Generic Interface Microcontroller for Vehicle Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control units face inflexibility and high costs due to the need for interface-specific hardware implementations for various serial interfaces, making it challenging to adapt to different application requirements and future changes.
Innovation Solution
A microcontroller with generic interfaces, comprising a central processing unit, interface-unspecific input and output modules, and an arithmetic unit, which can be configured to emulate multiple serial interfaces such as SPI, UART, LIN, CAN, and Ethernet, allowing for flexible data processing and protocol-independent data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If interface-specific hardware implementation is used for each serial interface, then reliability and data processing rate are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface controller that can emulate multiple different serial interfaces (CAN, LIN, Ethernet, USB, SPI, I2C, UART) through a single hardware unit. This is achieved by configuring the controller to interpret and generate protocol-specific data formats according to stored protocol definitions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each interface type while maintaining interface-specific functionality and reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a microcontroller with a very large number of interfaces of different types is used, then adaptability to different applications is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single universal interface controller that can be configured to provide multiple different serial interfaces through software configuration and protocol definition storage. This allows one microcontroller design to serve multiple application requirements without requiring different hardware configurations, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining high adaptability to various interface needs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the interface controller through configurable protocol definitions and data format specifications. By modifying software parameters and protocol configurations rather than hardware architecture, the same physical interface can emulate different logical interfaces (CAN, LIN, Ethernet, etc.), enabling adaptability without increasing manufacturing complexity or cost
3Ease of operation
If interface-specific hardware units are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and flexibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic interface controller that can change its operational characteristics through configuration. The controller adapts its behavior based on stored protocol definitions and can be reconfigured for different interfaces as needed. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain ease of operation for current interfaces while remaining adaptable to future requirements through software updates rather than hardware changes
Data Source
AI summary
A microcontroller for a control unit, in particular for a vehicle control unit, includes a central processing unit (CPU), at least one interface-unspecific input module, at least one interface-unspecific output module, at least one routing unit and at least one arithmetic unit for processing interface-specific information. The microcontroller is configurable in such a way that the at least one interface-unspecific input module, the at least one interface-unspecific output module, the at least one routing unit and the at least one arithmetic unit for processing interface-specific information fulfill functions corresponding to one of multiple serial interfaces, in particular of SPI, UART, LIN, CAN, PSI5, FlexRay, SENT, IC2, MSC or Ethernet. In addition, the input module stores an entire input message frame of the input data and makes this available to the arithmetic unit or the central processing unit (CPU).