Universal Vehicle Control Device Configuration Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Control devices developed for specific vehicle environments or data transmission systems are incompatible with other systems, requiring separate configurations for each new or additional vehicle or environment, leading to increased development and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a database storing configuration data records that can be initialized and validated for different data transmission systems, allowing a single device to operate across multiple systems by selecting the appropriate configuration data record based on validation data, and switching to a minimum configuration mode for diagnostic communication if validation fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control devices are developed for specific data transmission systems, then compatibility and reliability within that system is improved, but adaptability to other systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with a universal architecture that can function across multiple data transmission systems. A single control device type is equipped with selectable configuration data records that enable it to operate reliably in different bus systems (CAN, LIN, MOST, FlexRay) without requiring system-specific hardware variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the control device through selectable configuration data records. By switching between different configuration sets stored in memory, the control device adapts its communication parameters (protocol, baud rate, message formats) to match the specific data transmission system it is connected to, maintaining reliability across different systems.
2Reliability
If separate control device versions are developed for each data transmission system, then system-specific optimization is improved, but device complexity and development cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of developing multiple specialized control device versions, the invention uses a single universal control device type that can be configured for different systems. This reduces the number of control device variants from multiple system-specific versions to one multi-compatible version with selectable configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary configuration by storing multiple sets of configuration data records in the control device's memory before operation. These pre-stored configurations include system-specific parameters and validation data, allowing the control device to quickly adapt to different data transmission systems without requiring development of new hardware versions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If configuration data records are stored for multiple systems, then adaptability is improved, but memory requirements and device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention stores multiple configuration data records that contain different parameter sets for different data transmission systems. Each configuration record includes system-specific parameters such as communication protocols, message formats, and validation data. The control device selects and activates the appropriate parameter set based on the detected system, enabling multi-system adaptability with manageable storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device is usable in a plurality of different data transmission systems in vehicles, where the control device includes a database which stores a set of configuration data records and is connected to a data transmission system selected from the plurality of data transmission systems. The control device is configured to establish data transmission between the selected data transmission system and the control device by initializing a configuration data record from the set of configuration data records. The control device is also configured to check the initialized configuration data record by receiving validation data relating to the selected data transmission system and comparing said validation data with previously-determined data-transmission-system-specific validation data stored in a memory of the control device.