Airbag ECU Safety Circuit for Multi-Bus Trigger Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal protection systems, such as airbag systems, lack the ability to integrate complex trigger-relevant information from driver assistance systems and other vehicle systems, and do not efficiently adapt to future requirements, while also requiring redundant processors for security and authentication.
Innovation Solution
A control unit with a central integrated safety circuit and a secondary processor that evaluates trigger-relevant information from various vehicle data buses, allowing for adaptive and secure deployment of personal protection devices, including airbags and other safety measures, while eliminating the need for flash memory and providing redundant authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central integrated safety circuit with a secondary processor is added to evaluate trigger-relevant information from various vehicle data buses, then the system's ability to integrate complex trigger information and adapt to future requirements is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety circuit and secondary processor into a centralized integrated safety circuit that handles multiple functions: evaluating trigger-relevant information from various vehicle data buses (CAN, LIN, Ethernet), performing security authentication, and controlling triggering elements. This consolidation improves adaptability while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary processor in the central integrated safety circuit serves multiple purposes: it evaluates trigger-relevant information from different data buses, performs security and authentication tasks, and can adapt to future requirements through software updates. This multi-functionality addresses the need for versatility without proportionally increasing hardware complexity.
2Reliability
If redundant processors are used for security and authentication tasks, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated secondary processor as an intermediary between the main processor and the triggering elements. This secondary processor specifically handles security and authentication tasks, providing redundant verification without requiring the main processor to be overloaded. The secondary processor acts as a mediator that ensures reliable security checks while maintaining system architecture efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control device (ECU) for a personal protection system (1), which comprises as components: at least one main processor (µC) which is designed to generate and to output at least one triggering signal for at least one triggering element (5) of personal protection means (PS) of the personal protection system (1) in accordance with trigger-related information; a central safety circuit (10) having an auxiliary processor (CPU) which is designed to generate and to output at least one enable signal (DIS) for the at least one triggering element (5) of the personal protection means (PS) in accordance with trigger-related information; an integrated main system circuit (SBC) which is designed to generate and to output at least one activating signal for triggering the at least one triggering element (5) of the personal protection means (PS) in accordance with the at least one triggering signal and the at least one enable signal (DIS); and at least one control device data bus (SPI1), via which the main processor (µC) communicates with the other components of the control device (ECU). The central safety circuit (10) comprises at least one external bus interface (12), via which the main processor (µC) communicates with at least one external vehicle data bus (3), and at least one internal bus interface (14), which is connected to the at least one control device data bus (SPI1), the trigger-related information being transmissible via the at least one control device data bus (SPI1) and/or the at least one external vehicle data bus (3), and the at least one external bus interface (12) and the at least one internal bus interface (14) are each designed to read the data communicated via the at least one external vehicle data bus (3) or the at least one control device data bus (SPI1), to recognise the trigger-related information and additionally to transmit it to the auxiliary processor (CPU) for evaluation.