Self-Adjusting Power Failure Detection via Geometric Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for detecting power failures in automotive electronic systems require significant computing power and reaction time, affecting consumption and responsiveness.

Innovation Solution

A self-adjusting device that uses a geometric sequence of reference signals and a setpoint signal to determine an electrical threshold for power failure detection, eliminating the need for voltage/current multipliers by employing a logic signal processing system with comparators and logic gates to identify intervals and switch reference signals, thereby automatically setting the threshold based on the supply voltage or current.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If power consumption is calculated by multiplying supply voltage and current, then accurate power monitoring is achieved, but computing power and reaction time are penalized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower monitoring accuracyVSAvoidcomputing power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power calculation function from continuous multiplication operations and replaces it with discrete threshold comparison operations. By pre-defining power thresholds based on voltage and current ranges, the system removes the need for continuous mathematical multiplication, significantly reducing computing power requirements while maintaining adequate monitoring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the continuous power consumption range into discrete intervals defined by threshold values. Instead of calculating power as a continuous variable, the system divides the monitoring space into multiple power levels (e.g., low, medium, high consumption) with predefined thresholds, allowing comparison-based detection that reduces computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If power calculation is performed continuously, then real-time power monitoring is achieved, but reaction time is penalized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic sampling of voltage and current signals against predefined thresholds rather than continuous calculation. The system periodically compares measured values with threshold values to detect power failures, achieving real-time monitoring capability while reducing the computational burden that would otherwise slow down the reaction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a geometric sequence of reference signals is used, then the electrical threshold adapts to supply variations, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreshold adaptabilityVSAvoidsignal processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary setup by pre-calculating and storing threshold values in a geometric sequence during system design or initialization. These pre-computed thresholds are stored in memory and loaded during operation, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations while maintaining adaptability to supply voltage and current variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3671229B1Device and method for self adjusting an electrical threshold for detecting a power failure
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LTD
  • EP3671229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3671229B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3671229B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device for self-adjusting (10) an electrical threshold (Sth) for detecting an electric power consumption failure of an electric charge, the self-adjusting device (10) comprises a plurality of reference signals (SR1, SRN) of increasing values according to a geometric sequence for which the product of two terms of equidistant order at both ends of the sequence equals a maximum reference power (Pref); a setpoint signal (Sc) representative of the supply signal of the electric charge; a framing unit (12) including a plurality of successive intervals (I1, IN-1) of reference signals successively bounded by the terms of the geometric sequence, a setpoint signal (Sc), a plurality of binary output signals (SS1, SSN-1), logic signal processing means (14) configured to assign to a first binary output signal (SS1) of the plurality of binary output signals (SS1, SSN-1) a binary state of belonging of the setpoint signal (Sc) to a first interval (I1), at least one electrical switch (SW1) configured to be controlled by the first binary output signal (SS1) and configured to provide a reference signal (SRN) of a value of a second term of the geometric sequence, such that the first term and the second term are of equidistant order at both ends of the geometric sequence, the second term being representative of the electrical detection threshold (Sth).