CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CONTROL AND / OR REGULATION SIGNAL

Description

[0001] The provided components include a control system, a control unit, the use of a RISC processor as a measurement controller in a control system, and a method for providing a control and / or regulation signal. The embodiments are therefore primarily in the field of control systems and control units, particularly for the automotive sector.

[0002] Control systems can incorporate complex, integrated measurement systems for acquiring measurement signals and generating output data. The processing and control of the measurement system are conventionally handled by microcontrollers. In addition to processing the measurement data and controlling the measurement system, the microcontroller is also typically responsible for controlling the system functions. The multitude of functions that the microcontroller must execute often leads to performance degradation and also complicates ensuring functional safety. Therefore, conventional microcontrollers often reach their limits when performing measurement and control functions alongside system control.

[0003] US 10,108,168 B2 describes a surveillance network and a computer-executable method for the automated monitoring of a control system.

[0004] US 2022 / 0028719 A1 describes a procedure for determining whether an adaptation of a manufacturing process recipe is provided.

[0005] US 2022 / 0334988 A1 describes an input / output station for a fieldbus system with a fieldbus coupler that has a system bus interface and a fieldbus interface.

[0006] US 2021 / 0135942A1 describes a method for automatically configuring a computing device in a computer environment.

[0007] Against the background of this prior art, the purpose of the present disclosure is to specify an improved control unit that is suitable for enriching the prior art. A specific embodiment of the disclosure can solve the problem of simplifying the assurance of functional safety and increasing the speed of the control system.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of the respective independent claims. The dependent claims contain optional embodiments of the invention.

[0009] In a first aspect, a tax system according to claim 1 is provided.

[0010] The use of a RISC processor as a measurement controller in a control system is provided.

[0011] Furthermore, a control unit for a motor vehicle is provided, which includes a control system as disclosed.

[0012] In another aspect, a method for providing a control and / or regulation signal according to claim 15 is provided.

[0013] A control system is a system for controlling and / or regulating a connected system or control loop. The control system can comprise several components, such as the system controller and one or more measurement controllers. These components can be integrated into a single, cohesive arrangement and optionally housed together on a single circuit board and / or in a single enclosure. Alternatively, several components of the control system can be separate from one another.

[0014] Control signals are those signals provided by the control system to control an associated measuring system and / or a control loop. Control and / or regulation can include the acquisition of measurement signals, the processing of these signals, and the control of a measuring system.

[0015] The term "BUS" or "bus" as used in this disclosure is to be understood in the sense of the commonly used abbreviation for the English term "Binary Unit System". Accordingly, a bus is a system for data transmission between multiple participants via a shared transmission path. A "system bus" is therefore to be understood as a system for data transmission between multiple participants that are at least partially involved in the execution of system functions. The system controller is one of the participants in the system bus. A measurement bus is to be understood as a system for data transmission between multiple participants that are at least partially involved in the execution of measurement and / or output functions. The measurement controller is one of the participants in the measurement bus. The system bus and the measurement bus are designed separately from each other, i.e., each as an independent bus.The system bus and the measurement bus are connected via the bus interface, enabling communication between participants on the system bus and the measurement bus. This communication and / or data exchange can be restricted to specific types of data and / or information, a specific direction of information flow, specific participants, and / or specific time periods.

[0016] A system function is a function that serves to control the control system. A system function can therefore form part of the control system's operating system and serve the fundamental function of the system function. The operating system can comprise several system functions, which, together with the hardware characteristics of the control system, form the basis for the control system's operation and, in particular, control and monitor the execution of programs and more specific functions. The system functions are executed by the system controller. The system controller can be a microcontroller or be designed as such.

[0017] A measurement function is a function that serves a predetermined measurement. These functions can involve acquiring and / or processing measurement data. A measurement controller executes these functions. A measurement controller can be designed to perform one or more measurement functions. Acquiring measurement data can involve reading sensor data from one or more sensors connected to the measurement bus. Processing measurement data can include improving the quality of the measurement data, such as filtering, amplifying, and / or applying noise reduction.

[0018] An output function is a function used to adapt and / or output control signals, for example, to the control loop and / or an actuator. A measurement controller can be designed to perform one or more output functions and optionally one or more measurement functions. Adapting the control signals can involve modifying predefined control signals, for example, based on instructions provided by the system controller and / or based on information obtained by the measurement controller itself or another measurement controller. Outputting control signals can involve providing them to an actuator, a measuring system, or a control loop in general.

[0019] An integrated circuit can be an electronic component in which all the components of the integrated circuit are integrated. The integrated circuit can optionally be provided in monolithic form and / or arranged on a common circuit board. The integrated circuit can optionally provide the control system as a "system-on-a-chip," meaning the control system with all its associated components is provided in the form of an electronic chip and optionally also in the form of a semiconductor chip.

[0020] The fact that the at least one measurement controller can be configured as a finite-state machine means that the at least one measurement controller can only be in one of a limited number of possible states. The fact that it can be a deterministic finite-state machine means that the finite-state machine transitions from one state to another in a deterministic, i.e., predetermined, manner, whereby the predetermined manner may depend on the initial state and on an input provided to the finite-state machine. The fact that the finite-state machine is programmable means that the program sequences to be executed by the finite-state machine, which determine, for example, the deterministic manner in which the finite-state machine transitions to another state depending on the initial state and on an input provided, can be predefined and / or modified by programming.Designing at least one measurement controller as a deterministic, programmable finite-state machine can offer the advantage that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller are fully simulable.

[0021] This revelation offers the advantage that the control system can be designed flexibly, quickly, and easily, since the components suitable for the respective application can be assembled modularly. For example, one or more measurement controllers can be combined with the system controller, depending on the intended functionality. Because the measurement tasks are performed by the respective measurement controller(s), the system controller can primarily execute the system functions without having to allocate a large portion of its computing power to measurement functions.

[0022] Furthermore, this disclosure offers the advantage that the measurement controllers can be programmed and optimized independently of the system controller, and vice versa. This allows the system controller to be used across platforms in a variety of different control systems, while one or more different measurement controllers can be added to the control system depending on its intended use. This also offers the advantage that the system controller can be customized or programmed, for example, by the manufacturer or the customer, while the measurement controllers for the hardware-related tasks of data acquisition, etc., can be provided in a way that is not modifiable by the customer.

[0023] The disclosure also offers the advantage that the measurement controllers and the system controller can each be provided as self-contained systems and, accordingly, the verification of the control system with regard to functional safety can be simplified. In particular, this allows for a clear separation of the system bus from the measurement bus via the bus interface, and thus achieves a separation, advantageous for functional safety, between the hardware-level measurement signal acquisition, signal processing, and control on the one hand, and the higher system functions performed by the system controller on the other.

[0024] The measurement controller, or optionally multiple measurement controllers, can each contain one or more RISC processors. The RISC processor(s) can represent the sole arithmetic logic unit (ALU) of the measurement controller, or, in the case of multiple RISC processors, they can represent the only ALUs of the measurement controller. "RISC" stands for "Reduced Instruction Set Computer" and means that the RISC processor can have a reduced or even minimized instruction set compared to a system processor designed as a microcontroller. Due to the reduced or minimized instruction set and the shallow logical depth, the number of possible alternatives that the RISC processor has to check when executing a function is reduced, and consequently, the time required for this is reduced.Accordingly, a RISC processor can offer the advantage of delivering high computing power in a short time. Furthermore, a RISC processor can have lower energy consumption than a microcontroller with greater logic depth and a more extensive instruction set. Given its low complexity, the measurement controller, in contrast to a microcontroller, can generally be referred to as a "nanocontroller."

[0025] Traditionally, RISC processors are used either to achieve particularly fast speeds or to obtain processors with exceptionally low power consumption. Furthermore, control systems typically do not employ RISC processors; instead, to save on hardware components, both system functions and measurement functions are performed by the system controller, which may be a microcontroller. However, according to the disclosure, RISC processors can be used as measurement controllers and integrated into a measurement bus to execute small and compact functions related to measurement data and the output of control signals. This offers significant flexibility for the modular design of a measurement system and can provide module-based functional safety assurance.

[0026] The measuring controller is operated by means of a predefined program code and the measuring controller has a ROM memory, whereby the predefined program code is provided in the ROM memory.

[0027] Optionally, the ROM memory can be in wired form.

[0028] This can offer the advantage that the program code provided in ROM memory is not manipulable or modifiable, and thus any changes to the functionality and program code can only be made through hardware modification. This can provide the advantage of achieving a high level of functional safety and, in particular, preventing or hindering accidental or unauthorized changes to the program code provided for the measurement controller.

[0029] The measurement controller is designed as a finite-state machine, meaning that the measurement and / or output functions executable by the controller are fully simulateable. This can offer the advantage that the measurement controller(s) can each be treated as finite-state machines within the framework of functional safety, especially if the predefined program code is provided in ROM memory, and the functionality of the measurement controller can be fully simulated.

[0030] Accordingly, within the framework of functional safety, the effort required for testing and / or verifying the functionality of the measurement controller can be reduced or even minimized. Furthermore, this can offer the advantage that the functionality of the measurement controller can optionally be fully represented in a simulation, thereby further reducing the testing and / or verification effort. Thus, a measurement controller can be fully simulated in the form of a finite-state machine and examined for compliance with safety rules using rule-based verification. This offers significant advantages over more complex processors, such as microcontrollers, where simulation and rule-based verification are typically not possible due to the large number of possible states.

[0031] The measurement controller can be configured to execute each measurement or output function it can perform, starting from an initial state within a predetermined finite cycle, and to return to the initial state after the cycle has elapsed. This can be advantageous in terms of functional safety, as it ensures regular resets of the measurement controller and prevents failure due to prolonged operational hangs. The predetermined finite cycle can, for example, have a duration of 50 µs or less, and optionally 20 µs or less. This ensures that the measurement controller's functionality is available again no later than the end of the finite cycle.

[0032] The measurement controller can optionally be configured to execute a maximum of 32 or even just 16 different commands. This enables a particularly efficient implementation of the measurement controller using a RISC processor, which also allows for particularly efficient verification of functional safety.

[0033] The measurement controller can also have RAM and be configured to store output data generated during the execution of a measurement function in RAM. Optionally, the RAM can serve solely for storing, and in particular, temporarily storing measurement or output data that is to be transferred to the system controller via the bus interface. Thus, the RAM can, in particular, form part of an interface between the measurement bus and the system bus and provide a suitable platform for data exchange between the two. Accordingly, the control system can be configured to allow the system controller to access the measurement controller's RAM via the bus interface and to read the output data from the measurement controller's RAM.In addition, the system controller may also have RAM memory, and the control system may be configured to store the output data via the bus interface in the RAM memory of the system controller.

[0034] Optionally, the predefined program code can be provided in RAM, and the measurement controller can be operated in test mode using the predefined program code stored in RAM. For example, the RAM can be implemented as flash memory in the measurement controller. This allows the predefined program code to be provided in a variable form during test mode, enabling the testing of modifications and / or changes to the predefined program code without requiring a new ROM memory for each change. However, for functional operation—that is, the intended operation during regular use of the control system—it may be necessary for the predefined program code to be provided in ROM memory, and for the measurement controller to be operated exclusively using the predefined program code stored in ROM.This can prevent or hinder unwanted manipulation of the predefined program code.

[0035] The measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller can optionally include applications that are safety-relevant within the framework of functional safety. This enables separate verification of the measurement controller and the applications it executes, without necessarily having to include more complex components, such as a system controller designed as a microcontroller.

[0036] The control system can be configured to prevent the system controller from accessing the measurement controller while the measurement controller is executing a measurement and / or output function. This offers the possibility of avoiding interference and / or other influences that could affect the operation of the measurement controller during the execution of a measurement and / or output function, and thus increasing functional safety. In particular, this prevents unwanted manipulation of the measurement controller's functionality by the system controller.

[0037] The control system can be configured to provide a clock signal and synchronize the system controller and at least one measurement controller with this signal. This offers the advantage of allowing the system controller and at least one measurement controller to operate in the same clock domain. This, in turn, enables synchronization of the system controller's operation and the operation of at least one measurement controller. This, in turn, facilitates the timing adjustment and / or allocation of workflows and / or results of the system controller and at least one measurement controller. The clock signal can optionally be provided by a clock generator of the control system.

[0038] The control system can be configured such that the at least one measurement controller can be operated independently of the system controller, and / or the system controller can be operated independently of the at least one measurement controller. This can offer the advantage of reducing or avoiding any undesirable influences of the system controller on the operation of the measurement controller, or vice versa. Furthermore, this can offer the advantage that the measurement controllers can be designed separately from the system controller as self-contained elements or systems and can optionally be made fully simulable, without their operation necessarily depending on the functions of the system controller.

[0039] The system controller, at least one measurement controller, and the bus interface can optionally be integrated into a single integrated circuit. Optionally, all components of the control system can be integrated into the integrated circuit. This can offer the advantage of providing the control system as a system-on-a-chip. This also allows the control system to be provided as a single component and, if required, optionally mounted as a unit on a circuit board and / or in other electrical systems.

[0040] The control system may further comprise RAM memory, which may be configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller during the execution of a measurement function in the RAM memory, and to access the RAM memory and read the output data from the RAM memory using the system controller. The RAM memory may be integrated into an integrated circuit together with other components of the control system. The RAM memory may form part of the system controller, part of a measurement controller, or be configured separately from the system controller and the at least one measurement controller.

[0041] The integrated circuit can be designed such that the measurement controller is configured as a deterministic, programmable finite-state machine and is set up in such a way that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller are fully simulateable.

[0042] The integrated circuit can further include RAM and be configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller during the execution of a measurement function in the RAM, and to access the RAM and read the output data from the RAM using the system controller. The RAM can optionally be implemented separately from the system controller and separately from the at least one measurement controller.

[0043] The integrated circuit can further include a clock generator for providing a clock signal, and the integrated circuit can be configured to synchronize the system controller and the at least one measurement controller using the clock signal. This can offer the advantage that the system controller and the at least one measurement controller can operate in the same clock domain. This, in turn, can offer the advantage that synchronization of the operation of the system controller and the operation of the at least one measurement controller can be achieved. This, in turn, can offer the advantage that temporal adjustment and / or assignment of workflows and / or work results of the system controller and the at least one measurement controller can be facilitated.

[0044] The integrated circuit can be configured such that the at least one measurement controller can be operated independently of the system controller, and / or the system controller can be operated independently of the at least one measurement controller. This can offer the advantage of reducing or avoiding any undesirable interference from the system controller on the operation of the measurement controller, or vice versa. Furthermore, this can offer the advantage that the measurement controllers can be designed separately from the system controller as self-contained elements or systems and can optionally be made fully simulator-ready, without their operation necessarily depending on the functions of the system controller.

[0045] All disclosures relating to the control system shall also be considered disclosed for the integrated circuit and the method, and vice versa.

[0046] Furthermore, a control unit for a motor vehicle is provided. The control unit may include a control system as disclosed. The features disclosed for the control system are also to be considered as disclosed for the control unit.

[0047] The features and embodiments mentioned above and explained below are not only to be regarded as disclosed in the combinations explicitly mentioned, but are also covered by the disclosure content in other technically meaningful combinations and embodiments.

[0048] Further details and advantages will now be explained in more detail using the following examples and optional embodiments with reference to the figures.

[0049] They show: Fig. 1: a schematic representation of a control system according to a first optional embodiment; Fig. 2: a schematic representation of a measurement controller according to an optional embodiment; Fig. 3: a schematic representation of a control system according to a further optional embodiment; Fig. 4: a control unit according to an optional embodiment; Fig. 5: an illustration of a method for providing a control and / or regulation signal; and Fig. 6: an integrated circuit according to an optional embodiment.

[0050] For the sake of simplicity, identical or similar elements in the various embodiments are designated with the same reference numerals in the following figures.

[0051] Figure 1Figure 10 shows a control system 10 according to an optional embodiment, which is configured to provide control and / or regulation signals for controlling a control loop 12. The control system 10 comprises a system bus 14 with a system controller 16, wherein the system controller 16 is configured to execute system functions 18 of the control system 10. The control system 10 is characterized in that the control system 10 further comprises a measurement bus 20 with at least one measurement controller 22, wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or output functions for adjusting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals. According to the embodiment shown, the control system 10 has three measurement controllers 22 in the measurement bus 20.Furthermore, the control system 10 has a bus interface 24, which is set up to provide a communication link 26 between the system bus 14 and the measurement bus 20.

[0052] The system controller 16 may include a microcontroller 28 or be configured as such. The system controller may also be configured to enable communication 19 between other components, which do not belong to the measurement system 10, and the measurement system 10.

[0053] The control system 12 can be an analog system. Accordingly, the control system can further comprise an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 30 at the input of the measurement bus 20, as well as a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 32 at the output of the measurement bus 20. The control system 10 can be configured such that the measurement controller 22 located directly after the ADC has exclusive access to the output of the ADC 30 and / or that the measurement controller 22 located directly before the DAC 32 has exclusive access to the input of data to the DAC 32.

[0054] Figure 2Figure 22 shows a schematic representation of a measurement controller 22 according to an optional embodiment. The measurement controller 22 has an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 34, which in the illustrated embodiment is configured as a RISC processor 36. The RISC processor 36 is the only ALU 34 of the measurement controller 22. Furthermore, the measurement controller 22 can have a ROM memory 38 and a RAM memory 40, which are connected to the ALU 34. The ALU 34, and thus the RISC processor 36 and the measurement controller 22, can be operated using a predefined program code, which is provided in the ROM memory 38. In other words, the ALU 34 can only be operated with the predefined program code provided in the ROM memory 38. By using a RISC processor 36, the complexity of the measurement controller 22 can be kept low.Given its low complexity, the measurement controller 22 can generally be referred to as a "nanocontroller" in contrast to a microcontroller 28. Furthermore, this allows the measurement controller 22 to execute only those instructions and functions necessary for its intended task. The measurement controller 22 can optionally be configured as a finite-state machine. This offers the advantage that the measurement and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller 22 are fully simulable, thus facilitating verification of the measurement controller 22's functionality with regard to functional safety.

[0055] The measuring controller 22 can be configured to execute each measurement or output function executable by the measuring controller 22, starting from an initial state within a predetermined finite cycle, and to return to the initial state after the predetermined finite cycle has elapsed. The predetermined finite cycle can have a duration of 50 µs or less. Furthermore, the measuring controller 22 can be configured to execute a maximum of 32 different commands, which facilitates verification of the measuring controller 22 with regard to functional safety.

[0056] The measurement controller 22 can furthermore have a RAM memory 40 and be configured to store output data generated during the execution of a measurement function in the RAM memory 40. The control system can be configured to allow the system controller 16 to access the RAM memory 40 of the measurement controller 22 via the bus interface 24, thereby enabling the output data to be read from the RAM memory of the measurement controller. In addition, the system controller 16 can have a RAM memory, and the control system 10 can be configured to store the output data in the RAM memory of the system controller 16 via the bus interface 24. Furthermore, the measurement controller 22 can have connections 42 to the bus interface 24.

[0057] Optionally, the predefined program code can be provided in a RAM memory 40, allowing the measurement controller 22 to be operated in test mode using the predefined program code stored in RAM 40. This can be advantageous for testing modified program codes in test mode without having to provide a modified ROM memory 38 for each change. Furthermore, the predefined program code can be provided in a ROM memory 38, so that the measurement controller 22 can only be operated in functional mode using the predefined program code stored in ROM memory 38. This can be advantageous or necessary with regard to functional safety. The measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller 22 can include applications that are safety-relevant within the framework of functional safety.The control system 10 can be configured to prevent the system controller 16 from accessing the measurement controller 22 during the execution of a measurement function and / or output function by the measurement controller 22.

[0058] Figure 3 Figure 10 shows a control system 10 according to a further optional embodiment for controlling and / or regulating a control loop 12 with an analog system. The control system 10 has a system bus 14 and a measurement bus 20. The measurement bus 20 contains, on its input side, a front end 44, an ADC 30, and a control unit 46 for the ADC 30. Furthermore, the measurement bus 20 contains two measurement controllers 22 designed as nanocontrollers, as described above with reference to... Figure 2explained in detail. On the output side, the measurement bus 20 contains a control unit 48 for the DAC 32, the DAC 32 itself, and a driver 50 for the control loop 12. The system bus 14 contains a system controller 16, designed as a microcontroller 28, and a register 52, which provides the system controller 16 with data for particularly fast access.

[0059] The system controller 16 can have its own ROM, RAM, and / or flash memory. The system controller 16 can retrieve measurement data acquired and optionally processed and / or analyzed by one or more measurement controllers 22 via the bus interface 24 and use this data to control the system. For example, one of the measurement controllers 22 can be responsible for acquiring the measured values ​​or measurement data, while the other measurement controller 22 is responsible for processing the measured values ​​or measurement data and controlling the DAC. This decouples the system controller 16 from the components of the measurement bus not only in terms of development but also via the bus itself. The measurement controllers 22 can be identical or different and adapted to their respective functions or tasks.This allows for the use of different measurement controllers for data acquisition, processing, and control. Furthermore, this offers the advantage that the measurement system—that is, the components of the measurement bus within the control system—can be designed to be programmable while maintaining the same front end. For example, reprogramming can be achieved by replacing the ROM memory and adapting the predefined program code of the measurement controllers.

[0060] Figure 4 Figure 54 shows a control unit 54 according to an optional embodiment for a motor vehicle in a schematic representation. The control unit 54 comprises a control system 10 as disclosed.

[0061] With reference to Figure 5 The following describes a procedure 500 for providing a control and / or regulation signal.

[0062] The procedure 500 includes in step 502 providing a system bus 14 with a system controller 16, wherein the system controller 16 is configured to execute system functions 18 of the control system 10.

[0063] In step 504, the procedure 500 includes providing a measurement bus 20 with at least one measurement controller 22, wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data.

[0064] In step 506, the procedure 500 includes sending a command to execute a measurement function from the system controller 16 to the measurement controller 22 via a bus interface 24, which provides a communication link 26 between the system bus 14 and the measurement bus 20.

[0065] In step 508, the procedure 500 includes executing the measurement function by the measurement controller 22 and preventing the system controller 16 from accessing the measurement controller 22 while the measurement function is being executed by the measurement controller 22.

[0066] In step 510, procedure 500 includes providing output data that was created during the execution 508 of the measurement function, whereby the output data is provided to the system controller 16 via the bus interface 24.

[0067] Figure 6 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an integrated circuit 1000 for providing a control system 10 for providing control and / or regulation signals according to an optional embodiment. The integrated circuit 1000 comprises a system bus 14 with a system controller 16, wherein the system controller 14 is configured to perform system functions 18 (see Figure 1). Figure 1) of the control system 10. The integrated circuit 1000 further comprises a measurement bus 20 with at least one measurement controller 22, wherein the at least one measurement controller 22 is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or output functions for adapting and / or outputting control and / or regulation signals. In addition, the integrated circuit 1000 includes a bus interface 24, which is configured to provide a communication link 26 between the system bus 14 and the measurement bus 20.

[0068] The measurement controller 22 can be designed as a deterministic, programmable finite-state machine and configured in such a way that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measurement controller 22 are fully simulateable.

[0069] The integrated circuit can further comprise a RAM memory 40, wherein the integrated circuit 1000 can be configured to store output data generated by the at least one measurement controller 22 during the execution of a measurement function in the RAM memory 40 and to access the RAM memory 40 and read the output data from the RAM memory 40 by means of the system controller 16.

[0070] The integrated circuit 1000 can further include a clock generator 1002 for providing a clock signal, wherein the integrated circuit can be configured to synchronize the system controller 16 and the at least one measurement controller 22 by means of the clock signal.

[0071] The integrated circuit can be configured such that the at least one measuring controller 22 can be operated independently of the system controller 16 and / or the system controller 16 can be operated independently of the at least one measuring controller 22. Reference symbol list

[0072] 10 Control system 12 Controlled system 14 System bus 16 System controller 18 System functions 19 Communication 20 Measurement bus 22 Measurement controller 24 Bus interface 26 Communication link 28 Microcontroller 30 Analog-to-digital converter 32 Digital-to-analog converter 34 Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 36 RISC processor 38 ROM memory 40 RAM memory 42 Connections to the bus interface 44 Front end 46 Control unit for ADC 48 Control unit for DAC 50 Driver 52 Register 54 Control unit 500 Procedure for providing a control and / or regulation signal 502 - 510 Procedure steps 1000 integrated circuit 1002 clock generator

Claims

1. A control system (10) which is configured to provide open- and / or closed-loop control signals, the control system (10) comprising: - a system bus (14) with a system controller (16), wherein the system controller (16) is configured to execute system functions (18) of the control system (10); characterized in that the control system (10) further has: - a measurement bus (20) with at least one measuring controller (22), wherein the at least one measuring controller (22) is configured to perform measurement functions for acquiring and / or processing measurement data and / or output functions for adjusting and / or outputting open- and / or closed-loop control signals, wherein the measuring controller (22) is designed as a deterministic, programmable finite-state machine and configured such that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measuring controller (22) are fully simulatable, and wherein the measuring controller (22) can be operated by means of a predetermined program code, the measuring controller (22) has a ROM memory (38) and the predetermined program code is provided in the ROM memory (38); and - a bus interface (24) which is configured to provide a communication link (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20).

2. The control system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the system controller (16) has a microcontroller (28) or is configured as such and / or wherein the measuring controller (22) has a RISC processor (36).

3. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring controller (22) is configured to execute each measuring function or output function executable by the measuring controller (22) from an initial state within a predetermined finite cycle and to return to the initial state after the predetermined finite cycle has elapsed; and wherein the predetermined finite cycle optionally has a duration of 50 µs or less.

4. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring controller (22) is configured to execute a maximum of 32 different commands.

5. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring controller (22) further has a RAM memory (40) and is configured to store output data generated during the execution of a measuring function in the RAM memory (40); and wherein the control system (10) is optionally configured to allow the system controller (16) to access the RAM memory (40) of the measuring controller (22) and to read out the output data from the RAM memory (40) of the measuring controller (22) via the bus interface (24).

6. The control system (10) according to claim 5, wherein the system controller (16) has a RAM memory, and wherein the control system (10) is configured to store the output data via the bus interface (24) in the RAM memory of the system controller (16).

7. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the predetermined program code is additionally provided in a RAM memory (40) and the measuring controller (22) can be operated in a test mode by means of the predetermined program code stored in the RAM memory (40); and - the measuring controller (22) can be operated in a functional mode exclusively by means of the predetermined program code stored in the ROM memory (38).

8. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measuring controller (22) include such applications which are safety-relevant within the framework of functional safety.

9. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system (10) is configured to prevent access by the system controller (16) to the measuring controller (22) during the execution of a measurement function and / or output function by the measuring controller (22).

10. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system (10) is configured to provide a clock signal and to synchronize the system controller (16) and the at least one measuring controller (22) with the clock signal.

11. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system is configured such that the at least one measuring controller (22) can be operated independently of the system controller (16) and / or the system controller (16) can be operated independently of the at least one measuring controller (22).

12. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system controller (16), the at least one measuring controller (22) and the bus interface (24) are integrated into an integrated circuit.

13. The control system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a RAM memory (40), wherein the control system is configured to store, by means of the at least one measuring controller (22), output data generated during the execution of a measuring function in the RAM memory (40), and to access the RAM memory (40) by means of the system controller (16) and to read out the output data from the RAM memory (40).

14. A control device (54) for a motor vehicle, the control device (54) comprising a control system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method (500) for providing an open- and / or closed loop control signal, the method comprising: - providing (502) a system bus (14) with a system controller (16), wherein the system controller (16) is configured to execute system functions (18) of the control system (10); - providing (504) a measurement bus (20) with at least one measuring controller (22), wherein the at least one measuring controller (22) is configured to execute measurement functions for detecting and / or processing measurement data, wherein the measuring controller (22) is configured as a deterministic, programmable finite-state machine and configured such that the measurement functions and / or output functions executable by the measuring controller (22) are fully simulatable, and wherein the measuring controller (22) can be operated by means of a predetermined program code, the measuring controller (22) has a ROM memory (38), and the predetermined program code is provided in the ROM memory (38); - sending (506) a command to execute a measurement function from the system controller (16) to the measuring controller (22) via a bus interface (24) which provides a communication link (26) between the system bus (14) and the measurement bus (20); - executing (508) the measurement function by the measuring controller (22) and preventing access by the system controller (16) to the measuring controller (22) while the measurement function is being executed by the measuring controller (22); and - providing (510) output data generated during the execution of the measurement function, wherein the output data are provided to the system controller (16) via the bus interface (24).