Zone Power Distribution Using Wire Data for ECU Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity in designing and managing numerous electronic control units in vehicles, where each unit may have different electric wire characteristics, leads to complicated development and management due to the need for individual configurations, especially when updates or corrections are required.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a central unit that manages electric wire characteristic data for multiple zone units, allowing them to have a common configuration, using semiconductor switches and current sensors to control power supply based on stored data, and enabling selective wake-up functions to reduce costs and simplify management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual configurations are used for each electronic control unit to accommodate different electric wire characteristics, then the system can handle diverse wire characteristics, but the development and management complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides electronic control units into two categories: zone units that manage power supply to multiple downstream units, and downstream units that consume power. This segmentation allows zone units to store electric wire characteristic data locally and manage multiple downstream units with different wire characteristics using a single configuration approach, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a standardized template or copyable configuration structure for zone units. Each zone unit can be configured using the same basic structure, with only the electric wire characteristic data needing to be updated. This copying approach allows rapid deployment and simplifies management, as demonstrated by the ability to update wire characteristic data remotely without redesigning each unit individually.
2Adaptability or versatility
If updates or corrections are made to electronic control unit configurations, then the system can adapt to changes, but the time and effort required for individual unit updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration by having zone units store electric wire characteristic data in advance during manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary action enables rapid updates later, as changes can be pushed to already-configured zone units without requiring time-consuming individual adjustments. The pre-established structure allows for efficient remote updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where update information is transmitted from a central source to zone units, which then apply the updates to their stored electric wire characteristic data. This feedback loop enables centralized management and rapid propagation of corrections across multiple units simultaneously, significantly reducing update time compared to individual manual updates.
3Reliability
If power supply drivers are included in all electronic control units, then each unit can independently manage power, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the power supply management function into dedicated zone units that serve multiple downstream units. Instead of each downstream unit having its own power supply driver, the zone unit consolidates this functionality and manages power distribution to multiple downstream units based on stored electric wire characteristic data. This merging reduces the total number of power supply drivers needed in the system while maintaining reliable power management through the zone unit's centralized control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power system includes a central unit, a zone unit capable of communicating with the central unit, and a downstream electric wire configured to electrically connect a predetermined downstream unit to the zone unit. A central processor of the central unit executes processing including transmitting electric wire characteristic data stored in a central storage device to the zone unit at a predetermined timing. A zone processor of the zone unit executes processing including writing the electric wire characteristic data transmitted from the central unit into a zone storage device in response to reception of the electric wire characteristic data, and determining whether to turn a semiconductor switch coupled to the downstream electric wire to an OFF state, based on the electric wire characteristic data written into the zone storage device and the current detected by a current sensor.