Vehicle Sensor Communication Modules for Reduced Wiring Harnesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of wiring harnesses increases with the number of sensor devices in vehicles, leading to complicated wiring and inefficient data communication between sensor devices and signal processing units.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle communication device with multiple communication modules and a signal processing device that utilize high-speed connectors and switches to efficiently transmit signals between sensor devices and the signal processing unit, reducing the length and number of wiring harnesses while enabling high-speed data communication across different operating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of sensor devices is increased, then the sensing capability and functionality of the vehicle is improved, but the length and complexity of wiring harnesses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle into multiple communication areas (first area, second area, third area) with communication modules disposed at each area. Each communication module independently receives signals from sensor devices in its local area and transmits them to the signal processing device, eliminating the need for long wiring harnesses spanning the entire vehicle. This segmentation of the communication system into distributed modules directly addresses the wiring complexity issue while maintaining comprehensive sensing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a multi-dimensional communication architecture by implementing communication modules at different spatial locations (front, rear, sides) and establishing communication paths through multiple dimensions rather than relying on single-dimensional wiring harnesses. The first communication module, second communication module, and third communication module are positioned at different areas and communicate with the signal processing device through diverse routing paths, effectively reducing wiring complexity while expanding sensing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of sensor devices is increased, then the sensing capability is improved, but the wiring length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent communication modules positioned at different vehicle areas. Each module handles local sensor communications independently, so wiring is confined to local areas rather than spanning the entire vehicle. This segmentation dramatically reduces total wiring length while maintaining the ability to connect numerous sensor devices across the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
Communication modules serve as intermediary devices between sensor devices and the signal processing device. Instead of direct wiring from each sensor to the central processing device (which would require long wiring harnesses), the communication modules act as local intermediaries that receive signals from nearby sensors and forward them to the signal processing device, effectively shortening the wiring path.
3Productivity
If high-speed data communication is implemented between virtual machines operating on different operating systems, then the data processing efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing device is designed with universal communication capabilities that can interface with multiple virtual machines running on different operating systems. The communication modules use standardized communication protocols that are OS-agnostic, allowing the same hardware infrastructure to support diverse software environments. This universality enables high-speed data communication across different OS platforms without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional hardware-based communication architectures with software-based virtual machine communication. Instead of requiring separate physical communication paths for each processing task, the system uses virtualization to create multiple virtual machines that share the same physical communication infrastructure. This substitution of mechanical/physical systems with software-based solutions enables efficient inter-VM communication while reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle communication device including a plurality of communication modules disposed at a plurality of areas of a vehicle, the plurality of communication modules being configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensor devices mounted to the vehicle, and a signal processing device disposed between the areas of the vehicle, wherein each communication module includes a first connector configured to receive signals from some of the plurality of sensor devices at a first communication speed, a second connector configured to communicate with the signal processing device at a second communication speed, and an Ethernet switch configured to perform switching. Accordingly, wiring harnesses between the plurality of sensor devices and the signal processing device may be simply implemented.