Method for a motor vehicle, computer program and / or computer-readable medium, a data processing device and a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for a motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a state signal, wherein the state signal relates to a state of an electrical consumer of the motor vehicle and has one or more discrete state indicators characterizing the state; determining, based on the state signal and taking into account the state indicator(s), a consumption variable representing an electrical energy consumption of the consumer, wherein determining the consumption variable comprises calculating a norm and / or an amount of a vector with vector entries corresponding to the state indicators; and outputting the consumption variable.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for a motor vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a computer program and / or computer-readable medium, a data processing device, and a motor vehicle.

[0002] Modeling, describing, and / or evaluating an electrical consumer of a motor vehicle can be used, for example, to investigate the consumer's dynamic and / or static load and / or its operational stability, for example, according to specific usage profiles. The usage profiles describe the consumer in such a way that different states are assigned to the consumer, each of which has an energy consumption associated with that state.

[0003] For example, a vehicle's lighting system can be switched to different states, such as one or two headlights activating high beam, a low beam, and / or a parking light. These states each require different electrical energy and result in different loads on the vehicle's lighting.

[0004] The usage profiles can reflect various aspects, such as driving behavior, a user's inclinations toward using the consumer, travel patterns, and / or usage habits. The usage profile can be analyzed to evaluate the energy consumption of an electrical component, electronic component, electromechanical component, and / or a mechanical component, wherein the electrical consumer is configured as, is encompassed by, and / or can control the component.

[0005] DE 10 2013 101 722 A1 discloses a climate control system of a vehicle and a method for controlling the climate control system to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle and increase the comfort of the occupants. The climate control system includes a main HVAC system for conditioning a fluid discharged into a passenger compartment of the vehicle, an additional HVAC system for conditioning a localized fluid of the at least one HVAC zone of the passenger compartment, a seating system, and an HVAC control unit. The HVAC control unit controls the main HVAC system, the additional HVAC system, and the seating system based on at least one parameter and condition relating to the at least one electrical energy consumption of the vehicle and the comfort of the occupants. The parameters and conditions relating to the electrical energy consumption of the vehicle and the comfort of the occupants represent electrical energy (e.g.the energy of the additional HVAC system, the electrical heating energy, an additional fluid pump energy, etc.) as well as parameters and conditions of vehicles (e.g., a battery power consumption, a battery charge, a rate of change of the battery charge, etc.).

[0006] It is particularly known, for example, to measure current in order to determine energy consumption. The current can be measured at a defined sampling rate. The current can fluctuate, even without a change in the state of the load. This results in a comparatively large amount of measurement data that must be evaluated in order to determine the usage profile. This is particularly challenging when the load can be operated with a number of different and optionally independent functions, which can lead to differing energy consumption.

[0007] Against the background of this prior art, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a device and a method that are each suitable for enriching the prior art and improving at least the above-mentioned aspects of the prior art. In particular, the object of the disclosure is to effectively and reliably analyze an electrical consumer of a motor vehicle with regard to its electrical consumption.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. The subclaims contain further developments of the disclosure.

[0009] According to one aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a method for a motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a state signal, wherein the state signal relates to a state of an electrical consumer of the motor vehicle and has one or more discrete state indicators characterizing the state; determining, based on the state signal and taking into account the state indicator(s), a consumption variable representing an electrical energy consumption of the consumer, wherein determining the consumption variable comprises calculating a norm and / or an amount of a vector with vector entries corresponding to the state indicators; and outputting the consumption variable.

[0010] The disclosure thus proposes modeling based on states. The state signal is recorded, which characterizes the state of the electrical load and thus its energy consumption. To reliably characterize energy consumption, the state signal has one or more state indicators. The state indicators are discrete values, for example, numerical values. Thus, the state and thus also the energy consumption can be specified by one or more discrete numerical values. A measurement of a current and / or another, particularly analog, quantity, which can assume any value, can thus be dispensed with. The term "norm" is not to be understood in a strictly mathematical sense and can, for example, refer to the sum of the entries in the vector in the case of positive state indicators.

[0011] This allows a consumption variable to be determined based on the state signal. For this purpose, the state indicators can be interpreted as corresponding to entries in the vector. The state of the consumer is thus modeled by the vector. The norm and / or the magnitude of the vector can then be a measure of energy consumption and / or a related variable and can be output as a consumption variable.

[0012] It was recognized that the states of the load are sufficient and decisive for modeling energy consumption and thus the usage profile. The measurement of analog variables can be dispensed with and replaced by the state signal. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be analyzed, which leads to a reduction in data transmission and / or data processing, thus increasing efficiency.

[0013] Optionally, the status indicators are each mapped to a numerical value that increases with the electrical energy consumption of the consumer. It was recognized that the status signal does not necessarily have to be given by numerical values, and therefore a mapping to a numerical value is indicated to characterize the energy consumption. For example, a status indicator can indicate switching on and / or off, or activating and / or deactivating a function. Such a status indicator can be mapped to zero, for example, for the deactivated function, since no energy is consumed, and for the activated function, for example, to an integer that scales with the energy consumption.

[0014] Optionally, capturing the status signal includes capturing a CAN bus signal. It has been recognized that the consumer can be monitored and / or its status queried via the CAN bus. The CAN bus signal can thus indicate the consumer's status, from which energy consumption can be determined. The CAN bus is typically already present, which may eliminate the need for separate measuring devices.

[0015] Optionally, the status signal can be recorded when a state change occurs. This allows the status signal to be recorded efficiently and, above all, in a resource-saving manner, since energy consumption can change with the state change.

[0016] Optionally, the state change is characterized by a manual actuation of the consumer and / or an automated function. It was recognized that the state, and thus the consumption, can typically be changed by actuation and / or automated means. Capturing the associated signals can thus reliably and efficiently map the consumer's state.

[0017] Optionally, the status signal is recorded over time; and the consumption variable includes a time series, a load, and / or a maximum electrical energy consumption of the consumer. This enables a comprehensive analysis of energy consumption and a comprehensive analysis of usage profiles.

[0018] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a computer program and / or a computer-readable medium is provided. The computer program and / or the computer-readable medium comprise instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the device to perform the method according to the disclosure and / or steps thereof. Optionally, the computer program and / or the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the device to perform the method steps described as advantageous or optional in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0019] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a data processing device for a motor vehicle is provided. The data processing device is configured to perform the method described above. Optionally, the data processing device is configured to perform a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0020] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a motor vehicle comprising the data processing device described above is provided. Optionally, the data processing device of the motor vehicle and / or the motor vehicle is configured to perform a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0021] Optionally, the electrical load is embodied as interior lighting and / or vehicle lighting of the motor vehicle. It was recognized that the lighting of the motor vehicle, i.e., the interior lighting, and the vehicle lighting, i.e., the exterior lighting, are particularly suitable for modeling by states, because the lighting can typically be in a certain number of states. In another embodiment, the electrical load is, for example, a heater, in particular a seat heater.

[0022] In the following, one embodiment is described with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 2 schematically shows a consumer of a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig.3 schematically shows a consumer of a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 4 schematically shows a time series according to the prior art and a time series according to a method according to an aspect of the disclosure; Fig. 5 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method according to one aspect of the disclosure; and Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a computer program and / or computer-readable medium according to one aspect of the disclosure.

[0023] Fig. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 50 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The motor vehicle 50 is a land vehicle. The motor vehicle 50 is a passenger car.

[0024] The motor vehicle 50 has an electrical consumer 55 and a data processing device 51.

[0025] The electrical consumer 55 is designed as an interior lighting 56 and / or a vehicle lighting 57 of the motor vehicle 50. The electrical consumer 55 designed as a vehicle lighting 57 is described more precisely with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 described.

[0026] The data processing device 51 according to Fig. 1 is designed to ensure that the information relating to Fig. 5 described method 100. For this purpose, the electrical load 55 and the data processing device 51 are to be Fig. 1 are connected to each other for communication purposes via a CAN bus (not shown) of the motor vehicle 50.

[0027] The data processing device 51 is configured to detect a status signal 60. The status signal 60 is a CAN bus signal 60', i.e., a signal transmitted via the CAN bus that controls the load 55 to place the load 55 into a state 61, i.e., activates and / or deactivates a function of the load 55, controls and / or regulates it, and / or indicates the state 61 of the load 55. The status signal 60 thus relates to the state 61 of the electrical load 55.

[0028] The status signal 60 has one or more discrete status indicators 62 characterizing the status 61. The status indicators 61 can comprise Boolean values ​​and / or numerical values, in particular integer values ​​and / or positive values, including zero. The status indicators 62 are each mapped to a numerical value that increases with the electrical energy consumption of the load 55.For example, the state indicator 62 of a state 61 that causes no energy consumption due to the deactivated consumer 55 can be mapped to zero, the state indicator 62 of a state 61 that causes low energy consumption due to the activated consumer 55 can be mapped to one, the state indicator 62 of a state 61 that causes moderate energy consumption due to the activated consumer 55 can be mapped to two, and the state indicator 62 of a state 61 that causes high energy consumption due to the activated consumer 55 can be mapped to three. Each state 61 can be characterized by such a set of state indicators 62, depending on the function of the consumer 55. The state indicators 62 can then be understood as a vector that has entries corresponding to the state indicators 62.

[0029] The data processing device 51 is configured to detect the status signal 60 upon a status change 63, for example, upon switching the function of the consumer. During the status change 63, one or more of the status indicators 62 may change. The status change 63 is characterized by a manual actuation 64 of the consumer 55 and / or an automated function 64'.

[0030] The data processing device 51 is configured to record the status signal 60 over a time t (see also Fig. 4 (B)). In other words, the state 61 may change with time t, which means that the state indicators 62 and / or the entries of the vector also change with time t.

[0031] The data processing device 51 is configured to determine a consumption variable 65 representing an electrical energy consumption of the consumer 55 based on the status signal 60 and taking into account the status indicator(s) 62. For this purpose, the data processing device 51 is configured to process and / or at least partially store the status signal 60. The data processing device 51 determines the consumption variable 65 based on a calculation of a norm and / or an absolute value of the vector entries corresponding to the status indicators 62. The consumption variable 65 comprises a time series 66, for example, the consumption variable 65 as a function of time t, a load 67, and / or a maximum electrical energy consumption of the consumer 55.

[0032] The data processing device 51 is configured to output the consumption variable 65. The consumption variable 65 can be output in a manner perceptible to a user and / or output to another function and / or another software component for further processing.

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a consumer 55 of a motor vehicle 50 according to one aspect of the disclosure. Such a motor vehicle 50 is described with reference to Fig. 1 described. Fig. 2 is made with reference to Fig.1. The consumer 55 is embodied as a vehicle lighting system 57. In particular, the consumer 55 comprises a high beam 57'. The high beam 57' can transmit status indicators 62 via the CAN bus and / or be controlled via an actuation 64 and / or a function 64', for example, by a user through a user input for actuating 64 and / or a function 64' of a low beam of the motor vehicle 50.

[0034] The high beam 57' can be in a failure mode 68 and a non-supported mode 69 in which status indicators 62 are not or not reliably determined.

[0035] The status indicator 62 can indicate a deactivated high beam 57' (status 61: off, status indicator 62 is deactivated 70) or an activated high beam 57' (status 61: on, status indicator 62 is activated 71). The activated high beam 57' can be further differentiated, allowing additional status indicators 62 to characterize the status 61 of the high beam 57'. For example, status indicators 62 are defined for a warning light 72, a headlight flasher 73, a continuous light 74, and an emergency light 75, which can indicate the status 61 of the high beam 57' more precisely.

[0036] The states 61 of the vehicle lighting 57 are determined with reference to Fig. 3 further described.

[0037] Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a consumer 55 of a motor vehicle 50 according to one aspect of the disclosure. Such a motor vehicle 50 is described with reference to Fig. 1 described. Fig. 3 is made with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig.2. The load 55 is configured as a vehicle lighting system 57. In particular, the load 55 comprises a parking light 57". The parking light 57" can transmit status indicators 62 via the CAN bus and / or be controlled via an actuation 64 and / or a function 64', for example, by a user through a user input for the actuation 64 and / or a function 64' of the motor vehicle 50.

[0038] The parking light 57" can be in a failure mode 68 and a non-supported mode 69 in which status indicators 62 are not or not reliably determined.

[0039] The status indicator 62 can indicate a deactivated parking light 57" (status 61: off, status indicator 62 is deactivated 70) or an activated parking light 57" (status 61: on, status indicator 62 is activated 71). The activated parking light 57" can be further differentiated, whereby additional status indicators 62 can characterize the status 61 of the parking light 57". For example, status indicators 62 are defined for a reduced parking light 57", 76, a normal parking light 57", 77, a left parking light 57", 78, and a right parking light 57", 79, which can indicate the status 61 of the parking light 57" more precisely.

[0040] The following table illustrates the states 61 of the related to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 described vehicle lighting 57 as a function of time t. Time t [s] High beam 57', right High beam 57', left high low Parking light 57" 588.415 out of out of normal to out of 589.195 out of out of normal out of out of 638.544 out of out of normal to out of 641.244 out of Headlight flash 73 normal to out of 662.961 out of Continuous light 74 normal to out of 673.282 out of out of normal to out of 680.843 out of Headlight flash 73 normal to out of 682.422 out of out of normal to out of 693.203 Headlight flash 73 out of normal to out of 694.804 out of out of normal to out of

[0041] The states 61 of the table above are mapped to the numerical values ​​listed in the table below. Thus, state indicators 62 are listed in the cells of the table below, with each row of the table below indicating the state 61 of the vehicle lighting 57 at a given time t. The cells in each row of the table below define a vector. Time t [s] High beam 57', right High beam 57', left high low Parking light 57" 588.415 0 0 1 1 0 589.195 0 0 1 0 0 638.544 0 0 1 1 0 641.244 0 1 1 1 0 662.961 0 1 1 1 0 673.282 0 0 1 1 0 680.843 0 1 1 1 0 682.422 0 0 1 1 0 693.203 1 0 1 1 0 694.804 0 0 1 1 0

[0042] The sum of the entries of the vector as a function of time t is shown as an example in Fig. 4 (B). The sum of the vector's entries can be defined as consumption quantity 65. Consumption quantity 65 thus characterizes state 61, or the electrical energy consumption by the vehicle lighting 57.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 shows schematically a time series according to the state of the art ( Fig. 4 (A)) and a time series 66 according to a method 100 according to an aspect of the disclosure ( Fig. 4 (B)). The time series 66 relates to a consumption variable 65, which characterizes an electrical energy consumption of a consumer 55. Such a consumer 55 is a consumer 55 of a motor vehicle 50. Such a consumer 55 or such a motor vehicle 50 are with reference to Fig. 1 to 3. Fig. 4 is made with reference to Fig. 1 to 3.

[0044] Fig. Figure 4 (A) shows a current I as a function of time t, which is used to operate the vehicle lighting 57. The current I is measured at a relatively high frequency and fluctuates. The amount of data representing the current I is comparatively large.

[0045] For the same period as in Fig. 4 (A) shows Fig.4 (B) a time series 66 of the sum of the entries of the vector as consumption quantity 65. It can be seen that the consumption quantity 65 qualitatively corresponds to the current I. However, the time series 66 requires the Fig. 4 (B) a much smaller amount of data than the current I according to Fig. 4 (A). In particular, the time series 66 can be used to illustrate the sum of the vector's entries as consumption quantity 65 and to analyze state changes 63. The state changes 63 are sufficient times for capturing the state signal 60.

[0046] Fig. 5 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method 100 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The method 100 according to Fig. 5 is a method 100 for a motor vehicle 50. Such a motor vehicle 50 is described with reference to Fig. 1 described. Fig. 5 is made with reference to Fig. 1 to 4 described.

[0047] The procedure 100 according to Fig.5 comprises: detecting 110 a state signal 60, wherein the state signal 60 relates to a state 61 of an electrical consumer 55 of the motor vehicle 50 and has one or more discrete state indicators 62 characterizing the state 61.

[0048] The status indicators 62 are each mapped to a numerical value that increases with the electrical energy consumption of the consumer 55.

[0049] The detection 110 of the status signal 60 comprises a detection 110' of a CAN bus signal 60'.

[0050] The detection 110 of the status signal 60 occurs when a status change 63 occurs.

[0051] The change of state 63 is characterized by a manual actuation 64 of the consumer 55 and / or an automated function 64'.

[0052] The status signal 60 is recorded over a time t.

[0053] The method 100 comprises: determining 120, based on the state signal 60 and taking into account the state indicator(s) 62, a consumption variable 65 representing an electrical energy consumption of the consumer 55, wherein the determining 120 of the consumption variable 65 comprises calculating a norm and / or an amount of a vector with vector entries corresponding to the state indicators 62.

[0054] The consumption variable 65 includes a time series 66, a load 67 and / or a maximum electrical energy consumption of the consumer 55.

[0055] The method 100 comprises: outputting 130 the consumption quantity 65.

[0056] The person skilled in the art will recognize that the method 100 according to Fig. 5 can also be performed in a different order than that shown. In particular, it is possible for steps of method 100 to be interchanged, shifted, and / or performed simultaneously.

[0057] Fig. 6 shows a schematic representation of a computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 comprises instructions 201 which, upon execution of the program or instructions 201 by a data processing device 51, cause the data processing device 51 to execute the method 100 and / or the steps of the method 100 according to Fig. 5 to be carried out.

[0058] The instructions 201 can be present as program code in any code or in any language, in particular in a code suitable for controlling and / or monitoring motor vehicles 50. The computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 can be or comprise any digital data storage device, such as a USB stick, a hard drive, a CD-ROM, an SD card, or an SSD card. The computer program does not necessarily have to be stored on such a computer-readable storage medium, but can also be accessible via the Internet or otherwise. Reference symbol (part of the description) 50 motor vehicles 51 Data processing device 55 consumers 56 Interior lighting 57 Vehicle lighting 57' high beam 57" parking light 60 status signal 60' CAN bus signal 61 Condition 62 Condition indicator 63 Change of state 64 operation 64' function 65 Consumption size 66 time series 67 Load 68 Error mode 69 unsupported mode 70 deactivated 71 activated 72 warning light 73 Headlight flasher 74 Continuous light 75 emergency light 76 reduced 77 normal 78 left 79 right 100 procedures 110 Capturing a status signal 110' Capturing a CAN bus signal 120 Determine 130 Issues 200 Computer program and / or computer-readable medium 201 commands A Ampere s second I Current t time QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2013 101 722 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method (100) for a motor vehicle (50), the method (100) comprising: - detecting (110) a status signal (60), wherein the status signal (60) relates to a status (61) of an electrical consumer (55) of the motor vehicle (50) and has one or more discrete status indicators (62) characterizing the status (61); - Determining (120), based on the status signal (60) and taking into account the status indicator(s) (62), a consumption variable (65) representing an electrical energy consumption of the consumer (55), wherein determining (120) the consumption variable (65) comprises calculating a norm and / or an amount of a vector with vector entries corresponding to the status indicators (62); and - Output (130) of the consumption quantity (65). [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the status indicators (62) are each mapped to a numerical value increasing with the electrical energy consumption of the consumer (55). [3] Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein detecting (110) the status signal (60) comprises detecting (110') a CAN bus signal (60'). [4] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection (110) of the state signal (60) occurs upon a state change (63). [5] Method (100) according to claim 4, wherein the change of state (63) is characterized by a manual actuation (64) of the consumer (55) and / or an automated function (64'). [6] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the status signal (60) is detected over a time (t); and - the consumption variable (65) comprises a time series (66), a load (67) and / or a maximum electrical energy consumption of the consumer (55). [7] Computer program and / or computer-readable medium (200) comprising instructions (201) which, when the program or instructions (201) are executed by a data processing device (51), cause the device (51) to carry out the method (100) and / or the steps of the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Data processing device (51) for a motor vehicle (50), wherein the data processing device (51) is configured to carry out the method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6. [9] Motor vehicle (50) comprising an electrical consumer (55) and the data processing device (51) according to claim 8. [10] Motor vehicle (50) according to claim 9, wherein the electrical consumer (55) is designed as an interior lighting (56) and / or a vehicle lighting (57) of the motor vehicle (50).

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