Vehicle Computer VIN Digit Verification for Emission Standard Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle computer systems face challenges in ensuring correct exhaust gas coding and preventing the selection of less stringent emission standards, which can lead to improper vehicle operation and environmental emissions.

Innovation Solution

A method that reads specific digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN) and uses a characteristic map to determine the affiliation of a vehicle to a particular exhaust gas standard, ensuring the correct emission standard is applied by comparing the VIN digits with stored characteristic values, and if necessary, forcing the selection of the stricter standard to prevent operation with a less stringent standard.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple emission standards are stored in the vehicle computer for different regions and vehicle types, then the vehicle computer becomes adaptable to various markets and vehicle configurations, but the risk of incorrect encoding or manipulation of the emission standard increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different emission standardsVSAvoidcorrectness of emission standard encoding
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of the emission standard by checking the VIN code against a characteristic map before allowing the vehicle to operate. This advance check prevents incorrect emission standards from being applied, resolving the contradiction between storing multiple standards for adaptability and ensuring correct encoding for reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A characteristic map serving as an intermediary is introduced between the stored emission standards and the vehicle operation. This map uses VIN code digits as keys to determine the correct emission standard, acting as a mediator that ensures the appropriate standard is selected based on vehicle identification, thus maintaining both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the emission standard is determined solely by storing and checking the vehicle identification number (VIN) in the vehicle computer, then the determination process becomes simple and quick, but the system becomes vulnerable to intentional or accidental manipulation of the VIN or coding table

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of emission standard determinationVSAvoidresistance to manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by checking the VIN against the characteristic map before operation, ensuring that the emission standard is correctly determined through a predefined verification process rather than direct trust in stored data, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a strict verification process is implemented to ensure correct emission standard encoding, then the reliability of emission standard application is improved, but the complexity of the vehicle computer system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrectness of emission standard applicationVSAvoidcomplexity of verification system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification process is performed preliminarily during system initialization or vehicle startup rather than continuously during operation. This approach ensures reliable emission standard determination while minimizing the complexity burden during actual vehicle operation, as the verification logic is executed only when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The characteristic map serves as a simplified intermediary structure that reduces verification complexity. By organizing emission standard determination through a straightforward key-value mapping of VIN digits to emission standards, the system achieves reliable verification without requiring complex algorithms or multiple verification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3073438B1Method for determining the affiliation of a vehicle to an emission standard and vehicle computer
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3073438B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3073438B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3073438B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a vehicle computer (14) for determining whether a vehicle belongs to an emissions standard from a group of emissions standards, comprising a first and a second emissions standard. The method comprises the steps: (a) reading a first, second, and third digit or first, second, and third group of digits (S1, S2, S3) of a stored vehicle identification number (VIN), (b) providing a map (MV) which assigns to the first digit or first group of digits (S1) and the second digit or second group of digits (S2) of the vehicle identification number (VIN) such characteristic values ​​(KW) of the third digit or third group of digits (S3) of vehicle identification numbers (VINs) that identify a vehicle belonging to the first emissions standard, (c) comparing the read third digit or third group of digits (S3) of the vehicle identification number (VIN) with the characteristic value (KW) from the map (MV).that is assigned to the read first digit or first group of digits (S1) and the read second digit or second group of digits (S2) of the vehicle identification number (VIN), and (d) determine, depending on a detected match or mismatch between the characteristic value (KW) of the map (KF) and the read third digit or third group of digits (S3) of the vehicle identification number (VIN), whether the vehicle belongs to the first emission standard or not.