Brake Booster ECU Wake-Up via VBattery Transition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern power-assisted braking systems face risks of damage due to sudden power loss, where the brake booster subsystem loses power, leading to potential damage from rapid piston movement and generated voltage, especially when the processor is in a sleep state and unable to control the motor.
Innovation Solution
A detection system responsive to VBATTERY signal transitions generates a wake-up pulse to activate the ECU, allowing it to control the motor and prevent damage by dynamically braking, using a minimal number of additional hardware components and without modifying existing software or hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the processor is put into a sleep state to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system cannot detect power loss conditions in real time and cannot respond to prevent damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting power loss conditions before the processor enters sleep mode or immediately upon wake-up. The detection system is pre-configured to monitor voltage transitions and generate wake-up signals, ensuring that damage prevention actions can be taken even when the processor is not actively running.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary detection system acts as a mediator between the power source and the processor. This intermediate layer monitors power conditions and can trigger wake-up events, allowing the system to maintain energy efficiency while ensuring that critical power loss events are detected and responded to in real time.
2Reliability
If the processor remains active to detect power loss conditions, then real-time detection is enabled, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic action by having the processor wake up at scheduled intervals or upon detected events. The detection system operates periodically or event-driven, allowing the processor to remain in low-power states while still maintaining the ability to detect and respond to power loss conditions when needed.
3Reliability
If additional hardware components are added to detect power loss and wake up the processor, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is designed with multi-functionality, where existing hardware components serve multiple purposes. The voltage transition detection circuitry not only detects power loss conditions but also generates wake-up signals and can interface with existing processor interrupt mechanisms, reducing the need for entirely separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the detection function with existing system components. The power loss detection and wake-up generation are integrated into the existing power management and processor control infrastructure, combining multiple functions into unified circuitry rather than adding completely separate systems.
4Device complexity
If the system uses a simple wake-up mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to ensure immediate processor activation during power loss events is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up mechanism incorporates feedback by monitoring the processor's activation status and ensuring that wake-up signals are properly received and acted upon. The system includes feedback paths that confirm the processor has exited sleep mode and is ready to handle power loss events, ensuring reliable activation without requiring complex redundant mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for controlling operation of a motor-driven brake boost assist system of a vehicle braking system during a loss of battery power to the brake boost assist system. The system makes use of a brake boost assist system including a motor, an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling operation of the brake boost assist system, and a detection system. The detection system is responsive to a transition edge of a VBATTERY signal powering the motor. The detection system is configured to generate a wakeup pulse in response to detecting the transition edge. The wakeup pulse is applied to the ECU to wake up the ECU in the event of a momentary power loss to the ECU.