Straddled Vehicle Controller Layout for Noise Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Straddled vehicles with multiplex communication lines and engine units face challenges in suppressing upsizing while minimizing noise interference, as existing solutions that isolate the communication line from noise sources are limited by the vehicle's narrow width and the need to accommodate engine and transmission control motors.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves arranging the power lines connecting the second drive circuit to the transmission control motor or engine motor shorter than the multiplex communication line, allowing for elongation of the communication line to improve the layout freedom of the first controller and reduce noise generation without relocating the communication line away from noise sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the multiplex communication line is provided at a location remote from noise sources (battery device and regulator), then noise influence on the communication line is suppressed, but the vehicle size increases due to limited layout freedom from narrow vehicle width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise influence on multiplex communication lineVSAvoidvehicle size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the second controller connected to high-current devices (engine motor or transmission control motor) and positions it adjacent to the battery device, separating it from the multiplex communication line. This extraction allows the communication line to be routed away from noise sources without increasing overall vehicle size, as the controller placement optimizes space utilization near the battery rather than requiring remote positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and three-dimensional space around the battery device for controller placement. By positioning the second controller in the spatial region adjacent to the battery device (which has layout freedom), the design achieves noise suppression without extending the vehicle's external dimensions, effectively using unused spatial volume rather than increasing vehicle envelope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If controllers connected to engine motor or transmission control motor are positioned away from the multiplex communication line to suppress noise, then communication line integrity is improved, but layout flexibility is reduced and vehicle size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiplex communication line integrityVSAvoidlayout flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different positioning strategies for different controllers based on their functional characteristics. The second controller connected to high-current devices is positioned locally adjacent to the battery device where noise isolation is achieved through proximity to the power source rather than distance from communication lines. This localized quality approach maintains layout flexibility while ensuring communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The battery device serves as an intermediary spatial anchor that enables optimal positioning of the second controller. By using the battery device's location as a reference point for controller placement, the design achieves both noise suppression and layout flexibility, as the battery's position naturally provides separation from communication lines while maintaining accessible mounting locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the power line connecting the second drive circuit to the engine motor or transmission control motor is made shorter to suppress noise generation, then noise influence on communication line is reduced, but the design complexity increases due to constrained wiring layout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise generation from power linesVSAvoidwiring layout complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary positioning of the second controller adjacent to the battery device during the design phase, which pre-determines the power line routing path. This preliminary action ensures that the power line connecting the second drive circuit to the engine motor or transmission control motor remains as short as possible, suppressing noise generation while avoiding complex wiring layouts through upfront spatial planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3978347B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3978347B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(d)
  • EP3978347B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(f)
  • EP3978347B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine unit (40) of a straddled vehicle (1) includes an engine (20) and is supported by a vehicle body frame (7). The straddled vehicle (1) includes at least one first controller (50) including a first communication device (51) and a first drive circuit (52) and at least one second controller (60) including a second communication device (61) and a second drive circuit (62), which are connected by a multiplex communication line (55). The length (Lm) of a power line (71a) between the second drive circuit (62) and a transmission control motor (71) connected to the second drive circuit (62) and the length (Lg) of a power line (80a) between the second drive circuit (62) and at least one engine motor (80) connected to the second drive circuit (62) are shorter than the length (Lb) of a power line (72a) between the second drive circuit (62) and a battery device (72) connected to the second drive circuit (62). The length (Lc) of a multiplex communication line (55) between the first communication device (51) and the second communication device (61) is longer than the lengths (Lm) and (Lg).