Vehicle Electronic Control Apparatus with Segmented Microcomputer Power Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic control apparatuses for vehicles with multiple microcomputers face inefficiencies in power consumption and reliability due to the inability to selectively activate individual microcomputers based on control situations, leading to unnecessary power usage and potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control apparatus with a main microcomputer and a sub-microcomputer, where the main microcomputer determines and controls the power supply to the sub-microcomputer through separate power supply units, allowing for three operational states: both stopped, main active and sub inactive, or both active, thereby optimizing power usage and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common power line is used to supply power to multiple microcomputers through a power supply IC, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to selectively activate individual microcomputers is lost, resulting in increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply circuit complexityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the common power line into separate power supply lines for each microcomputer. The power supply IC is segmented to provide independent power control to each microcomputer through individual power lines, enabling selective activation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic power control by enabling the power supply IC to selectively supply power to individual microcomputers based on activation conditions. The main microcomputer can dynamically control the power state of sub-microcomputers, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If continuous power is supplied to all microcomputers to ensure they can operate independently, then the reliability and operational flexibility are improved, but unnecessary power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary power control where the main microcomputer determines in advance whether sub-microcomputers need to be activated based on activation conditions. Power is supplied to sub-microcomputers only when necessary, preventing unnecessary energy loss while ensuring reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The main microcomputer serves itself and other sub-microcomputers by making intelligent decisions about power allocation. The system uses self-monitoring capabilities to determine when sub-microcomputers should be active, enabling automatic power management that reduces energy loss while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If reset signals are continuously supplied to stop sub-microcomputer operation, then only the main microcomputer operates saving power, but the sub-microcomputer remains powered causing useless power consumption by pull-up and pull-down resistors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpower control reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the power supply control function from the reset signal mechanism. Instead of using reset signals to control operation state, the system uses separate power line control to completely cut off power to sub-microcomputers when not needed, eliminating the useless power consumption by pull-up and pull-down resistors that occurs with reset signal approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If separate power supply lines are used for each microcomputer, then selective activation capability is improved, but the device complexity and circuit components increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective activation capabilityVSAvoidpower supply circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply IC is designed with multi-functionality to handle both common power distribution and selective individual power control through separate power lines. This universal design enables the same power supply component to serve multiple microcomputers independently without requiring entirely separate power supply circuits for each, thus improving selective activation capability while limiting the increase in overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8281167B2Electronic control apparatus provided with plural microcomputers for electronically controlling electronic devices mounted in vehicle

Publication Date: 2012.10.02 DENSO CORP

AI summary

In an electronic control apparatus for vehicles, there is provided a main microcomputer activated when a given activation condition is met and a sub-microcomputer to which a power control signal controlling power supply to the sub-microcomputer is supplied. A first power supply unit supplies, via a first supply line, power supply voltage to the main microcomputer for activation, and a second power supply unit supplies, via a second supply line different from the first supply line, power supply voltage to the sub-microcomputer for activation when the sub-microcomputer receives the power control signal. The main microcomputer determines whether or not the sub-microcomputer should be made to operate and performs a switchover between output and non-output of the power control signal to the second power supply unit based on the determined results, whereby the power supply to the sub-microcomputer is controlled.