Vehicle Control Device Signal Validation and Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for providing control information for driver assistance functions in vehicles often result in incomplete or invalid output data elements due to asynchronous processing of input signals, leading to potential system failures and inefficient re-mapping of signal associations, with limited ability to determine the extent of errors in input signals.

Innovation Solution

A method where input signals are validated and temporary output data elements are generated only when a complete set of validated signals is received, using unique identifiers for input signal types and output data elements, and allowing further processing before transmission to the driver assistance function, with error flagging for invalid signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If input signals are processed immediately upon receipt, then processing speed is improved, but output data elements become invalid due to incomplete input sets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing speedVSAvoidoutput data validity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by checking the completeness of the input signal set before processing begins. The control device determines whether all required input signals have been received and validates them before generating output data elements, ensuring that processing only occurs when complete valid input is available, thus preventing invalid outputs while maintaining efficient processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If individual input signals are deleted from the mapping table, then table maintenance flexibility is improved, but the entire table must be remapped otherwise mapping becomes incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal mapping flexibilityVSAvoidmapping table complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the mapping table into signal-type-specific sections rather than a single monolithic table. Each input signal type has its own dedicated mapping section, allowing individual signal mappings to be modified independently without requiring remapping of the entire table, thus reducing complexity while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality through a standardized mapping structure that can handle multiple input signal types using a common framework. The mapping table is designed to accommodate different signal types with consistent formatting and processing rules, allowing the same table structure to serve multiple functions for various signal types without requiring separate custom mappings for each

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If error information is limited to generic fault indicators, then system simplicity is improved, but error diagnosis capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror reporting simplicityVSAvoiderror detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing a detailed error information generation mechanism that provides specific diagnostic data about faulty input signals. When validation fails, the system generates comprehensive error information including which specific signal is faulty and the nature of the fault, feeding this back to enable precise error diagnosis while maintaining clear structured reporting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3644144B1Method for providing control information for a driver assistance function
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP3644144B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3644144B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3644144B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing control information for a vehicle's driver assistance function by means of a control device. In this method, a signal input of the control device is connected to a signal source, and a signal output of the control device is connected to a device implementing the driver assistance function. The control device has a data storage unit in which an assignment is stored that maps the input signal types received from the signal source to the respective output data elements.The method includes receiving input signals from the signal source via the signal input of the control device, validating the received input signals, determining temporary values ​​for the output data elements from the input signals assigned to the output data elements according to the assignment, setting the respective temporary values ​​as values ​​of the corresponding output data elements if at least one input signal has been received for each type of input signal and all input signals have been validated, and providing the output data elements as control information for the device implementing the driver assistance function.