Virtualized Timing Controller for Automotive ECU Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern automotive systems face challenges in verifying complex electronic and software components due to large design spaces, with current simulation methods lacking in runtime accuracy and support for pre-emptive scheduling, which limits the validation of time-critical functions and timing behaviors.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and apparatus that simulate the scheduling and execution of software model partitions using a timing controller, which involves obtaining a timing model specifying activation sequences and execution trigger times, and triggering external schedulers with a master simulation clock to achieve runtime-accurate, closed-loop system simulation and verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current simulation methods are used for automotive systems verification, then the verification process can be performed, but the runtime accuracy and support for pre-emptive scheduling are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtualized timing controller that copies and emulates the actual ECUs' scheduling behavior in a simulation environment. This virtualized timing controller replicates the timing controller's functionality without requiring physical hardware, enabling accurate runtime simulation of pre-emptive scheduling while reducing overall system complexity through software-based emulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical hardware timing controllers with a software-based virtualized timing controller that emulates scheduling behavior. This substitution of mechanical/hardware systems with software simulation allows for accurate runtime modeling of pre-emptive scheduling without the complexity of physical hardware configurations, achieving both high measurement precision and reduced device complexity.
2Reliability
If traditional verification methods are used for complex automotive systems, then verification can be performed, but the design space is too large for thorough validation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automotive control system into multiple virtualized ECUs, each running independent software models that can be simulated separately. This segmentation allows the large design space to be divided into manageable parts, with each segment being verified independently before integration, thereby improving verification reliability without overwhelming system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of actual ECUs as software models that replicate their behavior in a simulation environment. These virtualized ECUs can be instantiated, configured, and executed without requiring physical hardware, enabling thorough verification of complex automotive systems by testing multiple scenarios and edge cases that would be difficult to cover with physical hardware alone.
3Reliability
If hardware-in-the-loop testing is used, then validation of time-critical functions can be performed, but the setup and execution time are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtualized copies of ECUs that can be instantiated and executed rapidly in a software environment. These virtualized models eliminate the need for physical hardware setup, allowing for quick instantiation, configuration, and execution of tests. The virtualized timing controller can simulate multiple test scenarios in sequence without the time overhead of physical hardware reconfiguration, while maintaining validation accuracy through accurate emulation of timing and scheduling behavior.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method (10) for simulating the scheduling and execution of a plurality of model partitions of a software model by a timing controller, the method comprising: obtaining (12) a timing model specifying, for a plurality of model partitions of a software model, an activation sequence of at least a first and a second model partition and a plurality of execution trigger times of the first and the second model partitions; receiving (14) a master simulation clock; and triggering (16), using the timing controller, at least one external scheduler, wherein the external scheduler activates at least the first and second model partitions of the software model according to the activation sequence defined by the timing model relative to the master clock simulation signal, and at an execution trigger time defined by the plurality of execution trigger times of the timing model.