Circuit layout for a vehicle
The circuit arrangement in vehicles, utilizing a low-energy Bluetooth chip to form key elements and independently activate vehicle functions, addresses the challenges of energy consumption and response time, enhancing efficiency and safety.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102023210951
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle circuit arrangements face challenges in reducing energy consumption and response time, especially with increasing Bluetooth functionality and weight reduction demands.
A circuit arrangement with a low-energy Bluetooth chip that forms a key element through a wireless connection, allowing for reduced energy consumption by enabling control units to remain in a rest mode while independently monitoring the environment and activating vehicle functions.
Significantly reduces energy consumption and response time by allowing the circuit arrangement to independently monitor the environment and activate vehicle functions without needing additional control units, enhancing both efficiency and safety.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
State of the art
[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for a vehicle, a communication system, and a vehicle.
[0002] Currently, there are a multitude of different solutions for connecting end devices to circuitry in vehicles. Due to the increasing number of functions implemented in vehicles using Bluetooth or similar technologies, as well as the increased quality requirements, the need for innovative and robust methods for Bluetooth or similar connectivity in vehicles is continuously growing.
[0003] The constant weight reduction in the vehicle sector to reduce fuel consumption as well as increasing competition are creating cost pressure, so that cheaper and more efficient components for vehicles are in greater demand. Disclosure of the invention
[0004] The circuit arrangement according to the invention for a vehicle with the features of claim 1 has the advantage over known systems that the power consumption of the vehicle in a passive state can be significantly reduced, since the circuit arrangement is designed to be able to independently form a key element. Thus, control units or similar energy-intensive components in the vehicle can remain in a sleep mode while the circuit arrangement independently monitors the vehicle's surroundings for possible pairing partners and can form a key element with these if they are released for the vehicle. A further advantage is that the response time can be significantly reduced using the circuit arrangement compared to previous systems, since the circuit arrangement is usually immediately available and does not require a boot time, unlike, for example, another control unit or the like.
[0005] This is achieved according to the invention in that the circuit arrangement for a vehicle has a printed circuit board, wherein at least one communication element is arranged on the printed circuit board, wherein the circuit arrangement is designed to store at least one long-life key, wherein the circuit arrangement is designed to form a key element by means of the long-life key based on a wireless connection between the communication element and a portable terminal, wherein the circuit arrangement is designed to generate and / or transmit a first signal based on the long-life key and the key element, wherein the first signal is designed to activate and / or adapt at least a first function of the vehicle.
[0006] In other words, by storing the long-life key, the circuit arrangement can, in cooperation with the portable terminal, form a key element such as a ranging key. The circuit arrangement can, in particular, be a low-energy Bluetooth chip or the like. Further preferably, the circuit arrangement has a memory component arranged on the circuit board. The memory component is preferably configured to store a long-life key. Further preferably, the circuit arrangement can form a connection with a portable terminal such as a smartphone. By means of the connection, the circuit arrangement can be configured to query relevant elements from the portable terminal in order to form the key element.Further preferably, the circuit arrangement can forward the key element, in particular a ranging key or similar, to further communication units of the vehicle, such as an ultra-wideband chip. The wireless connection can preferably be a Bluetooth connection. An advantage of this embodiment can be that the circuit arrangement is already configured to activate various functions, such as ambient lighting of the vehicle, once the key element has been configured. Thus, the energy requirement can be further reduced, since the additional control unit does not have to be awakened to switch on the vehicle's exterior lighting, for example.
[0007] The subclaims show preferred developments of the invention.
[0008] Preferably, the further communication unit is an ultra-wideband unit and / or a near-field communication unit.
[0009] An advantage of this embodiment is that the power consumption can be significantly reduced, that the ultra-wideband unit and / or the near-field communication unit can be left in a power saving mode if the circuit arrangement is not able to form a key element with the portable terminal.
[0010] Further preferably, the circuit arrangement is configured to determine a position of the portable terminal, wherein the circuit arrangement is configured to generate a second signal when the portable terminal is in a predetermined range, wherein the second signal is configured to activate a second function in the vehicle.
[0011] An advantage of this embodiment is that the power consumption of the circuit arrangement or the vehicle can be further reduced in a passive state, since the second function, such as opening a vehicle door, does not require a vehicle control unit, as the circuit arrangement can provide this function independently. This function is only activated when the portable terminal is within the predetermined range of the circuit arrangement.
[0012] More preferably, the first function has a lower safety factor than the second function.
[0013] An advantage of this embodiment is that different levels of operation of the circuit arrangement can be mapped, allowing the circuit arrangement to be adapted to the respective application scenarios. The first function can, for example, be activating the vehicle's exterior lighting and / or interior lighting, so that this has a lower safety factor than a second function, such as unlocking the vehicle.
[0014] A further aspect of the invention relates to a communication system which has two circuit arrangements as described above and below, wherein a first circuit arrangement is configured to synchronize a long-life key of the first circuit arrangement with a second circuit arrangement.
[0015] An advantage of this embodiment is that the integrity of the communication system is further improved, since the two circuit arrangements can synchronize or compare their long-life keys with each other, thus preventing possible tampering. The first circuit arrangement as well as the second circuit arrangement can be a Bluetooth Low Energy chip, as described above and below.
[0016] Further preferably, the first circuit arrangement and / or the second circuit arrangement are configured to establish a connection at the portable terminal by means of the synchronized long-life key.
[0017] An advantage of this embodiment is that a plurality of connections to circuit arrangements and portable terminals can be formed by means of a synchronized long-life key element.
[0018] Further preferably, the first circuit arrangement is configured to establish a first connection for forming a first key element with a first terminal, wherein the second circuit arrangement is configured to establish a second connection for forming a second key element with a second terminal, wherein the establishment of the first connection and the second connection takes place substantially simultaneously.
[0019] An advantage of this embodiment is that the required computing capacity of a circuit arrangement can be kept low, since a separate connection can be formed for each connection between a circuit arrangement and a portable terminal. Each separate connection can be formed with a separate circuit arrangement.
[0020] Further preferably, the communication system is connectable to a control unit of a vehicle in a signal-conducting manner, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a first and / or second signal, wherein the control unit is configured to form a key element between a further communication unit and the portable terminal when the first signal and / or second signal is present.
[0021] An advantage of this embodiment is that the energy consumption of the communication system is significantly reduced, and the response time of the communication system is significantly improved. This can be achieved by the circuit arrangement already being configured to provide various functions, such as forming a key element, so that the first and second functions or the first and second signals can be provided immediately to the vehicle, and the control unit in the vehicle has sufficient time to boot up. Furthermore, the control unit can use an additional key element to establish a connection between the portable terminal and another communication unit, such as a connection between an ultra-wideband chip and a portable terminal.
[0022] Preferably, the control unit is configured to store a further long-life key and / or the long-life key, wherein the control unit is configured to generate the additional key element with the further long-life key and / or the long-life key.
[0023] An advantage of this embodiment is that the security of the communication system can be further increased since the control unit has a separate long-life key in order to be able to form a key element such as a ranging key between an additional communication unit and a portable terminal when the control unit is booted.
[0024] Further preferably, the communication system comprises a component, wherein the first circuit arrangement and the second circuit arrangement are arranged on the component.
[0025] An advantage of this embodiment is that the manufacturing costs of a communication system or circuit arrangement can be significantly reduced.
[0026] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle which has a circuit arrangement as described above and below and / or a communication system as described above and below. Short description of the drawings
[0027] Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing: Fig. 1 to 3 a communication system according to an embodiment Fig. 4 a vehicle according to an embodiment. Preferred embodiments of the invention
[0028] Preferably, all identical components, elements and / or units in all figures are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0029] Fig. 1 shows a communication system 200 according to one embodiment. The communication system 200 has a circuit arrangement 10. Circuit arrangement 10 for a vehicle 100, wherein the circuit arrangement 10 has a printed circuit board, wherein at least one communication element is arranged on the printed circuit board, wherein the circuit arrangement 10 is configured to store at least one long-life key 12, wherein the circuit arrangement 10 is configured to form a key element 14 by means of the long-life key 12 based on a wireless connection 16 between the communication element and a portable terminal 18, wherein the circuit arrangement 10 is configured to generate and / or transmit a first signal based on the long-life key 12 and the key element 14, wherein the first signal is configured to activate and / or adapt at least a first function of the vehicle 100. For example.The circuit arrangement 10 can be a low-energy Bluetooth chip or similar. Further preferably, the circuit arrangement 10 comprises a storage medium configured to store the long-life key 12. Further preferably, the circuit arrangement 10 comprises a computing unit configured to receive and transmit program commands to provide the functions of the circuit arrangement 10. Further preferably, the further communication unit 20 is an ultra-wideband unit 22 and / or a near-field communication unit 24. Further preferably, the circuit arrangement 10 is configured to generate a first signal based on the key element 14 when, for example, the portable terminal 18 approaches a vehicle 100, in order to thus activate a first function of the vehicle 100, such as, for example, exterior lighting and / or interior lighting.The circuit arrangement can determine a distance between the portable terminal 18 and the circuit arrangement 10 with the further communication unit 20.
[0030] Further preferably, the circuit arrangement 10 is configured to determine a distance between the portable terminal 18 and the circuit arrangement 10. When the portable terminal 18 is within a predetermined range of the circuit arrangement 10, the circuit arrangement 10 can emit a second signal that activates a second function in the vehicle 100.
[0031] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 200 may include a plurality of circuit arrangements 10. More preferably, the communication system 200 may include a plurality of additional communication units 20, such as ultra-wideband units 22 and / or peripheral communication units 24.
[0032] Fig. 2 shows a communication system 200 according to one embodiment. The first circuit arrangement 10 and the second circuit arrangement 11 can be arranged on the component 216. More preferably, the first circuit arrangement 10 and the further communication unit 20 are arranged on a third circuit board, which forms a further circuit arrangement. Preferably, the second circuit arrangement 11 and a further communication unit 20 are arranged on a fourth circuit board, which forms a further circuit arrangement. More preferably, the first circuit arrangement 10 is configured to establish a first connection 202 for forming a first key element 203 with a first terminal device 204.Further preferably, the second circuit arrangement 11 is configured to establish a second connection 206 for forming a second key element 208 with a second terminal device 210, wherein the establishment of the first connection 202 and the connection 206 take place substantially simultaneously. Preferably, the first circuit arrangement 10 and the second circuit arrangement 11 each have a long-life key 12, on the basis of which the first key element 203 and the second key element 208 can be formed. Further preferably, a transfer path 13 is configured between the first circuit arrangement 10 and the second circuit arrangement 11, which transfer path is configured so that the first circuit arrangement 10 and the second circuit arrangement 11 can synchronize the long-life key 12 with one another. Further preferably, the communication system 200 can be connected in a signal-conducting manner to a control unit 102 of a vehicle 100.The control unit 102 can be configured to receive a first and / or a second signal, which was formed in particular by means of the circuit arrangement 10, as described above and below. Further preferably, the control unit 102 is configured to form an additional key element 212 between a further communication unit 20 or the like and in the portable terminal 18 when the first signal and / or the second signal are present. Further preferably, the control unit 102 can be configured to form a connection with the portable terminal 18 using the key element 14 when the first signal and / or the second signal are present.
[0033] Further preferably, the control unit 102 is configured to store a further long-life key 214, in particular a storage medium of the control unit 102. The control unit 102 is configured to generate additional key elements 212 with the further long-life key 214.
[0034] Fig. Figure 3 shows a communication system 200 according to one embodiment. The communication system 200 comprises a first circuit arrangement 10 and a second circuit arrangement 11. Preferably, the first circuit arrangement 10 is configured to synchronize a long-life key 12 of the first circuit arrangement 10 with a second circuit arrangement 11.
[0035] Fig.4 shows a vehicle 100 according to one embodiment. The vehicle 100 includes a circuit arrangement 10, as described above and below, and / or a communication system 200, as described above and below.
Claims
[1] Circuit arrangement (10) for a vehicle (100), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) has a printed circuit board, wherein at least one communication element is arranged on the printed circuit board, wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to store at least one long-life key (12), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to form a key element (14) by means of the long-life key (12) based on a wireless connection (16) between the communication element and a portable terminal (18), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to generate and / or transmit a first signal based on the long-life key (12) and the key element (14), wherein the first signal is configured to activate and / or adapt at least a first function of the vehicle (100). [2] Circuit arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the communication element (10) is configured to transmit the key element (14) to a further component on the circuit board and / or to a further communication unit (20). [3] Circuit arrangement (10) according to claim 2, wherein the further component and / or the further communication unit (20) is an ultra-wideband unit (22) and / or near-field communication unit (24). [4] Circuit arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit arrangement (10) has a computing unit on the circuit board which is configured to store the long-life key (12), wherein the computing unit is configured to generate the key element (14) by means of the long-life key (12) and the wireless connection and the computing unit is free of signals from other components of the vehicle (100) for the duration of the formation of the key element (14). [5] Circuit arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to determine a position of the portable terminal (18), wherein the circuit arrangement (10) is configured to generate a second signal when the portable terminal (18) is in a predetermined range, wherein the second signal is configured to activate a second function in the vehicle (100) and / or in an additional component of the circuit board. [6] Circuit arrangement (10) according to one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the first function has a lower safety factor than the second function. [7] Communication system (200) comprising two circuit arrangements (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first circuit arrangement (10) is configured to synchronize a long-life key (12) of the first circuit arrangement (10) with a second circuit arrangement (11). [8] Communication system (200) according to claim 7, wherein the first circuit arrangement (10) and / or the second circuit arrangement (13) are each configured to establish a connection with a portable terminal (18) by means of the synchronized long-life key. [9] Communication system (200) according to one of claims 7 to 8, wherein the first circuit arrangement (10) is configured to establish a first connection (202) for forming a first key element (203) with a first terminal (204), wherein the second circuit arrangement (11) is configured to establish a second connection (206) for forming a second key element (208) with a second terminal (210), wherein the establishment of the first connection (202) and the second connection (206) takes place substantially simultaneously. [10] Communication system (200) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the communication system (200) is connectable in a signal-conducting manner to a control unit (102) of a vehicle (100), wherein the control unit (102) is configured to receive a first and / or second signal, wherein the control unit (102) is configured to form an additional key element (212) between a further communication unit (20) and the portable terminal (18) when the first signal and / or the second signal is present. [11] Communication system (200) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the control device (102) is configured to store a further long-life key (214) and / or the long-life key (12), wherein the control device (102) is configured to generate the additional key element (212) with the further long-life key (214) and / or the long-life key (12). [12] Communication system (200) according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the communication system (200) comprises a component (216), wherein the first circuit arrangement (10) and the second circuit arrangement (11) are arranged on the component (216) [13] Vehicle (100) comprising a circuit arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and / or a communication system (200) according to one of claims 7 to 12.