Control unit and method for activating a personal protection means of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858441-B2
Application number	US-202017610822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A control unit for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle. The control unit includes a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being designed to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control unit for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, comprising:
a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being configured to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area; and
a clock generator, which is formed or situated outside the compute module, wherein the clock generator is a quartz oscillator or includes a quartz oscillator.

2. The control unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second areas of the compute module are implemented in different areas of a shared semiconductor component.

3. The control unit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory unit, in which the processing instruction is storable, and after a startup of the control unit, is loadable into the second area of the compute module.

4. The control unit as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one communication interface configured to transfer data to a unit outside the control unit, the communication interface being contactable from the second area including the programmable processing structure and/or the communication interface not being contactable from the first area of the permanently wired processing structure of the communication interface.

5. The control unit as recited in claim 4 , wherein the communication interface is a LIN bus interface, or a CAN bus interface, or a CAN FD bus interface, or a FlexRay bus interface.

6. The control unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compute module is configured to carry out at least a part of the processing instruction in the first area.

7. The control unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the compute module is configured to activate an occupant protection device of the vehicle as the personal protection device, the occupant protection device being an airbag.

8. A method for preparing a startup of control units, the control units being for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, the method comprising:
storing a first processing instruction in a memory unit of a first of the control units and storing a second processing instruction different from the first processing instruction in a memory unit of a second of the control units;
wherein the control units are for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, and wherein each of the control units includes a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being configured to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area, and
wherein the control unit includes a clock generator, which is formed or situated outside the compute module, and wherein the clock generator is a quartz oscillator or includes a quartz oscillator.

9. A method for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, the method comprising:
reading out a processing instruction from a memory unit of a control unit, the control unit including a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being configured to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area;
loading the processing instruction into the second area of the compute module; and
carrying out the processing instruction in the second area of the compute module to activate the personal protection device of the vehicle;
wherein the control unit includes a clock generator, which is formed or situated outside the compute module, and wherein the clock generator is a quartz oscillator or includes a quartz oscillator.

10. A non-transitory machine-readable memory medium, on which is stored a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for preparing a startup of control units, by performing the following:
storing a first processing instruction in a memory unit of a first of the control units and storing a second processing instruction different from the first processing instruction in a memory unit of a second of the control units;
wherein the control units are for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, and wherein each of the control units includes a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being configured to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area, and
wherein each of the control units includes a clock generator, which is formed or situated outside the compute module, and wherein the clock generator is a quartz oscillator or includes a quartz oscillator.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable memory medium, on which is stored a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:
a program code arrangement having program code for activating a personal protection device of a vehicle, by performing the following:
reading out a processing instruction from a memory unit of a control unit, the control unit including a compute module, which is in one-piece and which includes a first area including a permanently wired processing structure and a second area including a programmable processing structure, the compute module being configured to carry out a processing instruction for activating the personal protection device in at least the second area;
loading the processing instruction into the second area of the compute module; and
carrying out the processing instruction in the second area of the compute module to activate the personal protection device of the vehicle;
wherein the control unit includes a clock generator, which is formed or situated outside the compute module, and wherein the clock generator is a quartz oscillator or includes a quartz oscillator.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Schumacher Hartmut
• List Carsten
• Karner Ruediger

Classifications

• B60R21/01 Primary

  Electrical circuits for triggering {passive} safety arrangements, {e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners,} in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents {(electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343)} · CPC title

• B60R2021/01054

  Bus · CPC title

• B60R2021/01286

  Electronic control units · CPC title

• B60R21/017 Primary

  including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements {or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves} · CPC title

• B60R2021/01293

  programmable for use in different vehicles or with different airbags configurations · CPC title