ECU Power Supply Switching via Communication Line Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power supply systems for in-vehicle electronic control units face challenges with increased complexity and cost due to the need for redundant power supplies and communication cables, leading to higher vehicle weight and assembly costs.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that includes a first control circuit, a first power supply, a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit, a second power supply, and a power supply switch circuit, which allows for bidirectional power transmission using communication lines to switch between power supplies when a voltage drop exceeds a threshold, thereby reducing the number of power supply harnesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply redundancy is implemented using separate power supply harnesses, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and vehicle weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supply transmission and communication functions into a single communication line. The power supply switch circuit uses the existing communication line to transmit power from the second power supply to the first control circuit, eliminating the need for separate redundant power supply harnesses while maintaining reliability through bidirectional power transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The communication line is designed to serve dual purposes: normal communication data transmission and power supply transmission. The power supply switch circuit enables the communication line to function as a power transmission path when voltage drop is detected, making the communication infrastructure multi-functional and reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If separate power supply harnesses are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power supply and communication functions into a single communication line, eliminating the need for separate redundant power supply harnesses. This consolidation significantly reduces vehicle weight while maintaining power supply redundancy through the bidirectional power transmission capability of the communication line
3Reliability
If separate power supply harnesses are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power supply and communication functions into the existing communication line infrastructure. This merging eliminates the need for separate redundant power supply harnesses, reducing component count and assembly complexity, thereby lowering manufacturing and assembly costs while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The communication line is designed to perform both communication and power supply functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and harnesses, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly costs while ensuring power supply redundancy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables power supply redundancy without increasing the number of power supply harnesses, thereby reducing vehicle weight, component costs, and assembly costs, while ensuring continuous operation even if one power supply fails.
Implementation Method 1
power supply of the first voltage to the second control circuit and power supply of the second voltage to the first control circuit are bidirectional power transmission using the communication line
Data Source
AI summary
A first switch circuit provided between a first control circuit and a first power supply interrupts supply of a first voltage to the first control circuit in a case where a voltage drop of the first voltage is equal to or greater than a threshold, a second switch circuit connected to a communication line used for communication between the first power supply and a second control circuit interrupts supply of the first voltage to the communication line in a case where the voltage drop of the first voltage is equal to or greater than a threshold, and a power supply switch circuit connected to the first control circuit and the communication line switches a supply source of a power supply voltage to the first control circuit from the first power supply to the second power supply.