Electric Drive Authorization via Encoded Sensor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive authorization systems for electric drives can be circumvented by exchanging components, such as control units, which compromises security against theft.
Innovation Solution
An electronic immobilization function is mechatronically linked to a rotation angle sensor system, where the positions and number of active rotation angle sensors are encoded, and an evaluation and control unit decodes this information to determine the current position of a movable element, requiring successful decoding for the electric drive to operate, with the sensors being difficult to access externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If conventional drive authorization systems use exchangeable control units, then ease of repair and component replacement is improved, but security against theft deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The authorization system is segmented into multiple independent components: control units, rotation angle sensors, and evaluation units. Each control unit is assigned to specific sensor positions, creating a distributed authorization architecture where no single component holds all authorization credentials, making systematic theft more difficult
Solution Approach 2:
Rotation angle sensors serve as intermediary authorization elements between the control unit and the drive operation. These sensors detect mechanical positions and provide encoded authorization signals that the control unit must successfully decode to enable drive operation, adding an intermediate security layer
2Reliability
If rotation angle sensors are made encodable with individual positions, then security against component exchange is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each rotation angle sensor is assigned specific local qualities: unique positional encodings, individual detection positions around the crankshaft circumference, and dedicated authorization credentials. This local differentiation ensures that each sensor contributes uniquely to the authorization system
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes in the form of encoded positional information from rotation angle sensors. The sensors detect crankshaft position and generate encoded signals with specific parameters (position values, sensor IDs) that the control unit decodes to verify authorization, transforming physical position into security credentials
3Measurement precision
If multiple rotation angle sensors are used for decoding, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rotation angle sensors are merged into a unified authorization verification process. The control unit combines authorization information from multiple sensors to make a collective authorization decision, where all sensors must successfully verify their encoded positions for drive operation to be enabled
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation angle sensors serve multiple functions: they detect crankshaft position for drive control operations and simultaneously provide encoded authorization credentials for security verification. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate authorization components
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
This approach significantly enhances security by making it difficult to exchange components to bypass the immobilization function, ensuring the electric drive can only be operated correctly with proper decoding, thereby preventing theft.
Implementation Method 1
the angle of rotation sensors are embodied as Hall effect sensors
Implementation Method 2
an encoder wheel arranged on the crankshaft, the crankshaft sensor detects the position and/or the rotational speed of the crankshaft
Data Source
AI summary
A drive authorization system for an electric drive includes a predefined number of field coils and a rotationally movable element. An evaluation and control unit for operation of the electric drive determines the current position of the movable element from several items of positional information, which can be made available by a predefined number of angle of rotation sensors. To implement an electronic immobilization function, positions, the number of the active rotation angle sensors, or both those positions and that number are made encodable. The evaluation and control unit decodes the encoded positional information of the active rotation angle sensors in order to determine the current position of the movable element. Operation of the electric drive is possible only after successful decoding of the positional information.