Unified Vehicle Safety Controller for Multi-Protocol Aftermarket Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple aftermarket vehicle safety systems into a single vehicle is inefficient due to disparate communication protocols, proprietary software, and lack of compatibility between different systems, leading to costly, wasteful, and unsustainable installations.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a controller with multiple connection interfaces and a single display that can connect to various vehicle monitoring devices, allowing for data communication, processing, and output generation, while enabling remote configuration and firmware updates, thereby facilitating the integration of aftermarket and OEM systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate aftermarket safety systems are installed in a vehicle, then each system can provide its specific safety function, but the system complexity increases and compatibility issues arise due to disparate communication protocols and proprietary software
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate safety systems into a single integrated system where multiple sensors and monitoring devices connect to one controller box. This unified architecture merges previously separate systems that had disparate communication protocols and proprietary software into a single platform that can handle multiple safety functions through a common interface and standardized protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller box is designed with universal functionality to support multiple types of safety systems through a single interface. It can accommodate various sensors (radar, cameras, LIDAR, ultrasonic) and implement multiple safety functions (collision avoidance, blind spot detection, lane keeping) through standardized communication protocols rather than requiring separate dedicated controllers for each function.
2Reliability
If multiple separate safety systems with proprietary software are installed, then each system can be optimized for its specific function, but software upgrading and configuration becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the proprietary software limitations from individual safety systems and consolidates them into a single unified software platform in the controller box. This allows the software to be updated, configured, and maintained centrally rather than requiring separate software upgrades for each individual safety system, making the process easier and more cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic software that can be remotely updated and reconfigured to adapt to new safety requirements, sensor types, and communication protocols. This dynamic software architecture allows the system to evolve and improve over time without requiring physical hardware changes or complex multi-software management.
3Reliability
If multiple separate safety systems are installed, then comprehensive vehicle monitoring is achieved, but installation cost and environmental impact increase due to inefficiency and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple safety systems into a single integrated platform that provides comprehensive vehicle monitoring through one controller box and one display interface. This consolidation maintains complete safety monitoring coverage while eliminating the need for multiple separate installations, reducing installation time, labor costs, and environmental impact from waste reduction.
4Reliability
If separate controller boxes and displays are used for each safety system, then each system can operate independently, but the number of components increases leading to higher costs and more points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate controller boxes and displays into a single unified controller box that manages all safety systems through one centralized interface. This single controller box maintains independent operation of each safety function through software modularization while physically consolidating components to reduce the total number of parts, connection points, and potential failure sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for installing, operating and configuring aftermarket vehicle monitoring devices in a vehicle comprising a controller located in a housing. The controller includes a plurality of connection interfaces corresponding to data communication protocols for connecting to one or more vehicle monitoring devices of a vehicle and a memory storing instructions executable by a processor of the controller to process inputs received from the one or more vehicle monitoring devices and generate outputs based on the inputs. The controller is configured to receive commands from a remote device to configure the one or more vehicle monitoring devices connected to the controller.