Electronic Control Apparatus Integrating Failure Monitoring

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic control systems for vehicles require multiple dedicated monitors for each ECU, increasing system scale and cost due to the need for external failure monitoring of microcomputers and peripheral machines.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control apparatus that includes a controller capable of switching between normal and monitoring modes, using pseudo signals to diagnose failures in peripheral machines without external monitoring, thereby reducing system scale and cost by integrating failure monitoring within the controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple dedicated monitors are provided for each ECU to monitor operational abnormalities, then failure monitoring capability is improved, but system scale and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem scale

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control function and monitoring function into a single controller. The controller includes a control unit that controls peripheral machines and a monitoring unit that monitors operational abnormalities of the same peripheral machines. This eliminates the need for separate external monitors for each ECU, reducing system scale while maintaining comprehensive failure monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it both controls the peripheral machines and monitors their operational abnormalities. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated devices (controller + separate monitors), thereby reducing system complexity and cost while improving reliability through integrated monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple dedicated monitors are provided for each ECU to monitor operational abnormalities, then failure monitoring capability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure monitoring capabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control function and monitoring function into a single controller. The controller includes a control unit that controls peripheral machines and a monitoring unit that monitors operational abnormalities of the same peripheral machines. This eliminates the need for separate external monitors for each ECU, reducing system scale while maintaining comprehensive failure monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it both controls the peripheral machines and monitors their operational abnormalities. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated devices (controller + separate monitors), thereby reducing system complexity and cost while improving reliability through integrated monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20230168637A1Electronic control apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.06.01 LAPIS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic control apparatus according to the disclosure includes: a controller, controlling the peripheral machines at a time of a normal operation mode, and performing diagnosis on whether a failure occurs with respect to at least one of the peripheral machines at a time of a monitoring mode.