Vehicle Coding Cluster Structure for Plausibility Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing vehicle variants require complex and error-prone configuration of control units, lack sufficient safety integrity for critical properties like rated torque and drive type, and do not effectively perform plausibility checks on vehicle component coding.
Innovation Solution
A method involving cluster structure creation, where objects are divided into clusters, subclusters, and variant subclusters, allowing for control units to operate multiple vehicle variants with increased safety integrity by validating coding without generating separate release states for each variant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate release states are created for each vehicle variant, then coding precision and safety integrity are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal control unit that can operate multiple vehicle variants through a single release state. The control unit is designed with generic coding structures that can accommodate different vehicle configurations (e.g., drive types, torque ratings) without requiring separate release states for each variant. This multi-functional approach maintains coding precision while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coding structure into hierarchical levels (e.g., cluster structures, subclusters, variant subclusters) that allow different vehicle variants to be organized within a single release state. This segmentation enables the control unit to distinguish between different vehicle types through structured data organization rather than through multiple release states, thereby maintaining precision while reducing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control units are personalized for predetermined vehicle variants, then adaptability to specific variants is improved, but ease of manufacture and configuration time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit incorporates self-identification capabilities through the cluster structure, automatically determining the vehicle variant type through generic coding checks rather than requiring external personalization configuration. The control unit can identify its applicable variant subcluster through automated plausibility checks of the coding structure, eliminating the need for manual personalization efforts while maintaining full adaptability to different vehicle variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-structures the control unit with a hierarchical cluster framework that is prepared in advance to accommodate multiple vehicle variants. This preliminary structuring includes predefined cluster templates and coding validation rules that enable the control unit to automatically adapt to different variants without requiring configuration during manufacturing or deployment.
3Reliability
If multiple release states are maintained for different variants, then coding reliability is improved, but productivity and cost-effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal release state that serves multiple vehicle variants simultaneously through a hierarchical cluster structure. The control unit can reliably distinguish between different variants (e.g., AWD vs. FWD, different torque ratings) within this single release state by evaluating the structured coding hierarchy, thereby maintaining coding reliability while eliminating the need for multiple release states and improving production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple variant-specific coding requirements into a unified cluster structure within a single release state. By combining the identification and validation of multiple vehicle variants into one integrated coding framework, the system maintains the reliability needed to distinguish between variants while improving productivity by eliminating the overhead of managing multiple separate release states.
4Reliability
If plausibility checks are performed on vehicle component coding, then safety integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements plausibility checks through a segmented hierarchical cluster structure that breaks down the coding validation into manageable levels (clusters, subclusters, variant subclusters). This segmentation allows the control unit to perform safety-critical plausibility checks on specific portions of the coding hierarchy rather than requiring a monolithic validation system, thereby improving safety integrity while managing system complexity through modular validation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Specific technical properties have the need to be protected in a special manner, so that no deliberate and/or undeliberate faulty coding can occur and a vehicle owner cannot release non-acquired technical properties/features. For this purpose, it is proposed to allow a plausibilization of a vehicle component coding using a cluster structure (10). In order to plausibilize the coding, a combination is used, consisting of a defined variant clustering and a function, which infers a correct coding on the basis of plausibilized transmission ratios with a high safety integrity level.