Time synchronization method and apparatus for vehicle-mounted device, vehicle-mounted device, and storage medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Signal time synchronization issues between vehicle-mounted devices in intelligent driving systems lead to positioning errors, affecting the safety of autonomous driving.

Innovation Solution

A time synchronization method involving coarse time alignment and Kalman filter-based error correction is employed to synchronize vehicle-mounted devices, utilizing communication data generation and receiving times to calculate synchronization times without requiring hardware changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If hardware-based time synchronization is implemented, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidhardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hardware-based time synchronization mechanisms with a software-based solution using Kalman filter algorithms. The method uses communication data timestamps and computational filtering to achieve time synchronization without additional hardware components, thereby substituting mechanical/physical systems with information-processing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from fixed hardware timing to dynamic software-based time calculation. By using Kalman filter to continuously estimate and adjust synchronization parameters based on communication data, the system adapts time synchronization to actual transmission conditions rather than relying on predetermined hardware timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If hardware-based time synchronization is implemented, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but implementation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidimplementation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive hardware time synchronization components with software-based Kalman filter processing. This substitution eliminates the need for additional hardware infrastructure while achieving comparable or superior synchronization accuracy through algorithmic computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses readily available communication data timestamps that are already generated during normal device operation. Instead of requiring expensive dedicated synchronization hardware, the system repurposes existing communication protocols and data structures for time synchronization purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If coarse time alignment is performed first, then synchronization stability is improved, but total synchronization time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization stabilityVSAvoidsynchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs coarse time alignment as a preliminary step before applying Kalman filter refinement. This preliminary action establishes a stable baseline synchronization state, which then allows the more sophisticated Kalman filter to focus on fine-tuning rather than working from scratch, ultimately reducing total processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the time synchronization process into two distinct stages: coarse time alignment and Kalman filter-based fine synchronization. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for its specific function, with coarse alignment providing quick initial synchronization and the filter providing precise long-term stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12500681B2Time synchronization method and apparatus for vehicle-mounted device, vehicle-mounted device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.16 GUANGZHOU ASENSING TECH CO LTD
  • US12500681B2 patent drawing
  • US12500681B2 patent drawing
  • US12500681B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are a time synchronization method and an apparatus for a vehicle-mounted device, a vehicle-mounted device, and a storage medium. The time synchronization method including: receiving first communication data transmitted by the second vehicle-mounted device, and recording a first receiving time; performing coarse time alignment on the first vehicle-mounted device based on the data generation time in the first communication data; after coarse time alignment is performed on the first vehicle-mounted device, receiving second communication data transmitted by the second vehicle-mounted device, and recording a second receiving time; determining, based on the first receiving time, the second receiving time, and the data transmitting time, a synchronization time at which the first vehicle-mounted device and the second vehicle-mounted device are synchronized; performing time synchronization on the first vehicle-mounted device based on the synchronization time.