In-Vehicle Wire Harness Relay Unit for Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of electronic devices in vehicles leads to a higher relay processing load for in-vehicle devices, which can inhibit other processing tasks, and requires frequent changes in communication specifications due to factors like vehicle expansion or model changes, necessitating improvements in scalability and processing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A wire harness with a detachable connector and relay unit that relays communication between multiple communication lines and an in-vehicle device, capable of protocol conversion and power supply management, reducing the processing load on in-vehicle devices and enhancing scalability by allowing changes to the wire harness rather than the device itself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of communication lines connected to the in-vehicle device increases, then the communication functionality is improved, but the relay processing load on the in-vehicle device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the relay function into separate relay devices that are independent from the in-vehicle device. Each relay device handles communication for specific communication lines, segmenting the overall relay processing load across multiple independent units rather than concentrating it all in one in-vehicle device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relay devices as intermediary components between the communication lines and the in-vehicle device. These relay devices act as mediators that handle the relay processing, freeing the in-vehicle device from this burden while maintaining full communication functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the in-vehicle device needs to adapt to changes in communication specifications due to vehicle expansion or model changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to frequent modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into modular components where relay devices can be independently added, removed, or updated. This allows the in-vehicle device to remain stable while the relay devices adapt to changing communication specifications through simple module replacement rather than complex device modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay devices are designed with universal functionality to handle various communication protocols and specifications. This multi-functionality allows the same in-vehicle device to work with different communication configurations by simply changing the relay devices, improving scalability without increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If relay processing is performed by the in-vehicle device, then the communication relay function is achieved, but other processing tasks may be inhibited due to increased processing load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the relay processing function from the in-vehicle device and places it in dedicated relay devices. This separation ensures that the in-vehicle device's processing resources are dedicated to its primary functions while relay processing is handled independently, preventing inhibition of other processing tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay devices serve as intermediary components that handle all relay processing externally. This allows the in-vehicle device to maintain full reliability for communication relay while preserving productivity for other processing tasks, as the relay burden never impacts the in-vehicle device's performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a wire harness, a connector and a communication relay method with which effects such as reduction in the relay processing load of an in-vehicle device or improvement in the scalability of an in-vehicle device can be expected. A wire harness according to an embodiment includes a connector to be detachably connected to an in-vehicle device, a plurality of communication lines connected to the connector, and a relay unit provided in the connector and configured to relay communication between the plurality of communication lines and to relay communication between the communication lines and the in-vehicle device.