and a navigation system, has already been introduced as a standard for the radio interface 410. This results in a connector 260 with only one pin 265 for power supply. This implements a 1-pin connector system.

[0041] Fig. 5 shows a simplified perspective view of an embodiment of the connector 260 as shown in Fig. 4 is used. The connector 260 has only one pin or contact pin 265, which, as can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 4, is used to supply the electrical circuit of the control unit with electrical voltage.

[0042] Fig. 6 again shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the control unit 200 from the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. The embodiment in Fig. 6 is similar to the embodiment Fig. 4, with the difference that the connector is completely omitted here. The supply voltage line 272 for the positive contact is routed inside the housing 220, as is the ground line 270, to the wall 230 of the housing 220. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the section of the supply voltage line 272 extending outside the control unit 200 runs between the voltage supply 285 and a connection area 600 of the carrier component 210. Thus, the electrical voltage can be supplied to the electrical circuit 225 via the supply voltage interface 237. The illustration in Fig. 6 illustrates that here, the wall 230 forms two separate electrically conductive regions 610, 620. Accordingly, the wall 230 in the second region 620 forms a further supply voltage interface 630 to the carrier component 210. A closed circuit now exists between the voltage supply 285 and the electrical circuit 225 via mutually electrically insulated regions of the wall 230. To prevent a short circuit, both the wall 230 of the housing 220 and the carrier component 210 have insulating layers 640 for galvanically isolating the regions carrying the different potentials. Thus, the voltage is not supplied via a plug or similar contact. This means that no external line is connected directly to the wall 230 of the housing 230 or to a contact leading through the wall 230, either for voltage supply or for data transmission.

[0043] So with the Fig. 6 shown implementation of the inventive approach also the one in Fig. 5, the remaining required pin or through-contact can be eliminated, i.e., the supply voltage is routed via an existing path, e.g., via a metallic part of the transmission housing 210. Here, as explained, special design measures are taken, e.g., to prevent short circuits, i.e., the relevant parts 210, 220 are provided with an insulating layer 630. Other insulation options are also conceivable. The positive contact is attached externally, e.g., clamped or screwed on. The control unit 200 is electrically connected via the internal connection 272 from the electrical circuit 225 to this transmission part 210. Thus, a transmission connector and mating connector are no longer required. The implementation of a 0-pin mechatronics system has been completed.

[0044] The exemplary embodiments described and shown in the figures are selected only as examples. Different exemplary embodiments can be combined with each other in their entirety or with regard to individual features. Furthermore, one exemplary embodiment can be supplemented by features of another exemplary embodiment. Reference symbol 100 state-of-the-art connectors 110 Through contact or contact pin or pin of the state of the art 200 control unit 220 housings 225 electrical circuit 230 Wall of the housing 235 Connection of housing to carrier component 237 Supply voltage interface 240 first voltage connection 245 second voltage connection 250 first data connection 255 second data connection 260 connectors or plugs 265 Through contact or contact pin or pin 270 first supply voltage line 272 second supply voltage line 275 first data line 277 second data line 280 Transmission device 285 Power supply 290 electrical cable 400 radio communication unit 410 radio interface 600 Connection area carrier component 610 electrically conductive area 620 electrically conductive area 630 supply voltage interface 640 Insulating layer

Claims

[1] Control unit (200) for a vehicle which has the following features: a housing (220), wherein at least one area (610) of a wall (230) of the housing is electrically conductive to form a supply voltage interface (237) to an electrically conductive carrier component (210) for the control unit; and an electrical circuit (225) arranged in the housing and having a first voltage terminal (240) and a second voltage terminal (245) for a power supply of the electrical circuit and at least one data connection (250, 255) for a data connection of the electrical circuit, wherein the first power connection is electrically conductively connected to the area of ​​the wall of the housing, wherein at least one further area (620) of the wall (230) of the housing (220) is electrically conductive, wherein the further area is galvanically isolated from the area (610) and is configured to form a further power supply interface (630) to the electrically conductive support component (210), and wherein the second power connection (245) is electrically conductively connected to the further area, each comprising one half of a wall of the housing of the control unit adjacent to the support component, wherein the two areas are separated by an insulating layer in the middle of the housing wall. [2] Control unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the carrier component (210) is part of a transmission of the vehicle. [3] Control unit (200) according to claim 2, characterized by , that part of the gearbox is a shift plate for the gearbox. [4] Control unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit has a radio communication unit (400) for forming a radio interface (410), wherein the radio communication unit is arranged in the housing (220) and is electrically connected to the data port (250, 255). [5] Control unit (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control unit further comprises a connector (260) with at least one through-contact (265) which is guided through the wall (230) of the housing (220), wherein at least either the second voltage connection (245) or the data connection (250, 255) is electrically connected to the at least one through-contact. [6] Control unit (200) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the connector (260) has a through contact (265) which is electrically connected to the second voltage terminal (245). [7] Control unit (200) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that the connector (260) has a first through contact (265) and a second through contact (265), and wherein the electrical circuit (225) has a first data port (250) and a second data port (255), wherein the first through contact is electrically connected to the first data port and the second through contact is electrically connected to the second data port. [8] Control unit (200) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first voltage connection (240) is a ground connection. [9] Transmission for a vehicle which has the following features: a control unit (200) according to one of the preceding claims; and an electrically conductive carrier component (210) for the control unit, wherein the control unit is attached to the carrier component and the electrically conductive area (610) of the wall (230) of the housing (220) of the control unit is electrically conductively connected to the carrier component.

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