Main Standby Board Switching via Centralized MCU Fault Grading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The main/standby switching of single boards with multiple Micro Controller Units (MCUs) becomes complex due to the need for each MCU to operate independently and determine fault grades, making the deployment and management of switching control software challenging.
Innovation Solution
Designating one MCU as the main MCU and the others as auxiliary MCUs on both the main and standby boards, where the main MCU determines fault grades based on auxiliary MCU and main MCU faults, and switches the boards if the standby board's fault grade is higher, simplifying the switching mechanism by prioritizing the main MCU's fault detection and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each MCU operates independently to determine fault grades, then each MCU can work separately without other MCUs, but the deployment and management of switching control software becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fault monitoring function by designating one MCU as the main monitoring unit while other MCUs report faults to it. This segmentation allows each MCU to maintain independent operation capability while centralizing the complex fault grading and switching decision logic in a single MCU, thereby reducing software deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fault monitoring and grading functions into a single main MCU, while other MCUs focus on executing their specific tasks and reporting faults. This merging reduces the overall system complexity by consolidating the switching control software in one location rather than requiring identical complex software on each MCU.
2Measurement precision
If each MCU has its own fault monitoring mechanism, then comprehensive fault detection is achieved, but the determination of final fault grade for switching becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a main MCU as an intermediary that receives fault reports from all other MCUs and centralizes the fault grading process. This intermediary approach maintains comprehensive fault detection accuracy while simplifying the system by having a single point of decision-making for switching operations, avoiding the complexity of multiple MCUs independently determining fault grades.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having each MCU independently determine fault grades (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by having MCUs report faults to a main MCU that performs the grading. This inversion simplifies the system architecture by centralizing the complex grading logic while maintaining comprehensive fault monitoring through all MCUs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If main/standby switching mechanism for single MCU boards is applied to multi-MCU boards, then the same mechanism can be used, but the switching process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by making the main MCU on each board (whether single-MCU or multi-MCU) the central point for fault monitoring and switching decisions. This allows the same basic mechanism to be applied across different board types while adapting to multi-MCU architectures by having the main MCU aggregate fault information from auxiliary MCUs, thereby maintaining mechanism reusability without increasing switching process complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for switching a main board and a standby board are disclosed. The method comprises: determining one MCU of the plurality of MCUs in the main board as a first main MCU and remaining MCUs as auxiliary MCUs, and determining one MCU of the plurality of MCUs in the standby board as a second main MCU and remaining MCUs as auxiliary MCUs; determining, by the first main MCU, a fault grade of the main board according to faults in the auxiliary MCUs of the main board and faults in the first main MCU; determining, by the first main MCU, a fault grade of the standby board according to faults in the auxiliary MCUs of the standby board and faults in the second main MCU reported by the second main MCU; switching the main board and the standby board according to the fault grade of the standby board and the fault grade of the main board. The switching of the main board and the standby board that comprise respectively a plurality of MCUs is simplified according to the invention.