Vehicle Controller Monitor Processor Status Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern vehicles, when a processor in an electronic control module becomes inoperable, existing systems fail to timely and reliably indicate this status to other control modules, leading to potential unreliable data transmission and failure to recognize the condition, which can result in system instability.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a monitor processor and multiplexor is implemented, allowing the monitor processor to generate a second transmit output independent of received data to indicate the inoperable status of the microcontroller, using a question and answer strategy to verify the microcontroller's operation and replace its output with a status message bit sequence if it is inoperable, ensuring reliable communication on the vehicle network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electronic control module disables network communication when the processor is inoperable, then unreliable information transmission is prevented, but the status of the processor cannot be identified by other control modules
Solution Approach 1:
A monitor processor is introduced as an intermediary component that takes over communication functions when the microcontroller fails. The monitor processor generates status messages and transmits them via the bus transceiver, mediating between the failed microcontroller and the vehicle network to preserve both reliability and status information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-diagnosis and self-reporting capabilities through the monitor processor, which automatically detects microcontroller failures and communicates the status to other control modules without requiring external intervention or additional hardware beyond the existing bus transceiver.
2Measurement precision
If a monitor processor is added to detect microcontroller status, then processor inoperability can be identified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitor processor is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors microcontroller status, generates status messages, and transmits communications via the existing bus transceiver. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components and minimizes overall system complexity while achieving precise status detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring function is merged with the communication function within a single controller unit. The monitor processor and bus transceiver work as an integrated subsystem, combining status detection and network communication capabilities to reduce the number of separate components and simplify the overall architecture.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the multiplexor switches between microcontroller output and monitor processor output, then communication continuity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiplexor acts as an intermediary switching device that seamlessly routes signals between the microcontroller and monitor processor outputs. This mediator component enables smooth transitions and maintains communication continuity without requiring complex reconfiguration or additional routing infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a controller having a microcontroller and a monitoring processor. The controller includes a bus transceiver for communicating on an external communication bus. The controller is configured such that each of the microcontroller and the monitoring processor can output a transmit data signal to the bus transceiver. The source of the transmit data signal is selected as the output of the monitoring processor responsive to evaluating the microcontroller as being inoperative.