IP Library Granted Patent US 10,678,243
Granted Patent B2
US 10,678,243 · App. 15/895,711 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Systems and methods for scalable electrical engineering (EE) architecture in vehicular environments

Inventor: Yong Luo (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignees: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD.; SF MOTORS, INC.
G05D1/0088B60W50/0098G05D1/027G05D1/0246G05D1/0278B60W2050/0006B60W2050/0094B60W2420/42B60W2420/52B60W2556/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,678,243
App. No.
15/895,711
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods of operating electronic controller units (ECUs) across multiple ECU domains in an automotive configuration. A first advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) environmental sensor can generate a first output. A sensor connectivity switch can direct the first output to a first ECU in one of the non-ADAS domains to generate a second output. Each of the non-ADAS domains can include at least one ECU. A second ECU in a domain for ADAS can use the second output to perform an ADAS operation or autonomous driving in vehicular environments.

Claims (49)

1. A system to operate electronic controller units (ECUs) across multiple ECU domains in an automotive configuration, comprising:

a plurality of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) environmental sensors of a vehicle, including a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, and a camera;

a plurality of ECU domains of the vehicle, including a domain for ADAS, and a plurality of non-ADAS domains including a telematics domain and an infotainment domain, each of the ECU domains comprising at least one ECU;

a sensor connectivity switch disposed within the vehicle to transform a first output of a first sensor of the plurality of ADAS environmental sensors into data compatible with a non-ADAS domain of the plurality of non-ADAS domains and to direct the data to be processed by the non-ADAS domain and the ADAS domain;

a first ECU disposed within the vehicle and in the non-ADAS domain, the first ECU to process the data transformed from the first output to generate a second output; and

a second ECU disposed within the vehicle and in the domain for ADAS, to use the second output generated by the first ECU in the non-ADAS domain to perform an ADAS operation.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the sensor connectivity switch to direct a third output of a second sensor of the plurality of ADAS environmental sensors, to the second ECU,

the second ECU is to use the second output and the third output to perform the ADAS operation.

3. The system of claim 2 , comprising:

the second ECU to combine information from the second output with information from the third output to perform the ADAS operation.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising the sensor connectivity switch to:

determine resources of a specific type available in at least one of ECUs in the domain for ADAS and ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output, the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains including the first ECU; and

select the first ECU to direct the first output, based on the resources of the specific type available in at least one of the ECUs in the domain for ADAS and the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising the sensor connectivity switch to:

determine resources of a specific type available in at least one of ECUs in the domain for ADAS and ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output, the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains including the first ECU; and

select the first ECU to direct the first output, based on the determination and at least one priority consideration to process the first output for the ADAS operation.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the sensor connectivity switch to select the first ECU instead of the second ECU in the domain for ADAS to direct the first output, based on resources available in at least the first ECU and the second ECU to process the first output.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the sensor connectivity switch to provide an instruction to the first ECU to process the first output to generate the second output.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a domain connectivity switch to direct the second output from the first ECU to the second ECU in the domain for ADAS.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first output comprises an output of at least one of the GPS sensor, the IMU sensor, the camera, a radio detection and ranging (radar) sensor, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a vehicle to vehicle (V2V) sensor, a vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) sensor, a vehicle to device (V2D) sensor, and a vehicle to passenger (V2P) sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first ECU comprises an ECU in a domain for at least one of telematics, infotainment, battery management, powertrain, chassis, body, passenger comfort, and security.

11. A method of operating electronic controller units (ECUs) across multiple ECU domains in an automotive configuration, comprising:

generating, by a first sensor of a plurality of advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) environmental sensors of a vehicle, a first output, the plurality of ADAS sensors including a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, and a camera;

transforming, by a sensor connectivity switch, the first output to into data compatible with a non-ADAS domain of a plurality of non-ADAS domains to direct the data to be processed by the non-ADAS domain and the ADAS domain, the plurality of non-ADAS domains including a telematics domain and an infotainment domain, each of the non-ADAS domains comprising at least one ECU;

processing, by a first ECU disposed within the vehicle and in the non-ADAS domain, the data transformed from the first output to generate a second output; and

using, by a second ECU disposed within the vehicle and in a domain for ADAS, the second output generated by the first ECU in the non-ADAS domain to perform an ADAS operation.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

directing, by the sensor connectivity switch, a third output of a second sensor of the plurality of ADAS environmental sensors, to the second ECU; and

using, by the second ECU, the second output and the third output to perform the ADAS operation.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

combining, by the second ECU, information from the second output with information from the third output to perform the ADAS operation.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

determining, by the sensor connectivity switch, resources of a specific type available in at least one of ECUs in the domain for ADAS and ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output, the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains including the first ECU; and

selecting, by the sensor connectivity switch, the first ECU to direct the first output, based on the resources of the specific type available in at least one of the ECUs in the domain for ADAS and the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output.

15. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

determining resources of a specific type available in at least one of ECUs in the domain for ADAS and ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains to process the first output, the ECUs in the plurality of non-ADAS domains including the first ECU; and

selecting the first ECU to direct the first output, based on the determination and at least one priority consideration to process the first output for the ADAS operation.

16. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

selecting, by the sensor connectivity switch, the first ECU instead of the second ECU in the domain for ADAS to direct the first output, based on resources available in at least the first ECU and the second ECU to process the first output.

17. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

providing, by the sensor connectivity switch, an instruction to the first ECU to process the first output to generate the second output.

18. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

directing, by a domain connectivity switch, the second output from the first ECU to the second ECU in the domain for ADAS.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first output comprises an output of at least one of the GPS sensor, the IMU sensor, the camera, a radio detection and ranging (radar) sensor, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a vehicle to vehicle (V2V) sensor, a vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) sensor, a vehicle to device (V2D) sensor, and a vehicle to passenger (V2P) sensor.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first ECU comprises an ECU in a domain for at least one of telematics, infotainment, battery management, powertrain, chassis, body, passenger comfort, and security.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2024
From: CHONGQING JINKANG SERES NEW ENERGY VEHICLE RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
To: SERES AUTOMOBILE CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 069476/0812 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD.; SF MOTORS, INC.
To: CHONGQING JINKANG SERES NEW ENERGY VEHICLE RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 057738/0714 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ORDER OF RECEIVING PARTIES/CO-ASSIGNEES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 046347 FRAME: 0230. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: SF MOTORS, INC.
To: CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD.; SF MOTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048281/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: SF MOTORS, INC.
To: SF MOTORS, INC.; CHONGQING JINKANG NEW ENERGY VEHICLE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046347/0230 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2018
From: LUO, YONG
To: SF MOTORS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044918/0069 →
Continuity (1)
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