ECU Cluster Switching for Low-Power Vehicle Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted systems consume excessive power during ECU updates due to unnecessary waking up of non-updated ECUs, particularly when power consumption should be minimized, such as with the ignition off.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted apparatus and method that distributes update data to ECUs in clusters, enabling a provisional cluster setup to keep non-updated ECUs in sleep mode while waking up only updated ECUs by disabling the original cluster and enabling the provisional cluster.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If update data is distributed to a cluster of ECUs, then all ECUs in the cluster wake up to receive updates, but this causes unnecessary power consumption for ECUs that do not require updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cluster into two groups: ECUs requiring updates and ECUs not requiring updates. By distributing setting information that identifies which ECUs need updates, the system selectively wakes up only the necessary ECUs rather than waking up the entire cluster, thus reducing power consumption while ensuring update completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different ECUs within the same cluster differently based on their update requirements. ECUs that need updates are woken up and receive update data, while ECUs that do not need updates remain in sleep mode, allowing each ECU to have a customized power state according to its specific needs.
2Use of energy by moving object
If ECUs are kept in sleep mode to reduce power consumption, then power usage is minimized, but ECUs cannot receive update data when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by distributing setting information before distributing update data. This preliminary setting information prepares the ECUs by identifying which ones need updates, so when update data becomes available, only the necessary ECUs are activated to receive it, ensuring update capability is maintained while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces setting information as an intermediary between the update system and the ECUs. This intermediary layer provides instructions to ECUs about whether they need updates, allowing ECUs to remain in sleep mode when not needed while ensuring they can be properly activated when updates are required.
3Reliability
If the entire cluster is activated for updates, then all ECUs can receive updates, but power consumption increases excessively when ignition is off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cluster activation based on update requirements, activating only those ECUs that need updates rather than the entire cluster. This segmentation significantly reduces battery power loss during update distribution, especially when the vehicle ignition is off and power conservation is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by activating only the necessary portion of the cluster (ECUs requiring updates) rather than the entire cluster. This partial activation achieves the update distribution goal while avoiding the excessive power consumption that would result from activating all ECUs in the cluster.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-mounted apparatus distributes update data, which is provided from outside a vehicle, to a plurality of ECUs which are connected via a communication bus. Each of the plurality of ECUs belongs to at least one cluster out of a plurality of clusters. The vehicle-mounted apparatus includes a control unit which is operable to distribute setting information for setting a provisional cluster, which includes updated ECUs that are ECUs out of the plurality of ECUs belonging to the first cluster that are to be updated by the first update data but does not include non-updated ECUs that are not to be updated by the first update data, to the plurality of ECUs belonging to the first cluster, and when distributing the first update data, the control unit distributes the control message, which disables the first cluster and enables the provisional cluster, to the plurality of ECUs.