Electronic Control Unit Start-Stop Communication Error Recovery

Solution Overview

Problem

In start-stop synchronization communication, the receiver may incorrectly recognize a bit as a start bit during data transmission, leading to repeated recovery processes and communication errors, especially when the transmitter continues sending data while the receiver is recovering, causing the system to hang up.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control unit with a communication stop signal transmission part to halt the transmitter and initialize the transmission buffer, and a restart signal transmission part to resume data transmission once the receiver is recovered, allowing the system to continue communication processing without repeated recovery processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the receiver performs recovery processing when a communication error is detected, then the receiver can be restored to a normal state, but the transmitter may continue transmitting data during recovery causing the receiver to incorrectly recognize bits as start bits and repeat recovery processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter is commanded to stop transmitting data before the receiver completes its recovery processing. This preliminary action prevents the transmitter's ongoing data transmission from interfering with the receiver's recovery process, eliminating the root cause of repeated recovery cycles and communication hangs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A feedback mechanism is established where the receiver monitors its own recovery status and sends control signals to the transmitter. When recovery is complete, the receiver notifies the transmitter to resume transmission, creating a closed-loop control system that coordinates both devices' operations and prevents future conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the transmitter stops transmitting data during receiver recovery, then repeated recovery processes are prevented, but communication efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary transmission interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter is commanded to stop transmitting data before the receiver completes its recovery processing. This preliminary action prevents the transmitter's ongoing data transmission from interfering with the receiver's recovery process, eliminating the root cause of repeated recovery cycles and communication hangs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A feedback mechanism is established where the receiver monitors its own recovery status and sends control signals to the transmitter. When recovery is complete, the receiver notifies the transmitter to resume transmission, creating a closed-loop control system that coordinates both devices' operations and prevents future conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If dedicated hardware or software for character detection is added to prevent repeated recovery, then communication errors are avoided, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror prevention capabilityVSAvoidhardware/software requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver serves itself by monitoring its own recovery status and generating the necessary control signals. Instead of requiring external character detection hardware or software, the receiver autonomously determines when recovery is complete and initiates the transmitter resumption, eliminating the need for additional dedicated detection components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The receiver's existing error detection and recovery mechanisms are extended to also generate control signals for the transmitter. The receiver performs multiple functions: detecting communication errors, executing recovery processing, monitoring recovery completion, and controlling transmitter operation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated detection hardware or software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9606857B2Electronic control unit

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An electronic control unit includes first and second devices. A transmitter of the first device transmits data to a receiver of the second device by start-stop synchronization communication. On detecting a communication error, the second device transmits a communication stop signal to the first device, recovers the receiver, and transmits a restart signal to the first device when the receiver is recovered. Upon receipt of the communication stop signal, the first device stops the transmitter and initializes a transmission buffer, and commands the transmitter to restart transmitting the data upon receipt of the communication restart signal from the second device.