Trailer ECU Configuration via Machine-Readable Data Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for configuring electronic control units of motor vehicle trailers are time-consuming and error-prone, requiring manual data entry by manufacturers or workshops, and often utilize only a limited set of available data for chassis systems and components, leading to suboptimal control and potential configuration errors.
Innovation Solution
The method involves equipping chassis systems and components with machine-readable data carriers that store configuration data, allowing for automatic or manual transmission and use of this data to configure the control unit, enabling the use of more comprehensive data sets for optimal trailer control and maintaining compliance with specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual data entry is used to configure the control unit, then the configuration process can be completed with basic tools, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data entry with automated electronic data reading from machine-readable data carriers (such as RFID tags, barcodes, or data matrices) attached to chassis components. This substitution eliminates manual typing and form filling, thereby reducing configuration time while maintaining process simplicity through standardized reading interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis components themselves carry their own identification and specification data on attached data carriers. When the control unit reads this data, the components effectively provide their own configuration information without requiring external manual input, enabling self-service configuration that reduces both time and potential for human error.
2Device complexity
If manual data entry is used to configure the control unit, then equipment complexity remains low, but configuration errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing manual data entry with automated electronic reading from machine-readable carriers, the system achieves higher configuration accuracy. The electronic reading process is more reliable than manual typing, as it eliminates transcription errors, misreading of handwritten notes, and data entry mistakes, while the added complexity is minimal and confined to the reading interface.
3Device complexity
If only limited data is used for configuration, then the configuration process remains simple, but control optimization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The machine-readable data carriers are designed to store multiple types of information simultaneously, including chassis component identification, specification data, and optimization parameters. This multi-functional data carrier allows the system to process comprehensive data sets for optimized control without requiring separate configuration processes for different data types, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through a unified approach.
4Ease of manufacture
If preconfigured control units from suppliers are used, then configuration data is readily available, but assignment matching becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The machine-readable data carrier attached to each chassis component acts as an intermediary that contains unique identification data. This intermediary enables automatic matching between the physical component and its corresponding preconfigured control unit data, eliminating the time-consuming manual assignment process while maintaining the benefit of having preconfigured units ready for installation.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for configuring an electronic control unit (140) of a motor vehicle trailer using specific data for the chassis systems and/or chassis components which are installed on the motor vehicle trailer. It is provided that a chassis system (131) and/or at least one chassis component are/is equipped with at least one machine-readable data carrier (160) in which data which can be used for configuring the control unit (140) are stored, wherein, in order to configure the control unit (140), this data carrier (160) is read out and the data stored therein are transferred to the control unit (140). The invention also relates to a chassis system, a chassis component and a motor vehicle trailer.