Steer-By-Wire Reaction Force Control for Unauthorized Startup Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steer-by-wire steering devices lack effective crime prevention measures, particularly in ensuring the authenticity of information exchange between control circuits and vehicle control devices, which can lead to unauthorized vehicle operation.

Innovation Solution

A steering control device with a control circuit that requests the vehicle control device to stop powertrain operation when information exchange does not follow a preset pattern, ensuring the vehicle is in a capable state for traveling, and permits powertrain startup only after completion of a preparation process, thereby enhancing crime prevention and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control circuit requests the vehicle control device to stop powertrain operation when information exchange does not follow a preset pattern, then crime prevention performance is enhanced, but vehicle operation may be interrupted even when safe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrime prevention performanceVSAvoidvehicle operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit applies different quality levels of response to information exchange anomalies based on the specific context. When the vehicle is in a travel-capable state, strict verification is applied to prevent unauthorized operation. When the vehicle is not travel-capable (e.g., in parking mode or with remote function active), the response is more lenient, allowing operation to continue. This localized differentiation of verification strictness resolves the contradiction between enhanced security and operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuit dynamically adjusts its verification behavior based on real-time vehicle state. The decision to request powertrain stop or allow continuation is not fixed but changes according to whether the vehicle is in a travel-capable state. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high security when needed while avoiding unnecessary interruptions when the vehicle state indicates safety, thus resolving the contradiction between crime prevention and operational smoothness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the control circuit verifies information exchange authenticity strictly, then unauthorized operation is prevented, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation exchange authenticityVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit segments the verification process into distinct functional modules: information exchange monitoring, preset pattern matching, vehicle state assessment, and powertrain control coordination. By dividing the complex verification task into smaller, specialized sub-functions, the system achieves rigorous authenticity checking while managing complexity through modular design. Each segment handles a specific aspect of the verification, making the overall system more maintainable and less daunting despite its comprehensive nature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the vehicle requires completion of preparation process before powertrain startup, then safety is enhanced, but startup time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle startup safetyVSAvoidpowertrain startup time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit performs preliminary verification of information exchange authenticity and vehicle state assessment before permitting powertrain startup. By completing these preparatory checks in advance, the system ensures that the vehicle is in a safe state for operation before the powertrain begins running. This preliminary action prevents unsafe startups while minimizing delays, as the verification is conducted concurrently with other pre-startup routines rather than sequentially after the driver attempts to start the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4470849A1Steering control device
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 JTEKT CORP
  • EP4470849A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4470849A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4470849A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A steering control device (40) includes a control circuit (41A, 42A) that controls driving of a reaction force motor (21) that generates steering reaction force that is given to a steering wheel (11), dynamic power transmission being not performed between the steering wheel (11) and a turning wheel (15) of a vehicle. The control circuit (41A, 42A) requests a vehicle control device (60) to stop operation of a powertrain in a case where a vehicle electric power source has been turned on and where exchange of information has been performed with the vehicle control device (60) so as not to follow a preset pattern. The vehicle control device (60) controls traveling of the vehicle. The powertrain includes a traveling drive source of the vehicle.