Vehicle Sensor Time Synchronization via Intermediary Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional environment models produced from sensor data lack synchronization across different sensor units, leading to inaccuracies and increased technical effort in data processing and model development.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for providing a synchronized time signal to sensor units, allowing for temporally defined environment detection and data collection, which can be shared across vehicles, enabling the creation of a synchronized environment model.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensor data from multiple sensor units are amalgamated to produce environment models, then the representation accuracy of the real world is improved, but the synchronization complexity and technical effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment model accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A time server acts as an intermediary component that provides centralized time synchronization to all sensor units. The time server generates and distributes time signals that coordinate the operation of multiple sensor units, enabling synchronized data acquisition without requiring complex peer-to-peer synchronization protocols in each sensor unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The time signal serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides timestamping for data synchronization, coordinates triggering of sensor acquisitions, and enables temporal correlation across different sensor types and vehicles. This universal time reference eliminates the need for separate synchronization mechanisms for different data streams.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If heterogeneous sensor data from multiple vehicles are combined, then the completeness of the environment model is improved, but the coordination effort and communication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment model completenessVSAvoidcoordination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Time synchronization is established in advance before actual sensor data acquisition begins. The time server pre-configures the temporal reference framework that all sensor units will use, allowing subsequent data collection from multiple vehicles to proceed without real-time negotiation or coordination delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If each sensor unit operates independently without centralized time synchronization, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the temporal consistency of sensor data deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidtemporal consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11587328B2Method for operating a sensor unit of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH

AI summary

A method for operating a sensor unit of a vehicle. The method includes providing a time signal for the sensor unit of a first vehicle, it also being possible to provide the time signal for at least one sensor unit of a second vehicle, and controlling sensor devices of the sensor unit using the time signal for detecting an environment of the vehicle in a temporally defined manner; and providing the detected environment data.