Vehicle Brake Light Switch Sensor Good Check Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle systems lack the ability to automatically determine when a sensor malfunction caused by electromagnetic interference has resolved, often requiring manual intervention to clear errors, which can lead to false alarms and unnecessary system modifications.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a malfunction monitoring module, failure handling module, and signal checking module is used to perform a 'good check' on sensor signals, verifying if a sensor has returned to normal operation by tracking specific patterns, such as signal durations, and generating reset signals to deactivate warning indicators and restore system operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If malfunction monitoring functions use large tolerances and lenient conditions to avoid misdetection, then reliability of malfunction detection is improved, but false good checks increase making it difficult to determine when malfunctions have resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring function into two separate modules: a malfunction monitoring module with lenient tolerances to detect malfunctions reliably, and a good check module with strict tolerances to precisely determine when malfunctions have resolved. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific purpose without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Different tolerance levels and evaluation criteria are applied locally to different stages of the monitoring process. The malfunction detection stage uses large tolerances and lenient conditions, while the good check stage uses small tolerances and strict conditions. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliable detection and precise determination.
2Reliability
If a sensor malfunction is detected, then system reliability is protected by activating warning indicators, but manual intervention is required to clear errors causing loss of time and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-clearing of malfunctions through the good check module. When the sensor returns to normal operation, the good check module automatically detects this and clears the malfunction indicator without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates the need for technician intervention and reduces downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals and provides feedback through the good check module to determine when malfunctions have resolved. This closed-loop feedback mechanism automatically manages the malfunction indication state based on real-time sensor performance, eliminating manual clearing requirements.
3Measurement precision
If good check functions use small tolerances and strict conditions to avoid false good checks, then accuracy of normal operation determination is improved, but sensitivity to detect actual recovery may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary evaluation using the malfunction monitoring module with lenient criteria to identify potential recovery candidates. Only when these preliminary conditions are met does the system activate the stricter good check module. This preliminary action filters out obvious non-recoveries before applying strict criteria, maintaining both precision and sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system dynamically adjusts its evaluation approach based on the current state. The good check module is activated conditionally based on signals from the malfunction monitoring module. This dynamic operation allows the system to apply strict tolerances only when appropriate, maintaining sensitivity to actual recovery while avoiding false good checks.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for determining whether a malfunctioning sensor has returned to a normal or acceptable operating range. The mechanism includes controllers and methods that perform a “good check” on the sensor to determine whether the sensor has returned to normal or acceptable operation after a malfunction has been detected. When a previously-malfunctioning sensor passes the “good check,” warning lights (or tell-tale) indicators are shut off and systems that relied upon information from the malfunctioning sensor return to normal operation.