Data logger, data acquisition network, motor vehicle and procedure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data logger for recording measured values ​​in a vehicle, comprising a measurement acquisition device configured to acquire measured values ​​for a predetermined parameter in or for a vehicle; a communication interface configured to couple the data logger with at least one other data logger in a data communication connection; and a common interface.with a control unit configured to forward the acquired measured values ​​to other data loggers via the communication interface and / or to retrieve measured values ​​acquired via the communication interface of other data loggers, and to execute at least one application by making the measured values ​​acquired by the data logger and the other data loggers available to the application via the common interface, regardless of which data logger acquired the respective measured values. The present invention further relates to a data acquisition network with a data logger, a motor vehicle, and a method for recording measured values ​​using a data logger.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a data logger for recording recorded measured values in a vehicle. The present invention relates to a data acquisition network having a data logger, a motor vehicle and a method for recording measured values by means of a data logger.BACKGROUND ARTA data logger denotes a processor-controlled memory unit which receives data at a specific rhythm via an interface and stores it on a storage medium. For this purpose, a data logger usually consists of a programmable microprocessor, a storage medium, at least one interface and one or more channels for connecting the data source, such as sensors. Data is recorded externally or internally via a manufacturer-dependent interface. Although it can be extended in principle to any processor-controlled memory units, the present invention and the problem on which it is based are explained below with reference to a data logger.In modern vehicle development, a large number of different systems are used for data acquisition, in order to record, for example, the behavior of the vehicle under predefined environmental conditions or in predefined driving situations.In-vehicle data acquisition systems are generally equipped with dedicated sensors, e.g., position detection sensors are installed with the in-vehicle data acquisition system. Such data acquisition systems can, however, also rely on the vehicle internal sensors. For this purpose, these systems have, for example, suitable communication interfaces which are coupled to the respective bus systems in the vehicles, to which the vehicle-mounted sensors transmit their data.Systems used today for data acquisition in vehicles usually consist of individual data acquisition units operating independently of one another, which each independently acquire data and store it in an internal data memory. After the data have been acquired, for example after a test trip has ended, the data acquired in this way can be transmitted to a computer system in order to be evaluated there. As internal data memories, such systems usually use SD memory cards, hard disks or the like.In order to evaluate the recorded data, it is necessary in such systems to evaluate the data recorded by the data recording units individually. However, there is often a need to consider these data in their entirety. This is relatively complicated. In addition, this is associated with a time delay, as a result of which these systems cannot be used dynamically. In this case, these data must be combined in a central system for their evaluation.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAgainst this background, it is an object of the present invention to enable easier handling of measurement data recorded in a vehicle.This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claims.Accordingly, the following is provided:a data logger for recording recorded measured values in a vehicle, having a measured value recording device which is designed to record measured values for a predefined parameter in or for a vehicle; having a communication interface which is designed to couple the data logger to at least one further data logger in a data-communication connection; having a common interface; having a control device which is designed to forward the recorded measured values via the communication interface to the further data loggers and / or to call measured values recorded via the communication interface by further data loggers from them, and executing at least one application in that the measured values recorded by the data logger and the further data logger can be provided to the application via the common interface independently of which data logger has recorded the respective measured values.a data acquisition network in or for a vehicle, having at least one data logger according to the invention and having a data network which couples the data loggers to one another in a data-communicating connection.a motor vehicle, having a data acquisition network according to the invention and / or having a data logger according to the invention.A method for recording measured values by means of a data logger, having the steps of: acquiring measured values for a predefined parameter in the vehicle; coupling the data logger in a data-communicating connection to at least one further data logger; forwarding the acquired measured values via the data-communicating connection to at least one further data logger and / or retrieving measured values acquired by means of the further data logger via the data-communicating connection; executing at least one application; providing the measured values acquired by the data logger and the measured values acquired by the further data logger to at least one application via a common interface, independently of which data logger the respective measured values were acquired.A data acquisition network for a vehicle, comprising at least one data logger according to the invention and comprising a data network which couples the data loggers to one another in a data-communicating connection.The realization on which the present invention is based is that subsequent merging and evaluation of measured values recorded in the vehicle, e.g. after a test trip, is not very flexible and involves relatively high outlay. The idea on which the present invention is based now consists in taking this knowledge into account and providing a possibility of processing the recorded measured values jointly, even if they were recorded by separate data loggers.For this purpose, the present invention provides a novel data logger which, in addition to a measured value acquisition device, also has a communication interface via which a plurality of data loggers can be connected to one another.The control device of the data logger according to the invention is designed to execute different applications for recording and processing the measured values. Furthermore, the control device is designed to forward the recorded measured values to the executed applications. In this case, the control device provides the applications via an interface with measured values which have been recorded by the measured value recording device of the data logger on which the application is executed. The control device can also provide the respective application, via the same interface, with those measured values which were recorded by other data loggers. For this purpose, the control device only needs to retrieve these measured values from the further data loggers via the communication interface.The present invention makes it possible to process and process measured values acquired by a plurality of data loggers independently of the respective data logger which acquired the measured values. Each application which is executed in the data logger according to the invention has access to the recorded measured values of all further data loggers coupled to this data logger.Advantageous embodiments and refinements emerge from the dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures.In one embodiment, the measured value acquisition device has at least one analog interface and / or at least one CAN bus and / or FlexRay and / or LIN and / or MOST bus interface. This makes it possible to use the data logger according to the invention in a multiplicity of fields of application with different requirements and communication methods.In one embodiment, the data logger has a data memory which is designed to store the measured values recorded by the data logger and to provide them to the control device. This makes it possible not only to process the recorded measured values directly in the data logger and to transmit them via the communication interface, but rather the recorded measured values can also be read out of the memory and processed after the recording.In one embodiment, the control device is designed to temporally synchronize the acquisition of measurement values by the measurement value acquisition device of the data logger with the acquisition of measurement values by the measurement value acquisition devices of the further data loggers via the communication interface. This makes it possible to synchronize a plurality of data loggers and to analyze the acquired measured values on a common time base. This enables a very detailed analysis and summary of the measured values recorded by different data loggers.In one embodiment, the communication interface is further configured to couple the data logger to a computer network. This makes it possible to exchange data between data loggers and a computer operated by, for example, a development engineer.In one embodiment, the communication interface is designed as an Ethernet interface, as a glass fiber interface or the like.In a further embodiment, the communication interface has two Ethernet interfaces, two optical fiber interfaces or the like. This makes it possible to connect the data loggers to each other in the form of a chain. The bandwidth of the communication interface can thus be used more efficiently than in the case of a single network interface.In one embodiment, the control device is designed to receive control commands for the application from a computer of the computer network and to forward them to the application. This makes remote control of the application by a user possible.In one embodiment, the control device is designed to receive an application from a computer of the computer network and to execute the received application. This makes it possible to play applications according to requirements that are adapted to a respective measurement task.In one embodiment, the data acquisition network has at least one computing device which is designed to retrieve measured values acquired by the data loggers and to provide them to an application executed in the computing device. In this case, in one embodiment, the computing device itself does not have a measurement value acquisition device. This makes it possible to use, for example, highly specialized data loggers that are specialized for the acquisition of the measured values and carry out the evaluation of the acquired measured values in a computing device using a very powerful processor.The above embodiments and developments can be combined with one another as desired, if appropriate. Further possible embodiments, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments, which combinations are not explicitly mentioned. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention.CONTENT SPECIFICATION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments indicated in the schematic figures of the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a data logger according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention; FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a data acquisition network according to the invention, which has a data logger according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a data logger according to the present invention.The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned are evident with reference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to each other.In the figures of the drawing, elements, features and components that are the same, functionally the same and act the same-unless stated otherwise-are each provided with the same reference numerals.DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a data logger according to the invention. The data logger 1- 1 denoted by reference sign 1- 1 has a measured value acquisition device 4 which is coupled to a control device 6. The control device 6 is in turn coupled to a communication interface 5 and executes an application 7 which can be provided via an interface 8 with both measured values 2 which were recorded via the measured value recording device 4 of the data logger 1- 1 and measured values 2 which were interrogated via the communication interface 5 by other data loggers 1- 2- nThe interface 8 abstracts the data access of the application to the measured values in such a way that from the point of view of the application no difference can be established whether the measured values 2 have been recorded by the measured value recording device 4 of the data logger 1-1 or whether other data loggers 1-2-n have interrogated via the communication interface 5.The interface 8 can be designed, for example, as an API of an operating system which is installed on the control device 6 and controls the execution of the application.In one embodiment, the control device 6 can also have an interpreter which executes the application. In such an embodiment, the application is present in a byte code, which can be interpreted by the interpreter. This makes it possible to execute an application, which has been created once as bytecode, on control devices having different processor architectures.In principle, an application for recording the measured values 2 is executed on all data loggers 1- 2- nwithout further interpretation.The application 7 can furthermore perform at least one of the following calculations or analyses of the measured values:Simple trigger: detecting and marking measured values 2 containing a specific data sequence;complex triggers: detecting and marking events which are distinguished by specific semantically contiguous measured value sequences of an interface and / or of a plurality of different interfaces;Signal-based data recording: semantic evaluation of the measured values 2 of one or different bus systems in order to extract "signals" such as speed.For example, in an exemplary embodiment, data logger 1- 1 is installed in a vehicle 3 and coupled to the FlexRay bus of vehicle 3. The application 7 is designed, for example, to analyze the recorded measured values 2 for the occurrence of a specific signal on the bus (e.g., the triggering signal of the airbag) and, when the signal occurs, to examine the values, e.g., of the acceleration sensors of the vehicle 3, for a predetermined maximum value to be exceeded within the next second.A further exemplary embodiment relates to the evaluation of the arrow representation of a navigation system, which is sent to a combination instrument via a CAN bus. At the same time, in such an embodiment, voice instructions of the navigation system can be transmitted on the MOST bus. In the event of a fault, an arrow to the left could be displayed, for example, in the display instrument, but the audio output of the navigation system could output a turn to the right. In order to detect this event, a data logger according to the invention can evaluate MOST audio data and record CAN data.In an additional or alternative embodiment, the application is designed to use a so-called complex trigger for monitoring the recorded measured values 2. A complex trigger can be composed of conditions that do not relate only to a single measured value 2. Rather, a complex trigger can specify conditions for a multiplicity of measured values 2, which also originate from different data loggers 1- 1- nand from different bus systems, for example of a vehicle 3 to be analyzed.FIG. 2 shows an exemplary flow diagram of a method according to the invention.The method according to the invention provides for the acquisition of the measured values 2 in the vehicle 3 in a first step S 1. In a second step S 2, the data logger 1- 1 is coupled to further data loggers 1- 2- 1- nin a data-communicating connection. In a third step S 3, provision is made for the measured values 2 recorded by the data logger 1- 1 to be provided via the data-communication connection to the further data loggers 1- 2- 1- nand / or for measured values 2 to be obtained from the further data loggers 1- 2- 1- nvia the data-communication connection. In a fourth step S 4, at least one application 7 is executed. Finally, in a step S 5, the measured values 2 recorded by the data logger 1- 1 and the measured values 2 recorded by the further data loggers 1- 2- 1- nare provided via a common interface 8 to the at least one application 7 regardless of which data logger 1- 1- 1- nwere used to record the respective measured values 2.The sequence or numbering of the above steps S 1-S 5 does not represent a restriction of the actual processing sequence for the method here, but serves merely for illustrative purposes. Rather, the individual steps can also vary.In a further embodiment, not shown in FIG. 2, the storage of the measured values 2 recorded by the data logger 1- 1- nis provided.In a further embodiment, not shown in FIG. 2, the temporal synchronization of the acquisition of measurement values 2 in the data logger 1- 1 with the acquisition of measurement values 2 by the further data loggers 1- 2- 1- nis provided.In another embodiment, not shown in FIG. 2, the data logger 1- 1 is coupled to a computer network 10.In a further embodiment, likewise not shown, control commands 11 for the application 7 are received by a computer 12 of the computer network 10 and the received control commands 11 are forwarded to the application 7.In a further embodiment, likewise not shown, the reception of an application 7 from a computer 12 of the computer network 10 and the execution of the received application 7 are provided.FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a data acquisition network 13 according to the invention. The data acquisition network 13 in FIG. 3 here has two data loggers 1- 1 and 1- n, which are connected to one another by a data network 14. A computing device 15 is also connected to the data network 14, which computing device can communicate with the data loggers 1- 1 and 1- nvia the data network 14. Further data loggers can of course also be provided, which is indicated by three points between the data loggers 1- 1 and 1- n.In one embodiment, the computing device 15 is designed as a powerful computer 15 which, via the data network 14, queries the recorded measured values 2 from the data loggers 1- 1 and 1- nand performs different calculations using the queried measured values 2.In one embodiment, the computing device 15 can perform at least one of the following calculations or analyses of the measured values:classification: statistical evaluation of signals (e.g. Min / Max values) contained in the measured values 2;evaluating the totality of all vehicle signals without and with time dimension (conversion via a script interpreter);Fleet management: execution of an application which communicates via a cordless interface with a computing device outside the vehicle in order to centrally archive all recorded vehicle data.In a further embodiment, the computing device 15 can likewise use a complex trigger for monitoring the recorded measured values 2.Furthermore, the computing device 15 can also have, for example, a mass storage device which is designed to centrally store measured values 2 of different bus systems which are recorded by different data loggers 1- 1- n. In modern motor vehicles, which comprise, for example, CAN buses, FlexRay buses, LIN buses and MOST buses, the data volume per hour can be more than 500 megabytes. It is therefore advantageous to store these measured values 2 centrally instead of equipping each of the data loggers 1- 1- nwith its own complicated mass storage.FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a further exemplary embodiment of a data logger 1- 1 according to the invention.The data logger 1- 1 in FIG. 4 is integrated into a data acquisition network 13 (not separately shown). This data acquisition network 13 has two further data loggers 1- 2 and 1- 3, which are coupled via a data network 14 to the data logger 1- 1 and a computing device 15.Finally, the data loggers 1- 1- 1- 3, the computing device 15 and the data network 14 are installed in a vehicle 3, here in an automobile 3, in order to acquire measured values in this vehicle 3.In contrast to the data logger 1- 1 from FIG. 1, the data logger 1- 1 in FIG. 4 further has a data memory 9, which is designed to store the recorded measured values 2 or at least a part thereof.The data logger 1- 1 in FIG. 4 is coupled via a computer network 10 to a computer 12 which transmits control commands 11 to the data logger 1- 1. These control commands 11 can be control commands 11 for the application 7 which is currently being executed on the data logger 1- 1. For example, the control commands 11 can instruct the application 7 to transmit measured values to the computer 12, via which these measured values can be displayed to a user. The control commands 11 can also be used to start, stop or pause the acquisition of measured values 2 by the application 7 or the data logger 1- 1. However, the control commands 11 can also contain parameters for the application 7.In a further embodiment, the control device 6 can receive a new application 7 from the computer 12 and execute it. In this way, it becomes possible to employ a new application 7 when the data logger 1- 1 is already installed in a vehicle or the like.Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto, but can be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, the invention can be modified or modified in a wide variety of ways without departing from the essence of the invention.The term data logger is to be understood in the description and claims as a processor-controlled memory unit, although a data logger per se naturally represents the preferred embodiment of such a processor-controlled memory unit.In particular, the data logger according to the invention does not have to have exclusively the elements identified therein. Rather, the data logger can also comprise further elements and functional units.Moreover, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the protocols and standards set forth above, which are intended to be illustrative only.Finally, the numerical data given are also intended merely for understanding and are not intended to restrict the invention to this end.List of reference characters1-1 1-n data logger 2 measured values 3 vehicle 4 measured value acquisition device 5 communication interface 6 control device 7 application 8 interface 9 data memory 10 computer network 11 control command 12 computer 13 data acquisition network 14 data network 15 computing device

Claims

Data logger (1-1-1-n) for recording recorded measured values (2) in a vehicle (3), having a measured value recording device (4) which is designed to record measured values (2) for a predefined parameter in or for a vehicle (3); having a communication interface (5) which is designed to couple the data logger (1-1) to at least one further data logger (1-2-1-n) in a data-communication connection; having a common interface (8); having a control device (6) which is designed to - forward the recorded measured values (2) via the communication interface (5) to the further data loggers (1-2-1-n) and / or to call measured values (2) recorded by further data loggers (1-2-1-n) via the communication interface (5) from these, - to execute at least one application (7) by making it possible to provide the measured values (2) recorded by the data logger (1-1) and the further data loggers (1-2-1-n) to the application (7) via the common interface (8) independently of which data logger (1-1-1-n) has recorded the respective measured values (2); wherein the interface (8) is designed to abstract the data access of the application to the measured values in such a way that from the point of view of the application (7) no difference can be established whether the measured values (2) have been recorded by the measured value recording device (4) or whether they have been interrogated via the communication interface (5).Data logger according to Claim 1, characterized in that the measured value acquisition device (4) has at least one analog interface and / or at least one CAN bus and / or FlexRay and / or LIN and / or MOST bus interface.Data logger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a data memory (9) is provided, which is designed to store the measured values (2) recorded by the data logger (1-1) and to provide them to the control device (6).Data logger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (6) has a synchronization device which is designed to synchronize the measured values (2) of the data logger (1-1) recorded by the measured value recording device (4) via the communication interface (5) with measured values (2) recorded by the measured value recording devices (4) of the further data loggers (1-2-1-n).Data logger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication interface (5) is furthermore designed to couple the data logger (1-1) to an external computer network (10).Data logger according to Claim 5, characterized in that the control device (6) is designed to receive control commands (11) for the application (7) from an external computer (12) of the computer network (10) and to pass them on to the application (7).Data logger according to one of the preceding claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the control device (6) is designed to receive a further application (7) from an external computer (12) of the computer network (10) and to execute the received further application (7).Data acquisition network (13) in or for a vehicle (3), having at least one data logger (1-1-1-n) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 and having a data network (14) which couples the data loggers (1-1-1-n) to one another in a data-communicating connection.Data acquisition network according to Claim 8, characterized in that at least one computing device (15) is provided, which is designed to call measured values (2) recorded by the data loggers (1-1-1-n) and to provide these to an application (7) executed in the computing device (15).Motor vehicle, having a data acquisition network (13) according to one of Claims 8 or 9 and / or having a data logger (1-1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7.Method for recording measured values (2) by means of a data logger (1-1), having the steps: recording (S1) measured values (2) for a predefined parameter in the vehicle (3); coupling (S2) the data logger (1-1) in a data-communicating connection to at least one further data logger (1-2-1-n); forwarding (S3) the recorded measured values (2) via the data-communicating connection to at least one further data logger (1-2-1-n) and / or retrieving measured values (2) recorded by means of the further data logger (1-2-1-n) via the data-communicating connection; executing (S4) at least one application (7); providing (S5) the measured values (2) recorded by the data logger (1-1) and the further data loggers (1-2-1-n) to at least one application (7) via a common interface (8) independently of which data logger (1-1-1-n) the respective measured values (2) were recorded, wherein the data access of the application (7) to the measured values is abstracted in such a way that no difference can be established from the point of view of the application (7) whether the measured values (2) were recorded by the measured value recording device (4) or whether they were queried via the communication interface (5).Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that measured values (2) recorded by the data logger (1-1) are stored.Method according to one of the preceding method-related claims, characterized in that the measured values (2) recorded by the data logger (1-1) are synchronized in time with the measured values (2) recorded by the further data loggers (1-2-1-n).Method according to one of the preceding method-related claims, characterized in that the data logger (1-1) is coupled to a computer network (10).Method according to Claim 14, characterized by: receiving control commands (11) for the application (7) from a computer (12) of the computer network (10) and forwarding the received control commands (11) to the application (7); and / or receiving an application (7) from a computer (12) of the computer network (10) and executing the received application (7).

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