Microcomputer Port Multiplexing for Power Supply Line Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of power supply lines connecting power supply circuits and load circuits increases, existing systems require a proportional increase in the number of microcomputer ports to detect abnormalities, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device configuration that includes a first and second power supply circuit, resistors connected to the power supply lines, and a monitor circuit (microcomputer) that determines abnormalities in the power supply lines based on a monitor voltage received through a third resistor, allowing for detection without increasing the number of microcomputer ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of power supply lines is increased to support multiple systems, then the power supply capability is improved, but the number of microcomputer ports must be increased to detect abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power supply line monitoring functions into a single microcomputer port by electrically connecting multiple power supply lines through resistors to a common monitoring point. This allows the microcomputer to detect abnormalities in multiple power supply lines simultaneously using one port, thereby resolving the contradiction between improved power supply capability and increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces resistors as intermediary components between the power supply lines and the microcomputer port. These resistors enable the electrical connection and voltage division necessary for the microcomputer to monitor multiple power supply lines through a single port, thus avoiding the need to increase the number of ports while maintaining monitoring capability.
2Measurement precision
If the number of ports of a microcomputer is increased to detect abnormalities of multiple power supply lines, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple detection functions into a single microcomputer port by connecting multiple power supply lines through resistors to a common monitoring point. This allows the microcomputer to monitor multiple power supply lines simultaneously using one port, thereby maintaining detection capability while reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single microcomputer port universal by enabling it to detect abnormalities in multiple power supply lines through the resistor network. This multi-functional approach allows one port to perform what would traditionally require multiple ports, thus improving cost-effectiveness and reducing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the detection of abnormalities in multiple power supply lines without the need for additional microcomputer ports, even when the number of power supply lines increases, by utilizing specific resistor ratios and voltage monitoring to identify short circuits or open circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage of the power supply line is divided, and input to a port of a microcomputer as a monitor voltage
Data Source
AI summary
The number of ports of a microcomputer is increased to detect an abnormality of the power supply line in a case where a power supply line to a load circuit is increased in number by two or more systems. A first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2 are commonly connected to one end of a third resistor R3. The other end of the third resistor R3 is connected to a monitor port of the microcomputer 15 and is grounded through a fourth resistor R4. The microcomputer 15 determines a value of a monitor voltage input to the monitor port to determine an abnormality of a first power supply line L1 and a second power supply line L2. Specifically, it is determined whether the first power supply line L1 and the second power supply line L2 are short-circuited to a ground side, or a voltage is not supplied to the first power supply line L1 and the second power supply line L2 due to an open circuit.