Electronic Control Unit Dual Power Supply Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control units for vehicles face challenges in accurately detecting the state of a monitor target while minimizing power consumption, particularly when using sensors with low reference voltage accuracy and shortening the wake-up cycle to improve detection accuracy, which can increase power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control unit that employs a dual power supply system, using a low accuracy power supply for initial state monitoring and switching to a high accuracy power supply when a change is detected, allowing for accurate state determination while minimizing power consumption by limiting high accuracy power supply usage to only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the wakeup cycle is shortened to improve detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy of monitor target state is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wakeup cycle variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the wakeup cycle length based on whether a state change is detected - using a first (shorter) wakeup cycle when monitoring for changes and a second (longer) wakeup cycle during normal operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing high detection accuracy only when necessary, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining detection capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a low accuracy power supply is used to minimize power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the detection accuracy of monitor target state deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically switches between two power supply modes: a first power supply with lower accuracy but lower power consumption for routine monitoring, and a second power supply with higher accuracy but higher power consumption for verification when state changes are detected. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by using high accuracy power supply only when necessary for confirmation, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while minimizing overall power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If the high accuracy power supply is always used to ensure detection accuracy, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using the high accuracy power supply only partially - specifically, only when a state change is detected and needs verification. For the majority of monitoring time, the lower accuracy power supply is used. This partial use of high accuracy power supply resolves the contradiction by providing high detection accuracy only when necessary, thereby significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate detection capability for critical events.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit monitors a state of a monitor target based on an analog signal from a sensor which is supplied with electric power and which outputs the analog signal that changes in accordance with a value of the electric power and the state of the monitor target. The electronic control unit includes a first power supply, a second power supply having higher accuracy than the first power supply, and a controller. The controller supplies the power to the sensor with the first power supply and determines whether there is a change in the state of the monitor target based on the analog signal. When determining that there is the change, the controller switches over a power supply from the first power supply to the second power supply and determines whether there is a change in the state of the monitor target.