Vehicle Sensor Chain Auto-Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensing systems face challenges with indistinguishable CAN or CAN FD knots in vehicle networks, which complicates the configuration and calibration of sensor chains, actuators, and control devices, requiring preconfiguration of components.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensing system that employs a daisy chain topology with a calibration process to automatically determine and adjust sensor connections, eliminating the need for preconfiguration of indistinguishable components, and utilizing a diagnostic routine for sensor replacement and learning the CAN ID.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a daisy chain topology is used with multiple sensors, then the adaptability and flexibility of the sensing system is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring individual sensor identities worsens due to indistinguishable CAN knots
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration and identification actions during system initialization or sensor installation. The control unit automatically detects and stores the unique CAN ID of each sensor in the daisy chain topology before normal operation begins, eliminating the need for manual preconfiguration and resolving the identification difficulty while maintaining configuration flexibility
2Measurement precision
If manual preconfiguration of sensors is performed, then the measurement precision of sensor identification is improved, but the productivity of system setup deteriorates due to time-consuming calibration processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service calibration where each sensor in the daisy chain automatically transmits its unique CAN ID to the control unit during initialization. The control unit autonomously identifies and registers each sensor without requiring manual intervention, achieving both high identification accuracy and rapid system setup by eliminating manual preconfiguration steps
3Ease of repair
If a diagnostic routine is implemented for sensor replacement, then the ease of repair is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional calibration procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a diagnostic routine that provides feedback when a sensor is replaced. The control unit detects the removal or addition of a sensor through changes in the daisy chain communication, automatically triggers recalibration to identify the new sensor's CAN ID, and confirms successful integration. This feedback mechanism simplifies repair by making sensor replacement self-diagnosing and self-calibrating, offsetting the added complexity through automation
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing system for a vehicle includes a control and a plurality of sensors disposed at the vehicle. The plurality of sensors includes individual sensors connected as a chain of sensors to a vehicle network. Outputs of the sensors are communicated to the control, which, responsive to the outputs of the sensors, determines presence of one or more objects exterior the vehicle and within a field of sensing of at least one of the sensors. Responsive to determination that a given sensor is the last sensor in the chain of sensors, the sensing system provides a termination configuration at that sensor.