Description:
Complete specification: The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an anti-lock braking system (ABS), and particularly to an ABS control unit for a vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an advanced braking technology installed on vehicles to prevent wheel lock-up and uncontrollable skidding. The modern electric and hybrid vehicles employ ABS control unit with an integrated DC-DC converter. The Vehicle control unit (VCU) communicates an ABS enable signal to the ABS control unit for enabling/activating the ABS control unit.

[0003] The problem faced with an ABS control unit with an integrated DC-DC converter is that once the ABS enable signal goes LOW, the ABS control unit switches OFF instantly. But before switching OFF the ABS control unit, a controller of the ABS control unit is required to complete a post-run routine. Therefore, there is a need to provide an ABS control unit with a logic/functionality to stay awake for a predetermined time before switching OFF to complete the post-run routine.

[0004] WO21214010 A1 provides an electronic device comprising: an input-output management device configured to manage input-output connections; and a microcontroller communicatively connected to the input-output management device, wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform an initialization phase after a trigger is received from an input-output connection to wake the electronic device from a powered down state, the initialization phase comprising: obtaining, from the input-output management device, wake-up statuses of the input-output connections managed by the input-output management device; and storing the statuses in a memory of the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is further configured to perform an operation phase after the initialization phase, the operation phase comprising: transmitting a wake-up confirmation message to the input-output connection with a positive wake-up status. There is also provided a method of responding to a trigger to wake an electronic device from a powered down state.

[0005] The present invention solves all the above-mentioned problems in a manner as described in the claims.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0006] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0007] Fig.1 illustrates block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0008] Fig.2 illustrates flow diagram of a method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0009] Fig. 1 illustrates block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit 100 for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ABS control unit 100 comprises a controller 104 powered by a primary power source 120 through a DC-DC converter 102, characterized in that, a power circuit 106 connected to the primary power source 120, the DC-DC converter 102 and the controller 104, the power circuit 106 enables continuous power supply to the DC-DC converter 102 and keeps awake the controller 104 for a predetermined period when status of an ABS enable signal is detected LOW. In an embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined period is three seconds. The DC-DC converter 102 is any one of internal to the ABS control unit 100 and external to the ABS control unit 100. In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the DC-DC converter 102 is internal to the ABS control unit 100.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ABS enable signal is received in real-time from a vehicle control unit (VCU) 130. The VCU 130 and the ABS control unit 100 communicate using a CAN trans-receiver. The ABS enable signal is as an input to the DC-DC converter 102. The status of the ABS enable signal received in real-time from the VCU 130 decides the ON/OFF state of the ABS control unit 100. For HIGH status of the ABS enable signal, the ABS control unit 100 and the DC-DC converter 102 are awake/ON. Similarly, for LOW status of the ABS enable signal, the ABS control unit 100 and the DC-DC converter 102 are OFF. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 monitors real-time value of the ABS enable signal through a signal processing circuit 108. The signal processing circuit 108, on one end, is connected to an Analog-to-digital (ADC) pin of the controller 104. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is a voltage divider circuit. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is either an operational amplifier (op-amp) or a zener diode based circuit.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104, upon detection of status of the ABS enable signal LOW, enables status of a controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller 104 enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH using one of its general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. The controller 104, while monitoring real-time value of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108, detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal fall below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller enable signal is an input to the power circuit 106. The status of the controller enable signal when HIGH triggers the power circuit 106 which in effect maintains active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 thus keeping the ABS control unit 100 awake/ON for the predetermined period despite status of the ABS enable signal being LOW. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 completes a post-run routine when kept awake for the predetermined period. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 during the post-run routine flashes an accumulator discharge routine (ADR) and other details on an EEPROM. The EEPROM is any one of external to the controller 104 or internal to the controller 104. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the EEPROM is external to the controller 104.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the power circuit 106 when triggered by HIGH status of the controller enable signal, maintains active state of the DC-DC converter 102 to step down the voltage of the primary power source 120 to keep awake the ABS control unit 100. In other words, the present invention prevents the DC-DC converter 102 from switching OFF when status of the ABS enable signal goes LOW using the controller enable signal and the power circuit (a parallel hardware logic) 106. The power circuit 106 comprises a combination of transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, and other semiconductor components. The primary function of the power circuit 106 is to awaken/keep awake the DC-DC converter 102 if either status of the ABS enable signal is HIGH or status of the controller enable signal is HIGH.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is any one of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle and an internal combustion engine vehicle. The vehicle discussed above is selected from a group comprising a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, a four-wheeler, a commercial vehicle, and an off-highway vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the primary power source 120 is a forty-eight volts battery. The ABS control unit 100 is configurable to be designed for other voltages of the primary power source 120 as well, such as thirty-six volts, fifty-six volts, seventy-two volts, ninety-six volts, and the like. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the DC-DC converter 102 steps down the voltage of the primary power source 120 to twelve volts.

[0014] Fig.2 illustrates flow diagram of a method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit, according to the present invention. The method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit 100 comprises a plurality of steps some of which are illustrated in Fig. 2 using blocks 202 to 208, according to the present invention. The step 202 comprises monitoring real-time values of the ABS enable signal by the controller 104. The controller 104 monitor real-time values of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108. The signal processing circuit 108, on one end, is connected to the ADC pin of the controller 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is a voltage divider circuit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is either an operational amplifier (op-amp) or a zener diode based circuit.

[0015] The step 204 comprises enabling status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period by the controller 104 when status of the ABS enable signal is detected LOW. The controller 104 while monitoring real-time value of the ABS enable signal, detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal falling below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller enable signal is an input to the power circuit 106. The step 206 comprises, maintaining active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 by the power circuit 106 for the predetermined period for supplying power from the primary power source 120 to the ABS control unit 100. The HIGH status of the controller enable signal triggers the power circuit 106 and keeps the ABS control unit 100 awake/ON for the predetermined period despite status of the ABS enable signal being LOW. The step 208 comprises keeping awake the controller 104 for the predetermined period.

[0016] According to the method, the ABS enable signal is received in real-time from the VCU 130. The controller 104 monitors real-time value of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108. The DC-DC converter 102 after being maintained in active/ON state by the power circuit 106 for the predetermined period, supplies power from the primary power source 120 to the controller 104 and keeps the controller 104 awake/ON for the predetermined period. According to the method, the controller 104 when awake for the predetermined period completes the post-run routine. The controller 104 during the post-run routine flashes the accumulator discharge routine (ADR) and other details on the EEPROM.

[0017] As per the present invention, when the VCU 130 communicates LOW status of the ABS enable signal to the ABS control unit 100. The controller 104 using a signal processing circuit 108 detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal falling below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The HIGH status of the controller enable signal triggers the power circuit 106 which thereby maintains active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 for the predetermined period. The DC-DC converter upon being maintained active by the power circuit 106 supplies power to the ABS control unit 100 from the primary power source 120 for the predetermined period. The power supply to the ABS control unit 100 keeps the controller 104 awake for the predetermined time to complete the post-run routine. The predetermined period is configurable based on the specification and the application.

[0018] According to the present invention, the ABS control unit 100 for a vehicle is disclosed. The present invention provides an ABS control unit 100 with a hardware logic to keep awake/ON the controller 104 for the predetermined time before switching OFF to complete the post-run routine. The predetermined period can be changed based on the system requirements. The present invention is suitable for any application which requires the ABS control unit 100 or the controller 104 to stay awake for a predetermined period after the status of the ABS enable signal going LOW. The present invention further provides a parallel hardware logic to awaken/keep awake the ABS control unit 100 and DC-DC converter 102 in case a fault occurs at the VCU 130 side that affects communication of the ABS enable signal.

[0019] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modification and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims
, Claims:
Complete specification: The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an anti-lock braking system (ABS), and particularly to an ABS control unit for a vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an advanced braking technology installed on vehicles to prevent wheel lock-up and uncontrollable skidding. The modern electric and hybrid vehicles employ ABS control unit with an integrated DC-DC converter. The Vehicle control unit (VCU) communicates an ABS enable signal to the ABS control unit for enabling/activating the ABS control unit.

[0003] The problem faced with an ABS control unit with an integrated DC-DC converter is that once the ABS enable signal goes LOW, the ABS control unit switches OFF instantly. But before switching OFF the ABS control unit, a controller of the ABS control unit is required to complete a post-run routine. Therefore, there is a need to provide an ABS control unit with a logic/functionality to stay awake for a predetermined time before switching OFF to complete the post-run routine.

[0004] WO21214010 A1 provides an electronic device comprising: an input-output management device configured to manage input-output connections; and a microcontroller communicatively connected to the input-output management device, wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform an initialization phase after a trigger is received from an input-output connection to wake the electronic device from a powered down state, the initialization phase comprising: obtaining, from the input-output management device, wake-up statuses of the input-output connections managed by the input-output management device; and storing the statuses in a memory of the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is further configured to perform an operation phase after the initialization phase, the operation phase comprising: transmitting a wake-up confirmation message to the input-output connection with a positive wake-up status. There is also provided a method of responding to a trigger to wake an electronic device from a powered down state.

[0005] The present invention solves all the above-mentioned problems in a manner as described in the claims.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0006] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0007] Fig.1 illustrates block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0008] Fig.2 illustrates flow diagram of a method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0009] Fig. 1 illustrates block diagram of an anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit 100 for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ABS control unit 100 comprises a controller 104 powered by a primary power source 120 through a DC-DC converter 102, characterized in that, a power circuit 106 connected to the primary power source 120, the DC-DC converter 102 and the controller 104, the power circuit 106 enables continuous power supply to the DC-DC converter 102 and keeps awake the controller 104 for a predetermined period when status of an ABS enable signal is detected LOW. In an embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined period is three seconds. The DC-DC converter 102 is any one of internal to the ABS control unit 100 and external to the ABS control unit 100. In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the DC-DC converter 102 is internal to the ABS control unit 100.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the ABS enable signal is received in real-time from a vehicle control unit (VCU) 130. The VCU 130 and the ABS control unit 100 communicate using a CAN trans-receiver. The ABS enable signal is as an input to the DC-DC converter 102. The status of the ABS enable signal received in real-time from the VCU 130 decides the ON/OFF state of the ABS control unit 100. For HIGH status of the ABS enable signal, the ABS control unit 100 and the DC-DC converter 102 are awake/ON. Similarly, for LOW status of the ABS enable signal, the ABS control unit 100 and the DC-DC converter 102 are OFF. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 monitors real-time value of the ABS enable signal through a signal processing circuit 108. The signal processing circuit 108, on one end, is connected to an Analog-to-digital (ADC) pin of the controller 104. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is a voltage divider circuit. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is either an operational amplifier (op-amp) or a zener diode based circuit.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104, upon detection of status of the ABS enable signal LOW, enables status of a controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller 104 enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH using one of its general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. The controller 104, while monitoring real-time value of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108, detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal fall below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller enable signal is an input to the power circuit 106. The status of the controller enable signal when HIGH triggers the power circuit 106 which in effect maintains active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 thus keeping the ABS control unit 100 awake/ON for the predetermined period despite status of the ABS enable signal being LOW. In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 completes a post-run routine when kept awake for the predetermined period. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the controller 104 during the post-run routine flashes an accumulator discharge routine (ADR) and other details on an EEPROM. The EEPROM is any one of external to the controller 104 or internal to the controller 104. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the EEPROM is external to the controller 104.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the power circuit 106 when triggered by HIGH status of the controller enable signal, maintains active state of the DC-DC converter 102 to step down the voltage of the primary power source 120 to keep awake the ABS control unit 100. In other words, the present invention prevents the DC-DC converter 102 from switching OFF when status of the ABS enable signal goes LOW using the controller enable signal and the power circuit (a parallel hardware logic) 106. The power circuit 106 comprises a combination of transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, and other semiconductor components. The primary function of the power circuit 106 is to awaken/keep awake the DC-DC converter 102 if either status of the ABS enable signal is HIGH or status of the controller enable signal is HIGH.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is any one of an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle and an internal combustion engine vehicle. The vehicle discussed above is selected from a group comprising a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, a four-wheeler, a commercial vehicle, and an off-highway vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the primary power source 120 is a forty-eight volts battery. The ABS control unit 100 is configurable to be designed for other voltages of the primary power source 120 as well, such as thirty-six volts, fifty-six volts, seventy-two volts, ninety-six volts, and the like. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the DC-DC converter 102 steps down the voltage of the primary power source 120 to twelve volts.

[0014] Fig.2 illustrates flow diagram of a method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit, according to the present invention. The method of operation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) control unit 100 comprises a plurality of steps some of which are illustrated in Fig. 2 using blocks 202 to 208, according to the present invention. The step 202 comprises monitoring real-time values of the ABS enable signal by the controller 104. The controller 104 monitor real-time values of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108. The signal processing circuit 108, on one end, is connected to the ADC pin of the controller 104. In an embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is a voltage divider circuit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing circuit 108 is either an operational amplifier (op-amp) or a zener diode based circuit.

[0015] The step 204 comprises enabling status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period by the controller 104 when status of the ABS enable signal is detected LOW. The controller 104 while monitoring real-time value of the ABS enable signal, detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal falling below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The controller enable signal is an input to the power circuit 106. The step 206 comprises, maintaining active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 by the power circuit 106 for the predetermined period for supplying power from the primary power source 120 to the ABS control unit 100. The HIGH status of the controller enable signal triggers the power circuit 106 and keeps the ABS control unit 100 awake/ON for the predetermined period despite status of the ABS enable signal being LOW. The step 208 comprises keeping awake the controller 104 for the predetermined period.

[0016] According to the method, the ABS enable signal is received in real-time from the VCU 130. The controller 104 monitors real-time value of the ABS enable signal through the signal processing circuit 108. The DC-DC converter 102 after being maintained in active/ON state by the power circuit 106 for the predetermined period, supplies power from the primary power source 120 to the controller 104 and keeps the controller 104 awake/ON for the predetermined period. According to the method, the controller 104 when awake for the predetermined period completes the post-run routine. The controller 104 during the post-run routine flashes the accumulator discharge routine (ADR) and other details on the EEPROM.

[0017] As per the present invention, when the VCU 130 communicates LOW status of the ABS enable signal to the ABS control unit 100. The controller 104 using a signal processing circuit 108 detects real-time value of the ABS enable signal falling below threshold level for LOW status and enables status of the controller enable signal HIGH for the predetermined period. The HIGH status of the controller enable signal triggers the power circuit 106 which thereby maintains active/ON state of the DC-DC converter 102 for the predetermined period. The DC-DC converter upon being maintained active by the power circuit 106 supplies power to the ABS control unit 100 from the primary power source 120 for the predetermined period. The power supply to the ABS control unit 100 keeps the controller 104 awake for the predetermined time to complete the post-run routine. The predetermined period is configurable based on the specification and the application.

[0018] According to the present invention, the ABS control unit 100 for a vehicle is disclosed. The present invention provides an ABS control unit 100 with a hardware logic to keep awake/ON the controller 104 for the predetermined time before switching OFF to complete the post-run routine. The predetermined period can be changed based on the system requirements. The present invention is suitable for any application which requires the ABS control unit 100 or the controller 104 to stay awake for a predetermined period after the status of the ABS enable signal going LOW. The present invention further provides a parallel hardware logic to awaken/keep awake the ABS control unit 100 and DC-DC converter 102 in case a fault occurs at the VCU 130 side that affects communication of the ABS enable signal.

[0019] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modification and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims