Central vehicle control unit for a trailer unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trailer units lack uniformity in communication interfaces between subsystems, limiting data utilization and requiring specialized interfaces, and the trailer central gateway primarily functions as a communication hub without advanced data processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A central trailer controller, functioning as a high-power compute module, centralizes data processing and control, integrating with various subsystems such as energy storage, power distribution, thermal management, and braking systems, enabling coordinated operation and data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a trailer central gateway (TCG) is used as a communication hub, then real-time data transmission to fleet operators is achieved, but the TCG is limited to aggregation and transmission without higher-level data processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the TCG communication hub functions with a central vehicle control unit that performs higher-level data processing. The control unit aggregates data from multiple subsystems (braking, refrigeration, energy storage) and processes it centrally, eliminating the need for separate specialized processing units while maintaining real-time communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The central vehicle control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a communication gateway for data transmission, a central processing unit for analyzing subsystem data, and a coordination hub for controlling various trailer subsystems. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized devices.
2Ease of operation
If specialized and custom interfaces are used for each subsystem to interface with the TCG, then proper communication is achieved, but uniformity and ease of integration are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The central vehicle control unit employs a universal interface architecture that can communicate with multiple different subsystems (braking systems, refrigeration units, energy storage systems) through standardized communication protocols. This allows diverse subsystems to integrate with the control unit without requiring custom specialized interfaces for each connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between various subsystems and the TCG communication hub. It translates and standardizes data from different subsystems into a uniform format before transmission, facilitating seamless integration while maintaining adaptability to different subsystem types.
3Productivity
If multiple specialized subsystems with custom interfaces are integrated, then specific functions are achieved, but data utilization across systems is limited due to lack of uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates data processing functions into a single central vehicle control unit that receives data from all subsystems through standardized interfaces. This centralization enables comprehensive data utilization across braking, refrigeration, energy storage, and other subsystems, as the control unit can analyze and coordinate information from all sources without being constrained by interface variety.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer unit having a plurality of trailer subsystems and a main vehicle control unit. The plurality of trailer subsystems can include an energy storage subsystem having one or more battery packs and a first primary switch, a power distribution subsystem for distributing power from the energy storage subsystem to one or more of the plurality of trailer subsystems having a second primary switch, a thermal management subsystem for controlling a temperature of at least a portion of the energy storage subsystem, an inverter subsystem for inverting the power from the energy storage subsystem, and a converter subsystem for converting the power from the energy storage subsystem. The main vehicle control unit can be coupled to each of the plurality of trailer subsystems for communicating with and for controlling each of the plurality of trailer subsystems.