Method and apparatus for the design of electronic control units for vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for designing an electrical / electronic architecture (E / E architecture) comprising at least one electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle. A formal description (10) of the E / E architecture, comprising at least one parameter and / or a boundary condition, is provided in a formal description language. Using a computer-implemented optimization method, at least one design candidate for the E / E architecture that satisfies the formal description (10) is determined based on the formal description (10). The at least one design candidate is simulated using a simulation tool and evaluated for its suitability with respect to predetermined design criteria for the E / E architecture. At least one design candidate evaluated as suitable is selected for the design of the E / E architecture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device (20) for carrying out this method.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for designing electrical-electronic architectures (E / E architectures) for vehicle control units. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out such a method.

[0002] Modern electronic control units (ECUs) intended for use in vehicles, particularly engine control units, exhibit a complex electrical / electronic architecture influenced by a multitude of design parameters. Typically, E / E architectures comprise multiple interconnected or cooperating ECUs, as well as optionally other components such as bus systems. Conventional design methods for such E / E architectures are complex, particularly labor-intensive and time-consuming, and prone to errors. They can also lead to increased development and manufacturing costs and to suboptimal E / E architectures.Larger development projects typically involve multiple development departments pursuing different, sometimes conflicting, design goals, such as energy efficiency, performance, or the effort required for encapsulation, modularization, and wiring of ECUs or their components. Due to this complexity, there is a risk that individual design goals will be over- or under-emphasized depending on the development organization. This can lead to the failure to achieve an overall optimal E / E architecture in the design.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for a method and a device for the objective, preferably at least partially automated, design of E / E architectures for ECUs, which are particularly suitable for capturing and weighting a very large number of design parameters and / or boundary conditions for a design.

[0004] Document US 5,623,418 describes a system for the interactive design and simulation of an electronic circuit. The system allows a user to control the design using graphical input and simultaneously monitor the results of at least a partial simulation in a single screen window. The user can specify the shape of a display area for speed, deceleration, loading, symbols, and input and output values ​​of the simulation for each node and path of the design. The simulation can be controlled by the user or by a process. Furthermore, the user can display any information relevant to any object of the design at any selectable level of abstraction.Furthermore, the user is enabled to simultaneously display different levels of abstraction of the design and to view information that is valid for all of these different representations.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved method for designing an E / E architecture comprising at least one electronic control unit or a similar electronic component, for example a bus system, for a vehicle. This objective is achieved according to the invention with a method having the features of claim 1.

[0006] Furthermore, the invention is based on the objective of providing a device for carrying out such a method. This objective is achieved according to the invention with a device having the features of claim 5.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] In a computer-implemented method for designing an electrical / electronic architecture (E / E architecture) comprising at least one electronic component, such as an electronic control unit (ECU) for a vehicle, a formal description of the E / E architecture is provided in a formal description language. Here and in the following, a formal description language is understood to be a formal language in the sense of computer science, characterized by an alphabet of keywords and a grammar, and particularly suitable for the structured description of data. A formal description language can, for example, be implemented as JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) or as an Extended Markup Language (XML).

[0009] The formal description includes at least one parameter and / or at least one boundary condition with respect to the at least one electronic component of the E / E architecture, for example an ECU, for example one or more electrical parameters, type and parameters of a communication interface, physical properties, functions or roles within a control system, dependencies, signal transmission paths to other ECUs and the like.

[0010] Using a computer-implemented optimization method, at least one design candidate for an E / E architecture is identified based on the provided formal description, which meets the requirements of the formal description. For example, such an optimization method can start with a prototype (or blueprint) of one or more ECUs or similar electronic components and vary their parameters in such a way that an E / E architecture is found within the solution space limited by the formal description.

[0011] At least one design candidate is simulated using a simulation tool and evaluated for its suitability with regard to predetermined design criteria for the E / E architecture. As a purely illustrative example, a design candidate can be simulated using the MATLAB® Simulink simulation tool from MathWorks. However, other simulation tools, such as LabVIEW from National Instruments, or even custom-developed simulation tools, can also be used to simulate the design candidate. The simulation verifies whether predefined criteria, such as those relating to performance and / or reliability, are met.

[0012] Optionally, various simulation scenarios can be run. For example, the design candidate's response to supply voltage spikes, brief power interruptions, delays in input control or data signals, and / or component failures can be determined through simulation. The robustness of the design candidate can then be determined from these simulation results.

[0013] From the totality of design candidates deemed suitable (i.e., those design candidates that lie within the solution space of design parameters limited by the formal description and the suitability criteria), at least one design candidate is selected. Preferably, the at least one selected design candidate is provided in a machine-readable form, for example, as a MATLAB® Simulink model. However, a design candidate can also be provided as a visual representation with defined design elements for the components of the E / E architecture. Such components can be represented purely by example by individual ECUs (or other control units) or by various data buses. In such a visual representation, components can also be marked according to the vehicle's equipment features, for example, by different colors.

[0014] The inventive method automates the design optimization process. This results in savings in material and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the time required for developing an E / E architecture can be reduced by simplifying and / or eliminating coordination between different development departments. In addition, transparency in the evaluation of an E / E architecture is improved, enabling a more well-founded decision regarding its selection.

[0015] Precise formal descriptions using a formal description language enable more accurate and rapid optimization of the design of an E / E architecture. This eliminates or shortens discussions based on subjective opinions and personal experience. The proposed automated method allows for an objective consideration of all factors and the inclusion of all vehicle components networked with the E / E architecture, for example, with regard to overall power requirements. This improves the quality of a developed E / E architecture and can also reduce development time.

[0016] The proposed automation reduces the involvement of manual decisions. This, in turn, reduces the personnel requirements for developing E / E architectures. Decisions regarding an E / E architecture can be prepared more quickly and efficiently.

[0017] The proposed method is scalable, being applicable to various vehicle types and classes. Furthermore, it is possible to define specific E / E architectures for certain vehicle configurations, enabling applicability across different vehicle segments, from compact cars to premium models.

[0018] Furthermore, the proposed formal description of the E / E architecture, encompassing the formal description of, for example, one or more ECUs and optionally other electronic components, ensures that all parameters and boundary conditions are explicitly specified and considered. This reduces the risk of design errors. In addition, parameters can be added to the formal description, or optional parameters can be removed. Thus, the formal description can be readily adapted to the individual needs of a user with regard to its use in the design process.

[0019] In one embodiment, the computer-implemented optimization method is implemented as a genetic algorithm. This allows an at least approximately optimal E / E architecture (in the sense of a local optimum) to be determined through multiple generations and by simulating natural selection.

[0020] The computer-implemented optimization method can also be implemented as a Simulated Annealing method, which uses a probabilistic approach to help avoid local minima and find a global minimum.

[0021] Furthermore, the computer-implemented optimization method can also be implemented as a linear programming method, which enables a particularly efficient and numerically stable determination of an optimal E / E architecture based on the formal description.

[0022] Combinations of such methods are also possible, for example, by determining starting values ​​for a linear programming method using a genetic algorithm. Such optimization methods are easy to implement, efficient, and lead with particularly high reliability to a solution that is no worse, or only slightly worse, than the theoretically best possible solution (the global optimum).

[0023] In one embodiment, the suitability of a design candidate for an E / E architecture is evaluated using a robustness measure. Such a robustness measure can be determined, for example, by simulating the impact of a current and / or voltage spike during the supply of the E / E architecture, the impact of a delay in a communication signal (e.g., an incoming control signal) during the control of the E / E architecture or individual components of the E / E architecture, or the impact of the failure of one or more components of the E / E architecture. This allows for the identification of robust E / E architectures that ensure high reliability.

[0024] In one embodiment, the computer-implemented optimization method and / or the suitability assessment of a design candidate can be parameterized, particularly through manual adjustments. For example, requirements regarding the inputs, especially the control signals, for the E / E architecture and / or for an ECU of this E / E architecture can be parameterized manually. Boundary conditions, such as a permissible temperature range or permissible tolerances of the power supply, can also be parameterized manually.In conjunction with the computer-implemented optimization method and a computer-implemented suitability assessment using simulations, this embodiment, through the formalization of the properties of the E / E architecture to be designed, also enables the consideration of the experience and knowledge of human experts in determining an E / E architecture in a particularly simple and efficient manner.

[0025] A device for carrying out the described method comprises an input unit, an output unit and a computing unit.

[0026] The input unit is set up to accept a formal description of the E / E architecture comprising at least one parameter and / or a boundary condition in a formal description language.

[0027] The computing unit is for - Conducting an optimization procedure to identify at least one design candidate for the E / E architecture that meets the formal description, - Simulation and for evaluating the suitability of at least one design candidate with regard to predetermined design criteria as well as - established to select at least one design candidate deemed suitable.

[0028] The output unit is configured to display (for example, in text or graphical form) and / or output the at least one selected design candidate in a machine-readable format. Such a machine-readable format can, for example, be a format that can be read by simulation tools such as MATLAB® Simulink or LabVIEW.

[0029] The advantages of the device correspond to the advantages of the described computer-implemented method.

[0030] In one embodiment, the device has an ergonomic user interface comprising an input interface, a visualization interface, and an adjustment interface. Here and in the following, "ergonomic" refers to an arrangement and design of operating and display elements of a software interface that facilitates usability, such as input fields, selection dialogs, graphical representations of parameters and parameter curves, and the like.

[0031] The input interface is designed for the ergonomic input of requirements and / or parameters and / or boundary conditions of the E / E architecture. In particular, the input interface allows a developer to input a description of at least one ECU or similar electronic component and / or requirements and boundary conditions relating to such an electronic component or to a group of such electronic components.

[0032] The visualization interface is set up for the ergonomic display of at least one design candidate in the form of a circuit diagram and / or a three-dimensional design model.

[0033] The customization interface offers ergonomic settings for manually adjusting parameters and / or configuring the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the procedure for evaluating the suitability of a design candidate. Furthermore, the customization interface may include controls that allow for manually triggering repeated execution of the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the suitability evaluation of a design candidate.

[0034] The ergonomic user interface enables particularly easy execution of the process. Furthermore, changes regarding the quality and / or suitability of a design candidate for an E / E architecture determined by the process are especially easy and clearly identifiable. Additional advantages correspond to those of the computer-implemented process.

[0035] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0036] This shows: Fig. 1. Schematic formal description of an ECU of an E / E architecture and Fig. 2 schematically a workstation for the development of an E / E architecture.

[0037] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0038] Fig. Figure 1 shows a purely schematic formal description 10 of an ECU, which is a component of an E / E architecture. For illustrative purposes, the formal description 10 can be formulated in JSON format.

[0039] The formal description 10 comprises, as strings, an identifier that is uniquely assigned to the ECU and a natural language name: "ECU": { "id": "ECU1", "name": "EngineControlUnit",}

[0040] Furthermore, the formal description 10 includes an electrical description 11, a communication description 12, a physical description 13, a functional description 14, a dependency description 15, and a boundary condition description 16.

[0041] The electrical description 11 includes information on the electrical power consumption of the ECU and is formulated as follows: "electrical": { "voltage": "12V", "current": "5A", "power": "60W"}

[0042] Communication description 12 includes information that specifies the type of communication interface and its parameters. For example, a communication interface can be specified as a Controller Area Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) and with associated data transmission rates (baud rates). As an example, communication description 12 is formulated as follows: "communication": { "interface": "CAN", "baudrate": "500kbps",}

[0043] The physical description 13 includes information on the dimensions and weight and is formulated as follows: "physical": { "dimensions": { "length": "10cm", "width": "5cm", "height": "3cm"}, "weight": "200g"}

[0044] Function description 14 includes information on the primary functions (roles, tasks) of the ECU and is formulated as follows: "functions": { "control_engine", "monitor_sensors"}

[0045] Dependency description 15 includes information on components (other ECUs and / or sensors and / or actuators) on which the ECU depends and is formulated as follows: "dependencies": { "Sensor1", "Actuator1"}

[0046] The boundary condition description 16 includes information on boundary conditions within which the operational capability of the ECU must be ensured and is formulated as follows: "constraints": { "max_temperature": "85C", "min_temperature": "-40C", "max_response_time": "10ms",}

[0047] Similarly, in principle any parameters and characteristics can be defined hierarchically in sub-descriptions of the formal description 10, which are not shown in detail here.

[0048] Fig. Figure 2 shows a purely schematic representation of a workstation 20 with an input unit 21, a computing unit 22 and an output unit 23, as well as a storage unit 24.

[0049] The input unit 21 is configured for capturing user input and machine-readable data and can be configured, for example, as a keyboard and / or computer mouse and / or interface for reading an external storage medium and / or as a network interface. In particular, the input unit 21 is also configured to implement an input interface 21, which is intended for the ergonomic input of requirements and / or parameters and / or boundary conditions of an E / E architecture with at least one ECU to be designed with the workstation 20. Furthermore, the input unit 21 is also configured as an adaptation interface 21, which has ergonomic settings for manually adjusting parameters and / or for configuring the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the procedure for evaluating the suitability of a design candidate.

[0050] The computing unit 22 is set up as a universal computing unit 22 for processing any programs stored on the storage unit 24 or provided by means of the input unit 21.

[0051] The output unit 23 is configured to output data, preferably also results from the computing unit 22, in textual, graphical, or machine-readable form, for example, as a computer monitor and / or an interface for writing to an external storage medium and / or as a network interface. In particular, the output unit 23 is also configured to implement a visualization interface 23, which is designed for the ergonomic display of at least one design candidate in the form of a circuit and / or a three-dimensional construction model. Furthermore, the output unit 23 is also configured as an adaptation interface 23, which enables an ergonomic presentation of results from the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the procedure for evaluating the suitability of a design candidate.

[0052] Storage unit 24 is designed for the permanent storage of data and programs, for example as a hard drive. Reference symbol list 10 formal description 11 electrical description 12 Communication description 13 physical description 14 Functional description 15 Dependency description 16 Description of boundary conditions 20 workstations, devices 21 Input unit, input interface, adaptation interface 22 computing units 23 Output unit, visualization interface, customization interface 24 storage units QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 5,623,418

[0004]

Claims

[1] Computer-implemented method for designing an electrical-electronic architecture (E / E architecture) comprising at least one electronic component (electronic control unit, ECU) for a vehicle, characterized by , that - a formal description (10) of the E / E architecture comprising at least one parameter and / or one boundary condition of at least one electronic component of the E / E architecture is provided in a formal description language, - by means of a computer-implemented optimization procedure based on the formal description (10) at least one design candidate for the E / E architecture is identified which satisfies the formal description (10), - which simulates at least one design candidate using a simulation tool and evaluates its suitability with regard to predetermined design criteria for the E / E architecture and - at least one design candidate deemed suitable for the design of the E / E architecture is selected. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the computer-implemented optimization method is implemented as a genetic algorithm and / or as a simulated annealing method and / or as a linear programming method. [3] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the suitability of a design candidate is assessed on the basis of a robustness measure, preferably on the basis of at least one simulated current and / or voltage spike and / or on the basis of a simulated delay of at least one communication signal and / or on the basis of a failure of at least one electronic component of the E / E architecture. [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the evaluation of the suitability of a design candidate are / is parameterizable, in particular parameterizable by manual adjustments. [5] Device (20) for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a computing unit (22) and an input unit (21) and output unit (23) connected thereto, characterized by , that - the input unit (21) for inputting a formal description (10) of the E / E - Architecture comprehensively defined by at least one parameter and / or a boundary condition in a formal description language, - the computing unit (22) ◯ to carry out an optimization procedure to identify at least one design candidate of the E / E architecture that meets the formal description (10), o for simulation and for evaluating the suitability of at least one design candidate with regard to predetermined design criteria as well as ◯ is set up to select at least one design candidate deemed suitable and - the output unit (23) is set up to display and / or output the at least one selected design candidate in a machine-readable format. [6] Device (20) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the device (20) has an operator interface comprising an input interface (21), a visualization interface (23) and an adaptation interface (21, 23), wherein - the input interface (21) for the ergonomic input of requirements and / or parameters and / or boundary conditions of the E / E architecture is set up, - the visualization interface (23) is set up for the ergonomic display of at least one design candidate in the form of a circuit and / or a three-dimensional design model and - the adaptation interface (21, 23) has ergonomic adjustment options for manually adjusting parameters and / or for configuring the computer-implemented optimization procedure and / or the procedure for evaluating the suitability of a design candidate.

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