ECU Power Supply Wake-Up Priority for Sleep Race Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control systems face challenges in further reducing power consumption while maintaining necessary functions and reliability, particularly due to race conditions between sleep and wake-up commands, and the use of sub-processors increases overall power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control device with a communication circuit that generates an activation signal for the power supply IC, prioritizing wake-up commands over sleep commands, and uses a voltage level signal instead of edge trigger signals to simplify configuration and reduce power consumption, eliminating the need for sub-processors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sub-processor is added to handle wake-up commands during power supply stop processing, then the race condition between sleep and wake-up commands is resolved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wake-up command processing function from the processor by implementing a dedicated wake-up signal input terminal that directly controls the power supply IC. This allows wake-up commands to be processed independently of the processor's sleep mode state, resolving the race condition without requiring the processor to remain active or adding a sub-processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary wake-up signal mechanism that acts as a mediator between external wake-up commands and the power supply IC. This wake-up signal terminal provides a direct communication path that bypasses the processor, allowing the power supply to be activated immediately upon receiving a wake-up command regardless of the processor's sleep state.
2Device complexity
If the processor processes both sleep and wake-up commands, then system complexity is reduced, but response time to wake-up commands increases due to processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the command processing functions by separating wake-up command handling from the processor. The wake-up signal terminal and power supply IC form an independent processing path that operates parallel to the processor's sleep mode control, enabling simultaneous and independent processing of both sleep and wake-up commands without interference or delay.
3Measurement precision
If edge trigger signals are used for power supply control, then signal transitions are precise, but the system requires more complex circuitry to handle race conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing a dedicated wake-up signal terminal that is monitored continuously and is ready to immediately activate the power supply IC upon receiving a wake-up command. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex race condition detection and resolution circuitry, as the system is already positioned to respond instantly to wake-up signals regardless of the processor's state.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic control device (ECUm) includes a processor (204), a communication circuit (202), and a power supply IC (206). When a wake-up command is received, the communication circuit (202) sets an activation signal (INH-Vlevel) for the power supply IC (206) as a voltage level signal to an enable level. When a sleep command is received through the communication circuit (202), the processor (204) transmits a sleep instruction to the communication circuit (202) and transmits a power supply stop instruction to the power supply IC (206). The power supply IC (206) includes a priority wake-up processing unit (246) that, when attempting to stop a power supply according to the power supply stop instruction, continues generating a power supply voltage when the enable level of the activation signal (INH-Vlevel) for the power supply (206) is maintained.