Automatic Termination Resistor Control for In-Vehicle Network Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machines face cumbersome operations when attaching or detaching implements, requiring frequent reconfiguration of termination resistors in their in-vehicle networks, which involves manual switching and additional unit connections, leading to inefficient communication stability.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a switch part and control part that automatically connects or disconnects termination resistors from the in-vehicle network based on stored commands and identification information, allowing easy reconfiguration without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual switching is used to reconfigure termination resistors when implements are attached or detached, then the termination resistor can be switched between valid and invalid states, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of termination resistor reconfigurationVSAvoidtime for manual switching operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller automatically determines whether the termination resistor should be valid or invalid based on its own identification information and the identification information of other controllers on the in-vehicle network. The control unit automatically switches the manual switch without requiring operator intervention, making the system self-configuring and eliminating manual reconfiguration steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical switching operation with an automated electronic control system. The control unit uses electronic comparison of identification information to automatically actuate the manual switch, substituting mechanical manual operation with electronic automation and information processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If additional units with termination resistors are prepared for detachment scenarios, then communication stability can be maintained, but the device complexity and preparation requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of termination resistor configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed with universal functionality to handle both attachment and detachment scenarios. By equipping each controller with identification information and automatic determination capability, the system eliminates the need for different configurations or additional units. The same controller can adapt to different network configurations automatically, making the system multi-functional and reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the termination resistor dynamically based on the controller's position in the network. Instead of fixed configurations requiring additional units, the termination resistor's validity state changes as a parameter based on identification information comparison, allowing the same hardware to serve different functional roles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3113430B1Electronic device, work machine, and management system for termination resistances
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3113430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3113430B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3113430B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To easily perform setting (connection and non-connection) of a termination resistor. An electronic device (2) configured to be connected to an in-vehicle network of a working machine (1) and to work for the working machine (1), includes: a termination resistor (4) configured to be connected to the in-vehicle network; a switch part (5) configured to be switched between a connection state where the termination resistor (4) is connected to the in-vehicle network and a non-connection state where the termination resistor (4) is not connected to the in-vehicle network; and a control part (6) configured to control an switching operation of the switch part (5).