Monitoring and control device

Abstract

To provide a monitoring and control device that reduces power consumption. [Solution] The monitoring control device 10 that monitors the auxiliary power supply unit includes an acquisition unit 24 that acquires information related to communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12, information detecting the operation of a plurality of in-vehicle devices 14 powered by the auxiliary power supply unit 20, and the detection result of the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20, and a control unit 28 that transitions the monitoring control device 10 to a wake-up state or a sleep state based on whether or not there is communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12, the detection result of the operation of the plurality of in-vehicle devices 14, and the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitoring and control device for monitoring an in-vehicle auxiliary power supply unit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle battery monitoring device that is activated when the ignition switch is off, measures the dark current value of the vehicle battery when the vehicle's electrical components are in a sleep state, determines whether there is an abnormality, and disconnects the electrical connection between the electrical component where the abnormality has occurred and the vehicle battery in the case of an abnormality.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, while the ignition switch is off, the monitoring device is always operating, so the power consumption by the monitoring device increases, and there is a risk of discharging the battery.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring and control device that suppresses power consumption.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a monitoring and control device for monitoring an auxiliary power supply unit, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires information relating to communication on an in-vehicle communication bus, information detecting the operation of a plurality of in-vehicle devices powered by the auxiliary power supply unit, and a detection result of the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit; and a control unit that transitions the monitoring and control device to a wake-up state or a sleep state based on whether or not there is communication on the in-vehicle communication bus, the detection result of the operation of a plurality of in-vehicle devices, and the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a monitoring and control device that reduces power consumption can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the functional configuration of the monitoring and control system. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the state transition process of the monitoring and control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figure 1 shows the functional configuration of the monitoring and control system 1. The monitoring and control system 1 comprises a monitoring and control device 10, an in-vehicle communication bus 12, an in-vehicle device 14, a current sensor 16, a relay unit 18, and an auxiliary power supply unit 20. The monitoring and control system 1 is installed in a vehicle, and the vehicle may be capable of autonomous driving.

[0010] The monitoring and control system 1 monitors the auxiliary power supply unit 20, and if the conditions for an abnormality are met, it shuts off the relay unit 18, stopping the power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 to the on-board device 14. This prevents abnormal discharge and reduces the occurrence of battery drain. In addition, the monitoring and control system 1 reduces power consumption by putting the monitoring and control device 10 into sleep mode when predetermined conditions are met.

[0011] The monitoring and control device 10 and the multiple in-vehicle devices 14 are connected to each other via an in-vehicle communication bus 12. The monitoring and control device 10 and the in-vehicle devices 14 are also connected to an auxiliary power supply unit 20 via a relay unit 18. When the relay unit 18 is tripped, power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 is stopped. The relay unit 18 may be provided individually between the multiple in-vehicle devices 14 and the auxiliary power supply unit 20, for each group of in-vehicle devices 14, or in a combination thereof.

[0012] Multiple in-vehicle devices 14 are in-vehicle electrical components such as sensors and switches, and are powered by an auxiliary power supply unit 20. The auxiliary power supply unit 20 is provided separately from the main power supply unit for driving. The in-vehicle devices 14 either receive power from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 or are connected to the in-vehicle communication bus 12.

[0013] The current sensor 16 detects the current between the auxiliary power supply unit 20 and the monitoring and control device 10. The current between the auxiliary power supply unit 20 and the monitoring and control device 10 is located upstream of the current supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 to the on-board device 14, and the sensor detects the current supplied from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 to the on-board device 14. The current sensor 16 may be located between the relay unit 18 and the auxiliary power supply unit 20.

[0014] A lithium iron phosphate battery may be used for the auxiliary power supply unit 20. This requires monitoring of the auxiliary power supply unit 20 even when the ignition switch is off. On the other hand, if the monitoring and control device 10 monitors the auxiliary power supply unit 20 when the ignition switch is off, power consumption will increase, and there is a risk of battery drain. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced by having the monitoring and control device 10 enter a sleep state under predetermined conditions.

[0015] The monitoring and control device 10 monitors the auxiliary power supply unit 20. The monitoring and control device 10 includes a communication unit 22, an acquisition unit 24, a determination unit 26, and a control unit 28. The communication unit 22 is connected to the on-board communication bus 12 for communication. The communication unit 22 can recognize whether the on-board communication bus 12 is communicating. The communication unit 22 sends the communication results of the on-board communication bus 12 to the acquisition unit 24.

[0016] The acquisition unit 24 acquires information regarding communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12. This information indicates periods of inactivity on the in-vehicle communication bus 12 and is used to determine whether or not communication is occurring on the in-vehicle communication bus 12.

[0017] The acquisition unit 24 acquires information that detects the operation of multiple on-board devices 14 powered by the auxiliary power supply unit 20. The information that detects the operation of multiple on-board devices 14 is detection information of the terminals of the on-board devices 14 input to the power supply path of the auxiliary power supply unit 20, and may be, for example, at least one of the current and voltage supplied to each of the multiple on-board devices 14 from the auxiliary power supply unit 20. Alternatively, it may be at least one of the current and voltage supplied to a group of on-board devices 14. It can be determined whether an on-board device 14 is operating based on the magnitude of the current or voltage supplied to the on-board device 14.

[0018] The acquisition unit 24 acquires the detection result of the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 from the current sensor 16. The current per unit time output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20, i.e., the discharge capacity, can be used to determine whether the ignition switch is in the off state.

[0019] The determination unit 26 determines whether to switch the monitoring and control device 10 to a wake-up state or a sleep state based on whether or not there is communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12, the detection results of the operation of the multiple in-vehicle devices 14, and the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20.

[0020] The determination unit 26 determines that the sleep conditions are met if there is no communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12, multiple in-vehicle devices 14 are not operating, and the current per unit time output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 is below a predetermined threshold. The determination unit 26 sends the determination result to the control unit 28. The determination unit 26 can determine that the ignition switch is off by the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20, without obtaining on / off information of the ignition switch. As a result, the monitoring and control device 10 can enter a sleep state using existing information.

[0021] When the determination unit 26 is communicating via the in-vehicle communication bus 12 or when a plurality of in-vehicle devices 14 are operating, it determines that the wake-up condition is satisfied. The determination unit 26 sends the determination result to the control unit 28.

[0022] Note that the determination unit 26 may receive the detection result of a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the auxiliary power supply unit 20 and use the temperature of the auxiliary power supply unit 20 for the sleep condition. That is, the condition for shifting to the sleep state may include that the temperature of the auxiliary power supply unit 20 is below a predetermined temperature in addition to the three conditions.

[0023] The determination unit 26 may include time in the wake-up condition. For example, when a predetermined time has elapsed since entering the sleep state, the determination unit 26 may determine that the wake-up condition is satisfied.

[0024] When the control unit 28 satisfies a predetermined abnormal condition, it disconnects the relay unit 18 and stops the power supply from the auxiliary power supply unit 20 to the in-vehicle device 14.

[0025] The control unit 28 shifts the monitoring control device 10 to the wake-up state or the sleep state based on the presence or absence of communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12, the detection result of the operation of the plurality of in-vehicle devices 14, and the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit 20. The control unit 28 shifts the monitoring control device 10 to the wake-up state or the sleep state according to the determination result of the determination unit 26.

[0026] Thereby, the monitoring control device 10 can shift to the sleep state without obtaining a signal indicating the power state of the vehicle, for example, information on the ignition switch. When the in-vehicle communication bus 12 is communicating or when the in-vehicle device 14 is operating, the monitoring control device 10 enters the wake-up state, so that the functions of other in-vehicle devices 14 can be maintained and abnormal discharge of the auxiliary power supply unit 20 can be monitored. When other in-vehicle devices 14 are not operating and the monitoring control device 10 enters the sleep state, the power consumption by the monitoring control device 10 can be reduced.

[0027] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the state transition process of the monitoring and control device 10. The determination unit 26 determines whether the current per unit of time is below a predetermined threshold (S10). If the current per unit of time is not below the predetermined threshold (N in S10), the determination unit 26 determines that the sleep condition is not met, sends the determination result to the control unit 28, and the control unit 28 wakes up the monitoring and control device 10 (S18).

[0028] If the current per unit of time is below a predetermined threshold (Y in S10), the determination unit 26 determines whether communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12 has stopped (S12). If communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12 has not stopped (N in S12), the determination unit 26 determines that the sleep condition is not met, sends the determination result to the control unit 28, and the control unit 28 wakes up the monitoring and control device 10 (S18).

[0029] If communication on the in-vehicle communication bus 12 is stopped (Y in S12), the determination unit 26 determines whether the operation of the multiple in-vehicle devices 14 is not detected (S14). If the operation of any of the multiple in-vehicle devices 14 is detected (N in S14), the determination unit 26 determines that the sleep condition is not met, sends the determination result to the control unit 28, and the control unit 28 wakes up the monitoring and control device 10 (S18).

[0030] If no operation is detected in any of the in-vehicle devices 14 (Y in S14), the determination unit 26 determines that the sleep condition is met, sends the determination result to the control unit 28, and the control unit 28 puts the monitoring and control device 10 into sleep mode (S16).

[0031] The present disclosure has been explained above based on the examples described. The present disclosure is not limited to the examples described above, and various modifications such as design changes can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1 monitoring and control system, 10 monitoring and control device, 12 in-vehicle communication bus, 14 in-vehicle device, 16 current sensor, 18 relay unit, 20 auxiliary power supply unit, 22 communication unit, 24 acquisition unit, 26 determination unit, 28 control unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] A monitoring and control device for monitoring the auxiliary power supply unit, An acquisition unit that acquires information related to communication on the in-vehicle communication bus, information detecting the operation of multiple in-vehicle devices powered by the auxiliary power supply unit, and the detection result of the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit. A monitoring control device comprising a control unit that causes the monitoring control device to switch to a wake-up state or a sleep state based on whether or not communication is being conducted on the in-vehicle communication bus, the detection results of the operation of a plurality of the in-vehicle devices, and the current output from the auxiliary power supply unit.

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