IP Library Granted Patent US 7,151,990
Granted Patent B2
US 7,151,990 · App. 11/268,234 · Granted Dec 19, 2006

Method for controlling an automated gearbox, electronic safety system and adapter plug

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,151,990
App. No.
11/268,234
Granted
Dec 19, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling an automated gearbox of a motor vehicle. An electronic control unit controls pre-determined functionalities, and especially pre-determined functionalities of the automated gearbox. Functional software runs on a main processor of the control unit, controlling pre-determined functionalities of the motor vehicle and especially the automated gearbox. An electronic safety system is able to determine safety-critical operating conditions of the motor vehicle in advance, and includes a redundant processor and monitoring software.

Claims (24)

1. A method for controlling an automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing an electronic control unit having a main processor;

controlling a predefined functionality of the automated gearbox using a function software running on the main processor under predefined conditions;

detecting a safety-critical operating state of the motor vehicle in advance using an electronic safety system having a redundant processor, a monitoring software and a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks of the electronic safety system includes a first function block check of whether a predefined input signal describes an operating state of at least one of the motor vehicle, a clutch unit, and a transmission unit in a plausible way.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a signal plausibility check function block.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

12. An electronic safety system for motor vehicles, wherein the electronic safety system is of modular design and has a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output,

wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a signal plausibility check function block,

wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

13. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 12 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

14. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 13 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

15. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 14 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

16. An adapter connector for connecting a wire harness plug connector with a control unit connector of an electronic control unit, the wire harness plug connector being directly connectable with the control unit connector to define electrical signal connections, the adaptor connector comprising:

first plug connections connecting directly to the control unit connector and second plug connections connecting directly to the wire harness plug connector, the adaptor electrically connecting at least one of the first plug connections to the second plug connections to provide at least one of the electrical signal connections;

the adapter connector being configured to enable the electronic control unit to work together with an electronic safety system that has a redundant processor;

at least one other of the first plug connections being electrically isolated from the second plug connections so that the adaptor connector interrupts at least one of the electrical signal connections provided when the wire harness plug connector is directly connected to the control unit connector.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG; SCHAEFFLER VERWALTUNGS 5 GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0228 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2012
From: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027916/0357 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 23, 2012
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 027921/0346 →
MERGER Recorded Feb 29, 2012
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Reel/Frame 027781/0207 →