Vehicle Control Circuit Synchronization After Power Latch Shutdown

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Solution Overview

Problem

In steer-by-wire systems with multiple control circuits, power latch control during vehicle shutdown can lead to mismatched restart timings due to wiring resistance differences, causing unintentional state transitions when the vehicle is powered on.

Innovation Solution

A control device for vehicles with multiple control circuits that performs synchronization processes and power latch control, delaying synchronization until all circuits are fully operational, preventing unintentional state transitions by avoiding synchronization during power-on periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control arithmetic units perform power latch control individually with vehicle powering-off as trigger, then each unit can maintain operation during shutdown, but mismatched restart timings occur due to wiring resistance differences causing unintentional state transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation continuity during power latch controlVSAvoidsynchronization precision of restart timings
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power latch control functions of multiple control arithmetic units into a single centralized control unit. This unified control unit manages power latch control for all control arithmetic units, ensuring synchronized operation and eliminating timing mismatches caused by individual unit control. The centralized approach guarantees that all control arithmetic units restart simultaneously, preventing unintentional state transitions while maintaining operation continuity during power latch control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If control arithmetic units are restarted after determining vehicle powering-on, then system can resume operation, but timing mismatches occur due to wiring resistance differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem restart efficiencyVSAvoidrestart timing synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized control unit continuously monitors the power state of the vehicle through feedback signals from all control arithmetic units. When the vehicle is powered on, the centralized control unit receives feedback from each control arithmetic unit and coordinates their restart sequence accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that all control arithmetic units restart simultaneously despite wiring resistance differences, maintaining both restart efficiency and timing synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If synchronization process is performed immediately after vehicle powering-on, then operation modes can be coordinated, but unintentional state transitions occur due to mismatched operational states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation mode coordinationVSAvoidstate transition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized control unit performs preliminary coordination of operation modes before the actual synchronization process. It pre-checks the operational state of each control arithmetic unit and prepares the synchronization sequence in advance. This preliminary action ensures that all control arithmetic units are in compatible states before synchronization begins, preventing unintentional state transitions while achieving stable operation mode coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4166423B1Control device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 DENSO CORP
  • EP4166423B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4166423B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4166423B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control device for a vehicle includes a plurality of control circuits configured to control a control object in cooperation or in combination by starting with powering-on of a vehicle as a trigger. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured to perform a synchronization process and power latch control. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured to maintain the operation mode immediately before the vehicle has been powered off in a period in which the power latch control is being performed. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured not to perform the synchronization process in a predetermined period when the vehicle has been powered on.