Vehicle Control Unit Failsafe Logic Modularization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems require individual development of failure determination logics for each combination of car types and product destinations, making it inefficient to reuse failure determination logic across different hardware configurations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that determines functional failure levels based on combinations of broken hardware, allowing for the isolation and reuse of failure determination logic, thereby simplifying the development and implementation of failsafe functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If failure determination logics are individually developed for each combination of car types and product destinations, then the accuracy of failure determination is improved, but the development time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure determination accuracyVSAvoidsoftware development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The failure determination logic is segmented into modular components: hardware failure detection units for individual components, and a functional failure determination unit that integrates these detections. This modular structure allows the same modules to be reused across different car types and product destinations, reducing development complexity while maintaining determination accuracy through proper composition of modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal failure determination modules that can function across multiple car types and product destinations. The hardware failure detection units and functional failure determination logic are designed as reusable components that adapt to different configurations through parameter settings rather than requiring complete redevelopment, thus achieving both accuracy and reusability.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware configurations are changed according to car types and product destinations, then the adaptability of the vehicle control system is improved, but the reuse of failure determination logic becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehardware configuration adaptabilityVSAvoidsoftware reuse ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates hardware-specific failure detection units from the overall functional failure determination logic. Each hardware component has its own detection unit that can be independently configured, while the integration logic remains universal. This segmentation enables easy adaptation to different hardware configurations without requiring changes to the core determination methodology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes to adapt the failure determination system to different hardware configurations. By modifying parameters such as detection thresholds, component identifiers, and failure criteria rather than changing the underlying logic structure, the system maintains high reuse capability across different car types and product destinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9274511B2Failsafe operation of vehicle electronic control unit
Publication Date: 2016.03.01 ASTEMO LTD
  • US9274511B2 patent drawing
  • US9274511B2 patent drawing
  • US9274511B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In the present invention, on the basis of the results of determining whether or not a constituent element of a vehicle control device is malfunctioning, the malfunction determination logic for determining whether or not the vehicle control device as a whole is malfunctioning is caused to be easily reusable. This vehicle control device determines the level of functional malfunction of the vehicle control device on the basis of what combination of hardware configuring the vehicle control device is malfunctioning, and executes a failsafe function that is in accordance with the level of functional malfunction (see FIG. 5).