control device

Abstract

This invention provides a control device that reduces system costs by using message data in a distinctive format and controls in-vehicle equipment appropriately according to the vehicle's condition using a table. [Solution] The control device 10 includes a state conversion unit that inputs message data including a first state representing a basic vehicle state and a second state representing other vehicle states; a first storage unit that stores a first table which defines the control content to be performed on multiple control targets for each of the multiple first states that the vehicle can take; a behavior control unit that outputs information regarding the control to be performed on multiple control targets based on the first state and the first table; a second storage unit that stores a second table which shows information for changing the control content defined in the first table; and a second behavior determination unit, an additional behavior determination unit, and an additional control unit that change the control information output by the behavior control unit based on the second state and the second table when the message data includes a second state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system capable of appropriately and efficiently controlling in-vehicle devices according to the power state of a vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As one method for realizing the system as described in Patent Document 1 above, a method of controlling in-vehicle devices appropriate for the vehicle state using a table in which the vehicle state including the power state of the vehicle is associated with the control content to be performed on the in-vehicle devices that are the control targets in that vehicle state can be considered.

[0005] However, in the method using this table, when the vehicle states that the vehicle can take increase due to an increase in functions or the like, there is a problem that the size of the table required for storage increases and the system cost increases. Therefore, there is room for further consideration in order to perform appropriate control of in-vehicle devices according to the vehicle state using a table.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a control device capable of performing appropriate control of in-vehicle devices according to the vehicle state using a table while suppressing the system cost by using message data having a characteristic format.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the disclosed technology is a control device mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a first processing unit that inputs message data, including an area for storing a first state representing a basic state of the vehicle and an area for storing a second state representing a state of the vehicle other than the first state; a first storage unit that stores a first table which defines control content to be performed on a plurality of control objects for each of a plurality of first states that the vehicle may take; a second processing unit that outputs information regarding control to be performed on a plurality of control objects based on the first state included in the message data and the first table; a second storage unit that stores a second table which shows information for changing the control content defined in the first table; and a third processing unit that, if the message data includes a second state, changes the information regarding control output by the second processing unit based on the second state and the second table. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the control device of the present disclosure, by using a distinctive data format that includes the first state and the second state in a single message, it is possible to control the control target appropriate to the vehicle state with minimal additional control and only the addition of the second table, without modifying the first table. Therefore, it is possible to respond to an increase in vehicle states while keeping the increase in system cost down. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Functional block diagram of a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Example of message data format [Figure 3] An example of a value stored in message data [Figure 4] An example of a conversion table held by the state conversion unit. [Figure 5] An example of the first table stored in the first memory unit [Figure 6] An example of the second table stored in the second memory unit [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The control device according to this disclosure includes a first table that records information on what kind of control to perform on each of multiple controlled objects, as well as a second table that allows the control to be changed from the control obtained from the first table when the vehicle is in a predetermined state. This configuration makes it possible to respond to an increase in vehicle states with minor design changes while utilizing the conventional first table. Furthermore, the control device according to this disclosure ensures the simultaneity of information and enables control decisions in the system by transmitting predetermined states and other states using messages in a distinctive format. Hereinafter, one embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <Embodiment> Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a control device 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device 10 illustrated in Figure 1 comprises an ECU 100, a first storage unit 210, a second storage unit 220, and a source ECU 300. The ECU 100, the first storage unit 210, the second storage unit 220, and the source ECU 300 are mounted, for example, in a vehicle.

[0012] The transmitting ECU300 is an electronic control unit that transmits state information, which represents the vehicle's status, to the ECU100 in message data having a predetermined format. This state includes a "basic state (first state)" that represents the vehicle's basic state and a "special state (second state)" other than the basic state. The basic state represents the vehicle's basic state, such as when parked, when occupied, and when driving. The special state represents special states (existing states) that are added on to the vehicle's basic state, such as when it is being transported or when it is being reprogrammed.

[0013] Figure 2 shows an example of the message data format. In the example format in Figure 2, there is an area called "E2E_CRC" where the CRC value of the End-to-End function is stored, an area called "E2E_CNT" where the CNT value of the End-to-End function is stored, an area called "VSPINFO" where information on [Vehicle Power State A] that can be converted to existing system input information is stored, and an area called "VSPINFOS" where information on [Vehicle Power State B], which is existing external (special) state information, is stored.

[0014] Figure 3 shows an example of the values ​​stored in the "VSPINFO" and "VSPINFOS" areas (data labels) of this message data. In Figure 3, VSPINFO, which contains information about vehicle power state A, stores a value from 0 (under evaluation) to 5 (basic state 5), and VSPINFOS, which contains information about vehicle power state B, stores a value from 0 (not set) to 5 (special state E). The initial values ​​for each are 0 (under evaluation) and 0 (not set).

[0015] The ECU 100 is an electronic control unit that performs appropriate control on in-vehicle equipment (not shown) that is the target of control, according to the state the vehicle can be in. The ECU 100 includes a state conversion unit 110, a first behavior determination unit 120, a behavior control unit 130, a second behavior determination unit 140, an additional behavior determination unit 150, and an additional control unit 160.

[0016] The state conversion unit 110 receives message data containing states, which are information representing the vehicle's state, from the source ECU 300. The unit then sorts (discriminates) the states contained in this input message data into "basic states" that represent the vehicle's basic state and "special states" that are not basic states. The number of basic states shall not exceed the upper limit that can be input to the first behavior determination unit 120, and any states exceeding this limit shall be treated as special states.

[0017] Also, when the input state is a basic state, the state conversion unit 110 converts this basic state into a power state predetermined for the existing system. For this conversion, for example, a conversion table as shown in FIG. 4 is used. Specifically, when it is a basic state, the state conversion unit 110 refers to the conversion table and converts the state name into a power name. In the conversion table illustrated in FIG. 2, basic state 1 is converted to "Power Supply A", basic state 2 is converted to "Power Supply B", basic state 3 is converted to "Power Supply C", and basic state 4 is converted to "Power Supply D". The information on the power state converted in the state conversion unit 110 is output to the first behavior determination unit 120.

[0018] On the other hand, when the input state is a special state, the state conversion unit 110 outputs the information of this special state as it is to the second behavior determination unit 140.

[0019] The first behavior determination unit 120 determines the behavior in the basic state input to the state conversion unit 110 via the message data. This determination is made based on the power state converted from the basic state in the state conversion unit 110 and the first table pre-stored in the first storage unit 210.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the first table stored in the first storage unit 210. In the first table illustrated in FIG. 5, behavior states (behaviors A to D) are associated with each power state (Power Supplies A to D), and the control contents that the in-vehicle devices that are the control targets can take in each behavior state are shown. For example, when it is Power Supply C, behavior C is associated, and in this behavior C, the operation of the in-vehicle device is permitted (the ○ mark in FIG. 3) when performing Message 1, Message 2, channel drive, and fail-safe processing, and the stop of the in-vehicle device (the × mark in FIG. 3) is instructed when performing other processing.

[0021] The behavior control unit 130 performs behavior control based on the behavior state (one of behaviors A to D) determined by the first behavior determination unit 120. This behavior control can be performed by outputting a predetermined control instruction to the in-vehicle equipment to be controlled via the additional control unit 160.

[0022] The first behavior determination unit 120, behavior control unit 130, and first storage unit 210 described above correspond to an existing system. Furthermore, the state conversion unit 110 corresponds to the first processing unit of the claim, and the first behavior determination unit 120 and behavior control unit 130 correspond to the second processing unit of the claim.

[0023] The second behavior determination unit 140 determines the behavior in the special state input to the state conversion unit 110 via message data. This determination is made based on the special state and the second table pre-stored in the second storage unit 220.

[0024] Figure 6 shows an example of a second table stored in the second storage unit 220. In the second table illustrated in Figure 6, each special state (special A to D) sorted by the state conversion unit 110 is associated with additional behavior states (additional behaviors A to D), and the content of the control changes that the in-vehicle equipment being controlled can take in each additional behavior state is shown. For example, if it is special A, additional behavior A is associated, and in this additional behavior A, it is indicated that the operation of the in-vehicle equipment is permitted when processing messages 4 and 5 (marked with a circle in Figure 3). Also, if it is special B, additional behavior B is associated, and in this additional behavior B, it is indicated that the in-vehicle equipment is instructed to stop (marked with an X in Figure 3) when processing messages 2 and 4. Note that the - marks in Figure 3 indicate that the control of the in-vehicle equipment does not change from the previous settings.

[0025] The additional behavior determination unit 150 compares the behavior state controlled by the behavior control unit 130 with the additional behavior state derived by the second behavior determination unit 140, and determines whether it is necessary to change the control that the in-vehicle equipment being controlled can take due to the additional behavior. For example, if the behavior state controlled by the behavior control unit 130 is "behavior A", and the additional behavior state derived by the second behavior determination unit 140 is "additional behavior A", then it is not necessary to change it because operational control has already been performed for messages 4 and 5. However, if it is "additional behavior B", then it is necessary to change the stop control for messages 2 and 3.

[0026] The additional behavior determination unit 150 outputs the additional behavior state, which is the change in the control that the in-vehicle device being controlled can take, to the additional control unit 160 when it is necessary to change the control that the device needs to be controlled.

[0027] The additional control unit 160 performs additional behavior control based on the additional behavior state (one of additional behaviors A to D) provided by the additional behavior determination unit 150. This additional behavior control can be performed by outputting a predetermined additional control instruction to the in-vehicle equipment that is the target of control.

[0028] The state conversion unit 110, second behavior determination unit 140, additional behavior determination unit 150, additional control unit 160, and second storage unit 220 described above correspond to the new system that is a technical feature of this disclosure. Furthermore, the second behavior determination unit 140, additional behavior determination unit 150, and additional control unit 160 correspond to the third processing unit of the claim.

[0029] <Effects and Actions> As described above, the control device 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first storage unit 210 that stores a first table which defines the control content to be performed on a plurality of controlled objects for each of a plurality of vehicle states (first state); a first behavior determination unit 120 and a behavior control unit 130 (second processing unit) that output information regarding the control to be performed on a plurality of controlled objects based on the vehicle state (first state) and the first table; a second storage unit 220 that stores a second table which shows information for changing the control content defined in the first table; and a second behavior determination unit 140, an additional behavior determination unit 150, and an additional control unit 160 (third processing unit) that, when the vehicle state is a special state (second state), change the information regarding the control output by the second processing unit based on the second table.

[0030] Thus, in addition to the first table which records information on what kind of control to perform on each of the multiple controlled objects, a second table is provided that allows the control to be changed from the control obtained from the first table when the vehicle is in a predetermined state (second state). This makes it possible to accommodate an increase in the number of power states of the vehicle while keeping the increase in system cost to a minimum.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the control device 10 of this embodiment, the message that transmits the state of the vehicle to the system has a distinctive format in which a region stores vehicle power state A, which can be converted into existing system input information, and a region stores vehicle power state B, which is existing external (special) state information. This format allows two pieces of state information to be transmitted to the system together in a single message, thereby ensuring the simultaneity of information and enabling control decisions by the system.

[0032] Furthermore, when a vehicle communication control system has limitations on the number of input / output states (number of vehicle power supplies), the number of input / output states can be increased with minimal additional control while utilizing the vehicle communication control system without modification by adding the state conversion unit 110, the second behavior determination unit 140, the additional behavior determination unit 150, and the additional control unit 160.

[0033] Although one embodiment of the disclosed technology has been described above, the disclosure can be understood not only as a control device, but also as a method performed by a control device comprising a processor and memory, a program for performing the method, a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium storing the program, and a vehicle equipped with the control device. [Industrial applicability]

[0034] The control device described herein can be used in situations where it is desirable to add more power states to a vehicle while keeping system costs down. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 10 Control device 100 ECU 110 State conversion unit 120 First Behavior Determination Unit 130 Behavior Control Unit 140 Second Behavior Determination Unit 150 Additional behavior determination unit 160 Additional control unit 210 1st memory section 220 2nd memory section 300 Source ECU

Claims

1. A control device installed in a vehicle, A first processing unit for inputting message data includes a region for storing a first state representing the basic state of the vehicle and a region for storing a second state representing the state of the vehicle other than the first state, A first storage unit stores a first table which defines the control content to be performed on multiple control targets for each of the multiple first states that the vehicle can take, A second processing unit outputs information regarding the control to be performed on the plurality of control targets based on the first state and the first table included in the message data, A second storage unit stores a second table containing information for changing the control content defined in the first table, If the message data includes the second state, the third processing unit modifies the control information output by the second processing unit based on the second state and the second table. Control device.

2. The second state includes at least the state in which the vehicle is being transported and the state in which the controlled object is being reprogrammed. The control device according to claim 1.

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