Wiring Junction Box Branching Power and Communication Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle electrical junction boxes only branch power lines, failing to support the routing of communication lines connected to ECUs, which is essential for the functioning and redundancy of vehicle systems.
Innovation Solution
A wiring junction box that includes power input and output terminals for ECUs, communication ports for communication devices, and branching mechanisms for both power and communication lines, allowing for the routing and redundancy of power and communication lines according to the number of ECUs, enabling the implementation of self-driving functions in vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the junction box only branches power lines, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to support communication lines is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box is designed to perform multiple functions: it can branch both power lines and communication lines, and can connect to multiple ECUs with different numbers of power and communication ports. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction by making the device adaptable to various routing configurations without requiring separate dedicated devices for power and communication routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The junction box internally segments the incoming wire into multiple branches: power line branches connecting to power input/output terminals, and communication line branches connecting to communication ports. This segmentation allows the single device to handle multiple types of connections simultaneously, achieving versatility while maintaining a unified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wire is branched according to the number of ECUs, then the adaptability to different ECU configurations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box employs a dynamic configuration where the number of power output terminals and ECU-side communication ports can vary according to the specific ECU setup. The device can be configured to support different numbers of ECUs (e.g., 2 ECUs, 3 ECUs, or more) by adjusting which terminals and ports are activated, allowing flexibility without requiring completely different hardware for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The junction box is designed as a universal device that can accommodate various ECU configurations through its multiple power output terminals and communication ports. The same physical device structure serves multiple configuration purposes, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices and thereby managing complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
3Reliability
If communication lines are routed through the junction box, then the reliability of communication is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The junction box merges the routing functions for both power lines and communication lines into a single device. By combining these functions, the patent achieves reliable communication routing without requiring a separate dedicated communication routing device, thereby managing complexity while ensuring reliability through centralized management of both power and communication connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The junction box serves as a universal connection point that handles both power distribution and communication routing simultaneously. This multi-functional approach ensures that communication lines are reliably routed through a proven, centralized infrastructure rather than requiring separate communication-specific routing hardware, thus improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wiring junction box for branching a wire connected to a plurality of ECUs mounted in a vehicle, including: a power input terminal connected to an electrical storage device supplying electric power to the ECUs; a plurality of power output terminals respectively outputting electric power input from the power input terminal to the plurality of ECUs; a communication device-side communication port connected to a communication device communicating with the ECUs; and a plurality of ECU-side communication ports respectively connected to the plurality of ECUs, wherein the wire includes a power line for connecting the power input terminal and the power output terminals and a communication line for connecting the communication device-side communication port and the ECU-side communication ports, the power line branches according to the number of power output terminals, and the communication line branches according to the number of ECU-side communication ports.