CAN BUS box for professional vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface box (10) for a commercial vehicle such as a truck, executing a computer program designed to: - exchange input and / or output data with a CAN bus network of the vehicle; - coordinate information exchanges and safety routines between the vehicle chassis and bodywork elements added to the chassis; the box (10) comprising a human-machine interface (HMI). According to the invention, the HMI is configured to display a graphical programming interface for creating combinational functions of input and / or output data. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: CAN BUS box for professional vehicles Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of professional vehicles, such as dump trucks. Prior art

[0002] CAN BUS boxes are known from the prior art for coordinating information exchanges and safety routines between a vehicle chassis and bodywork elements added to this chassis.

[0003] This type of box is used by bodybuilders, who purchase chassis from vehicle manufacturers, and then install optional equipment on these chassis, depending on the needs of their customers. This could, for example, be a hydraulic tipper, a crane, or a combination of different elements.

[0004] Interface boxes are generally used to group together in a single interface means for controlling bodywork elements.

[0005] In addition, various regulations govern the safety rules to be implemented so that bodied vehicles do not present a danger during their use. Interface boxes are then used to collect data from chassis sensors, as well as from sensors arranged on the bodywork elements, so that the box executes a computer program programmed to analyze the situation in which the vehicle is operating, and to verify that the safety conditions are respected.

[0006] For example, it is necessary to prevent a vehicle equipped with a dropside body from being able to travel with an open dropside: the dropside would then protrude beyond the normal width of the vehicle, and the risk of an accident in the event of crossing is very high.

[0007] The CAN BUS boxes are therefore programmed using combinatorial functions combining different operands such as the vehicle speed, the activated or inactive state of a hydraulic power take-off, the open or inactive position of a side panel. These combinatorial functions make it possible to check that the safety conditions are being respected. If not, an alert can be issued to the driver, or the vehicle speed can be restricted to a predefined threshold (15 km / h for example).

[0008] The boxes using the CAN BUS communication network of the vehicle, the different operands coming from the chassis are identified by means of a hexadecimal code, which identifies the operand sought within all the input data which circulate on the CAN BUS network.

[0009] The hexadecimal code of an operand is specific to each brand of vehicle chassis, or even to each vehicle model within a brand. In addition, programming must of course be adapted according to the elements that are fitted to the chassis.

[0010] Bodybuilders therefore encounter difficulties in programming the interface boxes that they install.

[0011] Document CN101913343 is known from the prior art, which describes the configuration of interface boxes. However, this configuration must be carried out using configuration files prepared in advance by a competent design office. The bodybuilder is therefore not independent in programming the box.

[0012] Document DE 102009047974 discloses means for reprogramming a vehicle controller. However, this reprogramming is carried out by means of a remote connection. Here again, the bodybuilder is not independent in programming the box. Statement of the invention

[0013] One of the aims of the invention is to facilitate the programming of a CAN BUS box installed on a vehicle.

[0014] Finally, one of the aims of the invention is to allow bodybuilders to work with different vehicle models within a brand, or vehicles from different manufacturer brands, without additional difficulty.

[0015] For this purpose, an interface box has been developed for a professional vehicle such as a truck, executing a computer program programmed to: - exchange input data and / or output data with a vehicle “CAN BUS” network; - coordinate information exchanges and safety routines between the vehicle chassis and bodywork elements added to the chassis; the box including a human machine interface “HMI”.

[0016] According to the invention, the human-machine interface is configured to display the graphical programming interface to create combinatorial functions of input data and / or output data.

[0017] In this way, the box is functional and pre-programmed for monitoring functions, and all that remains is to indicate which functions should be monitored. The bodybuilder is able to program the necessary combinational functions, in line with the bodywork elements of the vehicle concerned, and autonomously. It is no longer necessary to use specific and exclusive equipment from a brand, such as a manufacturer's case, and it is also not necessary to involve a dedicated design office to prepare programming files.

[0018] The programming of combinational functions is facilitated and made accessible to bodybuilders who do not have automation design offices.

[0019] In order to be compatible with any type of chassis manufacturer model or brand, the graphical programming interface includes an operand field which is configured for user input of hexadecimal parameters of an input data item, such as a frame identifier, a start bit, or a coding length. In fact, the bodybuilder can use the documentation relating to CAN BUS networks provided by the manufacturers, find the hexadecimal parameters of the data item sought there, and enter them in the operand field.

[0020] In order to facilitate the creation or programming of new combinatorial functions, the graphical programming interface includes a function field which is configured for user input of combinatorial functions of at least one operand. The bodybuilder is thus free to create the new functions he needs. In addition, if there is a modification to the bodywork elements installed on the vehicle, then these new elements can be monitored and / or controlled by means of new functions programmed by the bodybuilder using the function field.

[0021] In order to facilitate the entry of functions in the functions field, by avoiding manually copying the hexadecimal parameters of the necessary operands, the function field is configured to display a list of operands including: - operands pre-entered by the box manufacturer; and - operands entered by the user; and the function field is configured so that the selection of an operand is made from the displayed list.

[0022] To facilitate the programming of complex functions, using numerous operands, the list of operands also includes combinations of operands, defined by combinatorial functions of at least one operand.

[0023] In order to reduce the necessary wiring operations, which would be imposed by the use of external physical buttons, the interface box comprises buttons, physical or virtual, and the programming graphical interface comprises a button assignment graphical interface which is configured for user input of the assignment of a function to a button. In addition, this makes it possible to have interchangeable interface boxes, which can be adapted to different types of vehicles, regardless of the bodywork elements.

[0024] Preferably, the button assignment field is configured to program a monostable or bistable behavior of a button. In this way, the programmed buttons of the box perfectly reproduce the behavior of hardware buttons for which it replaces.

[0025] In order for the graphical interface displayed by the human-machine interface to be as explicit as possible for the user of the vehicle, the button assignment field is configured to program the display of a button label on the HMI, according to a result of a calculation of a function. The bodybuilder can thus provide alert or information messages dedicated to each programmed function and associated with a button.

[0026] In a particular embodiment, the function is a safety function capable of identifying a safety failure of the vehicle. The interface box can then allow verification of the conformity of the use of the vehicle. In particular, it is possible to carry out the necessary safety upgrades when old pre-existing vehicles must be brought into conformity with subsequent regulatory developments.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, a storage memory of the housing comprises an operand database comprising hexadecimal parameters of the operands, vehicle makes and vehicle models. In this way the work of the bodybuilder is further facilitated, because he does not have to manually enter the hexadecimal parameters of the necessary operands, he only has to select them from the database via a dedicated function of the graphical interface.

[0028] The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with a housing according to the aforementioned characteristics. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] [Fig.l] is an illustration of a box according to the invention, before its programming.

[0030] [Fig.2] is an illustration of such a box, being programmed.

[0031] [Fig.3] is an illustration of such a box, once its programming is complete.

[0032] [Fig.4] is an illustration of hexadecimal parameter conventions of a network CAN BUS.

[0033] [Fig.5] is an extract from a manufacturer's CAN BUS documentation. Detailed description of the invention

[0034] The invention relates essentially to an interface box (10) for professional vehicles, intended to be connected to the CAN BUS network of these vehicles, which comprises a human-machine interface "HMI", and which allows an installer of the box (10), typically a bodybuilder, to program the functions that said box (10) must execute.

[0035] This new type of box (10) therefore allows the bodybuilder to be independent in the installation and programming of this box (10), whatever the chassis model, its brand, and whatever the bodywork elements installed on the vehicle. This box (10) therefore gives the bodybuilder an autonomy that was not available until then.

[0036] The difficulty in programming the control boxes was that the various chassis manufacturers provide information on the hexadecimal parameters used on their CAN BUS network, but each manufacturer uses its own terminology.

[0037] For example, for a first chassis brand, the state of the power take-off is coded on the CAN BUS frame with an identifier 0CFE6269, whereas for another manufacturer this same operand of activated or not state of the power take-off is coded CFDA455, for a third chassis manufacturer it will be yet another identifier, 0X10FF7F7F.

[0038] Although each chassis manufacturer provides the information sought, namely in this example the activated or inactive state of the power take-off, a bodybuilder does not have the necessary equipment or sufficiently competent automation engineers to go and program an interface box (10) himself using conventional means.

[0039] The interface box (10) according to the invention, configured to display a graphical programming interface, therefore allows a bodybuilder to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0040] The interface box (10) is configured to be installed on a vehicle, and is intended to be connected, for example by wired network, to body element sensors as well as to a CAN BUS network of the vehicle.

[0041] The housing (10) comprises a control unit provided with a writable memory, and executes a computer program configured to perform monitoring functions, as well as a graphical interface displayed on a human machine interface "HMI", preferably touch-sensitive.

[0042] In the preferred embodiment, the graphical programming interface comprises an operand field allowing the user to enter the hexadecimal parameters of an input data item. These parameters are those provided by the chassis manufacturers. The user can therefore, regardless of the model of the chassis intended to receive the box (10), enter the correct hexadecimal parameters making it possible to identify the desired input data item, and to assign it to an operand. According to the previous example, this may be the activated or inactivated state of the power take-off.

[0043] This input data will be used as an operand in a function executed by the interface box (10).

[0044] Then the graphical programming interface includes a function field allowing the bodybuilder to create new combinatorial functions with the different operands.

[0045] The operands may correspond to input data from sensors or controllers installed by the bodybuilder, or input data from information circulating on the chassis' CAN BUS network.

[0046] In a particular case, the operands are results of combinatorial functions pre-programmed by the bodybuilder: to simplify complex functions, the bodybuilder can group certain terms of this function under the name of new operands, called "operand combinations". The functions displayed on the graphical programming interface are shorter and more intelligible.

[0047] In order to facilitate the entry of combinatorial functions, the functions field is configured to display a list of operands including both: - operands pre-entered by the manufacturer of the box (10) and corresponding to wired inputs of the box (10) to which the bodybuilder is likely to connect sensors which interest him a priori; - operands entered by the user, i.e. corresponding to input data from the CAN BUS network, for which the user had to enter the hexadecimal parameters so that the interface box (10) could detect them within the information circulating on the CAN BUS network; - and where applicable the combinations of operands defined by the user; so that entering functions is made easier because there is no need to manually re-enter hexadecimal parameters.

[0048] The result of a combinational function can be used locally, by the interface box (10). For example, it may involve controlling the box (10) in the case of the emission of an alert (such as by means of a buzzer). A combination of operands also corresponds to local use.

[0049] The result of a combinational function can be used externally, as output data from the box (10): in this case, the result is injected by the interface box (10) onto the CAN BUS network, respecting the hexadecimal parameters indicated by the chassis manufacturer. In this case, it is possible to control elements of the chassis, such as the speed restriction for example.

[0050] So that it is not necessary to add buttons (12) to the dashboard of the vehicle to control the bodywork elements, the interface box (10) comprises buttons (12), hardware or virtual (i.e. displayed on the graphical interface). The behavior of the virtual buttons (12) is programmable so that they reproduce the behavior of the hardware buttons (12) for which they replace. The behavior of the buttons (12) can therefore be monostable for example.

[0051] With reference to figures 1 to 3, which represent a box (10) according to the invention, the bodybuilder can assign new functions to buttons (12), here the switching on of work lights, and program the display of labels (13) associated with these buttons (12).

[0052] With reference to [Fig.l], the new box (10) does not perform any monitoring function, and only access (11) to the programming interface of the box (10) is accessible.

[0053] With reference to [Fig.2], the bodybuilder has programmed buttons (12) for controlling (12) the work lights: - a tooltip (13) reminds you whether the work lights are on or off; - the buttons (12) are bistable; - the bodybuilder has nevertheless programmed a function for automatically switching off the work lights, in the event that the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, for example 15 km / h.

[0054] To do this, the bodybuilder: - identified within the manufacturer's documentation the hexadecimal parameters of the input data corresponding to the vehicle speed; - created a new operand "speed", and assigned to this operand the corresponding hexadecimal parameters, using the operand entry interface; - created a speed monitoring and work light switching off function using the programming interface, so that the lighting is automatically switched off if the vehicle exceeds the threshold speed (which is synonymous with resuming road traffic, where the work lights must be switched off); - associated this function with the control of the bistable buttons (12); - created tooltip-type labels (13) reminding the graphical interface of the on or off status of the work lights.

[0055] [Fig.3] illustrates an interface box (10) for which the programming is completed, and whose graphical interface presents: - several zones (14) illustrating the state of certain functions (and which are not attached to buttons); - the allocation of two buttons (12) to control work lights.

[0056] [Fig.4] is a table illustrating the structure of a frame exchanged on the CAN BUS network. It can be seen that depending on the conventions adopted by the different chassis manufacturers: - the first byte can be referenced 1 (byte numbering from 1 to 8); - the first byte can be referenced 0 (byte numbering from 0 to 7); - the same for the first bit of each byte (numbering from 0 to 7 or from 1 to 8, and from 0 to 63 or from 1 to 64).

[0057] This table illustrates the need to be able to adapt to all chassis on the market, regardless of the convention used, and therefore the need to be able to modify the hexadecimal parameters of the operands directly on the box (10).

[0058] [Fig.5] is an extract from manufacturer documentation allowing you to find the desired input data within the information circulating on the chassis CAN BUS network, in order to assign it to an operand. To select the input data, the following hexadecimal parameters must be entered: frame identifier, byte within the frame, the start bit and the length of the data within the byte. The bit value indicated in the fifth column indicates the value of the selected input data.

[0059] Table 1 is a summary illustration of the combinational function intended to restrict the speed of the vehicle when a mobile element of the vehicle, such as a side panel, has not been returned to its safety position before traffic resumes.

[0060] [Tables 1] PTO Info Speed ​​Info > 15km / h All elements compliant Speed ​​restriction 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1

[0061] In the illustrated case, the PTO info is the activated or inactive state of the power take-off, which indicates: - if the power take-off is active, the intention of the vehicle driver to remain in the intervention situation; or, - if the power take-off is inactive, its intention to resume driving.

[0062] Speed ​​information is the monitoring of the vehicle's speed relative to a speed threshold, here 15km / h.

[0063] The conformity of the elements is the monitoring of the storage in a safe position of all the moving elements fitted on the chassis.

[0064] If the power take-off is inactive, the vehicle is traveling at too high a speed, beyond a predetermined threshold here of 15 km / h, and if elements are not in their safety position, then the vehicle speed restriction will be active. The vehicle, in this case a truck, will therefore not be able to travel beyond the pre-established speed threshold.

[0065] The bodybuilder can create as many functions as he wishes, like this speed limiting function.

[0066] If new moving elements are added to the vehicle, the use of a first function to check whether all the bodywork elements are in their correct position is easy to complete. Using the result of the “the elements are all correct” function in the form of a combination of operands allows in this case to add bodywork elements to the vehicle and to modify only the “the elements are all correct” function, without having to update the vehicle speed limiting function.

[0067] It is recalled that the box (10) according to the invention is configured so that its programming is modified: it is indeed a question of adding or modifying the combinatorial functions which will then be executed by the box (10). It is not a question of a simple configuration of the box (10), in the common sense in the technical field of the type setting the time, or selection of a language of the HMI within a list.

[0068] Furthermore, the housing (10) may be shaped differently from the examples given without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0069] Furthermore, the technical characteristics of the different embodiments and variants mentioned above can be, in whole or in part, combined with each other. Thus, the housing (10) can be adapted in terms of cost, functionality and performance.

Claims

Claims

1. Interface box (10) for a professional vehicle such as a truck, executing a computer program programmed to: - exchange input data and / or output data with a "CAN BUS" network of the vehicle; - coordinate exchanges of information and safety routines between the chassis of the vehicle and bodywork elements added to the chassis; the box (10) comprising a human machine interface "HMI"; characterized in that the HMI is configured to display a graphical programming interface for creating combinatorial functions of input data and / or output data.

2. Interface box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphical programming interface comprises an operand field which is configured for entry, by the user, of hexadecimal parameters of an input data, such as a frame identifier, a start bit, or a coding length.

3. Interface box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphical programming interface comprises a function field which is configured for input, by the user, of combinatorial functions of at least one operand.

4. Interface box (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the function field is configured to display a list of operands comprising: - operands pre-entered by the manufacturer of the box (10); and - operands entered by the user; and the function field is configured so that the selection of an operand is made from the displayed list.

5. Interface box (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the list of operands also comprises combinations of operands, defined by combinatorial functions of at least one operand.

6. Interface box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises buttons (12) and the graphical programming interface comprises a graphical button assignment interface (12) which is configured for input, by the user, of the assignment of a function to a button (12).

7. Interface box (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that a button assignment field (12) is configured to program a monostable or bistable behavior of a button (12).

8. Interface box (10) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that a button assignment field (12) is configured to program the display of a button label (13) (12) on the HMI, according to a result of a calculation of a function.

9. Interface box (10) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that a function is a safety function capable of identifying a safety failure of the vehicle.

10. Interface box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a storage memory of the box (10) comprises a database of operands, hexadecimal parameters of the operands, vehicle brands and vehicle models.

11. Professional vehicle such as a truck, comprising a CAN bus equipped with a housing (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

Images