Transceiver Device Error Switching for ASIL Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, existing communication systems, such as CAN bus networks, face challenges in ensuring extended functional safety and redundancy to meet stringent ASIL-rated requirements, particularly in mitigating loss of functionality due to communication failures, which increases the overall vehicle system cost.
Innovation Solution
A transceiver device with first and second interface circuitry and selector circuitry that switches communication from the first to the second interface in response to communication errors, utilizing monitoring and diagnostics circuitry to detect and manage errors, ensuring continuous operation by switching between interfaces and providing error indications to network protocol controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant communication systems are implemented to ensure functional safety and meet ASIL-rated requirements, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the primary and redundant communication interfaces into a single transceiver device, integrating multiple functions (CAN FD and CAN XL protocols) into one unified component. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of redundancy while reducing overall system complexity and cost compared to implementing separate redundant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver device is designed with multi-functionality to support both CAN FD and CAN XL protocols through a single interface. The device can operate in different modes (single-interface or dual-interface) and automatically switch between protocols, providing universal communication capability that satisfies ASIL-rated requirements without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each protocol.
2Reliability
If redundant communication interfaces are implemented to maintain communication functionality after errors, then system availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching capability where the transceiver can automatically transition between CAN FD and CAN XL interfaces based on real-time error conditions and communication requirements. The selector circuitry dynamically selects the appropriate interface, and the device can switch operating modes on-the-fly, maintaining high availability without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple permanently active interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that manages the switching between primary and redundant interfaces. It monitors communication errors, determines when switching is necessary, and controls the transceiver's operation mode. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complexity in a single control unit rather than distributing it across multiple independent redundant systems.
3Device complexity
If single interface is used to reduce device complexity and cost, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to loss of functionality after communication errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the transceiver by allowing it to switch between different protocol modes (CAN FD and CAN XL) and operating states (single-interface and dual-interface modes). This parameter flexibility enables the system to maintain simplicity in normal operation while providing redundancy when needed, thus improving reliability without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver device is pre-configured with both CAN FD and CAN XL interface capabilities, but only activates the necessary interface based on current communication requirements. The redundant interface remains available but dormant, ready to be activated immediately upon error detection. This preliminary preparation ensures fast switching while avoiding the complexity of having both interfaces fully active simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a transceiver device, an electronic control unit and an associated method. The transceiver device is suitable for communicating between one or more network protocol controllers and a network bus and comprises: first interface circuitry configured to communicate with the one or more network protocol controllers; second interface circuitry configured to communicate with the one or more network protocol controllers; and selector circuitry configured to switch communication with the one or more network protocol controllers from the first interface circuitry to the second interface circuitry in response to a communication error in data carried on the first interface circuitry.