Microprocessor Port Reuse for Driver Fault Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional discrete driver circuitry for vehicle controllers is costly, consumes excessive space, and lacks comprehensive fault diagnostic capabilities, particularly for detecting open circuit and short circuit faults, due to its reliance on multiple microprocessor ports and numerous components.
Innovation Solution
A processor-based controller utilizing discrete driver circuitry that configures a single port to operate both as an output for driving electrical loads and as an input for receiving feedback signals, allowing for efficient fault detection, including open circuit and short circuit conditions, while reducing component count and microprocessor port requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional discrete driver circuitry uses multiple microprocessor ports for control and feedback, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control signal output and feedback signal input functions into a single microprocessor port. The driver circuit receives control signals from the port and returns feedback signals to the same port, eliminating the need for separate input and output ports. This merging reduces the number of microprocessor ports required and simplifies the overall circuit configuration while maintaining full fault detection capability through bidirectional communication on the single port.
Solution Approach 2:
The single microprocessor port serves multiple functions: it acts as both an output port for sending control signals to the driver circuit and an input port for receiving feedback signals from the same circuit. This multi-functionality allows the port to handle both control and diagnostic operations, reducing the total number of ports needed while maintaining comprehensive fault detection capabilities.
2Power
If conventional discrete driver circuitry uses numerous discrete components, then driver output capability is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete driver circuits into a single integrated driver circuit that can be controlled by a single microprocessor port. This consolidation reduces the total number of discrete components required while maintaining the necessary driver output capability through the use of high-side and low-side driver configurations within the integrated circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated driver circuit performs multiple functions including high-side driving, low-side driving, and feedback signal generation, all through a single circuit design. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate discrete driver circuits for each function, reducing component count and simplifying manufacturing while preserving full driver output capability.
3Ease of operation
If conventional discrete driver circuitry is configured with separate input and output ports, then control signal transmission is improved, but microprocessor port consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control signal output function and feedback signal input function into a single microprocessor port. The driver circuit is configured to receive control signals from this port and return feedback signals to the same port, enabling bidirectional communication through a single interface. This eliminates the need for separate input and output ports while maintaining clear control signal transmission and feedback reception.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A controller (10) having discrete driver circuitry (20A) for driving an electrical load (16A) and a method (30) are provided. The controller (10) includes a microprocessor (12) having ports (PO-P3) configurable to operate as inputs or outputs. The controller (10) also includes discrete driver circuitry (20A-20D) connected to ports (P1-P3) of the microprocessor (12). The discrete driver circuitry (20A) is configured to apply electrical power to drive an electrical load (16A). The controller (10) further has logic (30) for configuring the ports (P0-P3) of the microprocessor (12) as an output to enable on/off of the output signal that drives the electrical loads (16A-16D), and further for configuring the ports (P0-P3) of the microprocessor (12) as an input to receive feedback signals from the discrete driver circuitry (20A-20D). The feedback signals are processed to detect fault conditions.