Vehicle Chassis Actuator Interpolation for Smooth Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The lack of synchronicity between different clock frequencies in vehicle bus systems, sensors, control units, and actuators can lead to undesirable adjustment processes of chassis components, affecting driving safety and comfort due to latency and loss of control requests.

Innovation Solution

A method where the actuator calculates intermediate control values between control requests to smoothly adjust the chassis component, using interpolation methods based on the generation and transmission clock frequencies to ensure a more even and smooth adjustment process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If control requests are transmitted according to different clock frequencies in bus systems, sensors, control units, and actuators, then system operation flexibility is maintained, but adjustment processes of chassis components become discontinuous and undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation flexibilityVSAvoidadjustment process continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator stores control values from transmitted control requests in a buffer memory before they are needed for actuation. This preliminary storage allows the actuator to retrieve and process control values at its own clock frequency without being constrained by the transmission clock frequency, thereby maintaining adjustment process continuity while preserving system operation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A buffer memory serves as an intermediary between the bus system/control unit and the actuator. This intermediary component decouples the different clock frequencies by temporarily holding control values, allowing data to be transmitted at one frequency and processed at another frequency without causing discontinuities in the adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If control requests are generated continuously at high frequency, then control precision is improved, but data loss in the bus system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcontrol request loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The actuator autonomously determines when to retrieve and process control values from the buffer memory based on its own operational needs and clock frequency. This self-service approach allows the actuator to process control values at optimal intervals, avoiding overloading the bus system while maintaining high control precision through continuous availability of control data in the buffer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If control values are transmitted without buffering, then system complexity is reduced, but adjustment smoothness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidadjustment smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the temporal parameter of control value availability by storing multiple control values in the buffer memory at different time points. This parameter change allows the actuator to select and process control values at optimal intervals, achieving smooth adjustments without requiring complex real-time synchronization mechanisms between different clock frequencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3505415B1Control of a running gear component of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 AUDI AG
  • EP3505415B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3505415B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3505415B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a chassis component of a vehicle, in which a control unit of the chassis component continuously generates several control requests, each comprising a control value, for an actuator of the chassis component according to a generation clock frequency, a bus system of the vehicle continuously transmits control requests generated by the control unit to the actuator according to a transmission clock frequency, and the actuator calculates a target position value for the chassis component from the control value of each transmitted control request and an actual position value of the chassis component, and adjusts the chassis component according to the calculated target position value.