Bidirectional MCU Port Control for Hardwired Contactors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery management systems (BMS) require multiple ports of a microcontroller unit (MCU) for hardwired contactor control due to limited port availability, which is constrained by design specifications of the electronic control unit (ECU) and BMS.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional communication-based control apparatus using a single port of the MCU, facilitated by an arbitrator that arbitrates control and state signal transmissions through a bi-directional port, allowing for hardwired contactor control without port restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two ports of the MCU are used for hardwired contactor control (one for monitoring phase, one for response phase), then the contactor control function is reliably implemented, but the device complexity increases and port availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring phase and response phase into a single bi-directional port by combining the TIM (Timer Input Module) and DIO (Data Input/Output) functions into one integrated interface. This allows the same physical port to serve dual purposes: receiving PWM control signals during the monitoring phase and transmitting contactor state information during the response phase, thereby reducing the number of ports required from two to one while maintaining control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic port configuration where the single bi-directional port dynamically switches between input mode (for receiving control signals) and output mode (for transmitting state information) based on the operational phase. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the port to adapt its function throughout the control cycle, enabling one port to replace what traditionally required two separate ports
2Device complexity
If a single port of the MCU is used for both monitoring and response phases, then the device complexity is reduced and port availability is improved, but the control signal transmission and state information feedback must be time-division multiplexed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic time-division multiplexing where the single bi-directional port alternates between input and output functions in regular cycles. During the monitoring phase, the port operates as an input to receive PWM control signals; during the response phase, it switches to output mode to transmit contactor state information. This periodic switching is synchronized with the control cycle, ensuring that signal transmission occurs in organized time slots without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an arbitrator as an intermediary component that manages the time-division multiplexing of the bi-directional port. The arbitrator coordinates the switching between input and output modes, ensuring proper timing and synchronization of signal transmission and reception. This intermediary layer simplifies the control logic by centralizing the management of port state transitions and maintaining the integrity of both control signal input and state information output
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a bi-directional communication-based control apparatus and system, and a bi-directional communication interface. The technical problem to be solved provides topology capable of implementing hardwired contactor control using a single port (P) of a micro controller unit, MCU, (200) without being constrained by restrictions on the number of ports of the MCU (200) which may be required depending on design specifications of an electronic control unit, ECU, and a battery management system, BMS. To this end, the present disclosure provides a processor (100) that controls a target element (200, 300) according to a control signal applied to a communication bus (B) and causes state information of the target element (200, 300) according to a result of the control to be formed on a communication bus (B), the control signal being input and a state signal for forming the state information being output through a single bi-directional port (P) provided in the processor (200); and an arbitrator (300) that arbitrates first direction transmission of the control signal from the communication bus (B) to the bi-directional port (P) and second direction transmission of the state signal from the bi-directional port (P) to the communication bus (B).