Device for controlling a safety-relevant electronic system

The device for controlling safety-relevant electronic systems in vehicles addresses fault propagation by using a power supply unit and a monitoring unit with voltage-resistant design, ensuring independent fault detection and shutdown, thereby enhancing reliability and safety without redundant protection circuits.

DE102019215989B4Active Publication Date: 2026-05-28SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
View PDF 2 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
Filing Date
2019-10-17
Publication Date
2026-05-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing safety-relevant electronic systems are vulnerable to fault propagation due to critical voltages, which can damage components and compromise reliable control, particularly in vehicles with semi-, highly, or fully autonomous driving functions.

Method used

A device with a power supply unit that generates a first supply voltage lower than the battery voltage, a microcontroller and monitoring unit with voltage-resistant design, and a communication link between them, ensuring independent fault detection and shutdown, while the monitoring unit is powered by a second supply voltage different from the battery voltage to prevent fault propagation.

Benefits of technology

The solution enhances the reliability of safety-relevant electronic systems by preventing component damage from critical voltages and eliminating single-point faults, maintaining safety without redundant protection circuits.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
    Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

Device for controlling a safety-relevant electronic system, in particular a vehicle, comprising: - a power supply unit (10) with at least one voltage regulator (11, 12), wherein a battery voltage (Vbatt) is supplied to the power supply unit (10) at a first supply potential input terminal (14) during operation and the power supply unit (10) provides a first supply voltage (Vss) at a first supply potential output terminal (15) which is smaller than the battery voltage (Vbatt); - a microcontroller (20) for generating a first control signal (ctrl) which is provided at a first control output (22) of the microcontroller (20) for processing by a safety-related control unit (40), wherein the microcontroller (20) is supplied with the first supply voltage (Vss) at a second supply potential input terminal (21) and wherein the microcontroller (20) comprises a first data port (23); - a monitoring unit (30) for generating a second control signal (dabl) which is provided at a second control output (32) of the monitoring unit (30) for processing by the safety-related control unit (40), wherein the first supply voltage (Vss) is supplied to the monitoring unit (30) at a third supply potential input terminal (31) and wherein the monitoring unit (30) comprises a second data port (35); - a communication link (20C) between the first data port (23) of the microcontroller (20) and the second data port (35) of the monitoring unit (30); wherein the third supply potential input terminal (31), the second control output (32) and the second data port (35) of the monitoring unit (30) are designed to be voltage-proof with respect to the battery voltage (Vbatt).
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art