Interface Device for Vehicle-Infrastructure Signal Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle-to-environment communication systems require separate communication units for vehicles and infrastructure units, leading to complexity and increased costs due to different interfaces and safety requirements, particularly in heterogeneous infrastructure environments.

Innovation Solution

An interface device with connections to both vehicle and infrastructure units, equipped with a computing unit to convert signals and implement firewall functions, allowing vehicle communication units to be used as infrastructure units without additional modifications, thereby simplifying interoperability and enhancing security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate communication units are used for vehicles and infrastructure units, then specific safety requirements and interface standards are met, but device complexity and development costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety requirementsVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle communication unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates as a communication unit in vehicles (C2C communication) and, through the interface device, as a communication unit in infrastructure units (C2I communication). This universal design allows the same hardware platform to serve both vehicles and infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety requirements through appropriate interface adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface device acts as an intermediary between the vehicle communication unit and the infrastructure unit environment. It provides signal conversion and adaptation, allowing the vehicle communication unit to interface with different infrastructure standards without modifying the core communication unit. This mediator approach maintains reliability by ensuring proper signal adaptation while avoiding the need for separate dedicated infrastructure communication units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different interfaces are used for vehicle units and infrastructure units, then specific communication standards are met, but interoperability and manufacturing costs worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication standards complianceVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The same vehicle communication unit hardware is used for both vehicle and infrastructure applications. The interface device provides the necessary adaptation to different communication standards, allowing a single manufacturing line to produce units for both C2C and C2I applications, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining compliance with different communication standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into two functional parts: the universal vehicle communication unit (which can be manufactured once) and the interface device (which adapts to specific infrastructure standards). This segmentation allows standardization of the core communication unit while providing flexibility in interface adaptation, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If vehicle communication units are adapted for infrastructure use, then development costs are reduced, but signal compatibility and interface heterogeneity become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment efficiencyVSAvoidinterface compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The interface device serves as a mediator that handles signal conversion and adaptation between the vehicle communication unit and diverse infrastructure interfaces. This allows development teams to work with a standardized vehicle communication unit while the interface device manages the complexity of different infrastructure standards, maintaining both development efficiency and interface compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface device dynamically adjusts signal parameters to match the requirements of different infrastructure units. By changing signal characteristics (voltage levels, protocols, timing) through the interface device, the system maintains compatibility with heterogeneous infrastructure interfaces while using a standardized vehicle communication unit, thus preserving development efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9344503B2Interface device, vehicle communication unit equipped with an interface device and use of a vehicle communication unit in the vehicle-to-environment communication

Publication Date: 2016.05.17 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH

AI summary

An interface device having a first connection to a vehicle communication unit which is designed to carry out a vehicle-to-environment communication is described, the interface device having a second connection to an infrastructure unit and a computing unit which is designed to convert the signals between the first and second connections. In addition, a vehicle communication unit equipped with the interface device and a use of a vehicle communication unit are described.