Abstract:
An apparatus for the location-dependent configuration of a device is coupled to the apparatus. The apparatus has first and second power supply terminals, a locating terminal for locating the apparatus on the basis of a voltage applied to the locating terminal, and a configuration device for configuring the device on the basis of the voltage that is applied to the locating terminal. The first power supply terminal and the locating terminal are formed by the same terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus in for location-dependent configuration of a device coupled to the apparatus, in particular a control device of a vehicle, to a socket-outlet arrangement having two identically shaped, asymmetrical socket outlets for such an apparatus and to a vehicle having such a socket-outlet arrangement. The apparatus comprises a first and a second power supply connection, a locating connection for locating the apparatus on the basis of a voltage present at the locating connection, and a configuration device for configuring the device on the basis of the voltage that is present at the locating connection. 
     By way of example, a generic apparatus is helpful for automatic configuration of a control device in the vehicle on the basis of the installation position of said control device. In the case of, for example, two possible installation positions in the vehicle, the control device is intended to independently detect its own position once it has been installed in the vehicle and configure itself in accordance with this position. One solution which is known from the prior art is to configure such a control device before the installation process and then to position said control device at the correct position in the vehicle. It goes without saying that this solution is very elaborate and therefore costly. 
     Furthermore, DE102004018827B4 discloses an apparatus for determining the wheel position of wheels of a wheeled vehicle. Different wheel units on the vehicle have an additional connection which is provided solely for location and to which a DC voltage potential which is characteristic of the wheel unit is applied in order to be used as identifying characteristic. Owing to said DC voltage potential, the wheel unit on the wheel is assigned an individual identifier. 
     DE102006025174A1 discloses an apparatus for determining the sensor position of sensor units. Each sensor unit comprises more connections than necessary for connecting the sensor unit to a data bus. In this case, the specific connection scheme of the data bus with the connections provides an identifier for the sensor position of a sensor unit. 
     DE102006012237B3 discloses another apparatus for determining the sensor position of sensor units. A data bus connects the sensor units in series, with the result that a data output of one sensor unit is connected to the data input of the following sensor unit. An individual identifier is assigned to the sensor units on the basis of the sequence thereof. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Proceeding from this prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple apparatus for location-dependent configuration of a device coupled to the apparatus. 
     This object is achieved according to the invention by means of an apparatus as claimed. Embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. 
     The present invention comprises an apparatus for location-dependent configuration of a device coupled to the apparatus. A device such as this can be, in particular, a control device of a vehicle, which control device has a different response depending on the location at which the control device is installed. The apparatus is equipped with a first and second power supply connection and a locating connection for locating or localizing the apparatus on the basis of a voltage present at the locating connection. In addition, the apparatus comprises a configuration device for configuring the device on the basis of the voltage present at the locating connection. According to the invention, the first power supply connection and the locating connection are the same connection. 
     In this way, only two connections are required, with the result that minimal demands are placed on the interface. Since the configuration device configures the device on the basis of the voltage present at the locating connection, the device does not need to be configured before the installation thereof, with the result that savings can be made during the manufacturing process. By providing a configurable device, two similar devices do not need to be produced and distributed; rather, only a single device which automatically configures itself appropriately in the vehicle. As a result of this, significant savings can be made in terms of logistics. 
     The apparatus according to the invention preferably comprises a bridge rectifier circuit having two inputs and two outputs. The first of the two inputs is coupled to the first power supply connection and the second of the two inputs is coupled to the second power supply connection. A negative voltage is present at a first of the two outputs when a negative voltage is present at one of the two inputs. Equally, a positive voltage is present at a second of the two outputs when a positive voltage is present at one of the two inputs. In one embodiment, the bridge rectifier circuit has a plurality of diodes. 
     Owing to the bridge rectifier circuit, the device can be supplied with voltage always in the same polarity direction, irrespective of which of the two power supply connections has a negative and a positive voltage. In this way, the polarity direction of the power supply connections can be used to locate the apparatus. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises an asymmetrical plug comprising the first and second power supply connections. Owing to the asymmetrical design of the plug, said plug can be inserted into a socket outlet complementary thereto only in a single specific position. Alternatively, the apparatus according to the invention could also be arranged in a housing which is shaped such that, when the apparatus according to the invention is installed in a vehicle, it is ensured that the apparatus is supplied with power in a predefined polarity direction. 
     In addition, the present invention comprises a socket-outlet arrangement having two identically shaped, asymmetrical socket outlets, wherein the socket outlets are designed to accommodate an apparatus for location-dependent configuration according to the invention. A first of the two socket outlets is configured such that the first power supply connection of the apparatus is coupled to a positive voltage when the apparatus is arranged in the first socket outlet. The second of the two socket outlets is correspondingly configured such that the first power supply connection of the apparatus is coupled to a negative voltage when the apparatus is arranged in the second socket outlet. According to the invention, it is possible for a socket outlet not only to be asymmetrical because the housing thereof is asymmetrical; rather, any asymmetry is conceivable that makes it possible for the apparatus according to the invention to be inserted into the socket outlet in only one single predefined polarity direction. 
     In addition, the present invention comprises a vehicle having a socket-outlet arrangement according to the invention, wherein the first socket outlet is arranged at a first installation position in the vehicle and the second socket outlet is arranged at a second installation position in the vehicle. 
     The polarity direction of the apparatus according to the invention therefore differs depending on the installation position in the vehicle at which the apparatus is used, with the result that, owing to the polarity direction, the device can be located and, on the basis of the location, the device can be configured correspondingly. In this case, the device can be, in particular, a control device for the vehicle, which control device is intended to have a different response depending on the installation position in the vehicle at which the control device is used. According to the invention, a control device such as this can thus correspondingly adapt its response in a simple manner, on the basis of the polarity direction in which the apparatus according to the invention is supplied with power. 
     Of course, it is also possible for a vehicle to have only one single asymmetrical socket outlet. The device, which is correspondingly configured by means of the apparatus for location-dependent configuration, has a different response depending on whether the first power supply connection of the apparatus is coupled to a positive or a negative voltage when the apparatus is plugged into the socket outlet. 
     By virtue of this principle, significant savings can be made in terms of logistics since identically constructed devices can be used for different functionalities or variants in a vehicle. 
    
    
     
       Further details and configurations of the present invention are explained in the following text with reference to the figures, in which: 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a socket-outlet arrangement according to the invention having two embodiments of an apparatus according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention having an embodiment of a socket-outlet arrangement according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     In the following description, the same reference signs are used for identical and functionally identical elements. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of an apparatus  1  according to the invention for location-dependent configuration of a device  2  coupled to the apparatus. The apparatus  1  is indicated here by a dashed line. It comprises a first and a second power supply connection  3 ,  4 . The first power supply connection  3  is simultaneously a locating connection for locating the apparatus  1  on the basis of a voltage present at the locating connection  3 . A configuration device  5  configures the device  2  via the data bus  6  in accordance with the voltage present at the locating connection  3 . The voltage present at the power supply connections  3  and  4  is simultaneously used to supply the device  2  with electrical energy. For this purpose, the first and second power supply connections  3 ,  4  are connected to a bridge rectifier circuit  9  via two lines  7 ,  8 . 
     The bridge rectifier circuit  9  has four diodes  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c ,  10   d . In this case, the diodes  10   a  and  10   b  are arranged such that a negative voltage is present at a first  11  of the two outputs of the bridge rectifier circuit, irrespective of which of the two power supply connections has a negative voltage coupled thereto. The first output  11  of the bridge rectifier circuit is connected via a line  12  to the connection  13  for supplying the device  2  with a negative voltage. 
     The diodes  10   c  and  10   d  are in turn arranged such that a positive voltage is present at a second  14  of the two outputs of the bridge rectifier circuit, irrespective of which of the two power supply connections  3 ,  4  is provided with a positive voltage. The second output  14  of the bridge rectifier circuit is connected via a line  15  to a connection  16  for supplying the device  2  with a positive voltage. Thus, the device  2  is supplied with electrical energy via the connections  13  and  16  and configured via the data bus  6  according to the polarity direction at the two power supply connections  3 ,  4 . 
     As illustrated by the second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the configuration device and the device to be configured can be realized using a common microprocessor  17 . Said microprocessor  17  therefore comprises the configuration device  5  and the device  2  to be configured from  FIG. 1 . By way of example, said microprocessor can be located inside a housing  18 , on which an asymmetrical plug is arranged directly. This is suggested in  FIG. 2  by virtue of the fact that the two power supply connections  3  and  4  are illustrated as contact pins. 
       FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for location-dependent configuration of a device  2  coupled to the apparatus  19 . The illustrated apparatus  19  comprises a housing  20  and an asymmetrical plug  21  which houses the first and second power supply connections  3 ,  4  in the form of contact pins. Here, the asymmetrical plug  21  is configured such that it can be plugged into a complementary socket outlet only in one direction. Holes  22   a  and  22   b  are provided to the sides of the asymmetrical plug  21 , which holes can be used in order to fasten the apparatus  19  by means of screws—not illustrated—to a complementary socket outlet. The interior of the housing  20 , which houses, in particular, the elements which are illustrated inside the apparatus  1  in  FIG. 1 , is likewise not illustrated. Therefore, the housing  20  comprises, inter alia, the configuration device  5  and the bridge rectifier circuit  9 . The device  2  is in turn connected to the apparatus via the lines  12 ,  15  and the data bus  6 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a socket-outlet arrangement  23  according to the invention. The shown socket-outlet arrangement  23  comprises a first socket outlet  24   a  having a first socket  3   a  and a second socket  4   a , and a second socket outlet  24   b  having a first socket  3   b  and a second socket  4   b . An embodiment of an apparatus  25   a  according to the invention is located in the first socket outlet  24   a . Said first apparatus  25   a  substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . The connection of the microcontroller  17 , at which connection the voltage used for location is present, is additionally denoted by  7   in . As is made clear by  FIG. 4 , the first power supply connection  3 , which is in the form of a contact pin, of the first apparatus  25   a  is inserted into the first socket  3   a  of the first socket outlet  24   a . The second power supply connection  4 , which is in the form of a contact pin, of the first apparatus  25   a  is located in the second socket  4   a  of the first socket outlet  24   a . The first socket  3   a  is connected to a positive voltage  26  and the second socket  4   a  is connected to a negative voltage  27 . 
     In accordance with an embodiment, a second apparatus  25   b  according to the invention is located in the second socket outlet  24   b . The first power supply connection  3  of the second apparatus  25   b  is located in the first socket  3   b  of the second socket outlet  24   b  and the second power supply connection  4  of the second apparatus  25   b  is located in the second socket  4   b  of the second socket outlet  24   b . The first socket  3   b  is connected to the negative voltage  27  and the second socket  4   b  is connected to the positive voltage  26 . Therefore, the first socket outlet  24   a  has a different polarity direction than the second socket outlet  24   b . In this way, the microcontrollers  17  in the first apparatus  25   a  and the second apparatus  25   b  can have a different response. In this case, the microcontrollers  17  can be, in particular, a control device of a vehicle, which control device has a different response depending on the installation position in the vehicle. 
       FIG. 5  schematically illustrates an embodiment of a vehicle  28  according to the invention having two identically shaped, asymmetrical socket outlets  24   a ,  24   b  which are arranged at two different installation positions in the vehicle  28 . The shown embodiments of an apparatus  25   a ,  25   b  according to the invention can be inserted into said socket outlets  24   a ,  24   b  by means of a plug—not shown. The first socket outlet  24   a  has a first power supply socket  3   a , in which the first power supply connection  3  of a corresponding plug can be accommodated. Here, the first socket  3   a  of the first socket outlet  24   a  is connected via a line to a positive voltage  26 . In addition, the first socket outlet  24   a  has a second socket  4   a  in order to accommodate the second power supply connection  4  in the form of a contact pin. Said second socket  4   a  is connected via a further line to a negative voltage  27 . 
     The second socket outlet  24   b  also has two sockets  3   b ,  4   b , into which the contact pins  3 ,  4  of a plug can be inserted. In this case, the second socket  4   b  is connected via a line to the positive voltage  26 . Correspondingly, a negative voltage  27  is present at the first socket  3   b  via a line. 
     Thus, the first power supply connection  3  of the apparatus  25   a  is coupled to a positive voltage  26  when the apparatus  25   a  is arranged in the first socket outlet  24   a . In contrast, the second socket outlet  24   b  is configured such that the first power supply connection  3  of the apparatus  25   b  is coupled to a negative voltage  27  when the apparatus  25   b  is plugged into the second socket outlet  24   b.    
     In this way, it is possible to identify the installation position at which the apparatuses  25   a ,  25   b  are located in the vehicle  28 , with the result that the devices coupled to the apparatuses  25   a ,  25   b  can be configured correspondingly. 
     The invention can afford significant advantages. Savings can be made in the manufacturing process since a factory configuration step is not required. The interface requirements are minimal since only those electrical contacts are used which are required anyway for the power supply. Owing to the use of identically constructed devices, which are automatically configured correspondingly, savings in terms of logistics can be made. The explanations given in respect of the figures should be understood as being purely illustrative and not restrictive. Many amendments can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as set forth in the attached claims. By way of example, it is possible to combine the features of various embodiments with one another in order thus to provide further embodiments. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1  first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention 
           2  device 
           3  first power supply connection 
           3   a  first socket of the first socket outlet 
           3   b  first socket of the second socket outlet 
           4  second power supply connection 
           4   a  second socket of the first socket outlet 
           4   b  second socket of the second socket outlet 
           5  configuration device 
           6  data bus 
           7  line 
           7   in  connection for the voltage used for location 
           8  line 
           9  bridge rectifier circuit 
           10   a - 10   d  diode 
           11  first output of the bridge rectifier circuit 
           12  line 
           13  connection for negative voltage 
           14  second output of the bridge rectifier circuit 
           15  line 
           16  connection for positive voltage 
           17  microcontroller 
           18  housing 
           19  third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention 
           20  housing 
           21  asymmetrical plug 
           22   a ,  22   b  fastening holes 
           23  embodiment of a socket-outlet arrangement according to the invention 
           24   a  first socket outlet 
           24   b  second socket outlet 
           25   a ,  25   b  embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention 
           26  positive voltage 
           27  negative voltage 
           28  schematic illustration of an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention