Electronic Control Apparatus Communication Resource Linking

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the number of control portions in electronic control apparatuses increases, existing techniques fail to prevent depletion of identification information during communication with external devices, leading to potential frame collisions.

Innovation Solution

The electronic control apparatus includes multiple control portions, each recognizing common identification information and using linking information to determine communication propriety based on resource information, ensuring that only linked resources are communicated with, thereby preventing identification information depletion and frame collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of control portions increases to handle more functions, then the functionality and versatility of the electronic control apparatus is improved, but the identification information becomes depleted and frame collisions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoididentification information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The identification information is segmented into two distinct parts: common identification information that identifies the electronic control apparatus as a whole, and resource information that identifies specific control portions or resources within the apparatus. This segmentation allows multiple control portions to share the same common identification information without causing conflicts, as each control portion is further distinguished by its unique resource information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimension to the identification system by adding resource information to the existing common identification information. Instead of relying solely on a single identification field that becomes depleted, the system uses a two-dimensional identification space (common ID + resource ID) that can accommodate a much larger number of control portions without depleting the identification pool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If multiple control portions use common identification information for communication, then the device complexity is reduced, but frame collisions occur during concurrent communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification systemVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication propriety determination portion as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between multiple control portions sharing common identification information and the communication bus. This intermediary checks whether communication is appropriate by examining resource information, preventing frame collisions by ensuring that only one control portion communicates at a time while maintaining the simplicity of using common identification information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If each control portion uses unique identification information to avoid frame collisions, then communication reliability is improved, but the number of identification information increases and depletes quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoididentification information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If resource information is used to determine communication propriety, then frame collisions are prevented, but the communication protocol complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication integrityVSAvoidcommunication protocol

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the communication propriety determination portion check whether communication is appropriate before actual communication occurs. The system determines communication propriety in advance by examining resource information and comparing it with the common identification information, preventing frame collisions before they happen rather than handling them during communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10250434B2Electronic control apparatus

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An electronic control apparatus is communicable with an external device through a communication line and receives a communication request. The electronic control apparatus includes: control portions; resources that individually correspond to each of the control portions; linking information that links the resources individually corresponding to each of the control portions with respect to the control portions without individually overlapping; a communication propriety determination portion that determines a communication propriety with the external device; and a communication portion that responds to the communication request and communicates with the external device. The communication propriety determination portion determines that the communication is permitted when the resource information indicates the resource linked with the corresponding control portion; and determines that the communication is not permitted when the resource information does not indicate the resource linked with the corresponding control portion.