Safety Microcontroller Supervision for General Purpose Computing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing devices lack robust and reliable safety supervision mechanisms, particularly in critical applications such as vehicle and industrial control systems, where fault detection and mitigation are essential.
Innovation Solution
The proposed computing device integrates a plurality of sensors, system-on-modules, safety microcontrollers, and communication interfaces to provide comprehensive safety supervision. This includes image sensors, inertial measurement units, global navigation satellite systems, and a safety microcontroller that executes supervisory applications to monitor and correct system control outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If safety supervision mechanisms are added to computing devices, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a processing module for primary computations and a separate safety microcontroller for supervision. This segmentation allows safety functions to be independently implemented without complicating the main processing logic, resolving the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable, specialized segments.
Solution Approach 2:
A safety microcontroller acts as an intermediary between sensors and the main processing module. It receives sensor data, performs safety-supervised processing, and outputs controlled signals to actuators. This intermediary layer isolates safety-critical functions from the main system, improving reliability while containing complexity within a dedicated component.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and safety controllers are integrated, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors (image sensors, inertial measurement units, global navigation satellite systems) are merged into a unified sensor integration module that interfaces with the safety microcontroller. This consolidation allows precise multi-source data acquisition while managing integration complexity through a standardized interface architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety microcontroller is designed as a universal supervision unit that can process data from various sensor types (image, inertial, navigation) through common processing pathways. This multi-functionality enables precise measurement across different sensor modalities without requiring separate complex processing chains for each sensor type.
3Reliability
If real-time fault detection and mitigation are implemented, then reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety microcontroller continuously monitors sensor inputs and pre-processes data in real-time, maintaining a ready state for fault detection. By performing preliminary safety checks and data validation continuously rather than on-demand, the system achieves rapid fault detection without adding significant processing delays when faults occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data flows to the safety microcontroller, which immediately compares readings against safety thresholds and provides real-time fault detection. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables timely fault mitigation while maintaining efficient processing through optimized comparison algorithms and predetermined safety criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device including a plurality of sensors, a system-on-module, a safety microcontroller and a plurality of communication interfaces communicatively coupling the system-on-module, the safety microcontroller and the plurality of sensors together. The system-on module can include an integrated interconnection of a plurality of different types of cores and one or more different types of memory. The system-on module can be configured to control operation and or performance of a system. The safety microcontroller can be configured to provide safety supervision of the system-on-module.