Camshaft Control Unit Assignment via Linear Crankshaft Signal Network
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engines with multiple camshaft phasers face challenges in efficiently using resources and ensuring correct assignment of camshaft control units during assembly, leading to increased complexity and cost due to the need for individual configuration and risk of confusion.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where camshaft control units form a linear network topology, allowing them to learn their logical position post-assembly through a teaching process, using a crankshaft signal and additional signals to determine their assignment, enabling identical parts to be used without risk of confusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual configuration data sets are stored in each camshaft phaser to enable individual targeting, then correct assignment and control quality are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camshaft control units automatically determine their own logical position in the linear network topology through a self-organizing process. When powered on, each control unit detects its position based on signal transmission order and configures itself without external intervention, eliminating the need for manual configuration or pre-stored individual data sets
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of camshaft control units from a configured state to a self-organizing state. By altering the initialization parameters and enabling automatic position detection through signal transmission, the system allows control units to dynamically determine their own configuration based on their position in the linear network
2Reliability
If manual assignment of configuration data sets is performed after assembly, then correct assignment can be achieved, but assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The linear network topology is pre-established during assembly with control units connected in a fixed linear sequence. This preliminary structural configuration enables automatic position determination during the self-organizing process, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual assignment procedures after assembly
Solution Approach 2:
Camshaft control units automatically determine their own logical position based on their physical position in the linear network. The self-organizing process occurs automatically upon power-up, eliminating manual intervention and reducing assembly time while ensuring correct assignment
3Adaptability or versatility
If different configuration data sets are made available during manufacture, then individual targeting is enabled, but production cost and risk of confusion increase
Solution Approach 1:
All camshaft control units are manufactured with identical hardware and software configurations. The universal design allows any control unit to function in any position in the linear network, eliminating the need for different configuration data sets while maintaining individual targeting capability through automatic position determination
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from a static configuration approach (different data sets for different units) to a dynamic configuration approach (identical units determining their own parameters). By altering the initialization behavior to enable self-organization, the system achieves individual targeting without requiring different manufactured configurations
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine having multiple camshaft control units which are connected to one another in a line by a first network topology and via which a crankshaft signal can be transmitted in unprocessed, amplified or conditioned form. The camshaft control units are designed to suppress forwarding of the crankshaft signal in a first state and to forward or to replicate the crankshaft signal and to send an additional signal in a second state. The disclosure also relates to a method for logically assigning the camshaft control units to the camshafts to be adjusted by them.