Brake Control Unit With Shared Current Path Redundancy

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle braking systems require redundant components for safety, which is both space-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

A control unit with two independent electronic units, each with its own power supply, shares a common electrical component in both circuits, allowing each unit to supply power independently and reducing the need for redundant components by using a single current path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant components are used for safety in braking systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidnumber of redundant components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the current paths of two independent electronic units by using a single common electrical component (such as a coil or sensor). Both electronic units share the same physical component and current path, eliminating the need for duplicate components while maintaining redundant power supply capability for safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If redundant components are used for safety in braking systems, then reliability is improved, but installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the current paths of two independent electronic units by using a single common electrical component (such as a coil or sensor). Both electronic units share the same physical component and current path, eliminating the need for duplicate components while maintaining redundant power supply capability for safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If redundant components are used for safety in braking systems, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the current paths of two independent electronic units by using a single common electrical component (such as a coil or sensor). Both electronic units share the same physical component and current path, eliminating the need for duplicate components while maintaining redundant power supply capability for safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20240025385A1Control unit for powering an electrical component in a vehicle and a braking system

Publication Date: 2024.01.25 ZF ACTIVE SAFETY GMBH

AI summary

A control unit in a vehicle for powering at least one electrical component in the vehicle has a first and a second electronic unit, each containing its own power supply, wherein the electrical component is arranged both in a circuit containing the power supply of the first electronic unit, and in a circuit containing the power supply of the second electronic unit and wherein both circuits contain an identical current path through the electrical component. The control unit may be part of a braking system of the vehicle, and the electrical components are, for example, coils of actuator valves of wheel brakes and/or current-carrying sensor components of wheel speed sensors.