Abstract:
Described herein is a rear zone module and rear zone controller that minimizes wire gauge and current draw. The rear zone module shares outputs amongst several functions including rear windshield wiper, heated back window, power liftgate controller and the like. These outputs can be shared because not all functions are required to be active at the same time. For example, a vehicle includes a rear zone module (RZM) that includes at least a power liftgate (PLG) module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to selectively control current with respect to at least the PLG module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The interconnections between the RZM and controller are minimized by sharing the interconnections as the PLG module operates mutually exclusively from the heated back window and rear window wiper module.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/612,033, filed Mar. 16, 2012, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This application is related to vehicle electronics. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Power distribution throughout the body of a vehicle is implemented using wires. The gauge and mass of the wires varies depending on the number of items requiring power and where the items are located in the vehicle. In some vehicles, a central body controller in a vehicle may be used to control many of the functions in the interior of the passenger compartment. This includes functions located in the rear of the vehicle such as the rear windshield wiper, heated back window, power liftgate controller and the like. In some cases, the automaker partitions the vehicle architecture and includes a rear zone module to control those functions located in the rear. In the event these functions reside in the liftgate, hatch, hatchback, liftback, or any other closure mechanism at the rear of a vehicle (collectively the “liftgate”), it has added issues in that the wire has to be flexible as it needs to pass through a hinged section of the liftgate or the wire harness has to be minimal. 
     SUMMARY 
     Described herein is a rear zone module and rear zone controller that minimizes wire gauge and current draw. The rear zone module shares outputs amongst several functions including rear windshield wiper, heated back window, power liftgate controller and the like. These outputs can be shared because not all functions are required to be active at the same time. For example, a vehicle includes a rear zone module (RZM) that includes at least a power liftgate (PLG) module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to selectively control current with respect to at least the PLG module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The interconnections between the RZM and controller are minimized by sharing the interconnections as the PLG module operates mutually exclusively from the heated back window and rear window wiper module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 2  is a first phase of an example rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 3  is a second phase of an example rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 4  is a third phase of an example rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 5  is a fourth phase of an example rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 6  is a fifth phase of an example rear zone architecture; 
         FIG. 7  is an example mass analysis; 
         FIG. 8  is an example high level savings analysis; 
         FIG. 9  is an example circuit for controlling current distribution; 
         FIG. 10  is an example circuit for operation moding where rear wiper motor is on, latch motor is off, the heated back window is off, and PLG motor is off; 
         FIG. 11  is an example circuit for operation moding where rear wiper motor is on, latch motor is off, heated back window is on, and PLG motor is off; 
         FIG. 12  is an example circuit for operation moding wherein rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is off, heated back window is off, and PLG motor is on; 
         FIG. 13  is an example circuit for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is off, heated back window is off, and PLG motor is on; 
         FIG. 14  is an example circuit for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is on, heated back window is off, and PLG motor is off; and 
         FIG. 15  is an example circuit for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is on, heated back window is off, and PLG motor is off. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of embodiments of the rear zone module and rear zone controller have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typical electronics packaging. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the rear zone module and rear zone controller. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the rear zone module and rear zone controller, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. 
     The non-limiting embodiments described herein are with respect to the rear zone module and rear zone controller. The embodiments and variations described herein, and/or shown in the drawings, are presented by way of example only and are not limiting as to the scope and spirit. The rear zone module and rear zone controller may be used in a number of applications including automobile applications. 
       FIG. 1  shows a rear zone architecture  100  without the features described herein. A rear zone architecture  100  includes a body controller  102 , (this may also be referred to as a smart junction box or a body computer box), a rear vent switch  104 , and a rear zone region  106 . The body controller  102  may be located in the front of the vehicle. The rear zone region  106  may be associated and/or located in the rear of the vehicle such as in for example, the liftgate. The body controller  102  includes relay drives (RD)  110  and  112 , a lock door relay (LD)  114 , an unlock door relay (ULD)  116 , and a controller area network (CAN)  118 . The rear zone region  106  includes a rear defogger (Rr Dfg)  120  tied to ground  122 , an activator with lock  124  and unlock  126  functions, an unlock module  126 , a liftgate (L/G) lock activation for non-power liftgate  128 , a power liftgate (PLG) electronic control unit (ECU)  130 , a L/G latch  132 , a L/G chime  134 , a L/G drive unit  136 , a rear wiper  138  tied to ground  139 , a rear vent motor  1   140  and rear vent motor  2   142 , (e.g., left hand vent and right hand vent). The PLG ECU  130  includes double pole double through (DPDT) relays  144  and  146 , metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (mosfets) (F)  148  and  150 , a high side driver (HSD)  152  and a CAN  154 , which in connected to the CAN  118  in body controller  102 . A PLG  160  is connected to the rear zone region  106  through a fuse  162  and power and ground  164  is provided to the rear zone region  106  through  16  gauge wires  166  and  168 , respectively. 
     The body controller  102  and rear zone region  106  are connected using relays, fuses and certain gauge wires as further described herein. In particular, the RD  110  is connected to the Rr Dfg  120  through a rear defogger relay (Rr DFG Rly)  170 , a fuse  172  and using 12 gauge wires  174 . The LD  114  and ULD  116  are connected to the Lock  124  and Unlock  126  using 16 gauge wires  176  and  178 , respectively. The Rr Wpr  138  is connected to the body controller using 22 gauge wires  180  and to the RD  112  through rear wiper relay (Rr Wpr Rly)  182 , a fuse  184  and using 16 gauge wires  186 . The rear vent switch  104  is connected to the rear vent motor  1   140  and rear vent motor  2   142  through ports  188  and  190  using 16 gauge wires  192  and  194 , respectively. 
     Described herein is a rear zone module (RZM) that provides optimization of other electronic control modules (ECMs) in the vehicle, reduces mass, and provides system cost savings. Described also is an innovative use of input/output (I/O) sharing and power moding, energy savings, wiring simplification and cost savings. The RZM is one of many ECMs in a vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  shows a first phase rear zone architecture  200  where a PLG ECU  230  now encompasses certain aspects of the rear zone region  206  and now becomes a rear zone ECU or rear zone module  230 . In particular, rear zone ECU  230  now includes ground  222 , ground  239 , and ports  288  and  290 . The remainder of the first phase rear zone architecture  200  is the same as rear zone architecture  100 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a second phase rear zone architecture  300  where certain aspects of the relays, fuses and wire gauges are to be eliminated as shown by the dashed lines. In particular, fuse  372 , fuse  384 , 12 gauge wires  374 , 16 gauge wires  376 ,  378 ,  386 ,  392  and  394  and 22 gauge wires  380 .  FIG. 4  shows a third phase rear zone architecture  400  where the items identified in  FIG. 3  are eliminated. In addition, the ground  222 , ground  239 , and ports  288  and  290  of  FIG. 2  are now incorporated into the rear zone ECU  430 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a fourth phase rear zone architecture  500  where a rear vent switch  504  is now incorporated into a drivers door switch (DDS)  507  and connected to a rear zone ECU  530  via a driver door module  509 . In particular, the driver door module  509  is tied to a wire  513  connecting CAN  512  to CAN  554 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a fifth phase rear zone architecture  600  where the rear delays  110  and  112 , rear defogger relay  120 , and rear wiper relay  282  are now in a rear zone ECU  630  and a gauge of wires  666  and  668  are increased from 14 gauge to 12 gauge to handle the new current load. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , there are many wires running from the front of the vehicle to the back. This wiring adds to the overall mass of the vehicle. For example, in determining a wiring mass analysis: 1) it is estimated that there is 6 meters of wiring from the body controller  102  in the front of the vehicle to the “D” pillar area, (where the “D” pillar is a sheet metal structural section located in the rear of the vehicle that runs between the roof and the sides of the vehicle); 2) exclude the “D” pillar to actual load; 3) include incremental mass for RZM for Non-PLG modules; and 4) include incremental mass for 14 gauge wire to 12 gauge wire for RZM power and ground. The overall savings that is achieved for a PLG is over 0.5 Kg and for a non-PLG it is approximately 0.2 kg.  FIG. 7  shows an example mass analysis and  FIG. 8  shows a high level savings analysis. 
     Input/Output (I/O) optimization/operation moding is described herein. Three high current systems exist in the rear zone: power liftgate, heated back window, and rear window wiper. Properly managing the operation of the high current systems allows for optimization. For example, in one method, the heated back window and rear wiper operation is disabled during PLG operation, (which may last for approximately 5-7 seconds). That is, the PLG operation and heated back window and rear wiper operations are mutually exclusive. Although this has no impact on the customer, it allows the gauge of the wires to be optimized. 
     I/O optimization may be achieved wherein the RZM has several outputs and operation moding allows the sharing of the outputs to reduce the number of discrete drivers as shown for example, in part, by  FIG. 9 , and by comparing  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an example circuit  900  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is on, latch motor is off, heated back window is off and PLG motor is off. A portion of circuit  900 , circuit  902 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  900  further includes a PLG subcircuit  905  connected to a subcircuit  907 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  910  and a rear wiper subcircuit  915 . The PLG subcircuit  905  has a three way switch  920  and also includes a latch  930  with a switch  932 . The three way switch  920  has a pole A connected to ground  922  and the heated back window subcircuit  910  and a rear wiper subcircuit  915 . A PLG motor  940  is connected between pole B and pole C, which are both tied to ground  948 . The latch  930  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  932 , both of which are tied to power. A heated back window subcircuit  910  is connected to pole A and to pole C, both of which are connected to ground. The rear window wiper subcircuit  915  includes a motor  970  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the PLG  940 , the latch  930 , and the heated back window  910  are off and have no current flow running. The rear wiper motor  970  is on with the current running in direction Z 2 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an example circuit  1000  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is on, latch motor is off, heated back window is off and PLG motor is off. A portion of circuit  1000 , circuit  1002 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1000  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1005  connected to a subcircuit  1007 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1010  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1015 . The PLG subcircuit  1005  has a three way switch  1020  and also includes a latch  1030  with a switch  1032 . The three way switch  1020  has a pole A connected to power and the heated back window subcircuit  1010  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1015 . A PLG motor  1040  is connected between pole B and pole C, which are both tied to power. The latch  1030  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1032 , both of which are tied to ground  1056 . A heated back window subcircuit  1010  is connected to pole A and to pole C, both of which are connected to power. The rear window wiper subcircuit  1015  includes a rear wiper motor  1070  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the PLG  1040 , the latch  1030 , and the heated back window  1010  are off and have no current flow running. The rear wiper motor  1070  is on with the current running in direction Z 1 . 
       FIG. 11  shows an example circuit  1100  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is on, latch motor is off, heated back window is on and PLG motor is off. A portion of circuit  1100 , circuit  1102 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1100  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1105  connected to a subcircuit  1107 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1110  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1115 . The PLG subcircuit  1105  has a three way switch  1120  and also includes a latch  1130  with a switch  1132 . The three way switch  1120  has a pole A connected to power and the heated back window subcircuit  1110  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1115 . A PLG motor  1140  is connected between pole B and pole C, which are both tied to ground  1148 . The latch  1130  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1132 , both of which are tied to ground  1156 . A heated back window subcircuit  1110  is connected to pole A and to pole C, which is connected to ground  1148 . The rear window wiper subcircuit  1115  includes a motor  1170  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the PLG  1140 , and the latch  1130  are off and have no current flow running. The heated back window  1110  and the rear window wiper circuit  1170  are on with the current running in direction Z 1 . 
       FIG. 12  shows an example circuit  1200  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is off, heated back window is off and PLG motor is on. A portion of circuit  1200 , circuit  1202 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1200  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1205  connected to a subcircuit  1207 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1210  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1215 . The PLG subcircuit  1205  has a three way switch  1220  and also includes a latch  1230  with a switch  1232 . The three way switch  1220  has a pole A connected to ground  1222  and the heated back window subcircuit  1210  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1215 . A PLG motor  1240  is connected between pole B and pole C, where pole B is connected to power and pole C is connected to ground  1248 . The latch  1230  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1232 , both of which are tied to ground  1256 . A heated back window subcircuit  1210  is connected to pole A and to pole C. The rear window wiper subcircuit  1215  includes a motor  1270  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the heated back window  1210 , the rear window motor  1270 , and the latch  1230  are off and have no current flow running. The PLG  1240  is on with the current running in direction X 1 . 
       FIG. 13  shows an example circuit  1300  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is off, heated back window is off and PLG motor is on. A portion of circuit  1300 , circuit  1302 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1300  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1305  connected to a subcircuit  1307 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1310  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1315 . The PLG subcircuit  1305  has a three way switch  1320  and also includes a latch  1330  with a switch  1332 . The three way switch  1320  has a pole A connected to power and the heated back window subcircuit  1310  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1315 . A PLG motor  1340  is connected between pole B and pole C, where pole B is connected to ground  1348  and pole C is connected to power. The latch  1330  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1332 , both of which are tied to power. A heated back window subcircuit  1310  is connected to pole A and to pole C. The rear window wiper subcircuit  1315  includes a motor  1370  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the heated back window  1310 , the rear window motor  1370 , and the latch  1330  are off and have no current flow running. The PLG  1340  is on with the current running in direction X 2 . 
       FIG. 14  shows an example circuit  1400  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is on, heated back window is off and PLG motor is off. A portion of circuit  1400 , circuit  1402 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1400  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1405  connected to a subcircuit  1407 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1410  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1415 . The PLG subcircuit  1405  has a three way switch  1420  and also includes a latch  1430  with a switch  1432 . The three way switch  1420  has a pole A connected to ground  1422  and the heated back window subcircuit  1410  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1415 . A PLG motor  1440  is connected between pole B and pole C, both of which are connected to ground  1448 . The latch  1430  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1432 , where pole D is connected to power and pole E is connected to ground  1456 . A heated back window subcircuit  1410  is connected to pole A and to pole C. The rear window wiper subcircuit  1415  includes a motor  1470  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the heated back window  1410 , the rear window wiper motor  1470 , and the PLG  1440  are off and have no current flow running. The latch  1430  is on with the current running in direction Y 1 . 
       FIG. 15  shows an example circuit  1500  for operation moding where rear wiper motor is off, latch motor is on, heated back window is off and PLG motor is off. A portion of circuit  1500 , circuit  1502 , is included in rear zone ECU  630  of  FIG. 6 . Circuit  1500  further includes a PLG subcircuit  1505  connected to a subcircuit  1507 , which includes a heated back window subcircuit  1510  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1515 . The PLG subcircuit  1505  has a three way switch  1520  and also includes a latch  1530  with a switch  1532 . The three way switch  1520  has a pole A connected to power and the heated back window subcircuit  1510  and a rear wiper subcircuit  1515 . A PLG motor  1540  is connected between pole B and pole C, both of which are connected to power. The latch  1530  is connected between pole D and pole E of switch  1532 , where pole D is connected to ground  1556  and pole E is connected to power. A heated back window subcircuit  1510  is connected to pole A and to pole C. The rear window wiper subcircuit  1515  includes a motor  1570  connected between pole A and pole E. As implemented, the heated back window  1510 , the rear window wiper motor  1570 , and the PLG  1540  are off and have no current flow running. The latch  1530  is on with the current running in direction Y 2 . 
     In general, a vehicle includes a rear zone module (RZM) that includes at least a power liftgate (PLG) module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to selectively control current with respect to at least the PLG module, heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module. The interconnections between the RZM and controller are minimized by sharing the interconnections as the PLG module operates mutually exclusively from the heated back window and rear window wiper module. In an example configuration, the PLG module is off and at least one of the heated back window and rear window wiper module are on. The rear window wiper module has multiple on configurations. The vehicle may further include a latch module. In another example, the heated back window module, and a rear window wiper module are off and at most one of the PLG module and the latch module is on. In one case, the PLG module has multiple on configurations and in another case, the latch module has multiple on configurations. 
     Although features and elements are described above in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements or in various combinations with or without other features and elements.