Patent Description:
Document <CIT> discloses a circuit for controlling one or more ultrasonic transducers and/or one or more ultrasonic transmitters and/or one or more ultrasonic receivers. The circuit comprises various means for determining the application in which the ultrasonic transducer or the ultrasonic transmitter or the ultrasonic receiver is being used. A sensor can determine, for example, whether the bus addresses are determined by means of connector coding or by means of a daisy-chain-like method.

Most vehicles today include a plurality of control units, processing units, sensors, and other electronic units. In order to ensure the correct function of an electronic unit and the correct processing of any data provided by an electronic unit, it may be necessary that the electronic unit and its position in the vehicle are correctly determined and identified.

There is a need to provide an arrangement with which an electronic unit can be identified and with which its position in the vehicle can be determined.

This problem is solved by an arrangement according to claim <NUM>. Configurations and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

An arrangement includes a master unit including a first output and a second output, and being configured to provide a first potential at the first output, and a second potential at the second output, wherein the second potential is different from the first potential; a first slave unit and an identical second slave unit, each of the first and second slave units including a first input, a second input, and a polarity determination unit; and a bus line coupled to the master unit, the first lave unit, and the second slave unit, wherein the first input of the first slave unit is coupled to the first output, and the second input of the first slave unit is coupled to the second output of the master unit, the first input of the second slave unit is coupled to the second output, and the second input of the second slave unit is coupled to the first output of the master unit, the polarity detection unit of the first slave unit is configured to determine which potential is provided at which input of the first slave unit, and to output a corresponding polarity signal having a first state via the bus line, and the polarity detection unit of the second slave unit is configured to determine which potential is provided at which input of the second slave unit, and to output a corresponding polarity signal having a second state via the bus line.

In this way, the slave units are interchangeable without the necessity of any adaptions or adjustments to the arrangement. No elaborate software implementation is needed to identify each of the slave units. Further, the risk of mounting a slave unit in an incorrect position is reduced, as each slave unit may be mounted in any position.

The master unit may be configured to identify each of the first slave unit and the second slave unit based on the respective polarity signal received via the bus line.

This allows to clearly identify which slave unit is arranged at which position, e.g., in or on an object.

Each of the first slave unit and the second slave unit may further include a functional unit configured to perform a main function of the respective slave unit, and a rectifier unit arranged between the polarity determination unit and the functional unit, and configured to rectify a voltage received via the first and second inputs, irrespective of the polarity provided to each input and to provide the rectified voltage to the functional unit.

This allows to provide the functional unit, which performs the main function of the slave unit, with the correct operating voltage, irrespective of which potential is received at which input.

A main function of each of the first slave unit and the second slave unit may be to send and receive signals.

Transceiver units that are configured to send and receive signals are often used, e.g., with respect to certain objects. Transceiver units are often needed for functions for which a knowledge of the exact position of the transceiver unit in or on the object is cruicial.

The master unit, the first slave unit and the second slave unit may be arranged in or on an object, wherein each polarity signal uniquely defines a position of the respective slave unit in or on the object.

The object may be a vehicle, a building, a door, a gate, a barrier, or a movable blocking arrangement.

Each of the first slave unit and the second slave unit may include one or more sensors, wherein each of the one or more sensors is configured to detect two different states, and the state detected by one or a combination of states detected by more than one sensor is assigned to a specific position of the respective slave unit in or on the object.

This is a way to confirm or further define the position of the slave unit in or on the vehicle.

Each of the slave units may be mounted to a different mounting surface in or on the object.

Each of the one or more sensors of each slave unit may be arranged at a defined position on the mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface, at the positions of the one or more sensors, comprises one of two different properties.

In this way, each sensor, at its position, may detect one of the two possible properties, and therefore one of the two possible states.

Each of the one or more sensors may include a Hall sensor, a capacitive sensor, or an optical sensor.

Each such sensor may detect different properties. For example, a metallic surface may be distinguished from a non-metallic surface, or any other different markings or properties may be detected at the positions of the sensors which result in one of two possible states.

Examples are now explained with reference to the drawings. In the drawings the same reference characters denote like features.

In the following Figures, only such elements are illustrated that are useful for the understanding of the present invention. The arrangement and its components described below may comprise more than the exemplary elements illustrated in the Figures. However, any additional elements that are not needed for the implementation of the present invention have been omitted for the sake of clarity.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an electronic device <NUM> and a vehicle <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> may be an electronic vehicle key or any other electronic device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) which may function as a vehicle key, for example. The electronic device <NUM> communicates wirelessly with the vehicle <NUM>.

For many applications, the exact position of the electronic device <NUM> with respect to the vehicle <NUM> needs to be known. For example, it may be required that the electronic device <NUM> is located inside of the vehicle <NUM> in order to be able to start the vehicle <NUM>. It may also be necessary that the electronic device <NUM> is located in a defined area around the vehicle <NUM> in order to be able to unlock the vehicle <NUM>. For an automatic parking control, for example, which automatically performs a parking process, it may be necessary that a user carrying the electronic device <NUM> is detected inside a defined radius (e.g., <NUM> meters) around the vehicle <NUM> for him to be able to supervise the automatic parking process. These are only a few examples of functions which require an exact knowledge of the position of an electronic device <NUM> with respect to a vehicle <NUM>.

The position of an electronic device <NUM> with respect to a vehicle <NUM> may be determined, e.g., by means of signals that are sent between the vehicle <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>. A plurality of transceiver devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged in different positions in or on the vehicle <NUM>, as is schematically illustrated in <FIG>. The transceiver devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> send out signals which are received by the electronic device <NUM>. The electronic device <NUM> then answers the signals with one or more response signals. The position of the electronic device <NUM> may then be determined by evaluating the time between sending out the signals from the transceiver devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and receiving them in the electronic device <NUM> and/or between sending out the response signals from the electronic device <NUM> and receiving them in the respective transceiver device <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (generally known as two-way ranging TWR). Other possibilities for determining the position of the electronic device <NUM> are, e.g., time-difference of arrival (TDoA) or phase-difference of arrival (PDoA).

In <FIG>, four transceiver units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are exemplarily illustrated. It is, however, possible, that less than four or more than four transceiver units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged in or on the vehicle <NUM>.

When the time between sending out a signal from a transceiver unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and receiving the signal in the electronic device <NUM> (and/or vice versa) is known, the distance between the electronic device <NUM> and the respective transceiver unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be determined. It is, alternatively or additionally, also possible to determine the distance by means of the received signal strength, which decreases depending on the distance from the respective transceiver unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. When the distance between the electronic device <NUM> and each of the transceiver units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is known, the position of the electronic device <NUM> with respect to the vehicle <NUM> may be determined, e.g., by means of suitable trilateration or multilateration methods.

However, in order to be able to determine the exact position of the electronic device <NUM> with respect to the vehicle <NUM>, it is essential that the exact position of each transceiver unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> within the vehicle <NUM> be known. For example, it needs to be known, whether a transceiver unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is arranged, e.g., in a front left position, rear right position, etc..

In known arrangements, as is schematically illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of transceiver units <NUM>, <NUM>, also generally referred to as slave units in the following, is connected to a master unit <NUM>. The master unit <NUM> may be any kind of controller unit, for example. The master unit <NUM> is configured to provide an operating voltage to the slave units <NUM>, <NUM>. Each slave unit <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a first input X1 and a second input X2. In conventional arrangements, as is exemplarily illustrated in <FIG>, the slave units <NUM>, <NUM> are often connected in series to each other. That is, the first input X1 of a first slave unit <NUM> is coupled to a first output V1 of the master unit <NUM>, and the second input X2 of the first slave unit <NUM> is coupled to a second output V2 of the master unit <NUM>. A first potential (e.g., a positive potential) is provided at the first output V1, and a second potential (e.g., a negative or ground potential) is provided at the second output V2 of the master unit <NUM>. That is, the first slave unit <NUM> receives the first potential at its first input X1, and the second potential at its second input X2. The second slave unit <NUM> is connected in series to the first slave unit <NUM>. That is, the first potential and the second potential are provided to the second slave unit <NUM> through the first slave unit <NUM>. The second slave unit <NUM> also receives the first potential at its first input X1, and the second potential at its second input X2, similar to what has been explained with respect to the first slave unit <NUM>. Any number of additional slave units 40n may be connected in series to the first and the second slave unit <NUM>, <NUM> in a similar fashion. In conventional arrangements, each slave unit <NUM>, <NUM> may identify itself to the master unit <NUM> by sending a unique identification (ID) via a bus line <NUM>. This, however, requires a specific software implementation, in order to assign a specific ID to each of the slave units <NUM>, <NUM>.

Therefore, according to the invention, identification of a slave unit <NUM>, <NUM> is implemented in a different way. This is schematically illustrated in <FIG>. The first slave unit <NUM> in <FIG> is coupled to the master unit <NUM> in the same way as has been described with respect to <FIG> above. The second slave unit <NUM> is identical to the first slave unit <NUM>. That is, the second slave unit <NUM> comprises the exact same terminal pins and the exact same internal wiring as the first slave unit <NUM>. In this way, the first slave unit <NUM> and the second slave unit <NUM> are interchangeable. However, the first input X1 of the second slave unit <NUM> is not coupled to the first output V1 of the master unit <NUM>, but to the second output V2 instead. The second input X2 of the second slave unit <NUM>, on the other hand, is coupled to the first output V1. That is, the first slave unit <NUM> receives the first potential at its first input X1, and the second potential at its second input X2, and the second slave unit <NUM> receives the second potential at its first input X1 and the first potential at its second input X2.

Now referring to <FIG>, each slave unit 40n comprises a polarity determination unit <NUM> which is configured to determine a polarity of the potential applied to each of the fist input X1 and the second input X2. The polarity determination unit <NUM>, therefore, is able to detect which of the inputs X1, X2 receives the first potential and which of the inputs X1, X2 receives the second potential. The potential determination unit <NUM> is further configured to output a polarity signal P1. The polarity signal P1 is provided to the master unit <NUM> via the bus line <NUM>. The bus line <NUM> may be any suitable bus line such as, e.g., CAN, LIN, FlexRay, etc..

Each slave unit <NUM> further comprises a functional unit <NUM> which performs the main function of the slave unit <NUM>. If the slave unit <NUM> is a transceiver unit, for example, the functional unit <NUM> may be configured to send and receive signals. The main function of the slave unit <NUM> may be different if it is not a transceiver unit. In order to provide the functional unit <NUM> with the correct supply voltage, the slave unit <NUM> further comprises a rectifier unit <NUM> which is configured to rectify the supply voltage received via the first and second input X1, X2, irrespective of the actual polarity provided to each input X1, X2. That is, the rectifier unit <NUM> is arranged between the polarity determination unit <NUM> and the functional unit <NUM> and is configured to provide a correct operating voltage to the functional unit <NUM>.

One example of a possible implementation of a polarity determination unit <NUM> and a rectifier unit <NUM> is schematically illustrated in <FIG>. The polarity determination unit <NUM> may comprise a first transistor T1, for example, comprising a load path between a first load terminal and a second load terminal. The first transistor T1 may be coupled to the first input X1 with its first load terminal. The first transistor T1 further comprises a control terminal which may be coupled to the first input X1 via a first resistor R1. The control terminal may further be coupled to the second input X2 via a second resistor R2. Depending on the polarity of the potentials provided to the inputs X1, X2, the first transistor T1 may be in a conducting, or a non-conducting state. This results in a different polarity signal P1 provided at a respective output of the polarity determination unit <NUM>. The second load terminal of the first transistor T1 is coupled to the respective output in order to output the polarity signal P1. Additional components such as, e.g., additional resistors R3, R4 or transistors T2 may be coupled between the second load terminal of the first transistor T1 and the output, as is schematically illustrated in <FIG>, in order to provide a polarity signal having one of, e.g. two possible states.

If, for example, the first input X1 receives a positive potential VBAT and the second input X2 receives a ground potential GND, a first polarity signal P1 = "<NUM>" may be output. If, on the other hand, the first input X1 receives a ground potential GND and the second input X2 receives a positive potential VBAT, a second polarity signal P1 = "<NUM>" which is different from the first polarity signal P1 = "<NUM>" is output. This is schematically illustrated in the table of <FIG>.

Still referring to <FIG>, the rectification unit <NUM> may comprise a plurality of diodes D1, D2, D3, D4, which are arranged and configured to rectify the voltage received at the inputs X1, X2. That is, the same voltage is provided at the output of the rectification unit <NUM>, irrespective of whether the first potential is received at the first input X1 and the second potential is received at the second input X2, or vice versa. The rectification unit <NUM> may further comprise additional smoothing capacitors C2, C3, C4 and inductors L1, for example. The polarity determination unit <NUM>, and the rectification unit <NUM>, however, may be implemented in any other suitable way. The exact implementation is irrelevant for the function of the present invention. <FIG> merely illustrates one example in which the invention may be implemented.

Each slave unit 40n may be trained when it is first coupled to the master unit <NUM>. The slave units 40n, however, are identical to each other. That is, each slave unit 40n comprises the exact same inputs and outputs and the exact same internal wiring. The slave units 40n are interchangeable without the necessity of any adaptions or adjustments to the arrangement. No elaborate software implementation is needed to identify each of the slave units 40n. By identifying the slave units 40n in the described way by means of different wiring to the master unit <NUM>, the slave units 40n are completely interchangeable. Further, the risk of mounting a slave unit 40n in an incorrect position is reduced, as each slave unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be mounted in any position.

According to one example, a slave unit 40n arranged in a front right position of the vehicle <NUM> may always be connected to receive the first potential at its first input X1, and the second potential at its second input X2. A slave unit 40n arranged in a rear left position of the vehicle <NUM> may always be connected to receive the second potential at its first input X1, and the first potential at its second input X2. That is, in the given example, the first polarity signal P1 = "<NUM>" always identifies the front right position, while the second polarity signal P1 = "<NUM>" always identifies the rear left position. Any other positions in the vehicle may also be defined and identified in a similar way.

In the examples described above, two different potentials provided at two inputs X1, X2 of each slave unit 40n are used to identify the respective slave unit 40n. In this way, two different slave units <NUM>, <NUM> may be distinguished. In a similar fashion, more than two slave units 40n may be clearly identified if more than two inputs Xn and/or more than two input signals (potentials) are used. It is also possible to distinguish more than two slave units, if each input X1, X2 of two inputs may assume three or even more different states. As has been described above, a first state may correspond to the first potential (e.g., positive potential VBAT), and a second state may correspond to the second potential (e.g., ground potential GND). A third possible state may be an open state (e.g., not connected), for example. In this way, <NUM> slave units 40n arranged in different positions in or on the vehicle <NUM> may be correctly identified.

The exact position (e.g., front right, rear left, etc.) of each slave unit 40n in the vehicle <NUM> additionally may be determined by means of a plurality of sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In particular, each slave unit 40n may comprise a plurality of sensors 70n. Four sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are exemplarily illustrated in the examples of <FIG>. The exact number of sensors 70n, however, may depend on the number of slave units 40n and corresponding positions which need to be identified. Each sensor <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to detect one of two different states, e.g., "<NUM>" and "<NUM>". Depending on the number of sensors 70n of each slave unit <NUM>, a certain number of different positions in the vehicle <NUM> may be uniquely identified.

In the table of <FIG> this is schematically illustrated for the four sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of <FIG>. If, for example, a state in which each of the plurality of sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> detects the same state, e.g., the second state "<NUM>", is considered as invalid, a total number of <NUM> different positions may be determined. As can be seen in the table of <FIG>, each combination of different states is associated with a specific position in the vehicle. For example, a slave unit 40n may be identified as a slave unit mounted in the position "rear left", if sensors <NUM> and <NUM> determine the second state "<NUM>", and sensors <NUM> and <NUM> determine the first state "<NUM>".

With a single sensor <NUM>, two different positions may be determined, for example. With more than four sensors 70n, even more than <NUM> positions may be determined.

The different states detected by the sensors 70n may be generated in many different ways. Each slave unit 40n may be arranged on a corresponding mounting surface, for example. Each mounting surface may be arranged in a defined position in the vehicle <NUM> (e.g., front right, rear left, etc.). Each mounting surface at defined positions may comprise specific properties which may be detected by the sensors 70n. That is, each sensor 70n may be arranged in a dedicated position with respect to the mounting surface, when the slave unit 40n is arranged on the mounting surface.

According to one example, the mounting surface comprises a metallic surface. The metallic surface may comprise an opening or recess 80n at the position of at least one sensor 70n. This is schematically illustrated in <FIG> for the position "rear left" of <FIG>. Each sensor 70n may comprise a Hall sensor, for example, which may detect whether the metallic surface or an opening 80n is arranged below the respective sensor 70n. A sensor 70n may detect the second state "<NUM>", for example, if the sensor 70n detects a metallic surface. A sensor 70n on the other hand may detect the first state "<NUM>", if an opening 80n is arranged below the respective sensor 70n. In this way, each mounting surface at each position in the vehicle <NUM> may be coded accordingly.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an exemplary mounting surface for the position "inside front" of <FIG>. Only the fourth sensor <NUM> detects the second state "<NUM>", while all other sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> detect the first state "<NUM>", as they are arranged above an opening <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the mounting surface.

Instead of openings 80n in a metallic surface, the mounting surface may also comprise any other suitable properties at the positions of the sensors 70n. For example, a non-metallic material may be arranged below the respective sensors 70n in specific positions instead of the openings 80n. It is also possible to vary the thickness of the mounting surface at the positions of the sensors 70n, wherein a sensor may detect the first state "<NUM>" if the mounting surface has a first thickness, and the second state "<NUM>" if the mounting surface has a second thickness. In this example, capacitive sensors may be used to detect the respective thickness, for example. It is also possible to use optical sensors 70n in order to detect specific patterns or colors at the positions of the sensors 70n, for example. Any other suitable implementation is also possible.

Claim 1:
An arrangement comprising
a master unit (<NUM>) comprising a first output (V1) and a second output (V2), and being configured to provide a first potential at the first output (V1), and a second potential at the second output (V2), wherein the second potential is different from the first potential;
a first slave unit (<NUM>) and an identical second slave unit (<NUM>), each of the first and second slave units (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a first input (X1), a second input (X2), and a polarity determination unit (<NUM>); and
a bus line (<NUM>) coupled to the master unit (<NUM>), the first lave unit (<NUM>), and the second slave unit (<NUM>), wherein
the first input (X1) of the first slave unit (<NUM>) is coupled to the first output (V1), and the second input (X2) of the first slave unit (<NUM>) is coupled to the second output (V2) of the master unit (<NUM>), characterized in that
the first input (X1) of the second slave unit (<NUM>) is coupled to the second output (V2), and the second input (X2) of the second slave unit (<NUM>) is coupled to the first output (V1) of the master unit (<NUM>),
the polarity detection unit (<NUM>) of the first slave unit (<NUM>) is configured to determine which potential is provided at which input (X1, X2) of the first slave unit (<NUM>), and to output a corresponding polarity signal (P1) having a first state (<NUM>) via the bus line (<NUM>), and
the polarity detection unit (<NUM>) of the second slave unit (<NUM>) is configured to determine which potential is provided at which input (X1, X2) of the second slave unit (<NUM>), and to output a corresponding polarity signal (P1) having a second state (<NUM>) via the bus line (<NUM>).