Electronic control device

Abstract

To provide an electronic control device which is capable of restraining periodic lag of information outputted from different output devices.SOLUTION: An electronic control device is configured so as to contain control means for controlling a first control device which outputs first information from a first output device at prescribed periodic time and a second control device which outputs second information from a second output device at periodic time different from that of the first control device. The control means periodically outputs a start request for causing the first control device to start outputting the first information and a start request for causing the second control device to start outputting the second information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle's meter ECU (Electronic Control Unit) has a function to alert the driver when a seat belt is not fastened by sounding a buzzer and displaying a warning lamp. Because the microcomputer in the meter ECU directly controls the buzzer and warning lamp, it is possible to synchronize the buzzer's repeated sounding and non-sounding behavior with the warning lamp's repeated lighting and extinguishing behavior.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that notifies a driver that a seat belt is not fastened, in which the operation of a warning lamp by a warning display drive circuit is synchronized with the operation of a buzzer by a warning sound drive circuit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-22563 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the past, the buzzer and the warning lamp were directly controlled by the same microcomputer, making it easy to periodically synchronize the buzzer's repeated sounding and non-sounding behavior with the warning lamp's repeated turning on and off behavior.

[0006] In response to this issue, in recent years, consideration has been given to using image display devices to display warning lights and other information. However, when using an image display device, there is a possibility that a discrepancy in the processing cycles may occur because the buzzer and the image display use different processing means. To synchronize them, a large-scale mechanism is required for the image processing device and the processing means on the buzzer side, which increases the number of parts and increases costs. Furthermore, if the repeated operations of sounding and not sounding and turning on and off the warning light are started while the processing cycles are still out of sync, there is a problem that the discrepancy between the repeated operations of sounding and not sounding and turning on and off the warning light will increase over time.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic control device that can suppress periodic discrepancies in information output from different output devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the electronic control device of the present invention includes a control means for controlling a first control device that outputs first information from a first output device at a predetermined period and a second control device that outputs second information from a second output device at a period different from that of the first control device, and is characterized in that the control means periodically outputs a start request to the first control device to start outputting the first information and a start request to the second control device to start outputting the second information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress periodic discrepancies between information output from different output devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic control system including an electronic control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of processes for a start request, a meter buzzer, and a warning light when a seat belt is not fastened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] <Embodiment> In the following, an example will be shown in which an electronic control device according to an embodiment is applied to an integrated ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of a vehicle. One example of the integrated ECU is an HCU (HMI Control Unit). The HCU is an electronic control device that communicates with each ECU in an electronic control system provided in the vehicle and controls the entire vehicle.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic control system including an electronic control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic control system 1 shown in FIG.

[0014] The HCU 10 is an example of an electronic control device according to an embodiment. The HCU 10 includes a control means 100 and controls the entire electronic control system 1 based on the detection information detected by the detection means 20 and the like.

[0015] The detection means 20 includes various sensors provided in the vehicle and a body ECU that notifies the HCU 10 of the detected vehicle state. The body ECU receives signals from a seat belt fastening sensor that detects the fastening and detaching state of a seat belt and a seating sensor that detects the seating state of an occupant, for example, for a seat belt reminder function. The body ECU also receives information on the eco-idle state, engine water temperature, and turn signal status from an ECU that controls the engine (e.g., called an EFIECU). The body ECU transmits the received information to the HCU 10 as detection information.

[0016] The meter display 30 displays images of a speedometer, indicator lights showing the lighting status of the turn lamps, an indicator light showing eco-idle, a warning light showing the engine water temperature, a warning light showing that the seatbelt of a seated occupant is not fastened, and the like, on the image display device 322. The meter display 30 also outputs a buzzer sound from a buzzer 312. The meter display 30 is provided on a front panel of the driver's seat, for example.

[0017] 1 shows the configuration of the processing means of the meter buzzer 31 and the configuration of the processing means of the warning light 32. The processing means of the meter buzzer 31 includes a meter microcomputer 311, and the processing means of the warning light 32 includes a decoder 321.

[0018] Based on a signal (referred to as first information) that is repeatedly turned on and off from the HCU 10, the meter microcomputer 311 outputs signals corresponding to the on or off state of the first information to the buzzer 312 in sequence at a predetermined cycle.

[0019] Furthermore, when the meter microcomputer 311 receives a start request from the HCU 10, it outputs signals corresponding to the order of the processes (on or off) requested by the start request to the buzzer 312. For example, if the start request is a lighting request, the meter microcomputer 311 outputs signals corresponding to the order starting from on (lighting) to the buzzer 312 even when outputting off.

[0020] The buzzer 31 emits or does not emit a buzzer sound based on an ON (buzzer sound request) or OFF (non-buzzer sound request) signal output from the meter microcomputer 311.

[0021] The decoder 321 renders an image on the image display device 322 based on the video data (referred to as second information) from the HCU 10. The video data is information in chronological order of images to be rendered on the image display device 322. The video data also includes warning light information that alternately turns on and off a warning light at a predetermined cycle. The decoder 321 processes the video data at a predetermined processing cycle and updates the display information of the image display device 322 at each processing cycle. The warning light turned-on image and the turned-off image are also processed at a predetermined processing cycle, and the warning light display on the image display device 322 alternates between turning on and off at each processing cycle.

[0022] The image display device 322 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, etc. The image display device 322 may be a head-up display or other projection device as long as it displays an image.

[0023] The control means 100 of the HCU 10 has means for controlling the processing in the meter microcomputer 311 and the decoder 321. As an example, the control means 100 has a determination means 110, a counting means 120, and an output means .

[0024] The determination means 110, counting means 120, and output means 130 may be realized as functional units by a computer executing a predetermined program in memory, or some or all of these may be realized by hardware or software and hardware.

[0025] The determination means 110 determines whether the vehicle state requires the output of a buzzer sound and a warning light based on the detection information of the detection means 20. For example, when the body ECU detects that a seatbelt unfastened signal has been received from a seatbelt reminder, the determination means 110 determines that the vehicle state requires the output of a buzzer sound and a warning light, and issues a control command to the counting means 120 and the output means 130.

[0026] The counting means 120 outputs a timing signal at a predetermined cycle to the output means 130. The counting means 120 is, for example, a timer or a counter. For example, the counting means 120 counts the number of clocks and outputs a timing signal every predetermined number of clocks.

[0027] The HCU 10 transmits signals and information to the meter buzzer 31 via a first transmission means, and transmits signals and information to the warning light 32 via a second transmission means. 2 The second transmission means is, for example, LVDS (Low voltage differential signaling).

[0028] The output means 130 transmits first information to the meter buzzer 31 and transmits second information to the warning light 32. When a timing signal is output from the counting means 120, the output means 130 transmits signals (signals D1 and D2) indicating a start request to the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32, respectively. The timing of transmitting the signals (signals D1 and D2) indicating the start request is, for example, simultaneous.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of a start request and processing by the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 when the seat belt is not fastened.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an example in which the warning lamp 32 alternately turns on and off every 600 ms, and the meter buzzer 31 alternately blows and is blown every 601 ms.

[0031] If the processing cycles of the meter microcomputer 311 and the decoder 321 are completely the same, there will be no periodic discrepancy between the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32, and both will operate at the same cycle (e.g., 600 ms) without the need to periodically send start requests.

[0032] However, there may be a slight difference in the processing cycle between the meter microcomputer 311 and the decoder 321, or a difference in the processing cycle may occur due to a malfunction, etc. As an example of this case, the following example is shown, which assumes that the warning light 32 repeatedly turns on and off every 600 ms, and the meter buzzer 31 repeatedly blows and is blown at a cycle different from 600 ms (for example, 601 ms).

[0033] During the initial blowing and non-blowing periods, the difference between the on and off periods is 2 ms, so the difference is not noticeable, and the warning light 32 also lights up when the meter buzzer 31 beeps. However, if the blowing and non-blowing periods continue to be repeated, and the light continues to be turned on and off, the difference becomes larger over time, and a reversal state occurs in which the warning light 32 turns off when the meter buzzer 31 beeps. In the above example, the reversal state is reached in 6 minutes.

[0034] For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, after the HCU10 in this embodiment receives a seat belt unfastened signal corresponding to a request to turn on the light and blow a sound from the seat belt reminder, it periodically requests to turn on the light and blow a sound as a start request, for example, at predetermined time intervals.

[0035] Specifically, the HCU 10 transmits start requests to the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 at regular time intervals along the downward time axis of the HCU 10. The example shown in Fig. 2 is configured such that the HCU 10 uses a 1200 ms timer in the counting means 120 and transmits start requests to the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 simultaneously at 1200 ms time intervals.

[0036] In FIG. 2, the start request for the meter buzzer 31 is shown as a sounding request, and the start request for the warning light 32 is shown as a lighting request. However, when designing the timing to start not sounding or turning off the light, the start requests are provided as not sounding requests and turning off requests.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, by the HCU 10 simultaneously sending start requests to the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 at time intervals of 1200 ms, it becomes possible to synchronize the start of the buzzer sound and the start of the light illumination even if the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 are each repeatedly sounding and not sounding and turning on and off.

[0038] 2, the cycle of the warning light 32 is 600 ms, which is 1200 ms when the warning light 32 is on and off, and the cycle for sending the start request is the same as that of the warning light 32. Therefore, on the meter buzzer 31 side, every 1200 ms, the 601 ms of non-blow is shortened by 2 ms and ends at 599 ms, so that the 601 ms of buzzer starts 2 ms earlier, eliminating the discrepancy each time.

[0039] Therefore, even during the 6 minutes (360,000 ms) described as an example, the discrepancy is eliminated with each start request, so the reversal state in which the warning light 32 goes out when the buzzer sounds does not occur, whether the 6 minutes is reached or passed.

[0040] 2 shows an example in which the processing cycle of the warning light 32 is 600 ms and the processing cycle of the meter buzzer 31 is 601 ms, but the processing cycles are not limited to these. If the processing cycles are different, the discrepancy can be reduced or eliminated.

[0041] Although a 1200 ms timer is used in Figure 2, the time interval for start requests is not limited to 1200 ms. Whether the time interval is set to a short or long interval, the discrepancy can be reduced or eliminated.

[0042] 2, a 1200 ms timer is used to match the 600 ms processing cycle of the warning light 32, but depending on the processing means, a start request may be made using a timer with a time interval different from the processing cycle of the warning light 32 and the processing cycle of the meter buzzer 31. In that case, the difference is eliminated based on the start requests of the warning light 32 and the meter buzzer 31, respectively.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the second information is configured as a repetition of an image of the warning light being on and off, but this is just an example, and the second information may be configured as an image that changes sequentially to another image. Similarly, the first information is configured as a repetition of a buzzer sounding and not sounding, but may be configured as a change in sound instead of a repetition of a buzzer sounding and not sounding.

[0044] In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which a configuration for displaying an image of a warning light and a configuration for outputting a buzzer sound are provided on a meter display, but at least one of the configuration for displaying an image of a warning light and the configuration for outputting a buzzer sound may be provided in a position separate from the meter display.

[0045] <Effects of the embodiment> In this embodiment, the determination functions (control functions) of each cockpit-related in-vehicle device are integrated into an HCU, which is an integrated ECU, to simplify the meter display. The HCU has many functions, such as determining the content to be displayed and generating and transmitting the first information and the second information, to simplify the meter display configuration. For this reason, in this embodiment, the meter display does not require a complex mechanism for synchronizing the first information and the second information, which would increase the complexity and cost of the configuration, and instead the HCU transmits a start request. This configuration makes it possible to suppress misalignment even with a simplified meter display configuration.

[0046] In addition, since control is performed via communication from the HCU, the number of harness connector pins between the HCU and the meter can be reduced.

[0047] Furthermore, in vehicles equipped with an HCU, the meter display can be simplified, so the application of the embodiment is expected to be cost-effective.

[0048] In addition, since it is possible to eliminate the mismatch between the warning light and the buzzer, it is possible to maintain marketability compared to conventional standalone meter ECUs.

[0049] <Variation 1> In the embodiment, an example has been shown in which, in response to a command from the determination means 110, the output means 130 transmits first information to the meter buzzer 31 and second information to the warning light 32. In this example, it has been described that the output means 130 transmits a start request to the meter buzzer 31 and the warning light 32 based on a predetermined timing signal output from the counting means 120.

[0050] In the case of turn lamps, the speed at which the buzzer sounds and does not sound and the warning light turns on and off may be changed in response to a turn lamp failure such as a broken turn lamp signal line. In this case, the determination means 110 also determines the speed of the buzzer sound and the warning light based on the detection information from the detection means 20. If the determination means 110 determines a high speed, it also outputs the result to the counting means 120 and the output means 130. The counting means 120 counts the period according to the result and outputs a timing signal, and the output means 130 outputs video data including a turn lamp image with a flashing period according to the result.

[0051] Although a turn signal lamp is shown as an example here, the present invention may also be applied to a speedometer, an indicator lamp showing eco-idle, a warning lamp showing engine water temperature, and the like.

[0052] <Variation 2> In addition, although the embodiment shows an example in which the electronic control device is applied to an HCU, the present invention is not limited to an HCU and can be applied to an ECU or the like as long as the electronic control device is configured to periodically drive output devices with different processing cycles.

[0053] <Variation 3> Furthermore, the embodiments are not limited to buzzers and may be other sound output devices. A sound output device and an image display device are examples of output devices (first output device and second output device, respectively). A meter microcomputer and a decoder are examples of control devices (first control device and second control device, respectively). As long as the output devices have different processing cycles, they may be first output devices and second output devices that output first information and second information other than sound or images.

[0054] <Variation 4> Furthermore, the electronic control device according to the embodiment is not limited to two output devices, and may be modified to a configuration that eliminates misalignment for three or more output devices.

[0055] In addition, various design modifications can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Electronic control system 10 HCU 20 Detection Methods 30 Meter display 31 Meter buzzer 32 Warning light 100 Control means 110 Judgment means 120 Counting means 130 Output means 311 Meter microcomputer 312 Buzzer 321 decoder 322 Image display devices D1, D2 Signal indicating start request

Claims

1. a control means for controlling a first control device that outputs first information from a first output device at a predetermined cycle and a second control device that outputs second information from a second output device at a cycle different from that of the first control device; The control means periodically outputting a start request to the first control device to start outputting the first information and a start request to the second control device to start outputting the second information; An electronic control device characterized by:

2. The control means including counting means; periodically outputting the start request based on the counting result of the counting means; 2. The electronic control device according to claim 1.

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