Backup Control Unit for Motor Vehicle Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle control systems face challenges in ensuring safe execution of functions when one of the control units malfunctions, often requiring additional backup units, which increases installation space, weight, and costs, especially in modern vehicles with complex electrical and electronic functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A control system where at least two functions are controlled by separate units, with a single backup control unit and corresponding backup power electronic modules providing redundancy, allowing for indirect signal transmission to enable the backup unit to take over in case of a malfunction, thereby reducing the need for individual backup units and improving electromagnetic compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backup control unit is provided for each control unit, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup control unit is designed to perform multiple functions by taking over control of different actuators based on which control unit fails. Instead of having dedicated backup units for each control unit, a single backup unit can assume control of various functions dynamically, reducing the overall number of control units while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the backup functionality into a single shared resource rather than distributing separate backup units to each control unit. This consolidation reduces device complexity and installation space while achieving the same reliability goal through resource sharing and dynamic allocation
2Reliability
If a backup control unit is provided for each control unit, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single backup control unit is designed with multi-functionality to replace multiple specialized backup units, thereby reducing the total weight of the control system while maintaining the same level of reliability through dynamic function assumption
3Reliability
If separate control units are used for each function, then reliability is improved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate control units into a more compact architecture where a single backup control unit serves multiple functions, reducing the physical installation space required while maintaining reliability through the backup mechanism
4Reliability
If multiple backup power electronic modules are provided, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup power electronic modules are designed to support multiple actuators and functions rather than being dedicated to single actuators. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of power electronic modules while maintaining the reliability needed for safe operation
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a motor vehicle, including a first control unit for controlling a first function of the motor vehicle, a second control unit for controlling a second function of the motor vehicle and a backup control unit. To ensure the proper execution of functions controlled of a motor vehicle controlled with the aid of control units even in the case of a defective control unit with preferably little additional effort, the backup control unit is configurable depending on the input of an error signal of the first or second control unit such that an actuator corresponding to the defective control unit is controllable with the aid of the backup control unit. A first backup power electronic module is assigned to the first actuator, and a second backup power electronic module is assigned to the second actuator.