Patent ID: 12190662

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1Anchor point assembly11Power management module12Positioning module121Bluetooth positioning unit122Ultra-wideband positioning unit13Control module131Control chip132Chip peripheral circuit1321Connection branch1322Connection branch21Power supply22Vehicle end module221Pull-up and pull-down circuit222Pull-up and pull-down circuit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below through specific examples. One skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present disclosure according to contents disclosed in the description. The present disclosure may also be implemented or applied through other different embodiments, and various modifications or changes may be made to all details in the description based on different points of view without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that, the drawings provided in this embodiment only exemplify the basic idea of the present disclosure. Although only the components related to the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, they are not necessarily drawn according to the quantities, shapes, and sizes of the components during actual implementation. During actual implementation, the patterns, quantities, and proportions of the components may be changed as needed, and the layout of the components may be more complicated. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second” and the like are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

In recent years, more and more vehicles are equipped with vehicle entry systems. However, there are still some problems in the existing vehicle entry systems. Taking a vehicle entry system including four anchor point assemblies as an example, the four anchor point assemblies are installed on the front left, the front right, the rear left, and the rear right of a vehicle respectively. In the prior art, each of the four anchor assemblies needs to be configured with its own corresponding firmware package and each firmware package is maintained individually, and there is a problem of mismatch between the firmware packages and the anchor point assemblies due to reasons like misoperations.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an anchor point assembly for a vehicle entry system to solve the above problems.FIG.1shows a schematic structural diagram of the anchor point assembly1in this embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG.1, the anchor point assembly includes a power management module11, a positioning module12, and a control module13.

The power management module11is connected to the control module13, and is used to supply electric power to the control module in conjunction with a power supply21. The power supply21includes, but is not limited to, a power supply installed inside a vehicle. The power management module11is mainly used to complete some power management work, e.g., the conversion of electric power, power distribution, detection, and the like.

The positioning module12is connected to the control module13, and is used to obtain position information of a control terminal and to transmit the position information of the control terminal to the control module13. The control module13performs corresponding operations (e.g., automatic unlocking or automatic locking, one-touch start, and the like) based on the position information of the control terminal. In an embodiment, the control terminal is a key to the vehicle, and/or a cell phone.

The control module13is also connected to the vehicle end module22and is used to obtain position information of the vehicle end module22based on a position identification signal of the vehicle end module22. The control module13may be directly connected to the vehicle end module22, or the control module13may be indirectly connected to the vehicle end module22through a connector. The vehicle end module22is configured to generate the position identification signal and to transmit the position identification signal to the control module13. The position identification signal is used to identify the position of the vehicle end module22.

According to the above description, the anchor point assembly1described in this embodiment includes the power management module11, the positioning module12, and the control module13. The control module13is connected to the vehicle end module22and obtains the position information of the vehicle end module22based on the position identification signal of the vehicle end module22. When the structure shown inFIG.1is adopted in multiple anchor point assemblies of a vehicle, the firmware of these anchor point assemblies is integrated in one firmware package. During the actual burning process, the control module13selects a corresponding program from the firmware package for execution according to the position information of the vehicle end module22. On one hand, only one firmware package is developed and maintained, which reduces the workload of firmware development and maintenance; on the other hand, the same firmware package is burned into all the anchor point assemblies and there is no mismatch between the firmware packages and the anchor assemblies due to reasons like misoperations, which reduces the rework rate.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIG.2, the positioning module includes a Bluetooth positioning unit121and an ultra-wideband positioning unit122. The Bluetooth positioning unit121is connected to the control terminal through Bluetooth, and is used to obtain first position information of the control terminal. The first position information indicates a distance between the control terminal and the vehicle. The ultra-wideband positioning unit122is connected to the control terminal through ultra-wideband technology, and is used to obtain second position information of the control terminal. The second position information indicates the orientation of the control terminal with respect to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the positioning module12includes the Bluetooth positioning unit121or the ultra-wideband positioning unit122. In other embodiments, the positioning module12includes positioning units that adopt other positioning technologies.

In an embodiment, referring toFIG.3A, the control module includes a control chip131and a chip peripheral circuit132. The chip peripheral circuit132is connected between the control chip131and the vehicle end module22. The chip peripheral circuit132is used to protect the control chip131.

Next, the vehicle end module22and the control module13will be described in detail by taking the vehicle entry system including four anchor point assemblies as an example. In an embodiment, referring toFIG.3C, the vehicle end module22includes pull-up and pull-down circuits221,222. The pull-up and pull-down circuit221includes a pull-up resistor R31and a pull-down resistor R32. The pull-up and pull-down circuit222includes a pull-up resistor R41and a pull-down resistor R42. Referring toFIG.3B, the chip peripheral circuit132includes connection branches1321,1322. The chip peripheral circuit132is connected to a high voltage VCC2, for example 12V. The connection branch1321is connected to the pull-up and pull-down circuit221and a pin PIN1of the control chip131. The connection branch1322is connected to the pull-up and pull-down circuit222and a pin PIN2of the control chip131.

In this embodiment, each of the connection branches1321,1322includes a current limiting subcircuit and a filter subcircuit. Next, the connection branch1321will be introduced in detail as an example. It should be noted that the structure and working principle of the connection branch1322is the same as that of the connection branch1321. In an embodiment, the filter subcircuit of the connection branch1321includes a capacitor C11, and is used to filter out signals other than the position identification signal, so that the control chip131may more accurately identify the position identification signal of the vehicle end module22. The current limiting subcircuit of the connection branch1321includes a first resistor R11, a second resistor R12, a third resistor R13, and a diode D1, and is used to protect the control chip131. A first end of the first resistor R11is connected to an output end A of the pull-up and pull-down circuit221(i.e. terminal A connected between the pull-up resistor R31and the pull-down resistor R32) and a cathode of the diode D1, and a second end of the first resistor R11is connected to an anode of the diode D1and the pin PIN1of the control chip131. A first end of the second resistor R12is connected a high voltage VCC1, and a second end of the second resistor R12is connected to the anode of the diode D1. In one embodiment, the high voltage VCC1is 12 V, the first end of the second resistor R12is connected to a power supply, or is connected to a pin of the control chip131, wherein the pin has a high voltage. A first end of the third resistor R13is connected to ground, and a second end of the third resistor R13is connected to the anode of the diode D1.

Based on the above structure of the vehicle end module22and the control module13, the four vehicle end modules may be configured with different position identification signals in practical applications. For example, the output ends of the pull-up and pull-down circuits221and222of the first vehicle end module may be configured to have a high potential, an output end of the pull-up and pull-down circuit221of the second vehicle end module may be configured to have a high potential and an output end of the pull-up and pull-down circuit222of the second vehicle end module may be configured to have a low potential, an output end of the pull-up and pull-down circuit221of the third vehicle end module may be configured to have a low potential and an output end of the pull-up and pull-down circuit222may be configured to have a high potential, and the output ends of the pull-up and pull-down circuits221and222of the fourth vehicle end module may be configured to have a low potential. At this time, the control chip131determines the position information and the identity information of the vehicle end module22connected to the anchor point assembly1based on the voltage values of the pins PIN1and PIN2.

It should be noted that the circuit structure of the chip peripheral circuit132and the vehicle end module22shown inFIG.3BandFIG.3Cis only one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the anchor point assembly1obtains a firmware package via a vehicle's CAN bus. In an embodiment, a master controller in the vehicle entry system may send the same firmware package to all anchor assemblies on the vehicle via the CAN bus, so that the firmware package is burned into all the anchor point assemblies. The same firmware package is burned into all the anchor point assemblies when the anchor point assemblies are produced.

A vehicle entry system is provided based on the above description of the anchor point assembly1. In an embodiment, referring toFIG.4, the vehicle entry system includes a master controller and four anchor point assemblies, and each anchor point assembly adopts the structure shown inFIG.1. In this embodiment, the four anchor point assemblies are disposed at different positions of the vehicle and are communicated with the master controller, and the same firmware package is burned into the four anchor point assemblies. In an embodiment, the firmware package includes the firmware of the four anchor point assemblies, and the control module of each anchor point assembly selects a corresponding program for execution based on the position identification signal of the vehicle end module connected to the control module. It should be noted that the vehicle entry system in this embodiment including four anchor point assemblies is only one embodiment of the present disclosure, and the number of anchor point assemblies may be determined according to the specific needs in practical application.

In the above description of the anchor point assembly1, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a master controller, at least two vehicle end modules, and at least two anchor point assemblies as shown inFIG.1. The vehicle end modules are disposed at different positions of the vehicle. Each anchor point assembly is connected to a corresponding vehicle end module, and each anchor point assembly is communicated with the master controller, and a firmware package is burned into each anchor point assembly.

A vehicle entry system is also provided. The vehicle entry system includes at least two anchor point assemblies and at least two vehicle end modules.

The at least two anchor point assemblies are provided at different locations of a vehicle. For example, the vehicle has four anchor point assemblies, the locations of the four anchor point assemblies are as follows: a first anchor point assembly is set on the front left side of the vehicle, a second anchor point assembly is set on the front right side of the vehicle, a third anchor point assembly is set on the rear left side of the vehicle and a fourth anchor point assembly is set on the rear right side of the vehicle.

Each anchor point assembly stores a total firmware package. The total firmware package is a collection of firmware packages in each anchor assembly of a vehicle in the prior art. The total firmware package is burned into each anchor point assembly when the anchor point assemblies are produced.

Each vehicle end module is connected to a corresponding anchor assembly, and each vehicle end module generates a position identification signal. For example, four vehicle end modules are provided, a first vehicle end module is connected to the first anchor assembly and generates a first position identification signal, a second vehicle end module is connected to the second anchor assembly and generates a second position identification signal, a third vehicle end module is connected to the third anchor assembly and generates a third position identification signal, and a fourth vehicle end module is connected to a fourth anchor assembly and generates a fourth position identification signal.

Each anchor point assembly selects a firmware package corresponding to the position identification signal from the total firmware package based on a corresponding position identification signal, and executes the firmware package to implement a corresponding vehicle use function. For example, the total firmware package includes four firmware packages, and the first anchor point assembly selects a first firmware package corresponding to the first position identification signal from the total firmware package and executes the first firmware package based on the first position identification signal, thereby implementing the vehicle use function corresponding to the first firmware package. The functions of a second, third and fourth anchor point assemblies are similar to those of the first anchor point assembly, so these will not be described further.

In an embodiment, each anchor point assembly includes a positioning module12and a control module13. The positioning module12is for obtaining position information of the control terminal. The control module13is connected to the positioning module12and a corresponding vehicle end module, and is for the firmware package corresponding to the position identification signal from the total firmware package based on the position identification signal, and for executing a program corresponding to the position information of the control terminal in the firmware package, to implement a corresponding vehicle use function.

In an embodiment, the positioning module includes a Bluetooth positioning unit and an ultra-wideband positioning unit. The Bluetooth positioning unit is for obtaining first position information of the control terminal. In an embodiment, the first position information is a distance between the vehicle and the control terminal, and the Bluetooth positioning unit121is Bluetooth. The ultra-wideband positioning unit is for obtaining second position information of the control terminal. Where the first position information is different from the second position information. In an embodiment, the second position information is an orientation of the control terminal with respect to the vehicle. The ultra-broadband positioning unit122may be a positioning device with ultra-broadband technology. The control terminal may be a car key and/or a cell phone. In other embodiments, other positioning devices may also be used. The control module executes the program corresponding to the position information of the control terminal in the firmware package corresponding to said position information of said control terminal based on the first position information and the second position information, to achieve a corresponding vehicle use function.

In an embodiment, the control module13includes a chip peripheral circuit132and a control chip131. The chip peripheral circuit132is connected to a corresponding vehicle terminal module, and is for processing and transmitting a corresponding position identification signal. The control chip131is connected to the chip peripheral circuit132, for selecting the firmware package corresponding to the position identification signal from the total firmware package according to the position identification signal, and executing a program corresponding to the position information of the control terminal in the firmware package according to the position information of the control terminal to implement a corresponding vehicle use function.

In an embodiment, each vehicle-end module includes a first pull-up and pull-down circuit221and a second pull-up and pull-down circuit222. The first pull-up and pull-down circuit221is connected to a first anchor point assembly of the at least two anchor point assemblies and is for generating a first identification signal. In an embodiment, the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221includes a first pull-up resistor R31and a first pull-down resistor. Where the first pull-up resistor R31and the first pull-down resistor R32are connected in series, and a first node A between the first pull-up resistor R31and the first pull-down resistor R32is connected to the first anchor point assembly. By setting a connection relationship between a first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221and a power supply VCC2, and a connection relationship between a second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221and ground, the first identification signal indicating a high level or a low level is generated on the first node A. For example, the first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221is set to be connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221is set to be ungrounded, the first identification signal indicates a high level. The first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221is set to be not connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit221is set to be grounded, the first identification signal indicates a low level.

A second pull-up and pull-down circuit is connected to the first anchor point assembly, and is for generating a second identification signal. In an embodiment, the second pull-up and pull-down circuit includes a second pull-up resistor R41and a second pull-down resistor R42. Where the second pull-up resistor R41and the second pull-down resistor R42are connected in series, and a second node B between the second pull-up resistor R41and the second pull-down resistor R42is connected to the first anchor point assembly. By setting a connection relationship between a first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit222and the power supply VCC2, and a connection between a second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit222and the ground, the second identification signal indicating a high level or a low level is generated on the second node B. For example, the first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit222is set to be connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit221is set to be ungrounded, the second identification signal indicates a high level. The first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit222is set to be not connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit222is set to be grounded, the second identification signal indicates a low level.

The first anchor point assembly selects the firmware package from the total firmware package based on the first identification signal and the second identification signal, and executes the firmware package, to implement the corresponding vehicle use function, wherein the firmware package corresponds to the first identification signal and the second identification signal.

In an embodiment, the first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the first vehicle end module is set to be connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the first vehicle end module is not grounded, and the first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the first vehicle end module is set to be connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the first vehicle end module is not grounded. The first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the second vehicle end module is connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the second vehicle end module is not grounded; and the first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit is not connected to the power supply, and the second end is grounded. The first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the third vehicle end module is set to be not connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the third vehicle end module is grounded; and the first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the third vehicle end module is set to be connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the third vehicle end module is not grounded. The first end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the fourth vehicle end module is set to be not connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the first pull-up and pull-down circuit of the fourth vehicle end module is grounded; and the first end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the fourth vehicle end module is set to be not connected to the power supply VCC2and the second end of the second pull-up and pull-down circuit of the fourth vehicle end module is grounded. The first identification signal and the second identification signal generated by each vehicle end module are shown in Table 1. As can be seen, by setting an additional vehicle end module for each anchor assembly, the location of each anchor assembly can be identified based on the corresponding identification signal, and thus the corresponding firmware package can be selected from the total firmware package. On the one hand, there is no need to distinguish the anchor point assemblies, and it is also convenient for subsequent installation; on the other hand, it effectively avoids the problem of incorrectly performing functions due to anchor point assemblies not being installed in the correct location.

TABLE 1the firstthe secondidentificationidentificationsignalsignalThe first vehicle end moduleHigh levelHigh levelThe second vehicle end moduleHigh levelLow levelThe third vehicle end moduleLow levelHigh levelThe fourth vehicle end moduleLow levelLow level

As described above, the anchor point assembly described in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes the control module, the power management module, and the positioning module. The control module is connected to the vehicle end module and obtains the position information of the vehicle end module according to the position identification signal of the vehicle end module. Based on the structure of the anchor point assemblies, the firmware of multiple anchor point assemblies is integrated in one firmware package. During the actual burning process, the control module selects a corresponding program from the firmware package for execution based on the position information of the vehicle end module. On one hand, only one firmware package is developed and maintained, which reduces the workload of firmware development and maintenance and the number of firmware packages are reduced, which effectively reduces management costs and improves management efficiency. On the other hand, the same firmware package is burned into all the anchor point assemblies and there is no mismatch between the firmware package and the anchor assembly due to reasons like misoperations, which reduces the rework rate. In the present disclosure, after the firmware package is burned into the anchor point assemblies, the anchor point assemblies are directly installed at different positions of the vehicle and there is no need to distinguish the corresponding relationship between the anchor point assemblies and different positions of the vehicle. In summary, the present disclosure effectively overcomes various shortcomings in the prior art and has a high industrial value.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely illustrative of the principle and effects of the present disclosure instead of limiting the present disclosure. Modifications or variations of the above-described embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or changes made by those who have common knowledge in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed by the present disclosure shall be still covered by the claims of the present disclosure.