Vehicular Sensor Enable Signaling for Lower Power and EMI
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sensing systems face inefficiencies in power management and electromagnetic compatibility due to the simultaneous transmission of power and data over cables, leading to increased power consumption and electromagnetic interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where power and data are transmitted over coaxial cables using 'enable over coaxial' signaling, allowing selective powering of vehicle sensors and components, including cameras and ECUs, to reduce power consumption and electromagnetic interference by enabling/disabling sensors remotely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If power and data are transmitted simultaneously over the same cable, then device complexity is reduced, but electromagnetic interference increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable into separate channels: a power channel for transmitting electrical power and a data channel for transmitting digital signals. This physical separation eliminates electromagnetic interference between power and data transmissions while maintaining simplified device connectivity through a single cable assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the power transmission function from the data transmission channel. By dedicating specific conductors exclusively to power delivery and others to data communication, the system removes the harmful interaction between power and data signals that occurs in combined channels.
2Reliability
If power is continuously supplied to sensors, then sensor operation is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management where the ECU can remotely enable or disable power supply to sensors through control signals transmitted over the data channel. This allows the system to adapt power delivery to actual operational needs, maintaining sensor reliability when required while minimizing power consumption during non-operational periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system incorporates local power management circuitry that responds to enable/disable commands from the ECU. The sensors can autonomously transition between active and low-power states based on received control signals, eliminating the need for continuous power supply while ensuring rapid activation when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular sensing system includes a sensor disposed at a vehicle and sensing exterior of the vehicle. The sensor is operable to capture sensor data. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes electronic circuitry and associated software, with the electronic circuitry of the ECU including a data processor operable to process sensor data captured by the sensor and transferred to the ECU. The sensor connects with the ECU via a cable. The sensor is electrically powered by a power source, and the electrical power from the power source is not provided to the sensor via the cable. The cable carries an enable signal from the ECU to the sensor. T\Responsive to the sensor receiving the enable signal from the ECU, sensor data captured by the sensor is transferred to the ECU via the cable.