Automotive Lamp Controller Diagnostics Without Redundant Microcontrollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance automotive headlamps with Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) functionality require redundant systems, leading to increased cost and slower processing speeds due to the use of high-cost microcontrollers, which complicates the lamp system architecture and affects safety integrity.
Innovation Solution
A lamp controller with a drawing processing unit and an auxiliary processor that performs self-diagnosis on software and hardware processes, allowing for rapid detection and recovery from abnormalities, thereby enhancing system availability and safety without the need for redundant high-performance microcontrollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two redundant microcontrollers and peripheral devices are provided for 1oo2D architecture, then system safety and reliability are improved, but system cost increases and processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic functions by separating self-diagnosis (performed by the drawing processing unit itself) from auxiliary diagnosis (performed by the auxiliary processor). This segmentation allows the main microcontroller to focus on primary control while the auxiliary processor handles diagnostic tasks, eliminating the need for a second redundant microcontroller while maintaining safety integrity level B requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary processor is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a diagnostic unit and as a support processor for the drawing processing unit. It can execute diagnosis for multiple software processes and perform recovery operations, replacing the need for a dedicated second microcontroller while maintaining system reliability.
2Reliability
If two redundant microcontrollers and peripheral devices are provided for 1oo2D architecture, then system safety and reliability are improved, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments diagnostic tasks from primary control tasks, allowing the drawing processing unit to execute control functions without waiting for redundant verification. The auxiliary processor independently handles diagnostic execution and analysis, enabling parallel processing that maintains system safety while improving overall processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary processor acts as an intermediary that handles diagnostic operations without blocking the main drawing processing unit. It receives diagnostic requests, executes diagnosis for multiple software processes, and returns results, allowing the main processor to continue control operations without delay from redundant verification.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If self-diagnosis and auxiliary diagnosis are implemented, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drawing processing unit performs self-diagnosis for the software processes it executes, independently detecting abnormalities without external intervention. This self-service capability is enhanced by the auxiliary processor that provides additional diagnostic perspectives and recovery functions, creating a layered diagnostic approach that improves detection capability while managing complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the auxiliary processor receives diagnostic data from the drawing processing unit, analyzes it, and provides recovery commands back to the system. This feedback loop enables continuous monitoring and automatic recovery, improving abnormality detection and response while maintaining manageable system complexity through structured information flow.
Data Source
AI summary
A drawing processing unit generates multi-gradation light distribution image data that defines a light distribution. The image processing unit executes multiple software processes sequentially. The drawing processing unit self-diagnoses the presence or absence of an abnormality for each software process. The drawing processing unit transmits first diagnostic data that indicates the self-diagnosis results to the auxiliary processor. Furthermore, the drawing processing unit transmits first feedback data based on data generated for each software process to the auxiliary processor. The auxiliary processor diagnoses the presence or absence of an abnormality in the multiple software processes executed by the drawing processing unit based on the first feedback data.