Brake Light Control Segmentation for Signal Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for controlling the ignition of brake lights in motor vehicles lack robustness, particularly in the event of failures in signal acquisition or processing, leading to unsatisfactory control reliability.

Innovation Solution

The method involves distributing the functions of acquiring and processing input signals from the actuation pedal across multiple electronic control devices, with a second control device independently acquiring a second input signal and maintaining electrical voltage regulation to the brake lights, even in case of failure, using a watchdog for fault protection and driver alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the brake light control function is centralized in a single electronic control device, then the system structure is simple, but the reliability is insufficient due to potential signal acquisition or processing failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake light control system is divided into two independent electronic control devices: a first control device that acquires and processes input signals from the pedal, and a second control device that directly controls the brake lights. This segmentation distributes the control function to eliminate single-point failures while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through functional distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If redundant control devices are added to improve reliability, then the system robustness increases, but the cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem robustnessVSAvoidnumber of control devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into two specialized devices: one dedicated to signal acquisition and processing (first control device), and another dedicated to execution and voltage regulation (second control device). This functional segmentation provides redundancy and robustness without requiring full duplication of all control functions, thereby limiting the increase in complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2699452B1Method and system for controlling the stop lights of a motor vehicle, and vehicle with such a system
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 RENAULT SA
  • EP2699452B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2699452B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and system for controlling the lighting of the brake lights (22) of a motor vehicle, including a first electronic control device acquiring a first input signal (24) that is representative of a mechanical biasing against an actuation pedal (25) of a braking device of the vehicle. The lighting of the brake lights includes the first control device transmitting an order (28) for lighting the brake lights, said order being representative of the first input signal being input to a second electronic control device (26) via a multiplexed computer network (27), and then the second electronic control device outputting an output signal (29) for lighting the brake lights by adjusting the electrical voltage applied to the terminals thereof in accordance with the lighting order.