Monolithic Limp Home Circuit for Vehicle Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional error monitoring and recovery systems in motor vehicles are complex and expensive, making them inefficient for maintaining basic safety functions in the event of an electronic control system failure.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic integrated circuit that combines a limp home unit for controlling essential vehicle functions and an environment warning unit to generate warning signals, reducing complexity and cost by integrating all necessary components on a single semiconductor substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional error monitoring and recovery systems are used, then basic safety functions can be maintained in the event of electronic control system failure, but the system complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the limp home unit and environment warning unit into a single monolithic integrated circuit on one semiconductor substrate. This merging of previously separate components reduces system complexity while maintaining fault resistance, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The monolithic integrated circuit performs multiple functions including error monitoring, limp home mode control, and environment warning signal generation within a single device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate systems, reducing overall system complexity while preserving reliability
2Reliability
If conventional error monitoring and recovery systems are used, then basic safety functions can be maintained in the event of electronic control system failure, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple functional units into a single monolithic circuit, the patent reduces the number of discrete components that need to be manufactured, assembled, and tested. This consolidation lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the fault-resistant functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The use of standard semiconductor fabrication processes to create the monolithic integrated circuit allows for high-volume production at reduced cost. The circuit can be replicated using established manufacturing techniques, making fault-resistant systems more economically viable
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for limp home control and environment warning, then system functionality is achieved, but signal path length and potential error points increase
Solution Approach 1:
By placing both the limp home unit and environment warning unit on the same semiconductor substrate, the patent minimizes the physical distance between components and reduces the number of external connections required. This integration shortens signal paths and reduces potential error points while maintaining full system functionality
Data Source
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Figure 3B
AI summary
Monolithically integrated circuit (100) for a vehicle (200), wherein the circuit (100) comprises a substrate (102), a limp-home unit (104) monolithically-integrated in or on the substrate (102) for generating a control signal for controlling a limp-home mode of the vehicle (200) and a surroundings warning unit (106, 108) monolithically integrated in and/or on the substrate (102) for generating a surroundings warning signal to warn the surroundings of the vehicle (200) in case of limp-home mode operation.