PSI5 Master-Slave Standby Voltage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems, such as the PSI5 bus, do not have an efficient way to reduce power consumption without completely deactivating the bus, limiting the ability to maintain partial functionality and responsiveness during idle periods.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a standby operating mode where the master participant supplies a slave participant with a voltage below the normal operating threshold, allowing for reduced power consumption while still enabling data detection and transmission at a lower frequency, and allowing slaves to request a return to normal mode when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the bus is completely deactivated to reduce power consumption, then energy saving is improved, but functionality and responsiveness are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfunctionality and responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions between normal operating mode and standby mode based on activity requirements. The master participant adjusts the voltage supply state dynamically, allowing the system to adapt its power consumption and functionality levels to match actual operational needs, thus resolving the contradiction between energy saving and maintaining responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the voltage supply parameter from normal voltage (above lower voltage threshold) to standby voltage (below lower voltage threshold) to enter standby mode. This parameter change allows the system to reduce power consumption while maintaining a reduced level of functionality, enabling slaves to detect voltage changes and transition to appropriate operational states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If a standby mode is implemented with voltage below threshold, then power consumption is reduced, but compatibility with existing slaves not designed for standby is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcompatibility with existing slaves

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The standby voltage mechanism serves multiple functions: it acts as a power-saving state for compatible slaves and as a deactivation signal for incompatible slaves. This universal approach allows the system to support both types of slaves without requiring hardware modifications, enabling power reduction while maintaining broad compatibility through a single voltage-based signaling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Each slave participant autonomously determines its operational state based on the detected voltage level. Compatible slaves automatically transition to standby mode when detecting below-threshold voltage, while incompatible slaves naturally deactivate. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex compatibility management or additional signaling protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If communication continues at full frequency in standby mode, then responsiveness is maintained, but power consumption reduction is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresponsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

In standby mode, the master participant transmits wake-up messages periodically instead of continuous synchronization pulses. This periodic action allows compatible slaves to maintain a reduced level of responsiveness while consuming minimal power, only fully activating when a wake-up message is received. The periodic nature of wake-up messages balances responsiveness requirements with power consumption reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9778715B2Master-slave communication system including a standby operation in which a standby voltage is provided that is lower than a lower voltage threshold in a normal operating mode

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

The application describes a master/slave communication system, in particular a PSI5 communication system, including at least one slave participant, at least one master participant, and a communication connection between the slave participant and the master participant. In this case, the slave participant is supplied by the master participant with a supply voltage between a lower voltage threshold and an upper voltage threshold via the communication connection in a normal operating mode. The master/slave communication system has, in addition to the normal operating mode, a standby operating mode at its disposal in which the master participant supplies the slave participant with a standby voltage below the lower voltage threshold via the communication connection.