Redundant Brake Control Interface for Shared Wheel Speed Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake systems for autonomous vehicles, particularly at Level 3 automation, face inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for redundant wheel revolution rate sensors, which increase wiring complexity and require additional plug contacts, and may experience voltage loss during failover.
Innovation Solution
A standardized hardware interface connects four standard wheel revolution rate sensors to two control units, ensuring data continuity via a vehicle bus, with a sensor arrangement isolation circuit to prevent current splitting and a test mode to verify redundancy, allowing both control units to operate reliably even after a fault.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant wheel revolution rate sensors are used to ensure safety in autonomous driving, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and wiring complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a hardware interface that allows standard wheel revolution rate sensors to serve multiple control units (both primary and secondary brake control units) through a shared connection. This multi-functional interface reduces the need for separate dedicated sensor connections for each control unit, thereby reducing wiring complexity while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundant sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary hardware interface that acts as a mediator between the wheel revolution rate sensors and the control units. This interface includes signal processing capabilities and can route sensor signals to appropriate control units, enabling reliable data transmission without requiring direct complex wiring between each sensor and every control unit.
2Reliability
If wheel revolution rate sensors are connected to multiple control units via parallel circuit, then data availability is improved, but voltage loss occurs due to current division
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware interface acts as an intermediary that manages the electrical connection between sensors and control units. It includes signal processing circuitry that can isolate and route signals appropriately, preventing voltage loss that would occur in simple parallel connections while ensuring data availability to multiple control units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by implementing dynamic signal routing and processing within the hardware interface. The interface can change electrical parameters such as signal isolation and routing based on operational requirements, ensuring stable voltage levels and reliable data transmission without the voltage loss associated with parallel circuit connections.
3Reliability
If additional sensor connections and plug contacts are added to support redundant sensors, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a standardized hardware interface that can be used across different control units and sensor configurations. This universal interface reduces the variety of connector types and wiring configurations needed, simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing costs while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundant sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensor connection functions into a single integrated hardware interface. By combining signal routing, processing, and connection management within one interface unit, the patent reduces the number of separate plug contacts and connection points needed, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving redundancy capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for control of a safety-relevant process. For automated driving, safety precautions are necessary. The brake system is a redundant design including primary and secondary brake systems. Both brake systems safely decelerate the transportation vehicle and take over the function of the other brake system. The control of the safety-relevant process is based on the analysis of the signals of at least one sensor. A hardware architecture and a test mode for the hardware architecture are provided. A communications bus enables exchange of data between the primary and secondary control units. The at least one sensor of the hardware architecture connects to the primary control unit and to the secondary control unit, wherein a respective sensor arrangement isolation circuit is associated with the primary control unit and the secondary control unit, which isolates the associated primary or secondary control unit from the at least one sensor.