Vehicle ECU Stand Crossmember Structure for Accurate Acceleration Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ECU mounting brackets for vehicles with low stiffness or inertia subframes fail to accurately measure accelerations/decelerations, necessitating specific ECU part numbers and adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A computer support comprising a ribbed plate welded to a crossmember, with the crossmember sandwiched between a stud shoulder and the ribbed plate, ensuring robust anchoring and accurate force transmission, using high-strength steel materials and specific hole configurations for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple ribbed plate mounting bracket is used on a vehicle with low stiffness or inertia subframe, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision of acceleration/deceleration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting bracket structureVSAvoidacceleration measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket is segmented into two distinct components: a ribbed plate for ECU mounting and a crossmember for structural integration. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the ribbed plate provides simple ECU mounting while the crossmember provides the necessary structural stiffness and inertia for accurate acceleration measurement on vehicles with flexible subframes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ribbed plate is nested onto the crossmember, creating a hierarchical structure where the simpler ribbed plate component is mounted on the more robust crossmember. This nesting arrangement allows the complex structural function to be provided by the crossmember while the ribbed plate maintains its simple mounting bracket function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If a robust crossmember structure is added to ensure accurate acceleration measurement, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration measurementVSAvoidmounting bracket structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The crossmember serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural stiffness and inertia for accurate acceleration measurement, acts as a mounting base for the ribbed plate, and integrates with the vehicle's underbody structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite the added robustness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the crossmember is made thicker to increase stiffness, then the stability and measurement accuracy are improved, but the weight of the stationary object increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubframe stiffnessVSAvoidcrossmember weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The crossmember features localized ribbing that concentrates structural reinforcement only where needed for stiffness and acceleration measurement accuracy. This local quality approach provides the necessary stability without uniformly increasing the thickness and weight of the entire crossmember structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Ensures accurate transmission of acceleration and deceleration forces to the ECU, allowing the use of standard ECUs and reliable impact measurements, maintaining consistent safety module activation thresholds.

Implementation Method 1

a computer support, to be welded onto the underbody of a motor vehicle... the ribbed plate is welded to the crossmember. The screw-fixing means comprise at least one stud passing through the crossmember and the ribbed plate and comprising a shoulder, and the shoulder is welded to one side of the crossmember

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP4164923B1Stand for on-board vehicle computer
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4164923B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4164923B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4164923B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Computer stand designed to be welded onto a base (100) in a motor vehicle, preferably an electric motor vehicle, in order to form a stand for an on-board vehicle computer, comprising: - a ribbed plate (10), - means for screwing the computer to the computer stand, characterised in that the computer stand comprises a cross member (30) designed to be attached to the base (100) in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and in that the ribbed plate (10) is welded to the cross member (30).