Convertible vehicle as well as method and device for controlling the convertible top of a convertible vehicle

Abstract

Device for controlling a convertible top (2) for a convertible vehicle (1), wherein the control system comprises at least two electric drive motors (3, 4), and wherein each electric drive motor (3, 4) is assigned its own control unit (5, 6), wherein the control units (5, 6) are connected to each other via a vehicle bus (7), characterized in that: • the control unit (5) is designed as the master control unit and the electric drive motor (3) as the master drive, and • the control unit (6) is designed as the slave control unit and the electric drive motor (4) as the slave drive, wherein the master control unit is configured to directly accelerate or decelerate the drive motor (3) and, in order to accelerate or decelerate the drive motor (4), to send control commands to the slave control unit via the vehicle bus (7), and the slave control unit is configured to then accelerate or decelerate the drive motor (4).

Description

The invention relates to a convertible top vehicle and to a method and a device for controlling a top of a convertible top vehicle for synchronizing the drive of the top.Vehicles with a variable top (convertible vehicles) frequently have two-sided drives for opening and closing the top. In the case of two-sided drives, it must be avoided that one drive leads or lags behind the other drive, since otherwise the top can be damaged by stresses. Synchronization of the two-sided drives is therefore necessary.Electrohydraulic systems are known in the prior art, in which a top of a convertible vehicle can be opened and closed via two hydraulic cylinders (drives). The hydraulic cylinders are actuated by means of an electric hydraulic pump via a single hydraulic circuit. Synchronization of the hydraulic cylinders is achieved by means of a uniform cylinder pressure.Electrical systems are also known in the prior art, in which a top of a convertible vehicle is moved via two drives. Between the two drives there is a mechanical rigid connection which is designed as a shaft or rod assembly. The two drives are synchronized via this rigid connection, so that a synchronization of the drives is ensured.DE 29 623 428 U1 discloses a device for driving at least one actuating means for a motor vehicle, having two electromotive actuating drives, each of which is assigned a control module. The control modules are interconnected via a single wire data line.DE 10 2010 055 232 A1 discloses a method for holding an intermediate position of a convertible top lying between an open position and a closed position, which intermediate position is provided on both sides with an electric drive in each case, which is connected to a common control unit.It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for controlling a top of a convertible vehicle which is cost-effective.This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claims 1, 5 and 6. Further advantageous embodiments are evident from the dependent claims.According to the invention, a device for controlling a top for a convertible vehicle is proposed, wherein the controller comprises at least two electric drive motors. In this case, a respective electric drive motor is assigned its own control device.According to the invention, the control units are connected to one another via a vehicle bus.In a further embodiment, the at least two electric drive motors are connected to the control units in such a way that they can be synchronized via a vehicle bus.According to the invention, the first control device is designed as a master control device and the first electric drive motor is designed as a master drive. The second control device is designed as a slave control device and the second electric drive motor is designed as a slave drive.In a further embodiment, at least one sensor is assigned to the first control device and at least one further sensor is assigned to the second control device. In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one sensor and the at least one further sensor detect at least the position of the at least two drive motors. If the position detection is determined by means of sensors, an implementation of anti-pinch protection is possible. For example, the sensors can be embodied as Hall sensors or Hall sensors. The sensors can be designed, for example, as Hall sensors. Hall sensors are sensors which make use of the Hall effect.According to the invention, a method for controlling a top for a convertible vehicle is also proposed. The controller comprises at least two electric drive motors, wherein a respective electric drive motor is assigned its own control device. The drive motors are synchronized by exchanging information between the control units via a vehicle bus.According to the invention, the first control device operates as a master control device and the first electric drive motor operates as a master drive. The second control device operates as a slave control device and the second electric drive motor operates as a slave drive.Furthermore, a convertible vehicle (1) with a device according to Claims 1-4 is proposed.In a further embodiment, the drive is controlled by means of pulse width modulation on both sides. The movement profile of the drive can thus be parameterized and can therefore be controlled easily.By connecting the drives on both sides of the vehicle to the vehicle bus, both drives can be diagnosed, parameterized and flashed. Thus, a fault in the case of maintenance can easily be read out, and the software of the control units can easily be adapted via a diagnostic interface.In a further embodiment, the drives on the right and on the left are designed as identical components, so that a variety of variants in assembly and storage is avoided.In a further embodiment, the control units are installed directly on the drive. In this advantageous embodiment, electromagnetic interference of other components is avoided.According to the invention, a vehicle bus is understood to be a field bus that is used in a vehicle. It can be designed as a CAN bus or LIN bus. However, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a convertible vehicle with a top. FIG. 2 shows a system overview of the electrical system FIG. 3 shows an overview of data communication FIG. 4 shows a top driveFIG. 1 shows a convertible vehicle 1 with a top 2. The top is not fully closed in the illustrated position. The thick arrow indicates that the top is movable. In this exemplary illustration, a closing movement is carried out.FIG. 2 shows a system overview of the electrical system for controlling a convertible top 2 of a convertible vehicle 1 for synchronizing the drive of the convertible top. The electrical system for convertible top operation comprises at least the following main components:• A control device 5 for actuating the top - shown here as a unit with the drive motor 3• A control device 6 for actuating the top - shown here as a unit with the drive motor 4• A Top Actuation Button E137Furthermore, in various further embodiments, the electrical system can comprise at least one of the following components as optional components:• A "convertible top" indicator lamp K215 shown here in the control unit in the control panel insert J285• Sensor for "closed-left hood" F 411 - for example arranged in the main left bearing of the hood• Sensor for "closed right top" F412 - for example arranged in the main right bearing of the top• Sensor for "left-hand top compartment cover" F290 - for example arranged in the left main bearing of the top• Sensor for "hood lid to the right" F291 - for example arranged in the main right bearing of the hood• Roof locking with the motor for roof locking V223, - for example arranged in the roof cross member• Sensor for "Roof lock open" F294 and "Roof lock closed" F295 - for example arranged in the front bow• Sensor for "roof locking left" F169 and "roof locking right" F170 - for example arranged in the roof cross memberAn overview of data communication is shown in FIG. 3. The convertible top 2 has a master drive motor 3 and a slave drive motor 4. The control device 6 for actuating the convertible top is arranged on the slave drive motor 4. The control units 5 and 6 are integrated in a first vehicle data bus. This vehicle data bus is used to synchronize and exchange data between master and slave and also to communicate with numerous other control devices. These may also be networked via further vehicle buses. As examples, various vehicle data buses a, b, c, d, and e are shown herein. As an example, the following control units are listed as the networking:• Control Device for ABS J 104• Controller for Cimatronic J255• Control device for actuating the top 5• Control Unit in Panel Insert J285• Controller for air conditioner J301• Door control device driver side J386• J387 Passenger Side Door Controller J387• Door controller at the rear left J388• Door controller at the rear right J389• On-board power supply control device J519• Diagnostic interface for data bus J533• Engine control device J623• Control device for actuating the top 6By way of example, the following sensors and actuators are also listed in FIG. 3, wherein the sensors can be embodied as contactless sensors, but also as switches or push buttons:• Sensor for folding top closed on the right F 411• Sensor for closed top left F412• Check lamp for hood operation K215• Engine for roof lock V223Master and slave control units have to receive and process different information, the actual decision and thus also the control task is taken over by the master control unit 5. This information is used by the master control device 5 for synchronizing both drive motors 3, 4. The drive motor 3 is directly accelerated or throttled by the master control unit 5. In order to accelerate or throttle the drive motor 4, the master control unit 5 sends control commands to the slave control unit 6 via the vehicle bus 7.FIG. 4 shows a top drive on the left side. The drive motor 3 is arranged on the control unit 5 and forms an integrated structural unit and is installed on the left main bearing of the convertible top frame. The control device 5 operates as a master. The drive motor 3 is completed with an additional gear 8, which is connected to the toothed segment 9 on the main column of the top and converts the rotating movement of the drive motor 3 into the folding movement of the top frame. The sensor or switch F 411 detects whether the hood on the left side of the vehicle is closed. The switch F 411 can be embodied, for example, as a Hall sensor. On the basis of the switch signal, the control device for actuating the convertible top 5 detects whether the convertible top has reached its end position. The sensor or switch for the top compartment cover on the left F 290 can likewise be designed as a hall sensor and is installed on the left main bearing in this embodiment. F290 identifies whether the convertible top cover is inserted into the convertible top frame. In order to be able to close the top, the top cover must be detached and removed.FIG. 5 shows a top drive on the right side. The drive motor 4 is arranged on the control unit 6 and forms an integrated structural unit and is installed on the right main bearing of the convertible top frame. The control device 6 operates as a slave. The drive motor 4 is completed with an additional gear 10, which is connected to the toothed segment 11 on the main column of the top and converts the rotating movement of the drive motor 4 into the folding movement of the top frame. A sensor or switch F 412 detects whether the hood on the right side of the vehicle is closed. The switch F 412 can be embodied, for example, as a Hall sensor. On the basis of the switch signal, the control device for the hood actuation 6 detects whether the hood has reached its end position. The sensor or switch for the convertible top compartment cover on the right F 291 can likewise be designed as a hall sensor and is installed on the right main bearing in this embodiment. It is detected via F291 whether the hood cover is inserted into the hood frame. In order to be able to close the top, the top cover must be detached and removed.The embodiments in FIGS. 4 and 5 can also be arranged on the other side of the vehicle. The control device 5 would then operate as master on the right side and the control device 6 as slave on the left side. The sensors or switches would then also detect the other side as described above.

Claims

Device for controlling a top (2) for a convertible vehicle (1), wherein the controller comprises at least two electric drive motors (3, 4), and wherein a separate control device (5, 6) is assigned to each electric drive motor (3, 4), wherein the control devices (5, 6) are connected to one another via a vehicle bus (7), characterized in that • the control device (5) is designed as a master control device and the electric drive motor (3) is designed as a master drive, and • the control device (6) is designed as a slave control device and the electric drive motor (4) is designed as a slave drive, wherein the master control device is designed to directly accelerate or throttle the drive motor (3) and, in order to accelerate or throttle the drive motor (4), to transmit control commands to the slave control device via the vehicle bus (7), and the slave control device is designed to transmit control commands to the slave control device, the drive motor (4) is then accelerated or throttled.Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least two electric drive motors (3, 4) are connected to the control units (5, 6) in such a way that the electric drive motors (3, 4) can be synchronized by the control units (5, 6) via the vehicle bus (7).Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one sensor (F170, F291, F294, F295, F412) is assigned to the control unit (5) and at least one sensor (E137, F169, F290, F411) is assigned to the control unit (6).Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the sensors (F290, F291, F411, F412) is designed as a Hall sensor.Method for controlling a top (2) for a convertible vehicle (1), • wherein the controller comprises at least two electric drive motors (3, 4) and • wherein a separate control device (1, 2) is assigned to each electric drive motor (3, 4) and the drive motors (3, 4) are synchronized by exchanging information between the control devices (5, 6) via a vehicle bus (7), characterized in that • the control device (5) operates as a master control device and the electric drive motor (3) operates as a master drive and • the control device (6) operates as a slave control device and the electric drive motor (4) operates as a slave drive, wherein the drive motor (3) is directly accelerated or throttled by the master control device (5) and, in order to accelerate or throttle the drive motor (4), the master control device (5) sends control commands to the slave control device via the vehicle bus (7), and the slave control device then accelerates or throttles the drive motor ( 4).Convertible vehicle (1) having a device according to Claims 1 - 4.

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