Standard Controller Architecture for Flexible Vehicle Signal Routing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face inefficiencies due to optimized circuits requiring significant development time and cost for large numbers of inputs and outputs, limited flexibility in component usage, and increased wiring harness length and weight due to non-shared signals among controllers.

Innovation Solution

A standard controller and control system with a three-layer structure comprising standard controllers, a gateway controller, and a central computer, allowing for flexible component addition/removal and function updates through software, with signal and function databases for efficient signal management and reduced wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If optimized circuits are designed for each controller with specific input/output specifications, then material cost is reduced when the number of inputs and outputs is small, but development time and cost increase significantly when the number of inputs and outputs is large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal controller platform that can be configured for different applications through software rather than hardware redesign. The controller uses a standardized circuit architecture with configurable input/output assignments, allowing the same physical controller to serve multiple functions and applications, thereby reducing development time while maintaining material cost efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If circuits are optimized for specific applications, then material cost is reduced, but flexibility to add new signals or modify functions is severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoidcircuit flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The controller implements dynamic configurability where input/output assignments and signal routing can be changed through software configuration rather than requiring hardware modifications. This allows the circuit to adapt to new signals and functions dynamically, maintaining material cost efficiency while providing full flexibility for future modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows changing operational parameters such as signal assignments, routing configurations, and functional mappings through software parameters rather than physical circuit changes. This enables the same hardware to be reconfigured for different applications, maintaining cost efficiency while providing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If each controller is designed separately for different functions, then functional specialization is achieved, but wiring harness length and weight increase due to non-shared signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional specializationVSAvoidwiring harness weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs universal controllers with standardized interfaces and configurable functions that can be placed throughout the vehicle. These controllers share common signal definitions and can communicate through standardized protocols, allowing signals to be routed efficiently and reducing the need for dedicated wiring for each function, thereby reducing wiring harness weight while maintaining functional specialization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If controllers are designed with separate structures for different functions, then functional independence is achieved, but the ability to share signals and resources among controllers is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional independenceVSAvoidcontroller structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments control functions into modular, independent controller units that each handle specific functions, yet all units communicate through a standardized interface and shared signal database. This segmentation maintains functional independence while reducing overall complexity through standardization and resource sharing at the system level rather than requiring each controller to be fully self-contained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250296519A1Standard controller and controller system including the same

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a control system of a device having mobility, the control system including standard controllers, each configured to be installed in one of a plurality of areas in the device, detect a signal related to a component connected to each of the standard controllers based on a signal database storing or defining the signal related to the component, generate an input control signal including a signal Identifier (ID) and a state value according to the detected signal, transmit the generated input control signal or detect an output control signal corresponding to the component, and perform control corresponding to the detected output control signal, and the signal database being updated in response to addition, deletion or in-device movement of a component connected to the device.