IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,355,383
Granted Patent B2
US 12,355,383 · App. 18/263,222 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment

Inventors: Nobuki Sato (Hitachinaka, JP); Fumiya Iijima (Hitachinaka, JP); Nagamori Hiraki (Hitachinaka, JP)
Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
H02P29/028B62D5/046B62D5/0481H02P25/22H02P29/025H04W4/48B62D5/0403B62D5/0484
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,355,383
App. No.
18/263,222
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to the present invention includes: a first microcomputer that operates by receiving power supply through a first power source connector; a second microcomputer that operates by receiving power supply through a second power source connector; a first voltage monitoring line that connects an output end of the second power source connector and the first microcomputer; and a second voltage monitoring line that connects an output end of the first power source connector and the second microcomputer. With this configuration, both the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer can accurately determine the state of voltage supply to the other microcomputer.

Claims (52)

1. An electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment, comprising:

a first power source connector and a second power source connector that connect to a power source;

a control unit that controls the vehicle-mounted equipment, the control unit including a first microcomputer that operates by receiving power supply through the first power source connector, and a second microcomputer that operates by receiving power supply through the second power source connector;

a first voltage monitoring line that connects an output end of the second power source connector and the first microcomputer;

a second voltage monitoring line that connects an output end of the first power source connector and the second microcomputer;

a sensor unit that can detect a physical quantity of the vehicle-mounted equipment, the sensor unit including a first sensor that operates according to a command from the first microcomputer, and a second sensor that operates according to a command from the second microcomputer;

a first power supply circuit that converts a source voltage into an operating voltage of the first microcomputer and supplies the operating voltage to the first microcomputer; and

a second power supply circuit that converts a source voltage into an operating voltage of the second microcomputer and supplies the operating voltage to the second microcomputer, wherein:

the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer can communicate with each other,

the first microcomputer acquires a detection signal from the first sensor and a detection signal from the second sensor,

the first microcomputer includes a first abnormality confirmation unit that confirms abnormality of the second microcomputer or the second power supply circuit, and a first voltage fluctuation confirmation unit that confirms fluctuation of a voltage supplied to the second microcomputer,

the second microcomputer acquires a detection signal from the first sensor and a detection signal from the second sensor,

and

the second microcomputer includes a second abnormality confirmation unit that confirms abnormality of the first microcomputer or the first power supply circuit, and a second voltage fluctuation confirmation unit that confirms fluctuation of a voltage supplied to the first microcomputer.

2. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:

the vehicle-mounted equipment includes an electric motor having a first winding set and a second winding set,

driving of the first winding set is controlled by a control command from the first microcomputer, and driving of the second winding set is controlled by a control command from the second microcomputer,

when the first abnormality confirmation unit confirms abnormality of the second microcomputer or the second power supply circuit, the first microcomputer outputs a control command for setting power supplied to the first winding set to be 100% or less, and

when the second abnormality confirmation unit confirms occurrence of abnormality of the first microcomputer or the first power supply circuit, the second microcomputer outputs a control command for setting power supplied to the second winding set to be 100% or less.

3. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 2 , wherein:

when the first abnormality confirmation unit confirms abnormality of the second microcomputer or the second power supply circuit, the first microcomputer outputs a control command for gradually reducing power supplied to the first winding set from 100% or less, and

when the second abnormality confirmation unit confirms occurrence of abnormality of the first microcomputer or the first power supply circuit, the second microcomputer outputs a control command for gradually reducing power supplied to the second winding set from 100% or less.

4. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:

the vehicle-mounted equipment includes an electric motor having a first winding set and a second winding set,

driving of the first winding set is controlled by a control command from the first microcomputer, and driving of the second winding set is controlled by a control command from the second microcomputer,

when the first voltage fluctuation confirmation unit confirms fluctuation of a voltage supplied to the second microcomputer, the first microcomputer outputs a control command for maintaining power supplied to the first winding set at 100%, and

when the second voltage fluctuation confirmation unit confirms fluctuation of a voltage supplied to the first microcomputer, the second microcomputer outputs a control command for maintaining power supplied to the second winding set at 100%.

5. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 4 , wherein:

the first voltage fluctuation confirmation unit cancels the confirmation of voltage fluctuation when the voltage supplied to the second microcomputer returns to normal and is continued for a predetermined period, and

the second voltage fluctuation confirmation unit cancels the confirmation of voltage fluctuation when the voltage supplied to the first microcomputer returns to normal and is continued for a predetermined period.

6. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 5 , wherein

the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer execute initial diagnosis at a time of activation after resetting.

7. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 6 , wherein:

the vehicle-mounted equipment is an electric power steering system that generates steering power by the electric motor, and

the first sensor and the second sensor are torque sensors for detecting a steering torque.

8. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 6 , wherein

the first sensor and the second sensor are rotation angle sensors for detecting a rotation angle of the electric motor.

9. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 6 , wherein:

the vehicle-mounted equipment is an electric power steering system that generates steering power by the electric motor, and

the first sensor and the second sensor are steering angle sensors for detecting a steering angle.

10. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 5 , wherein:

the first microcomputer gradually increases power supplied to the first winding set and restores the power to 100% when activated from a reset due to voltage fluctuation, and

the second microcomputer gradually increases power supplied to the second winding set and restores the power to 100% when activated from a reset due to voltage fluctuation.

11. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:

the vehicle-mounted equipment includes an electric motor having a first winding set and a second winding set,

driving of the first winding set is controlled by a control command from the first microcomputer, and driving of the second winding set is controlled by a control command from the second microcomputer,

the first microcomputer acquires a control command of a second pre-driver that controls a second inverter connected to the second winding set from the second microcomputer, and

the second microcomputer acquires a control command of a first pre-driver that controls a first inverter connected to the first winding set from the first microcomputer.

12. The electronic control device for vehicle-mounted equipment according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer are connected to an in-vehicle network,

the first microcomputer grasps an information acquisition state of the second microcomputer via the in-vehicle network, and

the second microcomputer grasps an information acquisition state of the first microcomputer via the in-vehicle network.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: SATO, NOBUKI; IIJIMA, FUMIYA; HIRAKI, NAGAMORI
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 064409/0656 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-012947 · Jan 29, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240322734A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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