Central ECU PWM Control for Multi-Seat Vehicle Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive vehicle control systems lack the capability to provide pulse width modulation (PWM) control of bi-directional direct current (DC) motors across multiple vehicle seats and components, such as steering wheels, pedals, and mirrors, and fail to prioritize actuation of electronic devices between seats and systems, leading to complex and inefficient control architectures.
Innovation Solution
A central electronic control unit (ECU) is designed to receive feedback from Hall Effect sensors and input instructions, enabling PWM control of bi-directional DC motors and power management for various electronic devices across the vehicle, including seats, steering, and mirrors, while prioritizing actuation and simplifying the control architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple power seat modules are distributed across vehicle seats, then each seat can independently control its electronic devices, but the vehicle control architecture becomes complicated and requires incorporation into a vehicle-wide communication network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple distributed power seat modules into a single centralized control unit that manages all electronic devices across multiple vehicle seats and other vehicle components. This merging approach maintains independent control capability for each seat while eliminating the complexity of a distributed architecture by centralizing control functions in one location.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling electronic devices in multiple vehicle seats, managing other vehicle component systems, providing PWM control to bi-directional DC motors, and prioritizing actuation across different devices. This universal control unit replaces multiple specialized modules, simplifying the overall architecture while maintaining comprehensive control capability.
2Ease of operation
If each vehicle seat includes a power seat module, then local control is achieved, but PWM control capability is limited to individual seats and cannot control motors in steering column, pedals, or mirrors
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control unit is designed with universal control capability that extends beyond individual seats to manage electronic devices and motors across multiple vehicle seats, steering column, accelerator and brake pedals, and outer mirrors. This multi-functional design provides system-wide PWM control capability while maintaining the local control benefits through centralized coordination.
3Ease of operation
If multiple power seat modules are used for each vehicle seat, then complete seat control is achieved, but the system lacks prioritization capability for actuating electronic devices between seats and vehicle component systems
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control unit incorporates prioritization management as one of its multiple functions, enabling it to manage actuation priorities across all electronic devices in vehicle seats and other vehicle component systems. This consolidates prioritization logic in a single location rather than requiring complex inter-module communication protocols across multiple distributed modules.
4Device complexity
If a centralized controller is used to control multiple electronic devices, then control architecture is simplified, but PWM control capability for bi-directional DC motors is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control unit is designed with integrated PWM control capability that enables it to control bi-directional DC motors in addition to other electronic devices. This multi-functional design maintains the architectural simplicity of centralized control while adding the versatility to provide PWM control across multiple motor systems including vehicle seats, steering column, pedals, and mirrors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The central ECU simplifies the vehicle's electrical system by integrating multiple control functions into a single unit, providing efficient PWM control and prioritization of electronic device actuation, reducing the complexity of the vehicle-wide communication network and enhancing diagnostic capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
receive feedback on a positional status of the bi-directional DC motor from a Hall Effect sensor
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A
AI summary
A central electronic control unit (ECU, Ref. 14) is provided for controlling at least one bi-directional direct current (DC) motor (106) attached to a first vehicle seat and at least one electronic device attached to a second vehicle seat. The central ECU includes a micro-controller configured to receive feedback on a positional status of the bi-directional DC motor from a Hall Effect sensor (130). The micro-controller is configured to receive input instructions for the bi-directional DC motor and the electronic device. The micro-controller creates command instructions based in part on the received feedback and received input instructions. The central ECU selectively provides pulse width modulated (PWM) power to the bi-directional DC motor attached to the first vehicle seat and selectively provides power to the electronic device attached to the second vehicle seat in response to the command instructions from the micro-controller.