Zonal Vehicle Control Network Layout for Wake-Up Delay Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle automation systems, integrating arithmetic processing and actuator control functions into a central processing unit poses challenges due to increased signal lines, leading to latency and activation delays in in-vehicle networks with daisy chain connections, especially when multiple communication protocols are mixed.
Innovation Solution
A design method for a vehicle control system that divides the vehicle into zones with zone ECUs connected in a daisy chain layout to the central processing unit, calculating and optimizing activation times to ensure total activation time is within a predetermined delay threshold, allowing for efficient data transmission and reducing communication delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If sensors and actuators are directly connected to the central processing unit, then integration of control functions is improved, but the number of signal lines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the in-vehicle network into multiple domains (e.g., powertrain domain, chassis domain, body domain) with domain control units (DCUs) managing each domain. This segmentation allows the central processing unit to control functions through domain-level interfaces rather than direct connections to all sensors and actuators, reducing signal line complexity while maintaining integration.
2Ease of operation
If ECUs are connected in a daisy chain layout with protocol conversion, then network hub functionality is achieved, but latency and protocol conversion time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gateway devices as intermediary components between different network domains. These gateways handle protocol conversion and data relay, allowing ECUs to communicate across domains without direct daisy-chain connections. This mediator approach reduces latency by optimizing communication paths and performing protocol conversions at strategic network points rather than at each ECU interface.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ECUs are put into sleep state to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but activation delay time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary activation strategies where domain control units and gateway devices are kept in a low-power standby state with pre-loaded activation sequences. When activation is needed, the system follows pre-planned activation paths that minimize wake-up time, and critical domains are activated in advance based on predicted vehicle operation patterns, reducing actual activation delay while maintaining energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A design method for a vehicle control system includes constructing a daisy chain trunk network by a central processing unit and a plurality of zone ECUs, calculating a first activation time from when a network is sequentially activated from a predetermined zone ECU to when the central processing unit is activated, calculating a second activation time from when a network is sequentially activated from the central processing unit to when the zone ECU is activated, and determining a connection destination of an information acquisition unit and a connection destination of an in-vehicle device from the zone ECUs in a manner that a total time of the first activation time and the second activation time is less than a predetermined delay time.