Vehicle system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11932267-B2
Application number	US-202016820114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2020
Priority date	Apr 26, 2019
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle system includes: a vehicle platform including a first computer that controls traveling of a vehicle; an automated-driving platform including a second computer that controls automated-driving of the vehicle; a first network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform; a second network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform; a main power supply that supplies electricity required for communication in the first network; a sub-power supply that supplies electricity required for communication in the second network; and a communication interface that allows communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform to be performed by using any one of the first network and the second network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system comprising:
a vehicle platform including a first computer that is configured to control traveling of a vehicle, the vehicle platform also including a steering device and a steering angle sensor;
an automated-driving platform including a second computer that is configured to control automated-driving of the vehicle, the automated-driving platform also including sensors;
a first network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform and by which the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can communicate with each other;
a second network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform and by which the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can communicate with each other;
a main power supply that is configured to supply electricity required for communication in the first network;
a sub-power supply that is configured to supply electricity required for communication in the second network; and
a communication interface that is configured to allow communication of information between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform to be performed by using any one of the first network and the second network, wherein
the communication interface is configured to determine whether the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can be performed using the first network,
the communication interface is further configured to: acquire a steering instruction from the second computer as a first control instruction including data for controlling the vehicle platform; translate the steering instruction into data indicating a turning angle of a tire-wheel assembly of the vehicle as a second control instruction for the first computer; and transmit the second control instruction to the first computer,
the first control instruction is data that is not particular to the first computer included in the vehicle, and
the second control instruction is data that is particular to the first computer.

2. The vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication interface is configured to determine whether the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can be performed using the first network by determining whether the main power supply is operating normally, and
the communication interface is configured to: allow the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform to be performed by using the first network when the communication interface determines that the main power supply is operating normally; and allow the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform to be performed by using the second network when the communication interface determines that an abnormality occurs in the main power supply.

3. The vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is configured to determine whether the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can be performed using the first network by determining whether the main power supply is operating normally.

4. The vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first network includes a main bus connected to the main power supply, the vehicle platform, the automated-driving platform and the communication interface, and
the communication interface is configured to determine whether the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can be performed using the first network by determining whether the communication is possible using the main bus.

5. The vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle platform also includes a braking device and a speed sensor; and
the communication interface is configured to: further acquire an acceleration-deceleration instruction as the first control instruction; and discard an instruction other than the acceleration-deceleration instruction and the steering instruction when the first control instruction includes the instruction other than the acceleration-deceleration instruction and the steering instruction.

6. The vehicle system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle platform also includes a braking device and a speed sensor; and
the communication interface is configured to (i) further acquire an acceleration-deceleration instruction specifying an acceleration-deceleration from the second computer as the first control instruction, and (ii) translate the acceleration-deceleration that has been specified into data indicating a throttle valve opening degree or data indicating a braking pressure as the second control instruction.

7. A vehicle system comprising:
a vehicle platform including a first computer that is configured to control traveling of a vehicle, the vehicle platform also including a braking device, a steering device, a steering angle sensor, and a speed sensor;
an automated-driving platform including a second computer that is configured to control automated-driving of the vehicle, the automated-driving platform also including sensors;
a first network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform and by which the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can communicate with each other;
a second network connecting the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform and by which the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can communicate with each other;
a main power supply that is configured to supply electricity required for communication in the first network;
a sub-power supply that is configured to supply electricity required for communication in the second network; and
a communication interface that is configured to allow communication of information between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform to be performed by using any one of the first network and the second network, wherein
the communication interface is configured to determine whether the communication between the vehicle platform and the automated-driving platform can be performed using the first network,
the communication interface is further configured to: acquire a first control instruction including data for controlling the vehicle platform from the second computer; translate the first control instruction into a second control instruction for the first computer; and transmit the second control instruction to the first computer,
the first control instruction includes at least one of an acceleration deceleration instruction and a steering instruction,
the communication interface is configured to discard an instruction other than the acceleration-deceleration instruction and the steering instruction when the first control instruction includes the instruction other than the acceleration-deceleration instruction and the steering instruction,
the first control instruction is data that is not particular to the first computer included in the vehicle, and
the second control instruction is data that is particular to the first computer.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ando Eisuke

Classifications

• B60W50/029 Primary

  Adapting to failures or work around with other constraints, e.g. circumvention by avoiding use of failed parts · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B60W2050/0292

  Fail-safe or redundant systems, e.g. limp-home or backup systems · CPC title

• B60R16/033 Primary

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• B60R16/0231

  Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P) · CPC title