ARRANGEMENT OF AN EMERGENCY BATTERY FOR A CONNECTION SOCKET IN AN AGRICULTURAL VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2112429 filed on 24.11.2021

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of physical integration of communication devices in a motor vehicle. In particular, it concerns the integration of a backup battery for a connectivity unit in a motor vehicle. The term "motor vehicle" refers to any type of vehicle such as a car, moped, airplane, train, motorcycle, warehouse robot, etc.

[0003] The connectivity unit is a device responsible for communications between the vehicle and at least one telecommunications network. Typically, the connectivity unit communicates via a cellular network, such as 4G or 5G, to remote servers. A specific function of the connectivity unit is to transmit an emergency call to an emergency call center.

[0004] When a land vehicle or one of its occupants is involved in an incident, it may be appropriate to implement emergency communication, typically including an emergency message. The range of incidents for which such a message is relevant is vast: it could be a road accident involving the vehicle, a passenger falling ill, a technical incident related to a vehicle operating parameter (such as a malfunction of the adaptive cruise control), an assault on a vehicle occupant, and so on.

[0005] Various methods have been proposed for transmitting such emergency messages by a land vehicle. An "emergency message" is defined as any type of communication involving the transmission of information. This could include, for example, sending a message containing digital data (binary, for instance), any type of call on a telecommunications network, a combination of a call and a message, and so on.

[0006] In Europe, a commonly used emergency message is the "eCall." The eCall is triggered either automatically by the activation of on-board sensors or manually by the occupants of the vehicle in distress. Once activated, the eCall notifies, via wireless communication networks, the most appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) emergency call center and provides it with relevant location information. It then transmits a defined Minimum Set of Data (MSD) indicating that an incident requiring an emergency response has occurred and establishes an audio channel between the vehicle's occupants and the most appropriate PSAP.

[0007] Since emergency communication must be initiated in a situation potentially involving at least partial destruction of the vehicle, it is necessary to provide a backup power source so that the connectivity unit can function even if a primary power source (e.g., the vehicle's 12-volt battery) is destroyed. A backup battery is therefore included.

[0008] It has been suggested that the connectivity unit be installed on the vehicle's roof or in the vehicle's dashboard. However, these solutions have drawbacks, particularly in terms of thermal management and tamper resistance.

[0009] To address these drawbacks, document FR 2106178 proposed integrating the connectivity unit into a central console located between the driver's and passenger's seats. However, this configuration presents a problem with the placement of the backup battery.

[0010] US 2016 / 176443 A1 discloses an installation structure for a vehicle device.

[0011] The present invention improves the situation.

[0012] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a motorized land vehicle comprising: a driver's seat and a passenger seat; a center console located between the driver's seat and the passenger seat; a connectivity unit included inside the center console; a backup battery configured to power the connectivity unit; a support for the connectivity unit fixed to a floor of the vehicle and included inside the center console; in which the connectivity box and the support are configured to be fixed to each other, and in which the support includes a plate configured to receive the backup battery.

[0013] Integrating the backup battery with the connectivity box offers several technical advantages.

[0014] On the one hand, the wiring between the battery and the case is limited, therefore the energy losses related to this wiring are limited.

[0015] Furthermore, assembly is simplified because the same assembly unit (central console) handles all connections and mounting for the connectivity box. In particular, the backup battery does not need to be installed at another point in the assembly process.

[0016] In one embodiment, the center console also includes an air conditioning duct, located above the connectivity box.

[0017] In one embodiment, the backup battery is configured so that the power supply to the connectivity box by the backup battery generates enough power for the connectivity box to transmit an emergency communication to an emergency call center.

[0018] In one embodiment, emergency communication is an emergency message containing at least one of the following elements: a location of the vehicle; a type of vehicle.

[0019] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for transmitting an emergency communication from a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of: Detection of a malfunction in a primary power source of the vehicle; Initiation of emergency communication from energy obtained from the backup battery.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig 1 ] is a diagram illustrating a connectivity box support according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 2 ] is a diagram illustrating a connectivity box and its support according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 3 ] is a diagram illustrating a connectivity unit and an air conditioning duct according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig 4 ] is a diagram illustrating a device for implementing the steps of the process according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] The invention is described below in its non-limiting application to a connectivity unit installed in the center console of a motor vehicle. Other applications, such as a connectivity unit installed in the center console of a truck or an airplane, are also conceivable.

[0022] There figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a connectivity box support according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] There figure 1 includes a perspective view of a floor 11 of the motor vehicle, on which is fixed a support 3 of a connectivity box (not shown in the figure 1 The bracket is typically fixed to the floor by screwing. The bracket 3 has a plate 1 configured to receive a backup battery (not shown) configured to power the connectivity box.

[0024] The bracket is also configured to be attached to the connectivity box. The attachment methods are described, for example, in document FR 2106178, and typically include tabs, notches, and counter-supports for pre-assembly, with the attachment then secured by screwing.

[0025] Beams are also represented on the figure 1 , and in particular a 4-cable configured to connect the backup battery to the connectivity box.

[0026] The whole thing is illustrated by the figure 1 is contained within a center console (not shown) located between a driver's seat and a passenger seat.

[0027] There figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the connectivity box and its support according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0028] The connectivity box 7 is fixed to the support 3, which includes the plate 1 for the backup battery (not shown).

[0029] In one embodiment, the backup battery is configured so that the power supply to the connectivity unit from the backup battery generates sufficient power for the connectivity unit to transmit an emergency communication to an emergency call center. Specifically, in one embodiment, the emergency communication is an emergency message containing at least one of the following elements: a location of the vehicle; a type of vehicle.

[0030] Emergency communication is, for example, of the eCall type, as described in the introduction to this application.

[0031] There figure 3 the connectivity box and an air conditioning duct according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0032] The air conditioning duct 9 is located above the connectivity box, which is itself fixed above the support containing the plate 1, the support being itself fixed to the floor 11. On the figure 3 The air conditioning duct is shown partially transparent, so the connectivity box is also visible.

[0033] There figure 4 represents an example of a device D included in the vehicle. In one embodiment, the device D is included in the connectivity unit. This device D can be used as a centralized device responsible for the steps of a process for transmitting an emergency communication from the motor vehicle described above with reference to figures 1 à 3 .

[0034] In particular, the process includes the following steps: Detection of a malfunction in the vehicle's primary power supply. This detection occurs, for example, during continuous operation of the connectivity unit. The unit detects a power interruption and then sends a request to activate the backup battery. Alternatively, the backup battery may remain inactive as long as it detects that the connectivity unit is being properly powered by a primary vehicle power source (e.g., a 12V battery). Emergency communication is then initiated using power from the backup battery. Emergency communication can then be transmitted using the backup battery.

[0035] This device D can take the form of printed circuits, of any type of computer, typically installed in the connectivity box.

[0036] Device D includes a random access memory 100 for storing instructions for the implementation by a processor 200 of at least one step of the process as described above. The device also includes a mass storage 300 for storing data intended to be retained after the process has been implemented.

[0037] Device D may further include a digital signal processor (DSP) 400. This DSP 400 receives data to shape, demodulate and amplify, in a manner known per se, this data.

[0038] The device also includes an input interface 500 for receiving data implemented by the process and an output interface 600 for transmitting data implemented by the process.

[0039] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

[0040] Thus, an embodiment has been described in which the invention is implemented for a connectivity box having a substantially flat shape. However, the invention can be implemented for any type of box, for example, a cubic one.

Claims

1. Motorized land vehicle comprising: - a driver's seat and a passenger seat; - a central console located between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat; - a connectivity box (7) included inside the center console; - a support (3) for the connectivity box fixed to a floor of the vehicle and included inside the center console; in which the connectivity box and the support are configured to be fixed to each other, and in which the support includes a plate (1) configured to receive a backup battery configured to supply power to the connectivity box.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, in which the central console further comprises an air conditioning duct (9), located above the connectivity box.

3. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the backup battery is configured so that the power supply to the connectivity box by the backup battery generates sufficient power for the connectivity box to transmit an emergency communication to an emergency call center.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the emergency communication is an emergency message comprising at least one of the following elements: - vehicle location; - a type of vehicle.

5. A method for transmitting an emergency communication from a motor vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, comprising the steps of: - detection of a malfunction in a primary power supply of the vehicle; - initiation of emergency communication using energy obtained from the backup battery.