SWITCHING MODULE

Abstract

Switching module (10), comprising: a switching unit (101 to 108), and a determination unit (110) configured to determine a function of the switching unit (101 to 108) and an ON / OFF state of the switching unit (101 to 108), wherein the switching unit (101 to 108) is provided with a plurality of function-determining resistors (R1, R2), and wherein the determination unit (110) is configured to determine the function of the switching unit (101 to 108) according to a combination of voltages applied to the plurality of function determination resistors (R1, R2) corresponding to resistance values ​​of the plurality of function determination resistors (R1, R2), wherein the switching module (10) further includes: a first storage unit (115a) that stores a first correspondence table (Ta1) between resistance value ranges of the plurality of function-determining resistors (R1, R2) and a primary identifier, and characterized by the fact that a second storage unit (115a) which stores a second correspondence table (Ta2) between a combination of a plurality of primary identifiers and an identification ID of the switching unit (101 to 108), wherein the identification ID has a one-to-one correspondence with a function of the switching unit (101 to 108), and wherein the determination unit (110) is configured to read the plurality of primary identifiers from the first storage unit (115a), to read the identification ID corresponding to the combination of the plurality of primary identifiers from the second storage unit (115a) and to determine the function of the switching unit (101 to 108).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a switching module comprising a switching unit and a determination unit configured to determine a function and an ON / OFF state of the switching unit.

[0002] The control unit of a vehicle-mounted device described in patent literature 1 was proposed as the aforementioned switching module. In the control unit of the vehicle-mounted device, a command unit-determination unit (determination unit) determines a function of a control command unit (switching unit) based on a detection result of a resistance value of a resistive element that is integrated into the control command unit with a switching function.

[0003] [Patent literature 1] JP H10 - 6 884 A

[0004] However, the control unit of the vehicle-mounted device described above only provides a single resistor element in the control command unit. Therefore, resistance values ​​for resistor elements corresponding to a number of types must be prepared. This leads to the problem that, with a large number of control command unit types, the resistor element cannot be prepared and the type cannot be determined.

[0005] DE 199 55 070 A1 describes a switching module, as defined above, with several switches that have different switching functions. The state and function of a switch are detected by a control circuit. The switching function is coded by applying a voltage to at least two resistors; the resulting resistance values ​​or voltage drops are used to determine an associated code.

[0006] One or more embodiments provide a switching module that can easily determine a function even when the number of functions in switching units is large.

[0007] This is achieved by the features of independent claim 1. The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, a switching module can be provided which can easily determine a function even when the number of functions in the switching units is large. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of a switching module according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of the switching module of Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 3 shows a memory element in a control circuit of Fig. 2 stored correspondence tables. Fig. 4 shows one in the memory in the control circuit of Fig. 2 stored correspondence tables. Fig. 5 is a flowchart that shows a processing procedure of the in Fig. The control circuit shown in section 2 is shown. Fig. 6 is a flowchart that shows a processing procedure of the in Fig. The control circuit shown in 2 is in normal mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Specific embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a switching module 10 comprises a plurality of switching units 101 to 108, which are actuated by an occupant, and a determining unit 110 to which the switching units 101 to 108 are removably attached and which determines the ON / OFF states of the attached switching units 101 to 108. In this embodiment, the determining unit 110 is as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2 shown is communicatively connected to a body control module (BCM) 200, which serves as a higher-level control unit described below, and sends the ON / OFF states of the switching units 101 to 108 to the BCM 200.

[0011] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, each of the switching units 101 to 108 described below contains an actuating unit 11, which is pressed by the occupant, a switching body 12 to which the actuating unit 11 is attached, and a switching substrate 13 ( Fig. 2), which is incorporated in the switching element 12. In this embodiment, the switching units 101 to 108 are described by way of example as a switching unit in which a push-button actuation is carried out, although the present invention is not limited thereto. A selector actuation, a rocker actuation or the like can be carried out on the switching units 101 to 108.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a functional design 11a, representing a function of the switching units 101 to 108, and a lighting design 11b, representing an ON / OFF state of the switching units 101 to 108, are provided on a front surface of the actuating unit 11. To enable the Fig. To simplify the drawing shown in example 1, the functional design 11a and the lighting design 11b are only provided in the switching unit 103, whereas in practice the functional design 11a and the lighting design 11b are provided on all switching units 101 to 108 that function as switches.

[0013] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, a connector (not shown) with terminals T1 to T8 is mounted on the switching substrate 13. The switching substrate 13 can be electrically connected to the determination unit 110 described below via terminals T1 to T8.

[0014] Mounted on the switching substrate 13 are a lighting LED 13a for switching on the functional design 11a, an ON / OFF LED 13b for switching on the lighting design 11b, and two switching contacts SW, which are switched on / off in response to a push-button operation. One end of the lighting LED 13a and the ON / OFF LED 13b are connected to ground, and the other ends of the lighting LED 13a and the ON / OFF LED 13b are connected to separate terminals T1 and T2. The two switching contacts SW are connected in parallel, with one end of each SW connected to ground and the other end of each SW connected to terminal T3.

[0015] Furthermore, two functional resistors R1 and R2 and two voltage-division resistors R3 and R4 are mounted on the switching substrate 13. The functional resistor R1 and the voltage-division resistor R3 are connected in series. The functional resistor R2 and the voltage-division resistor R4 are also connected in series. A series circuit containing resistors R1 and R3 and a series circuit containing resistors R2 and R4 are connected in parallel. The resistance values ​​of the two functional resistors R1 and R2 are set as a combination corresponding to a function of the switching units 101 to 108.

[0016] In this embodiment, twelve types of resistors with values ​​of 100Ω, 110Ω, 120Ω, 130Ω, 150Ω, 180Ω, 200Ω, 220Ω, 240Ω, 270Ω, 300Ω, and 330Ω are provided as the functional resistors R1 and R2. A combination of these resistors, corresponding to the function of the switching units 101 to 108, is mounted on these units. The resistance values ​​of the two voltage-dividing resistors R3 and R4 are identical and are also the same across all switching units 101 to 108.

[0017] Both ends of the series circuit containing resistors R1 and R3, and both ends of the series circuit containing resistors R2 and R4, are connected to terminals T5 and T5. Resistor R1 and resistor R3 are connected to terminal T6, and resistor R2 and resistor R4 are connected to terminal T7. A circuit for supplying ground to the switching substrate 13 is connected to terminal T8.

[0018] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the determining unit 110 comprises a housing 111 to which the plurality of switching units 101 to 108 are attached, and a parent substrate 112 contained in the housing 111 ( Fig. 2) The housing 111 is provided with insertion holes 17a into which the switching units 101 to 108 are inserted. In this embodiment, four insertion holes 17a are provided, with two of the switching units 101 to 108 being inserted into one insertion hole 17a.

[0019] This means that in this embodiment, a maximum of eight switching units 101 to 108 can be attached to the destination unit 110. It is certainly not necessary to attach all eight of these switching units 101 to 108, and a required number of switching units 101 to 108 can be attached to the destination unit 110. For example, if it is necessary to attach seven switching units 101 to 107, it is assumed that switching unit 108 is attached without the switching substrate 13 as a remaining switching unit 108 in order to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the switching module 10.

[0020] A connector C1 for connection to the BCM 200 is mounted on the parent substrate 112. The parent substrate 112 is connected to the BCM 200 via a power supply line L1, a ground line L2, and a multiplex communication line L3.

[0021] The parent substrate 112 comprises a power supply circuit 113, a communication circuit 114, a control circuit 115, and an output circuit 116. The power supply circuit 113 is a circuit that converts a power supply provided by the BCM 200, via the power supply line L1 and the ground line L2, into a power supply for the control unit 115 and supplies the power supply to the control circuit 115. The communication circuit 114 is a circuit for communication with the BCM 200.

[0022] The control circuit 115 consists of a microcomputer containing a well-known CPU, ROM, and RAM, which controls the entire switching module 10. The output circuit 116 contains a switching transistor Tr1 and a capacitor C2, which are connected between the power supply and ground, with one base of the switching transistor Tr1 connected to the control circuit 115. An emitter of the switching transistor Tr1 is connected to an ADref of the control circuit 115. A connector (not shown), which is to be plugged into the connector with terminals T1 to T8 in the switching units 101 to 108, is mounted in the parent substrate 112.

[0023] When the switching units 101 to 108 are inserted into the insertion holes 17a, the connectors on the switching substrate 13 and the connectors on the parent substrate 112 are plugged together, thus electrically connecting the switching substrate 13 and the parent substrate 112. By plugging the switching substrate 13 and the parent substrate 112 together, the switching units 101 to 108 can be made removable with respect to the destination unit 110. Accordingly, the function and arrangement positions of the switching units 101 to 108 can be easily changed according to the vehicle type, grade, and user preference.

[0024] The plug connection links terminals T1 and T2 to output terminals of control circuit 115. Accordingly, control circuit 115 can control the switching on of LEDs 13a and 13b. Terminal T3 is connected to an input terminal of control circuit 115. Therefore, control circuit 115 can determine the ON / OFF state of the switching contact SW.

[0025] Terminal T4 is connected to a junction between switching transistor Tr1 and capacitor C2, and terminal T5 is connected to ground. Accordingly, when control circuit 115 switches on switching transistor Tr1, a voltage is applied to both ends of the series connection of resistors R1 and R3 and the series connection of resistors R2 and R4. Terminals T6 and T7 are connected to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) terminal of control circuit 115. The input voltage to the ADC terminal (output voltages of terminals T6 and T7) corresponds to the resistance values ​​of the functional resistors R1 and R2. Control circuit 115 performs an analog-to-digital conversion on the output voltages of terminals T6 and T7 input to the ADC terminal.Because the control circuit 115 performs the A / D conversion using an emitter voltage of the switching transistor Tr1 input as a reference voltage to ADref, the A / D inputs of terminals T6 and T7 can be correctly identified even when a supply voltage is changed.

[0026] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, a memory 115a (a first memory unit and a second memory unit) of the control circuit 115 stores a correspondence table Ta1 between resistance value ranges of the function-determining resistors R1 and R2, which are input ranges to the AD terminal, and a primary identifier. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the memory 115a of the control circuit 115 stores a correspondence table Ta2 between a combination of two primary identifiers and an identification ID of the switching units 101 to 108. The control circuit 115 reads A / D inputs from the A / D terminals connected to terminals T6 and T7 and reads a primary identifier corresponding to the read A / D inputs from the correspondence table Ta1. The control circuit 115 then reads an identification ID corresponding to a combination of primary identifiers of terminals T6 and T7, which is read from the correspondence table Ta2. The identification ID has a one-to-one correspondence with a switching function, and the control circuit 115 can determine the function of the switches by reading the identification ID.

[0027] The following describes the operations of switching module 10 with the configuration described above, with reference to the flowcharts of Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 described. When the power supply is switched on, the control circuit 115 reads the AD terminals connected to terminals T6 and T7 of each of the switching units 101 to 108 (step S1) and measures the resistance values ​​of the function-determining resistors R1 and R2. The control unit 115 then determines the function (identification ID) of the switching units 101 to 108 with reference to the corresponding tables Ta1 and Ta2 (step S2) and then switches to normal mode.

[0028] In normal mode, control circuit 115 receives a signal from BCM 200 (step S3). If, subsequently, BCM 200 receives a signal indicating that a taillight is being switched on (YES in step S4), control circuit 115 switches on all illumination LEDs 13a of switching units 101 to 108 (step S5). Conversely, if BCM 200 receives a signal indicating that the taillight is being switched off (NO in step S4), control circuit 115 switches off all illumination LEDs 13a of switching units 101 to 108 (step S6).

[0029] The control circuit 115 then determines the ON / OFF state of the switching contact SW of each of the switching units 101 to 108 (step S7). If the switching contact SW of switching unit 10n (n is an integer from 1 to 8, and n=1 in the initial phase) is then switched on (YES in step S8), the control circuit 115 switches on the ON / OFF LED 13b of switching unit 10n (step S9) and proceeds to the next step S11. If, on the other hand, the switching contact SW of switching unit 10n is switched off (NO in step S8), the control circuit 115 maintains an OFF state of the ON / OFF LED 13b of switching unit 10n (step S10) and proceeds to the next step S11.

[0030] In step S11, control circuit 115 increments n. Then, control circuit 115 determines whether the ON / OFF LEDs 13b are controlled in accordance with the ON / OFF states of all switching units 101 to 108 (step S12). If the ON / OFF LEDs 13b do not correspond to all switching units 101 to 108 (NO in step S12), control circuit 115 returns to step S8. If the ON / OFF LEDs 13b correspond to all switching units 101 to 108 (YES in step S12), control circuit 115 sends the identification ID and the ON / OFF state of each of the switching units 101 to 108 to the BCM 200 (step S13) and then returns to step S1.

[0031] In the embodiment described above, the switching units 101 to 108 are provided with a plurality of function-determining resistors R1 and R2, and the determination unit 110 determines the function of the switching units 101 to 108 according to the combination of the resistance values ​​of the plurality of function-determining resistors R1 and R2. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a number of resistance values ​​for the function-determining resistors R1 and R2 corresponding to the number of functions, and the function can be easily determined even if the number of functions in the switching unit 101 to 108 is large.

[0032] In the embodiment described above, the determining unit 110 can send the function and the ON / OFF state of the switching units 101 to 108 to the higher-level control unit.

[0033] In the embodiment described above, the determining unit 110 can easily determine the function of the switching units 101 to 108 by reading the primary identifier from the correspondence table Ta1 and the identification ID from the correspondence table Ta2.

[0034] Because in the embodiment described above the voltage division resistors R3 and R4 are provided in the switching units 101 to 108, it is not necessary to provide the voltage division resistors R3 and R4 on a determination unit 110 side and the size of the determination unit 110 can be reduced.

[0035] In the embodiment described above, the switching units 101 to 108 are removable with respect to the destination unit 110. Accordingly, the function of the switching units 101 to 108 connected to the destination unit 110 and the arrangement of the switching units 101 to 108 can be easily changed.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and modifications, improvements, and the like may be made to it. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, arrangement positions, etc., of the components in the embodiment described above are to be considered exemplary and not limiting, and may be changed as long as the object of the invention can be achieved.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, the two function-determining resistors R1 and R2 are provided in each of the switching units 101 to 108, although the present invention is not limited thereto. If the number of functions of the switching units 101 to 108 is large, three or more function-determining resistors can be provided.

[0038] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the voltage division resistors R3 and R4 are also provided in the switching units 101 to 108, although the present invention is not limited thereto. The voltage division resistors R3 and R4 can also be provided on the determining unit 110 side.

[0039] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the switching units 101 to 108 are provided to be removable with respect to the determining unit 110, although the present invention is not limited thereto. The switching units 101 to 108 can also be attached to the determining unit 110 in such a way that they cannot be removed.

[0040] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the switching units 101 to 108 are provided with the functional design 11a and the lighting design 11b, although the present invention is not limited thereto. Only the functional design 11a may also be provided. [LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS] 10 switching module 101 to 108 Switching unit 110 units of determination 115a Memory (first memory unit, second memory unit) 200 BCM (higher-level control unit) R1, R2 Functional resistance R3, R4 Voltage division resistor Ta1 Correspondence Table Ta2 Correspondence Table

Claims

[1] Switching module (10), comprising: a switching unit (101 to 108), and a determination unit (110) configured to determine a function of the switching unit (101 to 108) and an ON / OFF state of the switching unit (101 to 108), wherein the switching unit (101 to 108) is provided with a plurality of function-determining resistors (R1, R2), and wherein the determination unit (110) is configured to determine the function of the switching unit (101 to 108) according to a combination of voltages applied to the plurality of function determination resistors (R1, R2) corresponding to resistance values ​​of the plurality of function determination resistors (R1, R2), wherein the switching module (10) further includes: a first storage unit (115a) that stores a first correspondence table (Ta1) between resistance value ranges of the plurality of function-determining resistors (R1, R2) and a primary identifier, and characterized by , that a second storage unit (115a) which stores a second correspondence table (Ta2) between a combination of a plurality of primary identifiers and an identification ID of the switching unit (101 to 108), wherein the identification ID has a one-to-one correspondence with a function of the switching unit (101 to 108), and wherein the determination unit (110) is configured to read the plurality of primary identifiers from the first storage unit (115a), to read the identification ID corresponding to the combination of the plurality of primary identifiers from the second storage unit (115a) and to determine the function of the switching unit (101 to 108). [2] Switching module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit (110) is configured to send a determination result of the function and ON / OFF state of the switching unit (101 to 108) to a higher-level control unit (200). [3] Switching module (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the switching unit (101 to 108) is equipped with voltage division resistors (R3, R4), each of which is connected in series with the plurality of function determination resistors (R1, R2), and the determination unit (110) is configured to determine the function of the switching unit (101 to 108) based on electrical potentials between the function determination resistors (R1, R2) and the voltage division resistors (R3, R4). [4] Switching module (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the switching unit (101 to 108) is provided removable with the determining unit (110).

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