Control Device Port Potential Configuration for Auto-ID
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular control systems face challenges in efficiently assigning unique identifiers to electronic control units, leading to increased component and manufacturing costs, as well as prolonged system initialization times due to the need for complex communication procedures and the inability to recognize vehicle components correctly in initial states.
Innovation Solution
A control device and system that utilize a configuration with input ports, where a particular port is fixed at a reference potential and remaining ports are set at a different potential, allowing identification information to be determined based on the combination of these potentials, enabling automatic assignment of unique IDs and reducing the number of dedicated ports for identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If each slave device incorporates a resistor to determine identifier, then unique identification is achieved, but component costs and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identifier determination function from dedicated hardware components (resistors) and implements it through software-based voltage detection at existing input ports. This eliminates the need for additional identification components while maintaining unique device identification capability through detection of voltage levels at standard input ports during initialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the input ports serve dual functions: they act as both input signal ports for normal operation and as identifier detection ports during initialization. By detecting voltage levels at these multi-functional ports, the system achieves identification without requiring separate dedicated identification components, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
2Ease of operation
If electronic control units assign node IDs to vehicle components, then system control is achieved, but the electronic control device cannot recognize components in initial state and contention occurs on communication line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary identifier determination by detecting voltage levels at input ports before any communication protocols are activated. This preliminary action establishes unique identifiers for all devices in the system during the initialization phase, ensuring that each device is properly recognized before attempting communication, thereby preventing contention and ensuring reliable system operation from the outset.
3Ease of operation
If node IDs are assigned by master control device, then centralized control is achieved, but lower-rank control devices cannot be commonized and development cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables each slave control device to self-determine its own identifier by detecting voltage levels at its input ports during initialization. This self-service approach allows devices to be completely commonized in hardware configuration while still achieving unique identification and centralized control through the master device's ability to read these self-determined identifiers. This eliminates the need for different hardware configurations across various control devices.
4Reliability
If complex communication procedure is followed for node ID determination, then complete system recognition is achieved, but initialization time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical communication procedures with a simple electrical voltage detection mechanism. Instead of requiring multiple communication rounds and data exchange protocols, the system determines identifiers by simply detecting voltage levels at input ports during initialization. This substitution dramatically reduces initialization time while maintaining reliable and accurate device recognition throughout the system.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more of a plurality of input ports (P11-P14) that allow input of a binary signal are allocated to a unique port, and the potential thereof is fixed to a ground potential, etc., using the electrical wires (43d, 43c) of a wire harness. The potential of the remaining input ports in the initial state is set to a high potential using a pull-up circuit, etc., and a combination of the potential of the unique port and the potential of the remaining ports is associated with the ID value of the corresponding node. In order to share the remaining ports in the reading of the ID and the reading of a signal, the ID is established after a standby until a given time has elapsed without a change in the potential when the potential of the input ports is read.