Zone Power Control Using Wire Characteristic Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems with multiple electronic control units (ECUs) require individual design due to varying electric wire characteristics, leading to complex development and management when updates or corrections are needed, as each ECU may have different allowable temperatures and current capacities.
Innovation Solution
A power system with a central unit managing electric wire characteristic data for zone units, allowing them to have a common configuration, and using semiconductor switches to manage current and temperature based on standardized data, reducing the need for individual design and simplifying management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual design is performed for each ECU to accommodate varying electric wire characteristics, then the system can achieve precise control for each unit, but the development and management complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling zone units to have a common configuration that can work with different electric wire characteristics. Instead of designing each ECU individually, the zone units are made universal through the ability to load different electric wire characteristic data from the central unit, allowing one design to serve multiple purposes across different vehicle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing the electric wire characteristic data (such as resistance, temperature coefficients, and current capacity) to be dynamically loaded and updated in the zone units from the central unit. This enables the same hardware configuration to adapt to different electrical parameters based on the specific vehicle setup, eliminating the need for individual design while maintaining control precision.
2Reliability
If individual design is performed for each ECU, then specific electric wire characteristics can be optimized, but the cost increases due to inability to mass produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables mass production by making zone units universal in design. All zone units are manufactured with the same configuration and capability to load different electric wire characteristic data, allowing standardization and economies of scale in manufacturing while still accommodating specific electric wire requirements through software-based parameter loading rather than hardware customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by having the central unit store and distribute electric wire characteristic data to multiple zone units. Instead of embedding unique design data in each individually designed ECU, the same zone unit design is copied across the system, with each instance loading its specific electric wire parameters from the central storage, enabling mass production with centralized configuration management.
3Reliability
If updates or corrections are made to each ECU individually, then specific issues can be addressed, but the management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the central unit as an intermediary that manages electric wire characteristic data for all zone units. Instead of directly managing and updating each zone unit individually, the central unit serves as a mediator that stores the master data and distributes it to zone units as needed, simplifying the management process while ensuring system accuracy through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where zone units can report their operational status and electric wire characteristic data back to the central unit. This allows the central unit to verify data integrity, detect issues, and distribute corrections uniformly across the system, maintaining high reliability while reducing management complexity through automated monitoring and update distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A power system includes a central unit, a zone unit capable of communicating with the central unit, and a downstream electric wire configured to electrically connect a predetermined downstream unit to the zone unit. A central processor of the central unit executes processing including transmitting electric wire characteristic data stored in a central storage device to the zone unit at a predetermined timing. A zone processor of the zone unit executes processing including writing the electric wire characteristic data transmitted from the central unit into a zone storage device in response to reception of the electric wire characteristic data, and determining whether to turn a semiconductor switch coupled to the downstream electric wire to an OFF state, based on the electric wire characteristic data written into the zone storage device and the current detected by a current sensor.