Zone-Based ECU Wake-Up Power Architecture With Shared Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of providing power supply drivers for numerous electronic control units in vehicles, which increases the overall cost of vehicle power systems due to the complexity and individual design requirements of zone units.
Innovation Solution
A power system design that includes a central unit capable of managing electric wire characteristic data for zone units, allowing for a common configuration and reducing development and management burdens, where the zone unit includes a semiconductor switch and a zone power supply driver that wakes up upon receiving a unique identifier from the central unit, eliminating the need for power supply drivers in downstream units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply drivers are provided for all electronic control units, then each unit can be independently woken up, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wake-up control function by introducing zone units that group multiple downstream ECUs. Instead of providing power supply drivers in every ECU, the functionality is segmented and concentrated in zone units, which then control power supply to multiple downstream units through semiconductor switches.
Solution Approach 2:
Zone units act as intermediary components between the central unit and downstream ECUs. The zone unit receives wake-up signals from the central unit and mediates the power supply control to downstream units, eliminating the need for individual power supply drivers in each downstream ECU.
2Ease of operation
If individual power supply drivers are installed in each zone unit, then selective wake-up is enabled, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Zone units are designed as universal components that can serve multiple downstream ECUs with different functions. A single zone unit configuration can manage power supply to multiple semiconductor switches, each controlling different downstream units, thereby reducing the need for individualized designs and lowering manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the form of unique identifiers and wake-up signals to enable selective activation. By changing the operational state of semiconductor switches from OFF to ON based on received signals, the system achieves selective wake-up without requiring different hardware configurations for each unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If downstream units have their own power supply drivers, then independent control is achieved, but the quantity of components and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the power supply control function for multiple downstream ECUs into a single zone unit. Instead of having separate power supply drivers in each downstream ECU, the control functionality is combined in the zone unit, which then manages power distribution to multiple units through semiconductor switches.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power system includes a central unit, a zone unit capable of communicating with the central unit, and a downstream unit. The zone unit includes a semiconductor switch capable of electrically connecting the downstream unit to a power supply, and a zone power supply driver capable of waking up the zone unit in response to reception of an unique identifier transmitted from the central unit. The downstream unit is woken up when the semiconductor switch of the zone unit enters an ON state.