X-By-Wire Sensor Sharing for Lower-Complexity Safety Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing X-by-wire control systems for motor vehicles require complex and space-consuming redundant components to ensure safety, leading to increased susceptibility to interference and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

A sensor of the secondary function assembly in the X-by-wire control system is connected only for power supply and signal exchange with the main function assembly, while maintaining redundancy only where necessary, allowing for a simpler and more compact design with separate safety standards for main and secondary functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant components are implemented in X-by-wire control systems to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtechnical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control system into main function assembly and secondary function assembly, with sensors spatially separated and functionally assigned. This allows redundancy to be implemented only where necessary (in the main function assembly) while keeping the secondary function assembly simpler, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes sensors serve multiple functions: they are physically located in the secondary function assembly but functionally assigned to the main function assembly for safety-critical monitoring. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor to contribute to both secondary functions and safety-critical main functions, improving reliability without adding separate redundant sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If redundant components are implemented in X-by-wire control systems to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but installation space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system into spatially separate main and secondary function assemblies, the patent concentrates redundant components only in the main function assembly where they are strictly necessary, while the secondary function assembly uses fewer components, thereby reducing total installation space while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors in the secondary function assembly serve dual purposes: supporting secondary functions and providing safety-critical data for the main function assembly. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensors, reducing component count and installation space while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If more components are connected and integrated in X-by-wire control systems, then functionality is improved, but susceptibility to interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsusceptibility to interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into functionally distinct main and secondary function assemblies with spatial separation. This segmentation reduces the number of connections and integration points between components, thereby reducing susceptibility to interference while maintaining full functionality through the functional assignment of sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different connection and integration densities to different parts of the system: the main function assembly has robust redundant connections for safety, while the secondary function assembly has fewer connections to reduce interference susceptibility, with sensors serving both purposes through functional assignment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4527702B1X-by-wire control system for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP4527702B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4527702B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4527702B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an X-by-wire control system (2) of a motor vehicle for controlling a main function of the motor vehicle and a secondary function of the motor vehicle which is classified as having a lower safety standard compared to the main function, wherein the main function can be carried out by means of a main function assembly (4) of the motor vehicle and the secondary function by means of a secondary function assembly (6) of the motor vehicle which is spatially separate from the main function assembly (4), and wherein at least one sensor (8, 9) of the secondary function assembly (6) is functionally assigned to the main function, wherein this at least one sensor (8, 9) of the secondary function assembly (6) assigned to the main function is only connected to the main function assembly (4) on the one hand by means of an energy supply connection to supply this sensor (8, 9) with operating energy and on the other hand by means of a signal exchange connection.