Vehicle Sensor Data Routing via Ethernet-to-MIPI CSI Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle communication networks face challenges in efficiently processing and routing diverse sensor data types, such as video, radar, and lidar data, due to the lack of a unified format and common electronics for processing, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intermediate frames within Ethernet packets that include a header indicating data type and routing information, allowing for the use of common electronics to process and route various sensor data types, including video, radar, and lidar data, using formats defined by the MIPI Alliance's CSI protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate processing electronics are used for each sensor type (video, radar, lidar), then each sensor can be processed with dedicated optimized hardware, but the overall system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal intermediate frame format that can carry multiple sensor data types (video, radar, lidar, audio) through a single communication interface. This allows common electronics to process diverse sensor data without requiring dedicated processing paths for each sensor type, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable processing through standardized handling procedures
2Reliability
If separate processing electronics are used for each sensor type, then each sensor data can be processed with dedicated hardware, but the cost of the communication network increases
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a multi-functional intermediate frame structure that accommodates various sensor data types within a unified format, the system can use common processing electronics instead of dedicated hardware for each sensor type. This consolidation reduces the total number of electronic components required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable processing through standardized protocols
3Device complexity
If a unified intermediate frame format is implemented for diverse sensor data, then system complexity and cost are reduced, but the challenge arises in efficiently routing and processing different data types through common electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate frame format is segmented into distinct fields including data type identification, source identification, and payload sections. This segmentation allows common electronics to efficiently route different sensor data types by examining specific frame fields, maintaining ease of operation through structured organization while benefiting from reduced system complexity via unified processing
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicular communication network, an Ethernet network interface receives an Ethernet packet via an Ethernet link and decapsulates an intermediate frame from the Ethernet packet. The intermediate frame includes a first header in an intermediate frame format and a first payload, which includes sensor data, in the intermediate format. The intermediate format is different than any camera serial interface (CSI) protocol of the Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance. The Ethernet network interface provides the intermediate frame to a processor. The processor generates a packet in a CSI protocol format defined by the MIPI Alliance. The processor uses header information in the first header of the intermediate frame to populate one or more header fields of a second header of the packet in the CSI protocol format, and uses payload information in the intermediate frame to generate a second payload of the packet in the CSI protocol format.