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CN-121996026-A - System and method for synchronizing physical and digital elements of an analog/digital instrument of a vehicle

CN121996026ACN 121996026 ACN121996026 ACN 121996026ACN-121996026-A

Abstract

The invention describes a synchronization system (30) for synchronizing at least one physical element (12) and at least one digital element (13) of an analog/digital instrument (30) of a vehicle (1), comprising a first drive subsystem (32) for driving the digital element (13) and comprising a first digital processing unit (32 a) operatively coupled to the digital element (13), and a second drive subsystem (34) for driving the physical element (12) and comprising a second digital processing unit (34 a) operatively coupled to the physical element (12). The first digital processing unit (32 a) of the first drive subsystem (32) and the second digital processing unit (34 a) of the second drive subsystem (34) implement a synchronization algorithm to determine synchronization between operation of the first drive subsystem (32) and corresponding operation of the second drive subsystem (34), the synchronization algorithm comprising operations independent of use of a common reference clock and based on a set of predetermined signals exchanged between the first and second digital processing units (32 a, 34 a).

Inventors

  • Paul Massimino
  • Alfredo Ascrezi
  • Andrea Destfano
  • Jan Luigi Dizanni
  • Lucia Novali

Assignees

  • 法拉利股份有限公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251105
Priority Date
20241106

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A synchronization system (30) for synchronizing at least one physical element (12) and at least one digital element (13) of an analog/digital instrument (10) of a vehicle (1), comprising: a first drive subsystem (32) configured to drive the digital element (13) and comprising a first digital processing unit (32 a) operatively coupled to the digital element (13); a second drive subsystem (34) configured to drive the physical element (12) and comprising a second digital processing unit (34 a) operatively coupled to the physical element (12), Wherein the first digital processing unit (32 a) of the first drive subsystem (32) and the second digital processing unit (34 a) of the second drive subsystem (34) are configured to implement a synchronization algorithm to determine synchronization between operation of the first drive subsystem (32) and corresponding operation of the second drive subsystem (34), the synchronization algorithm comprising operation independent of use of a common reference clock and based on a set of predetermined signals exchanged between the first digital processing unit (32 a) and the second digital processing unit (34 a).
  2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the synchronization algorithm is based on continuously verifying round trip time of the predetermined signal over time during operation of the analog/digital instrument (10), the verification being designed to estimate a time offset between operation of the first drive subsystem (32) and operation of the second drive subsystem (34).
  3. 3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the synchronization algorithm is configured to enable a delay estimation between operation of the first drive subsystem (32) and operation of the second drive subsystem (34), wherein the delay estimation is used to adjust the movement of the physical element (12) relative to the digital element (13) accordingly.
  4. 4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the synchronization algorithm comprises a first step (S1), the first step (S1) being configured to implement a first delay estimation due to a communication channel (33) between the first drive subsystem (32) and the second drive subsystem (34) ) The first step (S1) comprises exchanging at least one delay estimation signal between the first digital processing unit (32 a) and the second digital processing unit (34 a) and evaluating a round trip time associated with the exchange.
  5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first step is performed at start-up and is thereafter repeated periodically at a first repetition interval.
  6. 6. The system according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the synchronization algorithm further comprises a second step (S2), the second step (S2) being configured to implement a second delay estimate during transmission of data and/or commands between the first drive subsystem (32) and the second drive subsystem (34) ) The second delay estimation is [ ] ) In connection with the whole chain, software and hardware involved in the operation of the analog/digital instrument (10) in response to the data and/or commands.
  7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second step is periodically repeated at a second repetition interval having a duration shorter than the first repetition interval.
  8. 8. The system according to claim 6 or 7, configured to estimate a computational load associated with the first processing unit (32 a) and/or the second processing unit (34 a), wherein the execution instant of the second step of the second repetition interval or delay estimation is determined according to the computational load.
  9. 9. The system according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the digital element (13) comprises a display screen (13 '), and wherein the first drive subsystem (32) comprises a digital content generation stage (32 b), the digital content generation stage (32 b) being controlled by the first digital processing unit (32 a) and configured to generate a digital content representation on the display screen (13').
  10. 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the physical element (12) comprises a pointer (12 ') configured to overlap the display screen (13'), and the analog/digital instrument (10) further comprises an actuator device (14) configured to move the pointer (12 ') relative to the display screen (13'), wherein the second digital processing unit (32 b) is configured to drive the actuator device (14).
  11. 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second digital processing unit (32 b) is configured to drive the actuator device (14) such that it moves relative to the display screen (13') to a position as a function of a Target position (Pos Target) and a position deviation (Δpos) associated with the estimated delay (Δt).
  12. 12. An analog/digital instrument (10) of a vehicle (1) having at least one physical element (12) and at least one digital element (13), the analog/digital instrument (10) comprising a synchronization system (30) according to any one of the preceding claims.
  13. 13. The analog/digital instrument according to claim 12, wherein the analog/digital instrument (10) is part of an instrument panel or instrument panel (4) of the vehicle (1).
  14. 14. A vehicle (1) comprising an analog/digital instrument (10) according to claim 12 or 13.
  15. 15. A method of synchronizing at least one physical element (12) and at least one digital element (13) of an analog/digital instrument (10) of a vehicle (1), comprising: -driving the digital element (13) by a first driving subsystem (32), the first driving subsystem (32) comprising a first digital processing unit (32 a) operatively coupled to the digital element (13); the physical element (12) is driven by a second drive subsystem (34), the second drive subsystem (34) comprising a second digital processing unit (34 a) operatively coupled to the physical element (12), The method further includes implementing a synchronization algorithm to determine synchronization between operation of the first drive subsystem (32) and corresponding operation of the second drive subsystem (34), the synchronization algorithm including operation independent of use of a common reference clock and based on a set of predetermined signals exchanged between the first digital processing unit (32 a) and the second digital processing unit (34 a).

Description

System and method for synchronizing physical and digital elements of an analog/digital instrument of a vehicle Cross Reference to Related Applications This patent application claims priority from italian patent application number 102024000024927 filed at month 11 and 6 of 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present solution relates to a system and a method for synchronizing mechanical and digital elements of analog and digital instruments, in particular of vehicles. Background As is known, technological developments have led in various fields to the creation of so-called "physical digital" systems (a term obtained as a mix of "physical" and "digital") that combine digital and physical elements into a single instrument or device. In particular, in order to improve the so-called "user experience" and the immediacy of use of technical content, analog/digital instruments and user interfaces have been created that comprise, in addition to digital display elements, one or more mechanical or physical elements coupled (typically overlapping) with the same display. In this type of instrument or interface, the digital and physical elements cooperate to help provide content to the user more immediately and available. For example, EP4365002A2 describes a digital and analog instrument for a vehicle comprising a digital display, a pointer (needle, pointing device or other similar physical element) and an actuator device configured to move the pointer, which may be arranged above the digital display and movably mounted for movement on the digital display. For example, the digital and analog instrument may be used in a dashboard or instrument panel of a vehicle for more immediately indicating a value (e.g., speed or engine speed) of a physical quantity over time, suitably combining a graphic display with movement of a physical pointer in combination with the graphic display. In these instruments, and in general in the aforementioned "physical digital" systems, integration between a physical element and a digital element requires a strict and controlled synchronization between the physical element and the digital element to obtain content consistent with the evolution state of the system. For example, the graphical representation on the display of the increment on the scale must correspond to the synchronous movement of the pointer (in terms of its displacement and displacement speed). In particular, it is known that digital and physical elements are typically driven by different parts or subsystems of the system, e.g. comprising corresponding and different digital processing units, it being necessary to provide an appropriate synchronization between the parts involved. Such synchronization may be achieved by a common reference clock (so-called "master clock"), however, such a scheme involves considerable implementation costs and may sometimes be difficult or even impossible to achieve due to the limitations and costs of available hardware or architecture. Disclosure of Invention The aim of this solution is generally to provide a system for achieving the aforementioned synchronisation between mechanical and digital elements that can overcome or in any case limit the problems highlighted previously. In view of the foregoing, according to the present solution, a system and a method as defined in the appended claims are provided. Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein: Fig. 1 schematically shows a portion of a motor vehicle provided with digital and analog instruments and a synchronization system for synchronizing mechanical and digital elements in the digital and analog instruments; FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of possible implementations of the digital and analog instrument of FIG. 1, with portions removed for clarity, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a synchronization system according to an embodiment of the present solution. Detailed Description As will be described below, one aspect of the present solution generally envisages implementing a synchronization system for synchronizing mechanical and digital elements of analog and digital instruments, in particular of vehicles, which does not require the use of a common time reference (i.e. a common reference clock for driving the respective subsystems of the mechanical and digital elements). Fig. 1 shows a part of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle 1 (which may be indifferently of the conventional or thermal type, or of the hybrid or electric type), having a passenger compartment 2 and an instrument panel 4, the instrument panel 4 constituting the front wall of the passenger compartment 2, below the windscreen. The instrument panel 4 carries an instrument panel 5, the instrument panel 5 being arranged in front of the driver of the motor vehicle 1, typically immediately behind a steering wheel 6 of the