Vehicular electronic control device and electric power steering device

Abstract

This vehicular electronic control device is provided with: a control device (6) that controls a motor (4); a connector (7) that connects the control device to the outside; and a moisture detection unit (15) that is provided within the control device or within the connector, and detects water accumulated in the lower side of the control device or the connector in the vertical direction (VD).

Description

Vehicle electronic control device and electric power steering device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic control device for a vehicle and an electric power steering device.

[0002] An electric power steering device includes a motor that generates steering assist torque for the steering and a steering control device (electronic control device for a vehicle) that controls the motor, and applies steering assist force to the steering mechanism of a vehicle such as an automobile. Such a power steering device also includes a power transmission mechanism that converts the rotational force of the output shaft of the motor into axial force of the rack bar and transmits it to the rack bar.

[0003] The rack bar and power transmission mechanism are partially housed in a waterproof housing, but if water gets into the housing, the water will pass through the power transmission mechanism and enter the motor from the output side. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technology that detects water that has entered the motor based on a change in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case.

[0004] Patent No. 6459492

[0005] However, if an electrical short occurs between the motor wire and the motor case, the steering assist function of the power steering device will be lost. For this reason, sufficient clearance is provided between the motor wire and the motor case to prevent an electrical short from occurring between them due to dimensional and assembly variations during manufacturing.

[0006] When the spatial distance between the motor wires and the motor case is large, the resistance value of the resistor used to detect water that has entered the motor increases, and the change in resistance when water enters is more susceptible to the influence of the degree of water intrusion, resulting in greater detection variability and lower accuracy.In addition, since the voltage on the motor wires is constantly fluctuating due to PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) drive and other factors while the motor is running, it is difficult to accurately monitor the change in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case due to water intrusion using only the terminal voltage of the windings.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide an electronic control device for a vehicle and an electric power steering device that are capable of detecting water intrusion with high accuracy regardless of whether the motor is running or not.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, an electronic control device for a vehicle according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a control device that controls a motor, a connector that connects the control device to the outside, and a moisture detection unit that is provided within the control device or the connector and detects water that has accumulated vertically below the control device or the connector.

[0009] An electric power steering device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a motor that generates a steering assist torque for a steering wheel, and the above-described vehicle electronic control device that controls the drive of the motor.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to detect water intrusion with high accuracy regardless of whether the motor is running or not.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an electric power steering device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a moisture detection pad according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a modified example of a control device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a moisture detection terminal according to embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0012] Hereinafter, a vehicle electronic control device and an electric power steering device according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description of overlapping parts will be omitted.

[0013] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of an electric power steering device according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric power steering device PS according to this embodiment includes a steering wheel 1, a steering shaft 2, a rack bar 3, a motor 4, a power transmission mechanism 5, a control device 6 (vehicle electronic control device), a connector 7 (vehicle electronic control device), and a housing 8.

[0014] The steering wheel 1 is a so-called handle that is operated by the driver of the vehicle to apply a steering angle to the steered wheels (not shown) of the vehicle. The steering shaft 2 is connected to the steering wheel 1 and rotates in response to the rotation of the steering wheel 1. The rack bar 3 is connected to the steering shaft 2 and moves in the axial direction in response to the rotation of the steering shaft 2. The mechanism for steering the steered wheels (not shown), including the steering wheel 1, steering shaft 2, and rack bar 3, will be referred to as the "steering".

[0015] The motor 4 applies steering assist torque to the steering wheel under the control of the control device 6. The motor 4 is, for example, a three-phase brushless motor having a three-phase winding composed of a U-phase winding, a V-phase winding, and a W-phase winding. The motor 4 may be a brushed motor or a polyphase motor having polyphase windings of three or more phases. The power transmission mechanism 5 converts the rotational force of the output shaft of the motor 4 into a force in the axial direction of the rack bar 3 and transmits it to the rack bar 3.

[0016] The control device 6 controls the drive of the motor 4 based on the detection results of various sensors (not shown) that detect the steering torque, steering angle, etc. of the steering wheel 1, to generate a steering assist torque for the steering. A connector 7 connects the control device 6 to an external device (for example, another ECU (Electronic Control Unit) provided in the vehicle). A housing 8 accommodates the rack bar 3 and the power transmission mechanism 5. The rack bar 3 and the power transmission mechanism 5 are accommodated in the housing 8, parts of which are waterproof.

[0017] <Vehicle Electronic Control Device> Figure 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 2, a control device 6 constituting a part of the vehicle electronic control device includes a substrate SB on which a circuit pattern is formed and on which various electronic components are mounted. The functions of the control device 6 are realized by a circuit (circuit shown in Figure 3) formed on this substrate SB.

[0018] The substrate SB is provided with a substrate SB that stands upright with its surface aligned along the vertical direction VD. The substrate SB is connected to the windings 4a housed in a motor case (not shown) of the motor 4, and is also connected to terminals T1 and T2 provided on the connector 7. The connector 7 may be disposed to the side of the control device 6, or above or below the control device 6, but it is preferable that the terminals T1 and T2 be disposed above the moisture detection pad 15 (details of which will be described later).

[0019] 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 3, the control device 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a drive circuit 12, a motor driver 13, a motor terminal voltage monitor 14, and a moisture detection pad 15 (moisture detection unit).

[0020] The CPU 11 outputs a control signal to control the drive circuit 12 based on the detection results of the various sensors (sensors that detect the steering torque, steering angle, etc. of the steering wheel 1) described above. The drive circuit 12 generates a drive signal for driving the motor driver 13 under the control of the CPU 11. The drive circuit 12 is provided with a sensor that detects the current flowing through the motor driver 13. The detection result of this sensor is output to the CPU 11.

[0021] The motor driver 13 drives the motor 4 based on the drive signal output from the drive circuit 12. The motor driver 13 includes, for example, an inverter that converts DC power supplied from an external power source into AC power and supplies the converted AC power (U-phase power, V-phase power, W-phase power) to the motor 4. The motor terminal voltage monitor 14 monitors the terminal voltages of each phase (U-phase, V-phase, W-phase) of the motor 4. The terminal voltages monitored by the motor terminal voltage monitor 14 are output to the CPU 11 for monitoring.

[0022] The moisture detection pad 15 is formed on the substrate SB and is a pad used to detect water that accumulates below the vertical direction VD within the control device 6. The moisture detection pad 15 is formed, for example, as part of the circuit pattern on the substrate SB. As shown in FIG. 2 , the moisture detection pad 15 is disposed at the bottom of the substrate SB in the vertical direction VD. Specifically, the moisture detection pad 15 is preferably disposed in a location lower than other electronic components and conductive vias on the substrate SB. This is to enable water to be detected before other electronic components or conductive vias are affected by the water and an abnormality in the current flowing to the motor 4 occurs, if water penetrates.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example configuration of a moisture detection pad according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the moisture detection pad 15 includes rectangular pads 15a and 15b spaced apart at a predetermined distance. The distance between the pads 15a and 15b can be freely set to suit the required detection sensitivity. The pad 15a is grounded, and the pad 15b is connected to the motor terminal voltage monitor 14. When the moisture detection pad 15 is immersed in water, the resistance between the pads 15a and 15b changes. This resistance change allows the detection of water accumulated below the control device 6 in the vertical direction VD.

[0024] 3, the moisture detection pad 15 is connected to the motor terminal voltage monitor 14. The output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14 changes in response to a change in the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15. The CPU 11 determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14.

[0025] In the above configuration, when water enters the control device 6, the entering water accumulates below the control device 6 in the vertical direction VD. If the amount of water accumulated below the control device 6 in the vertical direction VD increases and both pads 15a and 15b provided on the moisture detection pad 15 become immersed in water, the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 changes. When the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 changes, the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14 changes, which causes the CPU 11 to determine that an abnormality has occurred.

[0026] As described above, in this embodiment, the moisture detection pad 15 is provided at the bottom in the vertical direction VD of the substrate SB included in the control device 6, and water accumulated below the vertical direction VD inside the control device 6 is detected by changes in the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15. Here, in this embodiment, the moisture detection pad 15 is formed as part of the circuit pattern on the substrate SB, so the spacing between the pads 15a and 15b can be freely set to match the required detection sensitivity, and variation in the spacing between the pads 15a and 15b can be reduced. Therefore, it is easier to increase the detection sensitivity compared to conventional technology (technology that detects water that has entered the motor based on changes in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case).

[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, instead of detecting a change in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case as in the prior art, a dedicated moisture detection pad 15 formed on the substrate SB is used to detect water that has accumulated below the vertical direction VD inside the control device 6. Therefore, even when the motor 4 is running, there is no effect from fluctuations in the motor terminal voltage, and therefore it is possible to detect water intrusion with high accuracy regardless of whether the motor 4 is running or not.

[0028] In this embodiment, the moisture detection pad 15 is connected to the motor terminal voltage monitor 14, and the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14 changes when the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 changes. The PCU 11 determines whether or not an abnormality exists based on the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14. This eliminates the need for an additional detection circuit, and prevents increases in component area and costs.

[0029] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which one moisture detection pad 15 is formed at the bottom of the upright substrate SB. However, multiple moisture detection pads 15 may be formed at the bottom of the substrate SB. By forming multiple moisture detection pads 15, it is possible to position at least one of the multiple moisture detection pads 15 at the bottom even if, for example, the mounting angle of the control device 6 relative to the vehicle changes.

[0030] <Modification of Control Device> Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a modification of the control device in embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. Note that in Figure 5, blocks that are the same as blocks shown in Figure 3 are assigned the same reference numerals. A control device 6A according to this modification shown in Figure 5 has a configuration in which a moisture detection circuit 16 (moisture detection unit) is added to the control device 6 shown in Figure 3, and the CPU 11 of the control device 6 shown in Figure 3 is replaced with a CPU 11A.

[0031] The moisture detection circuit 16 is provided between the moisture detection pad 15 and the CPU 11A. It detects moisture based on changes in the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 and outputs the result to the CPU 11A. The moisture detection circuit 16 is configured to include, for example, a conversion circuit that converts the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 into a voltage, and a comparison circuit that compares the voltage converted by the conversion circuit with a judgment threshold voltage for determining the presence or absence of moisture. The moisture detection circuit 16 configured in this manner can adjust the detection sensitivity without changing the moisture detection pad 15, simply by changing the judgment threshold voltage. This eliminates the need for the labor and expense of changing the substrate SB when changing the detection sensitivity.

[0032] The CPU 11A has a configuration similar to that of the CPU 11 shown in Fig. 3. However, the CPU 11A determines whether or not an abnormality exists based on the moisture detection result output from the moisture detection circuit 16, rather than the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor 14.

[0033] The moisture detection circuit 16 may be configured to include only a conversion circuit that converts the resistance of the moisture detection pad 15 into a voltage. In such a configuration, the voltage converted by the conversion circuit may be output to the CPU 11A, which then determines whether moisture is present. The determination threshold for determining whether moisture is present can be easily changed by changing the program used by the CPU 11A. Therefore, changing the detection sensitivity does not require the labor and expense of changing the substrate SB.

[0034] [Embodiment 2] <Electric power steering device> An electric power steering device according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the electric power steering device PS shown in Fig. 1. That is, it is configured to include a steering wheel 1, a steering shaft 2, a rack bar 3, a motor 4, a power transmission mechanism 5, a control device 6, a connector 7, and a housing 8. For this reason, a detailed description of the electric power steering device according to this embodiment will be omitted.

[0035] <Vehicle Electronic Control Device> Figure 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that in Figure 6, the same components as those shown in Figure 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, a moisture detection terminal 17 (moisture detection unit) is provided on a connector 7 that constitutes a part of the vehicle electronic control device, and the moisture detection pad 15 (see Figure 2) of a control device 6 that constitutes a part of the vehicle electronic control device is omitted. In other words, in this embodiment, the moisture detection terminal 17 is provided on the connector 7 instead of the moisture detection pad 15 of the control device 6.

[0036] The moisture detection terminal 17 is disposed at the lowest part in the vertical direction VD within the connector 7. Specifically, it is desirable to dispose the moisture detection terminal 17 at a position lower than the substrate SB provided in the control device 6. This is so that if water gets in, it can be detected before the water affects the electronic components or conductive vias provided on the substrate SB, causing an abnormality in the current flowing to the motor 4, etc. Such a connector 7 is connected to the substrate SB of the control device 6.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the connector 7 may be disposed on any of the side, top, and bottom of the control device 6. However, in the present embodiment, the connector 7 is disposed on the side or bottom of the control device 6 to prevent the electronic components or conductive vias provided on the substrate SB of the control device 6 from being affected by water.

[0038] 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a vehicle electronic control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle electronic control device according to this embodiment includes a control device 6B and a connector 7. The control device 6B does not include the moisture detection pad 15 included in the control device 6A shown in FIG. 5. A moisture detection terminal 17 provided on the connector 7 is connected to a moisture detection circuit 16 of the control device 6B.

[0039] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a moisture detection terminal according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8 , the moisture detection terminal 17 includes rectangular terminals 17a and 17b spaced apart from each other. Because the moisture detection terminal 17 is formed, for example, by insert resin molding or outsert molding, the spacing between the terminals 17a and 17b can be freely set to suit the required detection sensitivity. Both terminals 17a and 17b are connected to a moisture detection circuit 16 of the control device 6B. When the moisture detection terminal 17 is immersed in water, the resistance between the terminals 17a and 17b changes. The moisture detection circuit 16 detects moisture based on the resistance change of the moisture detection terminal 17 and outputs the result to the CPU 11A. The CPU 11A determines whether or not there is an abnormality based on the moisture detection result output from the moisture detection circuit 16. In this manner, water accumulated below the vertical direction VD within the connector 7 can be detected.

[0040] In the above configuration, when water enters the connector 7, the entering water accumulates below the connector 7 in the vertical direction VD. If the amount of water accumulated below the connector 7 in the vertical direction VD increases and both terminals 17a and 17b of the moisture detection terminal 17 become immersed in water, the resistance of the moisture detection terminal 17 changes. This changes the voltage converted by the moisture detection circuit 16, which in turn changes the comparison result with the judgment threshold voltage. As a result, the moisture detection circuit 16 outputs a detection result indicating that moisture has been detected, and the CPU 11A determines that an abnormality has occurred based on the detection result of the moisture detection circuit 16.

[0041] As described above, in this embodiment, the moisture detection terminal 17 is provided at the bottom of the connector 7 in the vertical direction VD, and water accumulated below the connector 7 in the vertical direction VD is detected by changes in the resistance of the moisture detection terminal 17. Here, in this embodiment, because the terminals 17a, 17b are formed by insert resin molding or outsert molding, the spacing between the terminals 17a, 17b can be freely set to suit the required detection sensitivity, and variation in the spacing between the terminals 17a, 17b can be reduced. Therefore, it is easier to increase the detection sensitivity compared to conventional technology (technology that detects water that has entered the motor based on changes in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case).

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, instead of detecting a change in resistance between the motor wires and the motor case as in the prior art, water accumulation below the vertical direction VD inside the connector 7 is detected using a dedicated moisture detection terminal 17 provided on the connector 7. Therefore, even when the motor 4 is running, the detection is not affected by fluctuations in the motor terminal voltage, and therefore water intrusion can be detected with high accuracy regardless of whether the motor 4 is running or not.

[0043] In this embodiment, the moisture detection terminal 17 is connected to the moisture detection circuit 16 of the control device 6B, the resistance of the moisture detection terminal 17 is converted to a voltage, and moisture is detected based on the result of comparing the converted voltage with a determination threshold voltage. Therefore, in this embodiment, the detection sensitivity can be adjusted by simply changing the determination threshold voltage, without changing the moisture detection terminal 17. This eliminates the labor and expense required to change the connector 7 when changing the detection sensitivity.

[0044] The moisture detection circuit 16 may be configured to include only a conversion circuit that converts the resistance of the moisture detection terminal 17 into a voltage, as in the modified example of the first embodiment. In such a configuration, the voltage converted by the conversion circuit may be output to the CPU 11A, which then determines whether moisture is present. The determination threshold for determining whether moisture is present can be easily changed by changing the program used by the CPU 11A. Therefore, the labor and expense required to change the connector 7 when changing the detection sensitivity is unnecessary.

[0045] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which one moisture detection terminal 17 is provided at the lowest part of the connector 7. However, multiple moisture detection terminals 17 may be provided at the lowest part of the connector 7. By providing multiple moisture detection terminals 17, at least one of the multiple moisture detection terminals 17 can be located at the lowest part, even if, for example, the mounting angle of the control device 6B relative to the vehicle changes.

[0046] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be freely modified within the scope of the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0047] 4...motor, 6, 6A, 6B...controller, 7...connector, CPU...11, 11A, 14...motor terminal voltage monitor, 15...moisture detection pad, 15a, 15b...pad, 16...moisture detection circuit, 17...moisture detection terminal, 17a, 17b...terminal, PS...electric power steering device, SB...board, VD...vertical direction

Claims

1. A control device for controlling the motor; A connector for connecting the control device to an external device; A moisture detection unit is disposed vertically below the control device and is formed as a part of a circuit pattern on a substrate of the control device; An electronic control device for a vehicle.

2. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the moisture detection portion is a moisture detection pad.

3. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the moisture detection pad is located at a lower position than other electronic components and conductive vias on the substrate.

4. The control device includes a motor terminal voltage monitor that monitors a terminal voltage of the motor; A CPU that monitors the monitoring result of the motor terminal voltage monitor, the moisture sensing pad is connected to the motor terminal voltage monitor; The motor terminal voltage monitor is configured to change an output voltage in response to a change in resistance of the moisture detection pad; The CPU determines whether or not there is an abnormality based on the output voltage of the motor terminal voltage monitor.

3. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 2.

5. the moisture detection unit includes a moisture detection circuit that detects water accumulated in the control device based on a change in resistance of the moisture detection pad; The control device includes a CPU that determines whether or not there is an abnormality based on the detection result of the moisture detection circuit.

3. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 2.

6. A control device for controlling a motor; A connector for connecting the control device to an external device; a moisture detection terminal provided vertically below the connector; An electronic control device for a vehicle.

7. 7. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the moisture detection terminal is located at a position lower than a substrate within the control device.

8. the control device includes a moisture detection circuit that detects water stored in the control device based on a change in resistance of the moisture detection terminal; The control device includes a CPU that determines whether or not there is an abnormality based on the detection result of the moisture detection circuit.

7. The electronic control device for a vehicle according to claim 6.

9. A motor that generates a steering assist torque for the steering; An electronic control device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which controls driving of the motor; An electric power steering device comprising: