Camshaft Phaser Synchronization via Dedicated Time Signal Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for operating electromechanical camshaft phasers do not efficiently utilize resources, particularly in data processing, and fail to meet hard real-time requirements for synchronization between control units.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a triple-shaft gear mechanism with an electric motor, where data is transmitted via a CAN bus for general data processing and a separate line for time signals to ensure high-precision synchronization, with data processing distributed between electric-motor and engine control units, using ring memories for data evaluation and synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is transmitted via CAN bus for general data processing, then resource utilization is improved, but hard real-time requirements for synchronization cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channel into two distinct paths: a CAN bus for general data processing and a separate dedicated line for time-critical synchronization signals. This segmentation allows each communication path to be optimized for its specific function, enabling high resource utilization on the CAN bus while ensuring hard real-time requirements are met on the dedicated synchronization line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated synchronization line as an intermediary communication channel specifically for transmitting time signals between the electric-motor control unit and the engine control unit. This intermediary path ensures that synchronization-critical data receives guaranteed bandwidth and deterministic timing, independent of the variable load on the shared CAN bus.
2Productivity
If data processing is distributed between control units, then processing efficiency is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the engine control unit sends time signals to the electric-motor control unit via the dedicated line, and the electric-motor control unit transmits its processed data back via the CAN bus. This feedback loop enables distributed processing while maintaining synchronization through continuous time-stamp comparison and coordinated operation between the two control units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the control units with multi-functional capabilities: the engine control unit serves both as a central coordinator and as a data processing unit, while the electric-motor control unit handles both motor control and data evaluation. This universality allows distributed processing without requiring additional dedicated synchronization hardware, thereby managing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the engine control unit processes all camshaft data, then centralization is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing tasks between the electric-motor control unit and the engine control unit. The electric-motor control unit performs initial evaluation of camshaft-related data locally, filtering and preprocessing information before transmission to the engine control unit. This segmentation reduces the processing burden on the central engine control unit while maintaining centralized oversight, thereby improving overall resource utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific camshaft data processing functions from the engine control unit and relocates them to the electric-motor control unit. By taking out the initial data evaluation task from the central controller and placing it at the distributed electric-motor control unit, the system achieves better resource utilization while the engine control unit retains final decision-making authority.
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical camshaft phaser (3) comprises a setting gear (4) and an electric motor (5), which is controlled by means of an electric-motor control unit (6). Data concerning the operation of the electric motor (5) including position changes of its motor shaft are transferred via a data bus (8) from the electric-motor control unit (6) to an engine control unit (7) of the internal combustion engine (1) comprising the camshaft phaser (3). In addition, recurring time signals are transferred from the electric-motor control unit (6) to the engine control unit (7) via a separate line (9), by which harder real-time requirements are met than by the data bus (8). The time signals are used to generate a time difference signal in the engine control unit (7) by comparison with the data received by the engine control unit (7), which time difference signal is fed back to the electric-motor control unit (6) via the data bus (8) and is used there to synchronize the electric-motor control unit (6) with the engine control unit (7).