Circuit Abnormality Detection via Reference Signal Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processing systems face challenges in monitoring circuit failures without increasing circuit scale, particularly in applications like in-vehicle electronic systems where safety requires continuous monitoring of image capturing sensors.
Innovation Solution
A processing system is configured with multiple circuits where two or more serve as processing circuits and one as a reference circuit, allowing for abnormality determination by comparing output signals between the target and reference circuits, enabling failure monitoring without duplicating the entire processing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple circuits are set up for signal processing to ensure system operation continuity, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides circuits into processing circuits (for signal processing) and reference circuits (for abnormality detection), allowing independent functionality assignment. This segmentation enables the system to maintain multiple processing circuits for reliability while using a separate reference circuit for monitoring, avoiding the need to duplicate entire processing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference circuit acts as an intermediary that receives the same input signal as processing circuits and provides a reference output for comparison. This intermediary circuit enables abnormality detection without being part of the main signal processing chain, thus maintaining processing reliability while adding minimal complexity through a dedicated monitoring component.
2Measurement precision
If reference circuits are added for abnormality determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference circuit is designed with the same basic structure as processing circuits but is dedicated solely to providing reference output signals. This local quality differentiation allows the reference circuit to specialize in abnormality detection while processing circuits focus on signal processing, improving measurement precision without requiring full duplication of complex processing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference circuit performs a partial function compared to full processing circuits - it receives and processes input signals but does not perform complete signal processing. This partial action provides sufficient reference data for abnormality detection while minimizing the complexity and resource requirements of the reference circuit itself.
3Device complexity
If the number of circuits is reduced to minimize circuit scale, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The reference circuit serves multiple functions: it processes input signals, generates reference output signals for comparison, and enables abnormality detection across all processing circuits. This multi-functionality allows a single reference circuit to monitor multiple processing circuits, maintaining reliability while minimizing the number of additional circuits required.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference circuit automatically provides reference output signals that enable self-diagnosis of processing circuits through comparison. This self-service mechanism allows the system to monitor its own health status without external intervention, maintaining reliability through autonomous failure detection while minimizing additional circuit requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system sets up two or more circuits of a plurality of circuits as two or more processing circuits. The two or more processing circuits subject respective input signals from a sensor to signal processing. The processing system sets up at least one circuit of the plurality of circuits to serve as a reference circuit. The at least one circuit being smaller in number than the two or more processing circuits and being other than the processing circuits. The determination circuit is configured to perform abnormality determination for a determination target circuit which is any one of the two or more processing circuits based on a comparison result between an output signal of the determination target circuit and an output signal of the reference circuit.