Vehicle ECU Reset Sequencing by Task Order Without MCU Intervention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle network systems, when an error occurs in one ECU, all ECUs need to be reset, which disrupts scheduled tasks and requires intervention from the microcontroller unit (MCU), leading to inefficiencies and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle network system where ECUs transmit a reset message with a reset reference time to other ECUs, allowing them to sequentially reset according to a task performing order, using platform health management and time synchronization modules, and watchdog timers to manage the reset process without MCU intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all ECUs are reset when an error occurs in one ECU, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and operation time increase due to MCU intervention and simultaneous reset of all ECUs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reset operation into individual ECU-level actions rather than a system-wide simultaneous reset. Each ECU independently processes reset messages and executes resets according to its own task schedule, dividing the monolithic reset operation into manageable atomic units that reduce coordination complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having ECUs pre-register their task schedules and reset priorities with the TS module before errors occur. When an error happens, the system uses these pre-established schedules to determine reset order without real-time coordination, eliminating the need for complex runtime decision-making and MCU intervention
2Reliability
If all ECUs are reset simultaneously when an error occurs, then system reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to disruption of scheduled tasks and MCU intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic reset scheduling where the reset order is determined by each ECU's task performance schedule rather than a fixed simultaneous reset. ECUs are reset in ascending order of their next scheduled task times, allowing the system to adaptively prioritize resets based on current operational context and minimize disruption to overall system productivity
Solution Approach 2:
ECUs autonomously determine their own reset timing based on received reset messages and their internal task schedules without requiring MCU coordination. Each ECU independently calculates when to reset based on its next scheduled task time, enabling self-service reset operations that eliminate MCU intervention overhead and improve system efficiency
3Productivity
If ECUs are reset in sequential order based on task performing time, then productivity is improved by minimizing disruption, but device complexity increases due to additional timing coordination mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The TS module serves as an intermediary that centralizes the complexity of sequential coordination. Instead of ECUs directly coordinating with each other (which would require complex peer-to-peer communication and conflict resolution), the TS module receives task schedules from all ECUs, calculates reset orders, and distributes reset messages, isolating coordination complexity within a single dedicated component
4Reliability
If MCU intervention is required to reset ECUs, then reliability is ensured through centralized control, but ease of operation decreases and response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reset control function from the MCU and relocates it to the distributed ECU-TS-PHM architecture. The MCU is removed from the reset decision-making process entirely, with ECUs autonomously processing reset messages and executing resets based on their own schedules. This extraction simplifies MCU operation while maintaining reliability through the distributed control mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle network system includes a plurality of electronic control units (ECUs) which performs a scheduled task, wherein when an error occurs in any one ECU among the plurality of ECUs, the any one ECU transmits a reset message to the other ECUs, the any one ECU is reset after transmitting the reset message and the other ECUs are reset in response to the reset message so that the plurality of ECUs is sequentially reset according to a task performing order.