Vehicle Controller With Shared Motherboard for Cockpit and Driving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional intelligent driving and cockpit hardware in electric vehicles are separate components, leading to high overall hardware costs and inconvenient maintenance and upgrading due to lack of deep electronic and electrical integration.

Innovation Solution

A controller comprising an intelligent cockpit daughter board, an intelligent driving daughter board, a mother board, and an intermediate plate, with heat dissipation features and connectors for efficient cooling and maintenance access, allowing for shared components and simplified installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If intelligent driving hardware and intelligent cockpit hardware are arranged separately, then each component can be independently designed and manufactured, but the overall hardware cost increases and maintenance and upgrading become inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent design and manufacturing capabilityVSAvoidOverall hardware cost and system integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines intelligent driving hardware and intelligent cockpit hardware into a single integrated controller unit. The controller includes a mother board with processing units, a daughter board with sensors and actuators, and a power supply unit, all integrated into one compact structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate independent controllers, reducing overall hardware cost and simplifying maintenance while maintaining independent design capabilities through modular board architectures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If intelligent driving hardware and intelligent cockpit hardware are arranged separately, then each component can function independently, but deep electronic and electrical integration is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent component functionalityVSAvoidElectronic and electrical integration capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller employs a segmented modular architecture where the mother board contains processing units for intelligent driving functions, the daughter board houses sensors and actuators for cockpit functions, and the power supply unit provides dedicated power management. These segmented modules are electronically integrated through standardized connectors and communication interfaces, enabling deep integration while preserving independent functionality of each segment for easier maintenance and upgrading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If separate hardware components are used for intelligent driving and cockpit functions, then system reliability can be maintained through component independence, but maintenance and upgrading become inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSystem reliability through component independenceVSAvoidMaintenance and upgrading convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The controller implements a dynamic modular design where the daughter board can be easily detached from the mother board through standardized connectors. This dynamic interface allows maintenance personnel to access and replace specific components (such as sensors or processing units) without disassembling the entire controller, significantly improving maintenance convenience while maintaining system reliability through hot-swappable modular components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces hardware costs and facilitates easier maintenance and upgrading by integrating intelligent driving and cockpit functions, improving thermal management and reducing installation complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the heat dissipation cover plate being provided with a cooling pipeline

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heat dissipation cover plate being provided with a cooling pipeline

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the boss being capable of passing through the intermediate plate and being connected to the bottom cover by means of a heat-conducting adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4366478A1Controller and vehicle comprisin the controller
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 NIO TECH ANHUI CO LTD
  • EP4366478A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4366478A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4366478A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A controller of the disclosure comprises an intelligent cockpit daughter board, an intelligent driving daughter board, a mother board and an intermediate plate, the intelligent cockpit daughter board and the intelligent driving daughter board being provided with an intelligent cockpit chip and an intelligent driving chip respectively, the intelligent cockpit daughter board and the intelligent driving daughter board being arranged on one side of the intermediate plate, and the mother board being arranged on the other side of the intermediate plate. According to the controller of the disclosure, an intelligent cockpit core chip and an intelligent driving core chip are respectively arranged on two daughter boards, and the two daughter boards share one mother board, which is more convenient for maintenance and upgrading.