Vehicle Voltage Sensor Fault Detection by Cross-Sensor Averaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for detecting defective voltage sensors in onboard electrical systems of vehicles are costly due to the need for separate reference voltage sensors, which increase system costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that averages voltage measurement values from multiple voltage sensors and determines deviations to identify defective sensors, eliminating the need for reference sensors by comparing measurements internally among the sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate reference voltage sensors are used to detect defective voltage sensors, then the reliability of fault detection is improved, but the system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage sensors perform self-diagnosis by comparing their own measurement values with each other. Each voltage sensor's measurement is compared against the average of all measurements, enabling the system to detect defective sensors without external reference sensors. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate reference voltage sensors while maintaining fault detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage sensors serve dual functions: they measure the actual voltage values of electrical consumers and simultaneously participate in mutual fault detection. Each sensor is both a measurement device and a reference for detecting other sensors' defects, eliminating the need for dedicated reference sensors and reducing overall system component count.
2Measurement precision
If separate reference voltage sensors are used to detect defective voltage sensors, then the accuracy of defect identification is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function and reference function are merged into the same voltage sensors. Instead of having separate reference sensors, the system uses the voltage sensors themselves as mutual references by comparing their measurements against the group average. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining the ability to accurately identify defective sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-diagnosis using the existing voltage sensors without requiring additional reference sensors. Each sensor's measurement is compared against the average of all sensors, enabling the system to identify defects using only the sensors already present in the system, thereby reducing structural complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple voltage sensors are used for mutual comparison, then the cost is reduced by eliminating reference sensors, but the calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the evaluation parameter from direct reference sensor comparison to statistical analysis of measurement values. By calculating the average of all voltage sensor measurements and comparing each individual measurement against this average, the system transforms the fault detection approach into a simpler statistical comparison that eliminates the need for reference sensors while maintaining manageable calculation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting a faulty voltage sensor of a group of n≥3 voltage sensors of controllers in an onboard electrical system of a vehicle, wherein (a) voltage measurement values from n−1 voltage sensors are averaged, (b) the deviation of a voltage measurement value of the remaining voltage sensor from the averaged voltage measurement value is determined, and (c) if the deviation satisfies a specified criterion, an error message relating to a fault of the remaining voltage sensor is output and at least steps (a) to (b) are carried out for the voltage sensors in a commutated manner.