Modular Electrical Unit with Primary and Secondary Circuit Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical units require significant modifications and verifications for changes in functionality, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The electrical unit design includes a primary circuit board with multiple connection sections for secondary circuit boards, which are connected via interconnection headers and configured to communicate through a serial peripheral interface bus, allowing for modular configurations and direct connections to vehicle wiring harnesses, enabling flexible and efficient control of various vehicle functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing electrical units are modified to change functionality, then the functionality can be updated, but significant modification and verification are required which increases time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical unit is divided into a primary circuit board and multiple secondary circuit boards, each handling different vehicle functions. This segmentation allows individual secondary boards to be added, removed, or modified without affecting the entire system, enabling functionality changes without comprehensive re-verification of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary circuit board is designed with multiple connection sections that can interface with different types of secondary circuit boards through standardized interconnection headers. This universal interface design allows the same primary board to support various functionality configurations by simply changing which secondary boards are connected.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing electrical units are modified to change functionality, then the functionality can be updated, but significant modification and verification are required which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the electrical unit into modular primary and secondary circuit boards with standardized interfaces, the complexity of modification is reduced to simple board replacement or reconfiguration rather than complex circuit redesign and system-wide verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical unit is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable by connecting or disconnecting secondary circuit boards from the primary board through interconnection headers, allowing functionality to adapt without permanent modifications or complex re-wiring.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular configurations are implemented with multiple secondary circuit boards, then adaptability is improved, but the number of connection sections and interconnection headers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnection headers are designed with a universal structure that can accommodate different secondary circuit board configurations. The same header design serves multiple functions by supporting various board types and connection scenarios, reducing the need for specialized connection components for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical unit includes a housing member, a cover configured to at least partially cover the housing member, a primary circuit board disposed in the housing, and one or more secondary circuit boards connected to the primary circuit board. A primary circuit board may include a plurality of connection sections. A secondary circuit board may be connected to a respective pair of connection sections of the plurality of connection sections, such as via a respective pair of interconnection headers. A secondary circuit board may include a connector that may extend into a corresponding connector portion of the cover. Each of the one or more secondary circuit boards may include at least one of circuitry and electrical components for a respective vehicle function of a plurality of vehicle functions.