JPH0471370B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting vehicle information and power. The method and apparatus according to the present invention are used, for example, in a case where information is exchanged between a control section on a vehicle steering wheel and a control section on the vehicle body side in a motor vehicle.

Conventional Technology and Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, various switches are installed on the steering wheel to transmit signals through multiplex communication, and there are devices that use light and devices that transmit signals electrically through vehicle slip rings. However, these systems only transmit information from the various switches on the steering wheel to the vehicle, and do not illuminate the switches on the steering wheel at night, so they are not satisfactory.

In addition, although some conventional multiplex communication devices transmit power and information at the same time, it is not possible to distinguish between information that should be able to be transmitted and received at all times, such as horn information, and unnecessary information, even when the ignition key switch is turned off. I haven't done it yet and I'm not satisfied. In view of these problems, the present invention
Set the information to be transmitted based on whether the ignition key switch is turned on or off, and when the ignition key switch is turned on, any information among multiple pieces of information that is bidirectional between the power supply side and the power supply receiving side. is transmitted and received through a single signal line, and the required power is supplied from the power supply side to the side receiving the power supply, and when the ignition key switch is turned off, the ignition signal is simply sent to the side receiving the power supply. By simply supplying the necessary power to the detection means that detects whether the ignition key switch is on or off via the signal line, only the specific information that needs to be constantly transmitted regardless of whether the ignition key switch is on or off is transmitted. The signal line can be transmitted from the power receiving side to the power supplying side with low power consumption, for example, one-twentieth or less of the power required when an ignition key switch is turned on. Distinguish information to be transmitted and received via the signal line according to the ON state of the ignition key switch,
It is an object of the present invention to accurately transmit vehicle information and power when the ignition key switch is turned on and off.

As a prior art, a switch device for an automobile for instructing the setting, cancellation, etc. of a constant speed running control device is disclosed in a patent application filed in 1983 by one of the present applicants, for example.
43354 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application 1982-142726), Japanese Patent Application 1986-66573 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application 1984-166949), Japanese Patent Application 1986-68250 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application 1983-1983)
163933).

Means for Solving the Problems In one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of information are mutually transmitted between first and second electrical devices installed at locations apart from each other on a vehicle. When transmitting power from the electrical device to the second electrical device using one signal line, the signal line is connected to the first electrical device depending on whether the ignition key switch is turned on or off. A signal line voltage switching means is provided for selectively switching the signal line voltage supplied to the first predetermined voltage or the second predetermined voltage; A signal line voltage detection means is provided for detecting on/off of the ignition key switch based on the signal line voltage selectively switched and supplied to the signal line, and when the ignition key switch is on, Any information among the plurality of pieces of bidirectional information and the electric power are transmitted between the first and second electric devices.
When the ignition key switch is off, specific information from the second electric device and the power necessary for the signal line voltage detection means are transmitted and received through the one signal line. A method for transmitting vehicle information and electric power is provided.

In addition, in the present invention, as another form, a vehicle body side information transmission device connected to a vehicle body side electrical equipment group including a power supply circuit having an ignition key switch, and a steering system side information transmission device connected to a steering system side electrical equipment group. a transmission device, a vehicle slip ring for electrically connecting the vehicle body side electrical equipment group and the steering system side electrical equipment group, and a connection between the vehicle body side information transmission device and the steering system side information transmission device via the vehicle slip ring. A signal line provided in the vehicle information transmission device and supplied to the signal line from the power supply circuit in response to on/off of an ignition key switch is set to a first predetermined voltage or a first predetermined voltage. a signal line voltage switching means for selectively switching to a predetermined voltage of 2, and the signal line voltage provided in the steering system side information transmission device and selectively switched and supplied to the signal line from the power supply circuit; A signal line voltage detection means for detecting on/off of the ignition key switch is provided, and a plurality of pieces of information are transmitted between the vehicle body side electrical equipment group and the steering system side electrical equipment group, and from the power supply circuit to the steering system side. When the ignition key switch is turned on, when power is transmitted to the electrical equipment group through the single signal line, the plurality of pieces of information are bidirectionally transmitted between the electrical equipment groups on the vehicle body side and the steering system side. Among them, arbitrary information and the power are transmitted and received by the one signal line, and when the ignition key switch is off, specific information from the steering system side electric equipment group and the power necessary for the signal line voltage detection means are transmitted and received by the signal line voltage detection means. There is provided a vehicle information and power transmission device characterized in that information is transmitted and received through the one signal line.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a vehicle information and power transmission device as an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has the configuration shown below. That is, the vehicle body side information transmission device 1, the steering system side information transmission device 2, the vehicle body side electrical equipment 3, the steering system side electrical equipment 4, the vehicle slip ring 5, the horn circuit 6, the vehicle battery circuit 7, the vehicle lighting circuit 8, and It has a horn switch 9. ACC (accessory) switch 72 in the vehicle battery circuit 7
When turned on, information on the steering system side electrical equipment 4 and horn switch 9 and information on the vehicle body side electrical equipment 3 are transmitted via the vehicle slip ring 5. Further, when the ACC switch 72 is off, only the information from the horn switch 9 can be transmitted to the horn circuit 6.

The operation will be explained below in the case where the vehicle body-side electric device 3 is a constant speed traveling device for an automobile (first
(See Figure 1).

(1) Transmission information and power transmitted from the vehicle body (a) Constant speed operation information (b) indicating that the vehicle constant speed running system is in operation Light information (c) indicating that night lighting is required Electric power (2) Steering system Transmission information from the side (a) Setting information for the set switch that is operated when you want to perform constant speed driving at the current speed (a) Cancellation information from the cancel switch that is operated to cancel constant speed driving (c) After canceling constant speed driving, return to the previous setting The vehicle information transmitting device 1 has the following means. That is, it has a signal superimposing means 11, a horn driving means 12, a vehicle-side receiving means 13, a vehicle-side synchronizing signal generating means 14, a vehicle-side transmitting means 15, and a vehicle-side stabilizing power supply means 16.

The signal superimposing means 11 will be explained based on FIG. 2. The relays 111a and 111b are connected to the vehicle battery circuit 7.
When the ACC switch signal from the ACC switch 72 is at low level, that is, when the ACC switch 72 is off, the connection is as shown in FIG. The pressure is output as a DAT(1) signal. When the ACC switch 72 is turned on, the ACC switch signal becomes high level (12V), the transistor 115 is turned on, and the relays 111a and 111b are connected in the opposite way to that shown in FIG. In response to a reset signal S (144) from the vehicle body synchronization signal generating means 14, which will be described later, when the reset signal S (144) is at a high level, the transistors 114 and 116 are turned on.
Outputs ACC12V via the resistor 113 as a DAT(1) signal. When the reset signal S (144) is reset (low level), the transistors 114 and 116
is off and the DAT(1) signal is at ground level.

The horn driving means 12 will be explained based on FIG. 3. When the ACC switch 72 is off, the
The DAT(1) signal is at the voltage division level of the resistor 112 and the coil resistance of the relay 21, so the transistor 122
is turned on and the transistor 121 is turned off. Next, when the horn switch 9 is turned on, the DAT(1) signal becomes the ground level, the transistor 122 is turned off, and the transistor 121 is connected to the resistor 1.
24 and a diode 123 to receive a signal of raw 12V (12V, LIV 12V which is constantly supplied from a storage battery without going through a switch), it is turned on, and the horn in the horn circuit 6 is activated.
When the ACC switch 72 is on, it responds to the signal S (135) from the vehicle body side receiving circuit 13 and outputs the signal S (135).
When is at a high level, transistor 125 is turned on and transistor 121 is turned off. Furthermore, when the signal S (135) is at low level, the transistor 12
5 is off, transistor 121 is on, and the horn in horn circuit 6 is activated.

The vehicle body side receiving means 13 will be explained based on FIGS. 4 and 5. When the ACC switch 72 is on, the DAT(1) signal becomes a voltage level signal as shown in FIG. Note that (6) in Figure 5 is the address (ADR).
represents. FIG. 5 shows a case where the set switch and horn switch 9 in the electrical equipment 4 on the steering system side are turned on, and constant speed operation information is being transmitted from the constant speed vehicle driving device on the vehicle body side. Comparator 131 (for example,
HA17903 (manufactured by Hitachi) compares the voltage level of the DAT(1) signal with a predetermined comparison voltage level V _c and detects the information being transmitted. and gate 13
2 determines information from the steering system side from among the transmission information in the DAT(1) signal, and outputs it to the DAT(1) input terminal of the shift register 133 (eg, TC4015: manufactured by Toshiba). The shift register 133
DAT(1) Converts the serial signal from the input terminal into a parallel signal and outputs it from the output terminal. In the example shown in Figure 5, the set information signal at address I is a high level signal from terminal Q1, and the resume information signal at address J is at Q2.
A low level signal is output from the terminal, a cancel information signal at address K is output as a low level signal from terminal Q3, and a horn information signal at address L is output as a high level signal from terminal Q4.

Address contents B Constant speed operation information C Write information I Set information J Resuming information K Cancel information L Horn information D Flip-flop 134 (e.g.
TC40174: manufactured by Toshiba) is the shift register 133 above.
The parallel signals are latched and output at the rising edge of the latch signal S (143, Q1) from the vehicle side synchronizing signal generating means 14. Transistors 136, 137, 13
8 responds to the output signal of the D flip-flop 134 and outputs a set (SE) signal and a resume (RE) signal.
It is output as a signal and a cancel (CA) signal to the constant speed traveling device for automobiles. Further, the horn information signal from the Q4 terminal of the D flip-flop 134 is outputted to the horn drive circuit 12 as an S(135) signal via an inverter 135.

The vehicle body side synchronizing signal generating means 14 will be explained based on FIG. 6. 141 is a ceramic oscillator, a resistor,
A reference oscillation signal is outputted to the CL terminal of an up counter 142 (eg, TC4040, manufactured by Toshiba) using a known oscillation circuit consisting of a capacitor and an inverter.
The counter 142 outputs predetermined oscillation frequency signals Q3, Q6 to Q10 in response to the reference oscillation signal.
The counter 143 (for example, TC4017, manufactured by Toshiba) outputs a latch signal S (143, Q1) in response to the predetermined oscillation frequency signals Q3, Q10. Inverter 144 inverts the latch signal and resets the reset signal S.
Output as (144).

The vehicle body side transmitting means 15 will be explained based on FIG. 7. 151 is a waveform shaping circuit composed of transistors, resistors, and capacitors, which responds to constant speed operation information (AUT) from the automobile constant speed traveling device 3 and light information (LIG) from the in-vehicle lighting circuit 8, , TC4512: manufactured by Toshiba). The multiplexer 152 converts the information into a serial signal based on various oscillation signals from the vehicle body side synchronizing signal generating means 14, and outputs the serial signal from a terminal. The AND gate 154 performs the logical product of the serial signal and the inverted signal of the Q10 signal, and the transistor 155
Output to. Transistor 155 responds to the constant speed operation information and write information and changes the voltage of the DAT(1) signal via resistor 156 (see FIG. 5).

16 is a stabilizing power supply means on the vehicle body side, and when the ACC switch 72 is on, it receives ACC12V and stabilizes the power supply.
Supply 5V to the electrical circuit.

The steering system information transmission device 2 has the following means. That is, the relay circuit 21, the horn detection means 22, the steering system side reception means 23, the steering system side synchronization signal generation means 2
4. The relay circuit 21 having the steering system side transmitting means 25 and the steering system side stabilizing power supply means 26 receives the ACC signal based on the DAT(1) signal sent from the vehicle body side information transmission device 1 via the slip ring 5. It automatically determines the on/off state of the switch 72 and switches the connection destination of the DAT(1) signal.

When the ACC switch 72 is on, the rated current flows through the coil in the relay circuit 21, turning on the relay, and the DAT(1) signal and the DAT(3) signal become equal.

When the ACC switch 72 is off, the rated current no longer flows through the coil, the relay is turned off, and the DAT
(1) signal and DAT(2) signal become equal.

The horn detection means 22 detects horn information from the horn switch 9, and outputs the DAT(2) signal and the horn information signal at low level when the horn switch 9 is turned on.

The steering system side receiving means 23 will be explained based on FIG. 8. Comparator 231 (for example,
HA17903 (manufactured by Hitachi) compares the DAT(3) signal at a predetermined voltage comparison level _Vc1 , and
Detects a reset signal as a synchronization signal from S
Output as (231). The comparator 232 (for example, HA17903: manufactured by Hitachi) compares the DAT (1) signal at a predetermined voltage comparison level V _c2 and receives constant speed running (AUT) information and light (LIG) information from the vehicle information transmission device 1. It is detected and output to the AND gate 233.

The AND gate 233 receives the information signal and an oscillation signal from the steering system side synchronization signal generating means 24.
Inv(Q10') is logically ANDed and only the information from the vehicle body is determined, and the shift register 235 (for example,
TC4015: Output to the DAT(1) input terminal (manufactured by Toshiba). The AND gate 234 is the oscillation signal Inv (Q10') from the steering system side synchronization signal generation means 24.
and Q6', and the shift register 235
Output to the clock input terminal of The shift register 235 converts the serial signal from the DAT(1) input terminal into a parallel signal and outputs it from the output terminal. In the example in Figure 5, the constant speed running information signal at address B is a high level signal from terminal Q2, and the write information signal at address C is Q3.
It is output as a low level signal from the terminal.

D flip-flop 236 (e.g.
TC40174 (manufactured by Toshiba) converts the signal from the upper shift register 235 into the output signal S of the comparator 231.
It latches and outputs at the rising edge of (231). Transistors 237 and 238 are connected to the D flip-flop 23.
In response to the signal from 6, the constant speed running information signal is output as an auto drive (AUT) signal, and the light information signal is output as a light (LIG) signal to the steering system side electrical equipment 4.

The steering system side synchronization signal generating means 24 will be explained based on FIG. 9. Reference numeral 241 is a known oscillation circuit consisting of a ceramic resonator, a resistor, a capacitor, and an inverter, and outputs a reference oscillation signal to the CL terminal of an up counter 242 (for example, TC4040: manufactured by Toshiba). The counter 242 outputs predetermined oscillation frequency signals Q6' to Q10' in synchronization with S(231) from the steering system side receiving means 23. Note that the oscillation frequency of the reference oscillation signal is the same on both the vehicle body side and the steering system side. Inverter 243
outputs Inv(Q10') in response to the oscillation signal Q10'.

The steering system side transmitting means 25 will be explained based on FIG. 10. Reference numeral 251 is a waveform shaping circuit composed of a resistor and a capacitor, which responds to set information, resume information, cancel information, and horn information from the electrical equipment 4 on the steering system side and outputs to the multiplexer 252 (e.g., TC4512: manufactured by Toshiba) and the inverter. do. The inverter 253 inverts the horn information signal from the horn detection means 22 and outputs it to the multiplexer 252. The multiplexer 252 converts the information into a serial signal based on various oscillation signals from the steering system side synchronization signal generating means 24 and outputs the serial signal from a terminal.

AND gate 254 ANDs the serial signal and Q10' signal and outputs it to transistor 255. Transistor 255 changes the voltage of the DAT(1) signal via resistor 256 in response to the set information (SE), resume information (RE), cancel information (CA) and horn information (HN).
FIG. 5 shows a state in which set information and horn information are being transmitted to the vehicle body.

26 is a stabilizing power supply means on the steering system side.
When the ACC switch 72 is turned on, it receives a signal from the DAT (3) and supplies a stabilized power supply of 5V to the electric circuit.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the ACC switch 72 is on, the battery circuit 7 on the vehicle body side detects the on/off state of the ACC switch 72 (therefore, the ignition key switch) from the battery circuit 7 to the steering system side. The power necessary to turn on the relay 21 as a detection means for performing this is supplied, and power is also supplied to the stabilized power supply means 26, and from the stabilized power supply means 26 to each electric circuit on the steering system side. A power supply voltage of 5V necessary for its operation is supplied to the vehicle, and as a result, arbitrary information among a plurality of pieces of information (see Fig. 11) is exchanged between the vehicle body side and the steering system side in both directions. . On the other hand, when the ACC switch 72 is off, a relay 21 is connected from the battery circuit 7 on the vehicle body side to the steering system side as a detection means for detecting whether the ACC switch 72 is on or off.
Only the power necessary to turn off the ACC switch 72 is supplied, and only specific information (horn information in the above embodiment) that needs to be constantly transmitted regardless of whether the ACC switch 72 is on or off is transmitted to the steering system side. from there to the vehicle body. In this case, even if the horn switch 9 is on, the horn switch consumes almost no power, and no power is supplied to the stabilized power supply means 26, so the horn switch 9 consumes almost no power.
When the ACC switch 72 is turned off, power consumption due to unnecessary dark current does not occur in each electric circuit on the steering system side.

As a specific example, when the ACC switch was turned on, multiple pieces of information were converted and power was transmitted, and the power consumption was approximately 100 mA x 12 V. When the ACC switch is turned off, only the horn information is transmitted from the steering system, and the power consumption is approximately 5 mA, including the power consumption of the circuit related to horn drive on the vehicle body side and the relay 21 on the steering system side.
It was 12V.

In carrying out the present invention, various modifications can be made in addition to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above description, a constant speed traveling device for an automobile has been described as an electric device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an automobile radio, an air conditioner, etc. can be used as the electric device.

Further, although information transmission between the steering wheel side and the vehicle body side has been described as an information transmission device, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be used to transmit information between electrical devices on the vehicle body side.

In the above embodiment, the on state and off state of the ignition key switch are realized as the on state and off state of the ACC switch part of the ignition key switch. If it does not have an ACC switch section, IG (ignition)
This can be realized as an on state or an off state of the switch section.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, when the ignition key switch is turned on, any information among a plurality of bidirectional information is transmitted and received between the power supply side and the power supply receiving side through a single signal line. At the same time, the required power is supplied from the power supply side to the side receiving the power supply, and when the ignition key switch is turned off, the on/off detection of the ignition key switch is simply performed for the side receiving the power supply. By simply supplying the necessary power to the detection means via the signal line, the ignition key switch can be turned on and off.
Only specific information that needs to be constantly transmitted regardless of whether the ignition key switch is turned on is supplied with low power consumption, for example, less than 1/20th of the power required when the ignition key switch is turned on. By grouping the types of information to be sent and received in this way and discriminating and sending and receiving them depending on the ON state of the ignition key switch, the ignition key switch Vehicle information and power can be accurately transmitted during on and off times.

Moreover, according to the present invention, the voltage of the signal line is changed depending on whether the ignition key switch is turned on or off.
Since the voltage is selectively switched to the first predetermined voltage or the second predetermined voltage, the signal line voltage having the second predetermined voltage is always supplied even when the ignition key switch is turned off. It is possible to determine whether the ignition key switch is on or off based on the signal line voltage that is selectively switched to the first or second predetermined voltage;
Furthermore, when the ignition key switch is turned off, a change in the signal line voltage having the second predetermined voltage (for example, a change from 4 V to 0 V) causes the side receiving the power supply when the ignition key switch is turned off. Specific information can be transmitted from the power supply side to the power supply side, and in this way, the specific information can also be accurately transmitted when the ignition key switch is turned off.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle information and power transmission device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the signal superimposition means in the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the configuration of the vehicle side receiving means in the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle body side synchronizing signal generating means in the device shown in FIG. 1. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle body side transmitting means in the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the steering system side receiving means in the device shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the steering system side synchronization signal generation means in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the steering system side transmitting means in the device shown in FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining the types of information in the operation of the device shown in FIG. Explanation of symbols: 1... Information transmission device, 11... Signal superimposing means, 12... Horn driving means, 13...
Vehicle body side receiving means, 14... Vehicle body side synchronization signal generation means, 15... Vehicle body side transmitting means, 16... Vehicle body side stabilizing power supply means, 2... Steering system side information transmission device, 21... Relay circuit, 22 ... Horn detection means, 23 ... Steering system side receiving means,
24... Steering system side synchronization signal generation means,
25... Steering system side transmission means, 26...
Steering system side stabilizing power supply means, 3... Vehicle body side electrical equipment, 4... Steering system side electrical equipment, 5... Vehicle slip ring, 6... Horn circuit, 7... Vehicle battery circuit, 71... Storage battery,
72...ACC switch, 8...Vehicle lighting circuit,
9...Horn switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first,
When transmitting a plurality of pieces of information and transmitting power from the first electrical device to the second electrical device using a single signal line between the second electrical devices, the first electrical device The electrical equipment side is provided with a signal line voltage switching means for selectively switching the signal line voltage supplied to the signal line to a first predetermined voltage or a second predetermined voltage in accordance with on/off of an ignition key switch. At the same time, the second electrical equipment side is configured to turn on/off the ignition key switch based on the signal line voltage that is selectively switched and supplied to the signal line from the first electrical equipment side.
A signal line voltage detection means for detecting off is provided, and when the ignition key switch is on, any information among the plurality of bidirectional information and the electric power are transmitted between the first and second electric devices.
In addition, when the ignition key switch is on, specific information from the second electric device and the power necessary for the signal line voltage detection means are transmitted and received through the one signal line. A method for transmitting information and power for a vehicle, characterized in that: 2 A vehicle body side information transmission device connected to a vehicle body side electrical equipment group including a power supply circuit having an ignition key switch, a steering system side information transmission device connected to a steering system side electrical equipment group, and said vehicle body side electrical equipment group. A vehicle slip ring for electrically connecting the steering system side electric equipment group, a signal line connecting the vehicle body side information transmission device and the steering system side information transmission device via the vehicle slip ring, and the vehicle body side a signal that selectively switches the signal line voltage supplied from the power supply circuit to the signal line to a first predetermined voltage or a second predetermined voltage in response to on/off of an ignition key switch provided in an information transmission device; line voltage switching means, and on/off detection of the ignition key switch based on the signal line voltage provided in the steering system side information transmission device and selectively switched and supplied to the signal line from the power supply circuit; transmission of a plurality of information between the vehicle body side electrical equipment group and the steering system side electrical equipment group, and transmission of electric power from the power supply circuit to the steering system side electrical equipment group; When the ignition key switch is turned on, when the ignition key switch is on, any information among the plurality of bidirectional information and the electric power are transmitted between the electric equipment groups on the vehicle body side and the steering system side. When the ignition key switch is off, specific information from the electrical equipment group on the steering system side and the power necessary for the signal line voltage detection means are transmitted and received through the single signal line. A vehicle information and power transmission device characterized by: