An Anti-lock braking system (ABS) module for a vehicle with an intergrated protection unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ABS module (100) with an integrated protection unit (114). The ABS module (100) is powered by a primary power source (102) through a DC- DC converter (104). The ABS module (100) comprises an ABS hydraulic unit (HU) (106) and an ABS electronic control unit (ECU) (108). The ABS ECU (108) controls the ABS HU (106). The ABS ECU (108) comprises at least one primary controller (110), and at least one secondary controller (112) connected to the at least one primary controller (110), characterized in that, a protection unit (114) placed between a connector assembly (116) and the at least one secondary controller (112), the protection unit (114) and the DC-DC converter (104) are integrated within the ABS ECU (108). The protection unit (114) protects the ABS module (100) from a Short to Battery (SCB) fault.

Description

Title of the invention:AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FOR AVEHICLE WITH AN INTERGRATED PROTECTION UNIT Applicants: a. Name: Bosch Global Software Technologies Private LimitedNationality: INDIAAddress: 123, Industrial Layout, Hosur Road, Koramangala, Bangalore- 560095, Karnataka, India b. Name: Robert Bosch GmbHNationality: GERMANYAddress: Postfach 30 02 20, 0-70442, Stuttgart, GermanyComplete specification: The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.Field of the invention:

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module for a vehicle, and particularly to an ABS module with an integrated protection unit.Background of the invention:

[0002] An ABS module is an advanced braking technology installed on the vehicles to prevent wheel lock-up and uncontrollable skidding. The ABS module is also known as an Anti-skid braking system module. The ABS module prevents wheel lock-up and uncontrollable skidding by pulsating the braking force, in such a manner that a maximum braking force sufficient to prevent wheel-slip is applied. The ABS module primarily comprises an ABS hydraulic unit (HU) and an ABS Electronic control unit (ECU).

[0003] The existing ABS modules operate at twelve-volt logic and require an additional secondary power source that supports the twelve-volt logic. But the modem electric and hybrid vehicles employ ABS modules with an integrated DC- DC converter that doesn’t require the additional secondary battery and can operate at voltage levels higher than the standard twelve-volt logic. The problem with the ABS modules with the integrated DC-DC converter is of protecting the ABS module from electric faults like short to battery (SCB) as they are directly connected to a primary power source which is usually in the range of forty-eight to sixty volts or above. Therefore, for the ABS modules with the integrated DC-DC converter there is a need for a solution which offers protection against electric faults such as SCB.

[0004] US6832337 BB discloses an electronic control unit for an anti-lock brake control system, a microcomputer communicates data to a peripheral IC. The peripheral IC monitors a fault of the microcomputer based on data received from the microcomputer. The monitoring operation may be executed by measuring aninterval of calculation, calculation result and sequence of data transmitted from the microcomputer.

[0005] The present invention solves all the above-mentioned problems in a manner as described in the claims.Brief description of the accompanying drawings:

[0006] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.

[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.Detailed description of the embodiments:

[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) module for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ABS module 100 is powered by a primary power source 102 through a DC-DC converter 104. The ABS module 100 comprises an ABS hydraulic unit (HU) 106 and an ABS electronic control unit (ECU) 108. The ABS ECU 108 controls the ABS HU 106. The ABS ECU 108 comprises at least one primary controller 110, and at least one secondary controller 112 connected to the at least one primary controller 110, characterized in that, a protection unit 114 placed / located / positioned between a connector assembly 116 and the at least one secondary controller 112. The protection unit 114 and the DC-DC converter 104 are integrated within the ABS ECU 108.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the protection unit 114 protects the ABS module 100 from at least one electric fault. In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one electric fault comprises a short to battery (SCB)fault. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one electric fault comprises the SCB fault and a short to ground (SCG) fault.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ABS HU 106 comprises at least one pump connected to a brake master cylinder, at least one electric motor to operate the at least one pump, and at least one valve in fluid communication with the at least one pump. The rest details of the ABS HU 106 and other internal components of the ABS module 100 are not explained in detail due to being state of the art, however the same must not be understood in a limiting manner.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one primary controller 110 is a microcontroller. In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one secondary controller 112 is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one primary controller 110 comprises at least one of a microcontroller, a microprocessor, and a microcomputer. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one secondary controller 112 comprises at least one of a microcontroller, a microprocessor, and a microcomputer.

[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one primary controller 110 and the at least one secondary controller 112 are provided with necessary signal detection, acquisition, and processing circuits. The at least one primary controller 110 and the at least one secondary controller 112 comprises input interface, output interfaces having pins or ports, the memory element (not shown) such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and / or Read Only Memory (ROM), Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and a Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC), clocks, timers, counters and at least one processor (capable of implementing machine learning) connected with each other and to other components through communication bus channels. The memory element is prestored with logics or instructions or programs or applications or modules / models and / or threshold values / ranges, reference values, predefined / predeterminedcriteria / conditions, which is / are accessed by the at least one processor as per the defined routines. The internal components of the at least one primary controller 110 and the at least one secondary controller 112 are not explained for being state of the art, and the same must not be understood in a limiting manner. The at least one primary controller 110 and the at least one secondary controller 112 may also comprise communication units such as transceivers to communicate through wireless or wired means such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, serial networks, and the like. The at least one primary controller 110 and the at least one secondary controller 112 are implementable in the form of System-in-Package (SiP) or System-on-Chip (SOC) or any other known types.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly 116 is a forty-six-pin assembly. In another embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly 116 is either one of a twenty-six pin, a thirty-eight pin, a forty- six-pin assembly, and the like. The pins of the connector assembly 116 comprise pins connected to General-purpose input / output (GPIO) pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 and supply line pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 for various external components connected to the ABS module 100. The various external components connected to the ABS module 100 comprise sensors, instruments, and vehicle controllers. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the primary power source 102 is connected to the ABS module 100 through the connector assembly 116.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one connection line connects the connector assembly 116 with the at least one secondary controller 112. In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one connection line connects the GPIO pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 and the supply line pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 with the connector assembly 116. The at least one connection line communicates signal levels of the various sensors and instruments, connected to the ABS module 100, to the GPIO pins ofthe at least one secondary controller 112. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one connection line communicates signal level of at least one wheel speed sensor, connected through the connector assembly 116, to the GPIO pins of the at least one secondary controller 112. The connection line communicating signal level of the wheel speed sensor to the GPIO pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 is referred hereinafter as a wheel speed sensor signal connection line.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the protection unit 114 comprises a feedback unit 118 which takes feedback from the at least one connection line connecting the at least one secondary controller 112 and the connector assembly 116, a switching unit 120 which disconnects the connector assembly 116 from the at least one secondary controller 112, and a pull-up unit 122 which controls the switching unit 118 to disconnect the connector assembly 116 from the at least one secondary controller 112 during the electric fault. In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one connection line comprises the wheel speed sensor signal connection line. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the switching unit 120 disconnects (or open circuits) the at least one connection line at which SCB faults occurs to disconnect the connector assembly 116 from the at least one secondary controller 112 for that at least one faulty connection line. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, when the SCB fault occurs at the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line the switching unit 120 disconnects / opens the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line between the connector assembly 116 and the at least one secondary controller 112. The protection unit 114 keeps the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line disconnected until the SCB fault disappears / rectified.

[0016] The ABS module 100 is configurable for a vehicle selected from a group comprising of a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, a four-wheeler, and a multi-wheel vehicle. In an embodiment of the present invention, for the ABS module 100 employed in the vehicle, at least one wheel speed sensor is connected to the GPIOpins of the at least one secondary controller 112 through the connector assembly 116 and at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line. In another embodiment of the present invention, for the ABS module 100 employed in the four-wheeler vehicle, four wheel speed sensors, one for each wheel of the four- wheeler, are connected to the GPIO pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 through the connector assembly 116 and the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, for the ABS module 100 employed in the two-wheeler vehicle, two wheel speed sensors, one for each wheel of the two-wheeler, are connected to the GPIO pins of the at least one secondary controller 112 through the connector assembly 116 and the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the feedback unit 118 comprises a voltage-divider circuit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the feedback unit 118 comprises an operational amplifier (op-amp) or a transistor based comparator. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the switching unit 120 comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) switch. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the switching unit 120 comprises a semiconductor based low-resistance switch. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the pull-up unit 122 comprises a Zener diode and a Bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in series. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the pull-up unit 122 comprises a Zener diode and a semiconductor based active switch in series.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the primary power source 102 is a forty-eight volts battery. In another embodiment of the present invention, the DC- DC converter 104 steps down voltage of the primary power source 102 to twelve volts for the ABS module 100. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the ABS module 100 is configurable to be designed for other voltages of the primary power source 102 as well, such as thirty-six volts, fifty-six volts, seventy- two volts, ninety-six volts, and the like. In yet another embodiment of the presentinvention, the DC-DC converter 104 is configurable to steps down voltage of the primary power source 102 to twenty -four volts, five volts, and the like.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, when the SCB fault occurs for the at least one wheel speed sensor at the connector assembly 116 the protection unit 114 disconnects the connector assembly 116 from the at least one secondary controller 112 and protects the ABS module 100 from damage. The at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line where the electric fault occurs is also referred as at least one faulty wheel speed sensor signal connection line. When the SCB fault occurs, the feedback unit 118 takes feedback from the at least one faulty wheel speed sensor signal connection line and forwards a voltage drop to the pull- up unit 122. The pull-up unit 122 then pulls up the switching unit 120 and disconnects / opens the at least one faulty wheel speed sensor signal connection line finally disconnecting the connector assembly 116 and the at least one secondary controller 112 for those at least one faulty wheel speed sensor signal connection line. The voltage drop forwarded to the pull-up unit 120 by the voltage-divider circuit of the feedback unit 118 during the SCB fault puts the Zener diode in conduction and the BJT in saturation mode respectively. Once the Zener diode and the BJT of the pull-up unit 122 enter conduction and saturation mode respectively the pull-up unit 122 puts the MOSFET switch of the switching unit 120 in open state and thus disconnects / opens the at least one faulty wheel speed sensor signal connection line. The protection unit 114 keeps the at least one wheel speed sensor signal connection line disconnected until the SCB fault disappears / rectified.

[0020] According to the present invention, the ABS module 100 with the integrated protection unit 114 is disclosed. The present invention solves the problems discussed above. The present invention provides the ABS module 100 with the integrated protection unit 114 and the integrated DC-DC converter 104 which offers protection against electric faults like SCB. The present invention removes the requirement for the additional secondary battery, an external DC-DC converter, and provides a robust ABS module 100 for modern electric and hybrid vehicles. Further,the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are provided with a plug-and-play type of an assembly.

[0021] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modification and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. An Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) module (100) for a vehicle, said ABS module (100) powered by a primary power source (102) through a DC-DC converter (104), said ABS module (100) comprises an ABS hydraulic unit (HU) (106) and an ABS electronic control unit (ECU) (108), said ABS ECU (108) controls said ABS HU (106), said ABS ECU (108) comprises:- at least one primary controller (110); and- at least one secondary controller (112) connected to said at least one primary controller (110), characterized in that, a protection unit (114) placed between a connector assembly (116) and said at least one secondary controller (112), said protection unit (114) and said DC-DC converter (104) are integrated within said ABS ECU (108).

2. The ABS module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection unit (114) protects said ABS module (100) from at least one electric fault.

3. The ABS module as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one electric fault comprises a short to battery (SCB) fault.

4. The ABS module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection unit (114) comprises:- a feedback unit (118) which takes feedback from at least one connection line connecting said at least one secondary controller (112) and said connector assembly (116);- a switching unit (120) which disconnects said connector assembly (116) from said at least one secondary controller (112);- a pull-up unit (122) which controls said switching unit (118) to disconnect said connector assembly (116) from said at least one secondary controller (112) during said electric fault.

5. The ABS module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one connection line comprises a wheel speed sensor signal connection line.

6. The ABS module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said feedback unit (118) comprises a voltage-divider circuit.

7. The ABS module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said switching unit (120) comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) switch.

8. The ABS module as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pull-up unit (122) comprises a Zener diode and a Bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in series.

9. The ABS module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said primary power source (102) is a forty-eight volts battery.

10. The ABS module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said DC-DC converter (104) steps down voltage of said primary power source (102) to twelve volts.

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