Brake Controller Integrating Ultrasonic Parking Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking assistance systems require multiple independent control units for sensor signal evaluation and communication, leading to increased costs and complexity, with a need for a more efficient and reliable solution.
Innovation Solution
Integrating the evaluation of sensor signals for detecting the vehicle environment into an existing brake control unit, which is already present in vehicles and designed for safety, thereby reducing the number of control units needed and simplifying communication and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate control unit is used to evaluate sensor signals for parking assistance, then the system can independently process sensor data and communicate with other systems, but the number of control units increases leading to higher costs and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the parking assistance control functions with an existing brake control unit. The brake control unit is extended to also evaluate sensor signals from distance sensors and control parking-related actuators, thereby merging two previously separate control functions into one unit. This reduces the total number of control units while maintaining independent evaluation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the brake system and the parking assistance system. By making the brake control unit universal, the patent eliminates the need for a dedicated separate control unit for parking assistance, thereby reducing system complexity and cost while preserving functional independence.
2Ease of operation
If multiple independent control units are used for parking assistance, then sensor signal evaluation and actuator control can be distributed, but communication overhead and system costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for brakes and parking assistance into a single control unit. This eliminates the need for communication interfaces and data exchange protocols between separate control units, thereby reducing communication overhead and infrastructure complexity while maintaining distributed control capabilities within the same unit.
3Extent of automation
If additional control units are added for parking assistance, then the system can fully automate parking processes, but the overall system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the brake control unit universal by adding parking assistance control functions to it. This allows the system to achieve full automated parking capability without adding a separate dedicated control unit, thereby reducing system cost while maintaining the extent of automation required for automated parking processes.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to the integration of functionalities of a parking system of a vehicle into an additional controller of the vehicle. In particular, sensor signals of ultrasonic sensors of a parking system can be evaluated by a controller which is already provided in the vehicle. In the process, the corresponding sensor data of the ultrasonic sensors are provided directly to the corresponding controller. For example, the analysis of sensor signals, such as from ultrasonic sensors for example, can be integrated into the brake controller of a vehicle. In the process, the corresponding controller which carries out the analysis of the sensor signals carries out the functions of the parking system.