Marine ECU Role Determination via Exclusive Use Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing and maintaining multiple remote control side electronic control units (ECUs) in a marine propulsion system is challenging, particularly due to communication issues between ECUs, which can be exacerbated by wiring harness malfunctions or damage during operation.

Innovation Solution

A remote control system with multiple ECUs, each capable of performing the roles of other ECUs, featuring an ECU discriminating terminal section, an ECU determining section, and an exclusive use section, which allows the system to maintain operability and control propulsion units even if communication is interrupted, by using stored role determination results and role instruction sets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple remote controller side ECUs are employed to control different propulsion units, then the system can control multiple propulsion units from different cockpits, but managing and maintaining these multiple ECUs becomes challenging and communication issues may arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to control multiple propulsion units from different cockpitsVSAvoidcomplexity of managing and maintaining multiple ECUs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each remote controller side ECU is designed with multiple exclusive use sections that can perform different roles (first role for first propulsion unit, second role for second propulsion unit). The ECU determining section identifies which role to activate based on signals from the ECU discriminating terminal section, allowing a single ECU type to universally control different propulsion units depending on configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The ECU is pre-configured with multiple exclusive use sections corresponding to different roles before operation. The ECU determining section reads signals during initial operation to determine which pre-configured role to activate, eliminating the need for complex runtime role assignment or multiple specialized ECU types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If role assignment signals are supplied continuously to the ECU discriminating terminal section, then the ECU can maintain correct role identification, but if the wiring harness malfunctions or is damaged, the system may lose operability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of ECU role identificationVSAvoidvulnerability to wiring harness malfunction or damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ECU determining section is designed to read role assignment signals only during initial operation startup. Once the role is determined, the ECU maintains this identification without requiring continuous signal supply, thereby cushioning against potential wiring harness failures during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The role determination is performed as a preliminary action during initial startup before normal operation begins. The ECU stores the determined role information and uses it throughout operation, eliminating the need for continuous signal transmission and reducing vulnerability to wiring issues during active operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If each ECU is configured with specific roles for specific propulsion units, then control precision is improved, but the system loses flexibility when communication is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of ECU role assignmentVSAvoidflexibility to maintain operability during communication interruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Each ECU contains multiple exclusive use sections that can perform different roles (first role, second role, etc.). The ECU determining section selects which exclusive use section to activate based on read signals, allowing the ECU to adapt its function while maintaining precise role assignment. This universal design enables the same ECU hardware to precisely control different propulsion units depending on the selected role

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The ECU system dynamically selects which exclusive use section to activate based on the role determination result from the ECU determining section. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain precise role assignment while adapting to different operational scenarios and communication conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7860616B2Remote control system for a watercraft

Publication Date: 2010.12.28 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A remote control system for controlling a propulsion unit of a watercraft includes a plurality of remote controller side ECUs, all of which have the same construction in one embodiment. Each remote controller side ECU includes ECU discriminating terminal sections and an ECU determining section for determining a role of each remote controller side ECU based upon signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections. The ECU determining section determines a role of the particular remote controller side ECU based upon the signals provided by the ECU discriminating terminal sections when the remote controller side ECU starts operating. The ECU determining section also reads out the most proper one of first through sixth exclusive use sections, which define the function of the ECU's role. A determination result is stored in first, second and third EPROMs so as to be used to determine the role.