Onboard Memory Diagnosis Using Temporary High-Frequency Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies struggle to accurately predict the failure of semiconductor storage devices due to aged deterioration, which can cause operation delays, particularly in high-frequency devices like DRAM or SRAM, leading to potential defects.

Innovation Solution

An onboard control system that includes a failure symptom diagnosis device and a frequency/voltage changing circuit to diagnose semiconductor storage devices at higher frequencies/voltages than normal operation, detecting delayed operations and predicting failures by monitoring defective bit rates and applying life prediction formulas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the operation frequency of the storage device is increased to detect delayed operations, then the detection precision of failure symptoms is improved, but the reliability of the storage device during normal operation may deteriorate due to accelerated aged deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precision of failure symptomVSAvoidreliability of storage device
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs failure symptom diagnosis at a higher operation frequency before the storage device is actually used in normal control. By conducting the diagnosis in advance at elevated frequencies, the system can detect potential failures without exposing the storage device to prolonged high-frequency stress during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between detection precision and reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the operation frequency based on the diagnostic needs. The frequency is temporarily increased to a second frequency (higher than the first normal frequency) only during the diagnosis period, and then returned to the normal first frequency during actual control operations. This dynamic frequency adjustment allows accurate detection while preserving device reliability during normal use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If component replacement is performed with a predetermined period, then the reliability of the system is maintained, but the loss of time and cost increases due to replacing components before they actually fail

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement time and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the failure symptom diagnosis device continuously monitors the storage device's health status by detecting delayed operations. Based on this real-time feedback, the system can determine when actual replacement is needed, replacing components only when diagnostic data indicates imminent failure rather than following a fixed predetermined schedule, thus reducing unnecessary replacements and associated time/cost losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary diagnosis to identify storage devices that are approaching failure. By detecting delayed operations before actual failure occurs, the system can plan and execute replacements at optimal times, avoiding both premature replacement and unexpected failures that would require urgent replacement, thereby reducing overall replacement time and cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4697153A1Onboard control system
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP4697153A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4697153A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4697153A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An onboard control system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage device that is used in controlling an automobile, a failure symptom diagnosis device that diagnoses a failure symptom of the storage device, and a frequency changing circuit that changes an operation frequency of the storage device to a second frequency, which is higher than a first frequency that is a frequency used during normal control of the automobile, when the failure symptom diagnosis device diagnoses the storage device.