Motor-Controller Authentication via Phase-Line Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a secure authentication system between electric motors and their external controllers to prevent the use of counterfeit or unauthorized components in vehicles, ensuring proper and safe operation while preventing theft by ensuring only authorized components can communicate and operate effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electric motor drive system that includes an external controller and an electric motor unit with microcontrollers for authentication, using switches and gate drivers to securely couple power phase lines to the motor only after successful authentication, and utilizing encrypted communication to verify the authenticity of the motor and controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an authentication system is implemented between electric motors and external controllers, then security and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is nested within the existing motor control architecture. The microcontroller in the motor unit and the controller form a hierarchical structure where authentication protocols are embedded within the control communication flow, allowing security verification without requiring a completely separate system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces authentication protocols and verification mechanisms as intermediaries between the motor unit and external controller. These intermediaries handle the complex authentication processes while presenting a simple interface to the rest of the system, effectively isolating complexity to specific modules.
2Reliability
If switches are controlled to couple power phase lines to the motor only after authentication, then security is improved, but operational speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is performed preliminarily before power phase line coupling is enabled. The system verifies the legitimacy of the controller-motor pairing in advance, and only after successful authentication does it proceed to switch control and power delivery, ensuring security is established before operational risks arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements optimized authentication protocols that can rapidly verify credentials and establish trust relationships. By streamlining the verification process and using efficient communication protocols, the system minimizes the time required for authentication while maintaining security requirements.
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
The system provides two levels of security by ensuring only authorized components can communicate and operate, preventing theft and ensuring the use of genuine parts, thus enhancing the safety and reliability of vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
The gate driver may include a light emitting diode (LED) that generates light responsive to the microcontroller of the electric motor unit
Implementation Method 2
a photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the LED that generates the gate drive signal in response to the light generated by the LED
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an electric motor drive system, including at least one power phase line, an external controller configured to generate a drive signal and provide the drive signal to the at least one power phase line, and motor electronics. The motor electronics include at least one switch coupled between the at least one power phase line and at least one electric motor terminal, and an internal controller configured to cooperate with the external controller to perform an authentication process therebetween. The external controller is further configured to cause the at least one switch to electrically couple the at least one power phase line to the at least one electric motor terminal in response to success of the authentication process.