Vehicle E/E Architecture with Interface Control for X-by-Wire Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing X-by-wire systems in motor vehicles require a high number of components due to redundancy in control units, leading to complex interdependencies and inefficiencies in manufacturing, particularly in autonomously operated vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An electrical/electronic architecture with an interface control unit and electronic computing device that allows direct communication between sensors and actuators, using a reduced number of components and a 'top-down' approach, enabling scalable and fault-tolerant operation through self-diagnosis and fail-silent modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy of active chains is performed by duplicating control units according to prior art, then availability and safety are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges sensor device communication through the interface control unit rather than duplicating control units for each sensor. Multiple sensor devices share a common interface control unit, reducing the total number of control units while maintaining redundant communication paths for safety-critical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface control unit serves multiple functions: it communicates with multiple sensor devices, performs self-diagnosis, and manages data routing. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for dedicated control units for each sensor, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If control units are duplicated to ensure availability, then safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity and component quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor communications through a single interface control unit, reducing the number of control units from multiple duplicates to a shared architecture. This merging reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining safety through the unit's self-diagnosis capabilities and redundant communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface control unit performs self-diagnosis to detect malfunctions in sensor devices and communication chains. This self-service capability maintains safety monitoring without requiring additional external diagnostic control units, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring safety.
3Device complexity
If a reduced number of components is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication speed and control quality may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The interface control unit acts as an intermediary between sensor devices and the electronic computing device. It consolidates communication from multiple sensors through a single high-speed interface, maintaining fast communication speeds while reducing the total number of direct connections required between sensors and the computing device.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric/electronic architecture for a motor vehicle includes an electronic computing device for communicating with at least one actuator of the motor vehicle. The electric/electronic architecture has an interface controller which is contacted by at least one sensor device of the motor vehicle and the electronic computing device, wherein the at least one actuator directly communicates with the electronic computing device, and the at least one sensor device directly communicates with the interface controller.