Vehicle Network ECU Power Management via Scene-Based Relay Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted network systems consume excessive power due to always-on transceivers in electronic control units (ECUs) even in sleep mode, as they need to receive activation signals, leading to increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
A management apparatus with a power supply relay and scene determination unit that selectively powers on/off ECUs based on vehicle situations, allowing unused ECUs to enter sleep mode and powering them back on as needed, reducing standby power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If transceivers in ECUs are kept always on to receive activation signals, then ECUs can quickly wake up from sleep mode, but power consumption increases during sleep mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ECU system into multiple independent groups, each with its own dedicated communication path and transceiver. This allows individual ECUs or groups to be completely powered off (not just put to sleep) while their dedicated transceiver remains available to receive wake-up signals, eliminating the need for all ECUs to maintain transceivers in standby mode simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network management ECU as an intermediary that coordinates wake-up signal distribution. Instead of requiring each ECU to continuously monitor for wake-up signals, the management ECU receives wake-up signals and selectively activates only the necessary ECUs, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining fast wake-up capability.
2Reliability
If more ECUs are kept in normal mode to ensure immediate system responsiveness, then system functionality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management where ECUs transition between normal mode and sleep/off modes based on real-time vehicle conditions and scene requirements. The system adaptively adjusts which ECUs remain active versus which can be powered down, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and power consumption rather than maintaining a static configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures multiple communication paths and establishes wake-up signal routing before power management decisions are made. This preliminary setup allows the system to quickly activate ECUs when needed without requiring them to remain in continuous normal mode, as the communication infrastructure is already in place to facilitate rapid wake-up.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ECUs are powered off to reduce standby power, then power consumption decreases, but activation time increases when ECUs need to be activated
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into multiple communication paths with dedicated transceivers, the patent enables selective activation of only the minimum necessary ECUs for each scene. This reduces the number of ECUs that need to be powered on simultaneously, decreasing overall activation time while allowing individual ECUs to remain powered off longer to save power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network management ECU monitors system state and dynamically adjusts power management decisions. This feedback loop optimizes the trade-off between power savings from keeping ECUs off and the activation time penalty, by learning from system performance and adjusting wake-up strategies accordingly.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-mounted network system includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) communicatively connected to a communication path of a vehicle-mounted network, each of which is configured to selectively perform a normal mode of operation and a sleep mode, and a management apparatus. The plurality of ECUs are configured to be individually powered on and off by a power supply relay of the management apparatus. The management apparatus is configured to acquire information indicative of a vehicle situation and determine a scene from the acquired information, determine control contents for powering on or off at least one specific ECU, of the plurality of ECUs, corresponding to the determined scene, if any, and power on or off the at least one specific ECU based on the determined control contents.