Automotive Partial Networking Gateway for ECU Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle networks composed of multiple electronic control units (ECUs), existing systems operate all ECUs when power is applied, leading to standby power consumption and increased carbon dioxide emissions, as they do not selectively activate or terminate ECUs based on the specific service required.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for partial networking that generates and transfers Controller Area Network (CAN) frames with specific IDs and ON/OFF commands to selectively operate or terminate ECUs corresponding to the current vehicle service, using a partial network table to determine which ECUs to activate or deactivate, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all ECUs are operated when power is applied, then service reliability is ensured, but standby power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle network into multiple domains (power train, body, chassis, infotainment) and further divides ECUs within each domain into service-related and non-service-related groups. The gateway device selectively forwards CAN frames only to ECUs required for the current service, preventing unnecessary ECUs from operating and consuming power while ensuring reliable service delivery through targeted ECU activation.
2Productivity
If all ECUs are operated continuously, then service responsiveness is improved, but carbon dioxide emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by activating only the specific ECUs needed for the current service rather than all ECUs. The gateway device uses service ID extraction and partial network table lookup to identify and communicate with only the necessary ECUs, reducing overall network activity and power consumption while maintaining responsive service delivery for the active service.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If selective ECU operation is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between the CAN bus and individual ECUs. It receives service requests, extracts service IDs, queries the partial network table to determine which ECUs are needed, and selectively forwards frames only to those ECUs. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall network architecture by centralizing the decision-making logic in the gateway rather than requiring complex distributed intelligence across all ECUs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a automotive partial networking apparatus and method, which operate or terminate only a specific electronic control unit corresponding to a service currently being provided in a vehicle network composed of a plurality of electronic control units. In the automotive partial networking method, a automotive partial networking apparatus receives a partial networking-only Controller Area Network (CAN) frame from outside of the apparatus. A partial network table is searched based on the CAN frame, and then a CAN identification (ID) is searched for. A partial networking-only CAN frame is generated using the CAN ID. Partial networking is performed by transferring the generated partial networking-only CAN frame to at least one electronic control unit corresponding to a vehicle service.