Vehicle-mounted beverage special dual-mode TEC precise temperature control system and method

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of vehicle-mounted beverage special dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system and method, three-way signals of beverage container wall temperature, ambient temperature and TEC hot end temperature are simultaneously collected by multi-channel temperature acquisition module, provide complete temperature field information for dual-mode intelligent control module, so that the system can be adapted to compensate calculation according to ambient temperature, avoid temperature control drift.Environmental NTC in multi-channel temperature acquisition module real-time acquisition vehicle interior ambient temperature, when ambient temperature is greater than or equal to 40 DEG C (refrigeration mode) or less than or equal to 0 DEG C (heating mode), dual-mode intelligent control module automatically carries out power compensation, ensure that still can reach target temperature stably under the condition of summer sunning or winter severe cold environment, solve the problem of temperature control failure under the extreme condition of existing product.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of in-vehicle products, specifically to a dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system and method for in-vehicle beverages. Background Technology

[0002] A car temperature-controlled cup holder is a comfort feature that can cool or heat beverage containers placed in it, and it is widely used in high-end passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

[0003] Most existing in-vehicle temperature-controlled cup holders use a generic TEC (thermal condenser) temperature control solution, without specific temperature control modes and power grading strategies for different beverage types (such as coffee and mineral water). Users cannot select differentiated target temperature ranges based on beverage characteristics, resulting in low temperature control accuracy and high power consumption, making it difficult to meet the differentiated drinking temperature requirements of 50–60℃ for coffee and 8–15℃ for mineral water.

[0004] Moreover, existing solutions generally use a single NTC temperature sensor, which can only detect a single temperature point on the cup wall or in the environment, and cannot simultaneously obtain real-time information on the beverage temperature and the ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature inside the vehicle changes drastically (such as the temperature inside the vehicle exceeding 40°C after being exposed to the sun in summer, or the temperature falling below 0°C in winter), the system cannot effectively compensate for environmental interference, resulting in drift in temperature control and even complete failure under extreme conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system and method for in-vehicle beverages, which solves the problem mentioned in the background art that the existing system can only detect a single temperature point on the cup wall or in the environment, and cannot simultaneously obtain real-time information on the beverage temperature and the ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature inside the vehicle changes drastically, the system cannot effectively compensate for environmental interference, resulting in temperature control drift and even complete failure under extreme conditions.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, firstly, this application provides a dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system for in-vehicle beverages, comprising: The multi-channel temperature acquisition module includes beverage NTC, ambient NTC, and TEC hot end NTC, which are used to acquire beverage container wall temperature signals, ambient temperature signals, and TEC hot end temperature signals in real time, respectively. The mode selection and setting module is used to receive external input commands for selecting coffee mode or mineral water mode and setting target temperature. The dual-mode intelligent control module is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and the mode selection and setting unit module, respectively. Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command and target temperature setting command, it generates cooling or heating power adjustment signal, mode direction signal and fan speed control signal, respectively. The TEC drive and polarity switching module is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module. It is used to receive the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, and output the current in the corresponding direction to drive the TEC to work in the cooling state or the heating state. The automotive-grade power management module supplies power to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module, mode selection and setting module, dual-mode intelligent control module, and TEC drive and polarity switching module.

[0007] In one embodiment, the system further includes a fan speed control module electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module, used to control the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

[0008] In one embodiment, the dual-mode intelligent control module includes: The inner ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and is used to receive the TEC hot end temperature signal. The first PID controller adjusts the PWM duty cycle output to the fan speed control module to stabilize the TEC hot end temperature within a preset threshold. The outer ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module. It is used to receive the beverage container wall temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal. Based on the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command, and combined with the ambient temperature signal, it performs compensation calculation. The second PID controller calculates and outputs a power adjustment signal to the TEC drive and polarity switching module. The parameter adaptive switching unit is connected to the inner ring temperature control unit and the outer ring temperature control unit respectively, and is used to monitor the absolute value of the temperature error of the outer ring temperature control unit; When the absolute value of the temperature error is greater than the first threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit increases the first proportional gain and decreases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in fast response mode. When the absolute value of the temperature error is less than the second threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit reduces the first proportional gain and increases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in a stable mode. The switching between the fast response mode and the stable mode enables a smooth transition between the rapid heating and cooling phase and the low-power constant temperature phase.

[0009] In one embodiment, the power adjustment signal is calculated as follows: P_final = P_base × K_comp, where P_base is the base power value and K_comp is the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient.

[0010] In one embodiment, the formula for calculating the base power value is: P_base=Kp2×e(t)+Ki×∫e(t)dt+Kd×de(t) / dt, where Kp2 is the second proportional gain, e(t) is the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature, Ki is the integral gain, and Kd is the differential gain.

[0011] In one embodiment, when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a first preset temperature value and the current mode is cooling, or when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a second preset temperature value and the current mode is heating, the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient is the first compensation coefficient; otherwise, it is the second compensation coefficient.

[0012] In one embodiment, a redundancy verification and fault tolerance module is also provided between the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and the dual-mode intelligent control module. The redundancy check and fault tolerance module shown calculates the temperature difference between the beverage container wall temperature and the ambient temperature and its rate of change in real time. When the difference exceeds the preset confidence threshold and continues for more than a first preset time, it is determined to be a beverage NTC or ambient NTC fault. At this time, the system automatically switches to the beverage NTC or ambient NTC confidence signal for control and records the fault code. When both the beverage NTC and the environmental NTC exceed the physically reasonable range or contradict each other and the reliable source cannot be determined, it is determined to be a dual-channel sensor failure. At this time, the system switches to open-loop timed control mode, drives the TEC to work with a preset safe duty cycle, and automatically stops after the second preset time, and issues a fault alarm.

[0013] In one embodiment, the dual-mode intelligent control module further includes a container material adaptive identification unit. During the initial third preset time after system startup, the TEC is driven to work with a preset constant power, while the time change rate of the beverage NTC temperature is analyzed. Based on the comparison result between the change rate and preset metal material characteristic thresholds and non-metal material characteristic thresholds, the material type of the current beverage container is automatically determined, and the second proportional gain and integral gain in the second PID controller parameters are adjusted accordingly to compensate for the control lag caused by the difference in thermal conductivity of different materials.

[0014] Secondly, this application also provides a method for precise temperature control of a dual-mode TEC system specifically for in-vehicle beverages, which includes the following steps: Real-time acquisition of beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, and TEC hot end temperature signal; Receives external input commands for selecting coffee or mineral water mode and setting target temperature; Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command, and target temperature setting command, a power adjustment signal for cooling or heating, a mode direction signal, and a fan speed control signal are generated respectively. Based on the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, the corresponding current is output to drive the TEC to work in either cooling or heating mode. Adjust the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

[0015] In one embodiment, the method for generating the cooling or heating power adjustment signal, the mode direction signal, and the fan speed control signal respectively is as follows: The mode direction signal for cooling or heating is directly determined according to the selection command; The difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command is used to perform compensation calculations based on the ambient temperature signal to generate a base power value. Then, the base power value is limited and corrected based on the TEC hot end temperature signal to obtain the power adjustment signal. The fan speed control signal is generated based on the comparison between the TEC hot end temperature signal and the preset hot end temperature threshold.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the above-mentioned dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system and method for in-vehicle beverages are as follows: 1. Through the setting mode selection and setting module, users can select coffee mode or mineral water mode and set the target temperature. In conjunction with the dual-mode intelligent control module, it generates precise power adjustment signals and mode direction signals to achieve exclusive temperature control for different beverages.

[0017] 2. A multi-channel temperature acquisition module simultaneously collects three signals: beverage container wall temperature, ambient temperature, and TEC hot-end temperature. This provides the dual-mode intelligent control module with complete temperature field information, enabling the system to perform adaptive compensation calculations based on ambient temperature and preventing temperature control drift. The ambient NTC in the multi-channel temperature acquisition module collects the vehicle's interior temperature in real time. When the ambient temperature is ≥40℃ (cooling mode) or ≤0℃ (heating mode), the dual-mode intelligent control module automatically performs power compensation, ensuring stable achievement of the target temperature even under intense summer sun or frigid winter conditions. This solves the problem of temperature control failure under extreme operating conditions in existing products. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system for in-vehicle beverages, as shown in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2This is a flowchart illustrating a dual-mode TEC precise temperature control method for in-vehicle beverages, as shown in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0020] It should be noted that when a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediary component present. Conversely, when a component is said to be "directly" connected to another component, there is no intermediary component.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, this application provides a dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system for in-vehicle beverages, comprising: The multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1 includes a beverage NTC, an ambient NTC, and a TEC hot end NTC, which are used to acquire beverage container wall temperature signals, ambient temperature signals, and TEC hot end temperature signals in real time, respectively. This beverage NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) thermistor is embedded inside the aluminum block of the curved cup sleeve, directly contacting the outer wall of the beverage container to measure its wall temperature. Because heat exchange occurs between the beverage and the cup wall, the cup wall temperature approaches the beverage temperature. By detecting the cup wall temperature, the system can indirectly determine the real-time temperature of the beverage, thus deciding whether to continue heating / cooling or enter the heat preservation phase.

[0023] An ambient NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) thermistor is installed on the outer bottom of the cup holder, open to the air inside the vehicle. It detects the ambient temperature around the cup holder, thus obtaining the ambient temperature signal. The efficiency of the TEC (Transmission Control Unit) is greatly affected by the hot-end temperature. When the ambient temperature is too high (≥40℃), the TEC's cooling efficiency decreases significantly; when the ambient temperature is too low (≤0℃), the heating efficiency is also affected. The introduction of the ambient NTC allows the system to sense its surrounding thermal environment and actively adjust its output power to compensate.

[0024] The TEC hot-end NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient Thermistor) is attached to the hot-end surface of the TEC semiconductor cooling chip to detect the temperature of the TEC's hot end, thus obtaining the TEC's hot-end temperature signal. During operation, the TEC transfers heat from the cold end to the hot end. If heat dissipation at the hot end is poor, the hot-end temperature will continue to rise, causing a sharp drop in the TEC's cooling / heating efficiency and even burning out the TEC device. By monitoring the hot-end temperature in real time and actively adjusting the fan speed, it can be ensured that the TEC always operates within a safe temperature range.

[0025] TEC stands for Semiconductor Cooler. Cooling mode: Current flows in the forward direction, with the end closest to the cup wall being the cold end, used for cooling mineral water. Heating mode: Current flows in the reverse direction, with the end closest to the cup wall becoming the hot end, used for heating coffee.

[0026] The mode selection and setting module 2 is used to receive external input commands for selecting coffee mode or mineral water mode and setting target temperature. The mode selection and setting module 2 serves as the human-machine interface for the entire temperature control system. Its core function is to receive two types of commands from the user via external means (such as physical buttons, touchscreen, voice control, or a mobile app): The first type is the beverage mode selection command, where the user explicitly tells the system whether the beverage to be temperature-controlled is coffee or mineral water. Selecting coffee mode will automatically limit the target temperature range to 50℃ to 60℃ (the optimal drinking temperature for coffee), while selecting mineral water mode will limit it to 8℃ to 15℃ (the optimal drinking temperature for mineral water). The second type is a specific target temperature command set by the user based on the selected mode, such as setting 55℃ for coffee mode and 12℃ for mineral water mode. The target temperature must be within the preset range of the corresponding mode. The mode selection and setting module 2 converts the received mode and temperature setting commands into electrical signals and outputs them to the dual-mode intelligent control module 3. This enables the system to execute differentiated and precise temperature control strategies based on the specific temperature control range of different beverages and the user's personalized preferences, thus solving the problem of existing general-purpose TEC temperature control solutions lacking beverage adaptability and requiring users to manually find the appropriate temperature.

[0027] The dual-mode intelligent control module 3 is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1 and the mode selection and setting unit module 2, respectively. Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command, and target temperature setting command, it generates cooling or heating power adjustment signal, mode direction signal, and fan speed control signal, respectively. In one embodiment, the dual-mode intelligent control module 3 includes: The inner ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1 and is used to receive the TEC hot end temperature signal. The first PID controller adjusts the PWM duty cycle output to the fan speed control module 6 to stabilize the TEC hot end temperature within a preset threshold. The outer ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1. It is used to receive the beverage container wall temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal. Based on the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command, and combined with the ambient temperature signal, it performs compensation calculation. The second PID controller calculates and outputs the power adjustment signal to the TEC drive and polarity switching module 4. The parameter adaptive switching unit is connected to the inner ring temperature control unit and the outer ring temperature control unit respectively, and is used to monitor the absolute value of the temperature error of the outer ring temperature control unit; When the absolute value of the temperature error is greater than the first threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit increases the first proportional gain and decreases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in fast response mode. When the absolute value of the temperature error is less than the second threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit reduces the first proportional gain and increases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in a stable mode. The switching between the fast response mode and the stable mode enables a smooth transition between the rapid heating and cooling phase and the low-power constant temperature phase.

[0028] For example, if the ambient temperature inside the car is 35°C in summer, the user can place a cup of room temperature (30°C) mineral water in the cup holder, select the mineral water mode, and set the target temperature to 10°C.

[0029] In the initial stage, the current container wall temperature is 30℃, the target temperature is 10℃, and the error is 20℃, which is much greater than the first threshold of 5℃.

[0030] The parameter adaptive switching unit determines that the system is in fast response mode and immediately adjusts the first PID parameter of the inner loop temperature control unit to: increase the first proportional gain Kp1 from the default 2.0 to 4.0, and decrease the first integral time Ti1 from 10 seconds to 2 seconds.

[0031] The inner ring temperature control unit controls the fan in a more aggressive way: once the temperature of the TEC hot end rises slightly, the fan immediately runs at high speed (for example, the PWM duty cycle jumps from 30% to 90%), quickly removing heat and ensuring that the TEC cooling efficiency is maximized.

[0032] The outer ring temperature control unit simultaneously operates: calculating the base power value based on a 20℃ error and multiplying it by an environmental compensation coefficient. For example, if the ambient temperature is 35℃ < 40℃, the compensation coefficient = 1.0, resulting in an output of approximately 35W of cooling power. At this time, the mineral water temperature rapidly drops from 30℃, approaching 10℃ after about 10 minutes.

[0033] When the current wall temperature is 10.5℃, the target temperature is 10℃, and the error is 0.5℃, which is less than the second threshold of 1℃, the parameter adaptive switching unit determines that it has entered a stable mode. It reduces the first PID parameter Kp of the inner loop temperature control unit from 4.0 to 1.5, and increases Ti from 2 seconds to 30 seconds. The fan speed no longer changes frequently; it only increases slowly when the hot-end temperature exceeds 65℃, otherwise it maintains basic cooling at a low speed (PWM 20%).

[0034] In one embodiment, the power adjustment signal is calculated as follows: P_final = P_base × K_comp, where P_base is the base power value and K_comp is the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient.

[0035] In one embodiment, the base power value is calculated as follows: P_base = Kp2 × e(t) + Ki × ∫e(t)dt + Kd × de(t) / dt, where Kp2 is the second proportional gain, e(t) is the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature, Ki is the integral gain, and Kd is the differential gain. Ki = Kp2 / Ti, where Ti2 is the integration time constant.

[0036] In one embodiment, when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a first preset temperature value and the current mode is cooling, or when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a second preset temperature value and the current mode is heating, the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient is the first compensation coefficient; otherwise, it is the second compensation coefficient.

[0037] For example, the first preset temperature value is 40℃, the second preset temperature value is 0℃, the first compensation coefficient is 1.12, and the second compensation coefficient is 1.00.

[0038] Ambient temperature -10℃, coffee mode, target temperature 55℃, current wall temperature 20℃, error 35℃. The second PID controller calculates P_base = 40W. Ambient temperature ≤ 0℃ and heating mode, K_comp = 1.12.

[0039] P_final = 40W × 1.12 = 44.8W, exceeding the rated heating power to ensure that coffee can still heat up quickly in extremely cold environments. Through simple multiplication compensation, the system can still reach the target temperature in extreme weather, avoiding the embarrassing situation of "weak cooling in summer and insufficient heating in winter".

[0040] Kp2×e(t): Instantaneous response to the current error; the larger the error, the larger the output. Ki×∫e(t)dt: Accumulation of past errors, eliminating steady-state error. Kd×de(t) / dt: Prediction of error change trend, suppressing overshoot. The three parts work together to achieve rapid heating without overshoot.

[0041] The TEC drive and polarity switching module 4 is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module 3. It is used to receive the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, and output the current in the corresponding direction to drive the TEC to work in the cooling state or the heating state. The TEC drive and polarity switching module 4 is the power execution unit of the entire temperature control system. It receives two types of signals from the dual-mode intelligent control module 3: a power adjustment signal (which determines the intensity of the TEC's operation) and a mode direction signal (which determines the direction of current flow). Based on the mode direction signal, it converts the input power into DC current in the corresponding direction and outputs it to the TEC: when the mode direction signal is a cooling command, it outputs a positive current to make the side of the TEC closest to the cup holder the cold end, thus achieving cooling; when the mode direction signal is a heating command, it outputs a reverse current to make the same side the hot end, thus achieving heating. At the same time, the strength of the power adjustment signal determines the magnitude of the output current, thereby precisely controlling the cooling or heating power of the TEC, and ultimately driving the TEC to work stably at the required intensity in the required mode.

[0042] The automotive-grade power management module 5 is used to power the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1, the mode selection and setting module 2, the dual-mode intelligent control module 3, and the TEC drive and polarity switching module 4.

[0043] The automotive-grade power management module 5 is the energy hub of the entire temperature control system. It draws power from the vehicle's 12V power supply (usually 10.8V–14.4V) and converts the voltage into the stable operating voltage required by each module through an internal high-efficiency DC-DC converter. It provides stable operating voltage for the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1, the mode selection and setting module 2, the dual-mode intelligent control module 3, and the TEC drive and polarity switching module 4.

[0044] In one embodiment, the system further includes a fan speed control module 6, which is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module 3, for controlling the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

[0045] The fan speed control module 6 is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module 3. Its function is to receive the fan speed control signal (usually a PWM waveform) generated by the dual-mode intelligent control module 3 based on the TEC hot-end temperature signal, and adjust the power supply voltage or current of the cooling fan in real time according to the duty cycle of this signal, thereby precisely controlling the fan speed. When the TEC hot-end temperature rises, the duty cycle of the speed control signal increases, and the fan speed increases to enhance heat dissipation; when the hot-end temperature decreases, the duty cycle decreases, and the fan speed decreases to reduce noise and power consumption. Through this closed-loop speed control mechanism, the fan speed control module 6 ensures that the TEC hot-end temperature is always maintained within a preset safety threshold, avoiding the decrease in cooling / heating efficiency caused by overheating of the hot end, and achieving a dynamic balance between quiet operation and heat dissipation.

[0046] In one embodiment, a redundancy verification and fault tolerance module is also provided between the multi-channel temperature acquisition module 1 and the dual-mode intelligent control module 3. The redundancy check and fault tolerance module shown calculates the temperature difference between the beverage container wall temperature and the ambient temperature and its rate of change in real time. When the difference exceeds the preset confidence threshold and continues for more than a first preset time, it is determined to be a beverage NTC or ambient NTC fault. At this time, the system automatically switches to the beverage NTC or ambient NTC confidence signal for control and records the fault code. When both the beverage NTC and the environmental NTC exceed the physically reasonable range or contradict each other and the reliable source cannot be determined, it is determined to be a dual-channel sensor failure. At this time, the system switches to open-loop timed control mode, drives the TEC to work with a preset safe duty cycle, and automatically stops after the second preset time, and issues a fault alarm.

[0047] The core task of the redundancy check and fault tolerance module is to determine whether the beverage NTC and environmental NTC are functioning correctly and to execute different emergency strategies based on the severity of the fault. In a real vehicle environment, the temperature of the beverage inside the cup will not differ significantly from the ambient temperature (e.g., the beverage temperature will not be 60°C while the ambient temperature is -20°C, unless the TEC is used for prolonged heating), and the difference is continuous and bounded. If the difference suddenly becomes very large or the rate of change is abnormal, it indicates that at least one sensor has failed. For example, the preset confidence threshold is 35°C, meaning that under normal circumstances, the difference between the beverage wall temperature and the ambient temperature will not exceed 35°C. The first preset time, such as 5 or 10 seconds, is to avoid misjudgments caused by momentary interference; a fault is only identified if the reading continues for more than the first preset time. If the beverage NTC reading is within a physically reasonable range (e.g., -40°C to 125°C) while the environmental NTC reading is significantly unreasonable (e.g., -50°C or 150°C), the environmental NTC is considered faulty. If the environmental NTC is reasonable but the beverage NTC is unreasonable, the beverage NTC is considered faulty.

[0048] If the system determines that a sensor is faulty, it will discard the data from the faulty sensor and use only the signal from the healthy sensor for temperature control. For example, if the system determines that the beverage's NTC is faulty, it will only control the temperature based on the ambient NTC and TEC hot-end temperature. In this case, the beverage temperature cannot be precisely controlled, but TEC overload can be avoided.

[0049] If the beverage NTC displays 150℃ (significantly exceeding 125℃) and the ambient NTC displays -50℃ (below -40℃), both values ​​are outside the normal operating range of the NTC, indicating that both sensors may be damaged. The system no longer relies on any temperature feedback, but instead outputs a fixed power to the TEC according to a preset safe duty cycle (e.g., 50% PWM). The TEC operates at a fixed power for a second preset time, then automatically shuts down. The system then sends a fault code to the vehicle's central control system via flashing indicator lights, a buzzer, or the CAN / LIN bus, alerting the user that the system has failed and requires repair.

[0050] In one embodiment, the dual-mode intelligent control module 3 further includes a container material adaptive identification unit. During the initial third preset time after system startup, the TEC is driven to work with a preset constant power, while the time change rate of the beverage NTC temperature is analyzed. Based on the comparison result between the change rate and the preset metal material characteristic threshold and non-metal material characteristic threshold, the material type of the current beverage container is automatically determined, and the second proportional gain and integral gain in the second PID controller parameters are adjusted accordingly to compensate for the control lag caused by the difference in thermal conductivity of different materials.

[0051] The container material adaptive recognition unit is an enhanced function of the dual-mode intelligent control module 3. It is used to automatically identify whether the cup put in by the user is made of metal (such as stainless steel thermos cup) or non-metallic material (such as plastic, glass, ceramic) at the beginning of system startup, and automatically adjust the control parameters of the second PID controller according to the recognition result to optimize temperature control performance.

[0052] Different beverage containers have significantly different thermal conductivity characteristics. Metal containers conduct heat quickly and have a rapid temperature response, but are prone to overshoot. Therefore, the parameters of the second PID controller need to be conservative, generally using a small proportional gain and weak integral. Non-metallic containers conduct heat slowly and have a sluggish temperature response. Therefore, the parameters of the second PID controller need to be aggressive, generally using a large proportional gain and strong integral to shorten the heating / cooling time. If the system uses fixed second PID controller parameters, it may produce violent oscillations or overshoot in metal containers, while heating / cooling may be extremely slow in non-metallic containers, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0053] For a fixed duration after system startup, such as 30 or 60 seconds, the system outputs a fixed, known, and moderate power to the TEC (e.g., 20W for heating mode or 25W for cooling mode), which remains unchanged regardless of temperature feedback. This is done to eliminate the variable influence of PID control and to observe only the cup's temperature response to a constant heat flow. Metal cups conduct heat quickly, with heat rapidly transferring from the cup wall to the internal liquid, resulting in a rapid temperature rise (or fall) and a large rate of change. Non-metallic cups conduct heat slowly, with heat accumulating on the cup wall or slowly transferring inwards, resulting in a slow temperature change and a small rate of change. During the constant power drive period, the system continuously samples the NTC temperature of the beverage and calculates the rate of change over time. The rate of change over time = dT / dt, which is the change in the beverage container wall temperature per unit time (°C / second).

[0054] For example: In heating mode, heating at a constant power of 20W for 30 seconds. For a metal cup: the cup wall temperature rises from 25℃ to 40℃, the rate of change over time = (40-25) / 30 ≈ 0.5℃ / s. For a plastic cup: the cup wall temperature rises from 25℃ to 30℃, the rate of change over time = (30-25) / 30 ≈ 0.167℃ / s. The characteristic threshold for metal materials is 0.4℃ / s (meaning if the rate of change over time is ≥ 0.4, it is judged as metal); the characteristic threshold for non-metal materials is 0.2℃ / s (meaning if the rate of change over time is ≤ 0.2, it is judged as non-metal). The measured rate of temperature change is compared with the threshold to determine whether the cup is metal or non-metal.

[0055] If the cup is made of metal, the values ​​of Kp2 and Ki need to be reduced because metal conducts heat quickly, and excessively high Kp2 and Ki can easily cause overshoot and oscillation. If the cup is made of non-metal, increasing Kp2 and Ki can advance and strengthen the control action, compensate for the delay in heat transfer, thereby shortening the time to reach the target temperature and reducing overshoot.

[0056] For example, a user places a stainless steel thermos (metal) into the cup holder and selects the coffee mode at 55℃. After system startup, material identification is performed. The preset constant heating power is 20W, the identification time is 30 seconds, the initial cup wall temperature is 20℃, and after 30 seconds, the cup wall temperature is 38℃. The temperature change rate is (38-20) / 30 = 0.6℃ / s. The preset metal threshold is 0.4℃ / s. Since 0.6 > 0.4, the cup is identified as metal. The system loads the seven parameters of the second PID control specifically for metal cups: Kp = 1.2 (originally the default 2.0), Ki = 0.3 (originally the default 0.8). Normal temperature control is then implemented: due to the small Kp2 and weak Ki, the metal cup temperature rises steadily to 55℃ without significant overshoot, maintaining a stable temperature. If the material is not identified and the default parameters are used, the metal cup temperature may surge to 60℃ and then drop back, or oscillate back and forth. In this way, power is increased for non-metallic cups to quickly reach the target temperature; and overshoot is prevented for metallic cups to reduce settling time.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, in a second aspect, this application also provides a method for precise temperature control of a dual-mode TEC system specifically for in-vehicle beverages, comprising the following steps: S1. Real-time acquisition of beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal and TEC hot end temperature signal; S2. Receive external input commands for selecting coffee mode or mineral water mode and setting target temperature. S3. Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command, and target temperature setting command, generate cooling or heating power adjustment signal, mode direction signal, and fan speed control signal respectively. S4. Based on the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, output the current in the corresponding direction to drive the TEC to work in the cooling state or the heating state. S5. Adjust the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

[0058] In one embodiment, the method for generating the cooling or heating power adjustment signal, the mode direction signal, and the fan speed control signal respectively is as follows: The mode direction signal for cooling or heating is directly determined according to the selection command; The difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command is used to perform compensation calculations based on the ambient temperature signal to generate a base power value. Then, the base power value is limited and corrected based on the TEC hot end temperature signal to obtain the power adjustment signal. The fan speed control signal is generated based on the comparison between the TEC hot end temperature signal and the preset hot end temperature threshold.

[0059] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combination of these technical features does not contradict each other, it should be considered within the scope of this specification. The above embodiments only illustrate several implementation methods of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system for in-vehicle beverages, characterized in that: include: The multi-channel temperature acquisition module includes beverage NTC, ambient NTC, and TEC hot end NTC, which are used to acquire beverage container wall temperature signals, ambient temperature signals, and TEC hot end temperature signals in real time, respectively. The mode selection and setting module is used to receive external input commands for selecting coffee mode or mineral water mode and setting target temperature. The dual-mode intelligent control module is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and the mode selection and setting unit module, respectively. Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command and target temperature setting command, it generates cooling or heating power adjustment signal, mode direction signal and fan speed control signal, respectively. The TEC drive and polarity switching module is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module. It is used to receive the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, and output the current in the corresponding direction to drive the TEC to work in the cooling state or the heating state. The automotive-grade power management module supplies power to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module, mode selection and setting module, dual-mode intelligent control module, and TEC drive and polarity switching module.

2. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes a fan speed control module, which is electrically connected to the dual-mode intelligent control module and is used to control the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

3. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The dual-mode intelligent control module includes: The inner ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and is used to receive the TEC hot end temperature signal. The first PID controller adjusts the PWM duty cycle output to the fan speed control module to stabilize the TEC hot end temperature within a preset threshold. The outer ring temperature control unit is electrically connected to the multi-channel temperature acquisition module. It is used to receive the beverage container wall temperature signal and the ambient temperature signal. Based on the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command, and combined with the ambient temperature signal, it performs compensation calculation. The second PID controller calculates and outputs a power adjustment signal to the TEC drive and polarity switching module. The parameter adaptive switching unit is connected to the inner ring temperature control unit and the outer ring temperature control unit respectively, and is used to monitor the absolute value of the temperature error of the outer ring temperature control unit; When the absolute value of the temperature error is greater than the first threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit increases the first proportional gain and decreases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in fast response mode. When the absolute value of the temperature error is less than the second threshold, the parameter adaptive switching unit reduces the first proportional gain and increases the first integral time of the first PID controller, so that the inner loop temperature control unit works in a stable mode. The switching between the fast response mode and the stable mode enables a smooth transition between the rapid heating and cooling phase and the low-power constant temperature phase.

4. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The calculation formula for the power adjustment signal is: P_final = P_base × K_comp, where P_base is the base power value and K_comp is the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient.

5. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The formula for calculating the base power value is: P_base=Kp2×e(t)+Ki×∫e(t)dt+Kd×de(t) / dt, where Kp2 is the second proportional gain, e(t) is the difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature, Ki is the integral gain, and Kd is the differential gain.

6. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first preset temperature value and the current mode is cooling, or when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the second preset temperature value and the current mode is heating, the ambient temperature signal compensation coefficient is the first compensation coefficient; otherwise, it is the second compensation coefficient.

7. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 6, characterized in that: A redundancy verification and fault tolerance module is also provided between the multi-channel temperature acquisition module and the dual-mode intelligent control module. The redundancy check and fault tolerance module shown calculates the temperature difference between the beverage container wall temperature and the ambient temperature and its rate of change in real time. When the difference exceeds the preset confidence threshold and continues for more than a first preset time, it is determined to be a beverage NTC or ambient NTC fault. At this time, the system automatically switches to the beverage NTC or ambient NTC confidence signal for control and records the fault code. When both the beverage NTC and the environmental NTC exceed the physically reasonable range or contradict each other and the reliable source cannot be determined, it is determined to be a dual-channel sensor failure. At this time, the system switches to open-loop timed control mode, drives the TEC to work with a preset safe duty cycle, and automatically stops after the second preset time, and issues a fault alarm.

8. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precision temperature control system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The dual-mode intelligent control module also includes a container material adaptive identification unit. During the initial third preset time after system startup, it drives the TEC to work with a preset constant power, while analyzing the time change rate of the beverage NTC temperature. Based on the comparison result between the change rate and the preset metal material characteristic threshold and non-metal material characteristic threshold, it automatically determines the material type of the current beverage container and adjusts the second proportional gain and integral gain in the second PID controller parameters accordingly to compensate for the control lag caused by the difference in thermal conductivity of different materials.

9. A method for precise temperature control of a dual-mode TEC system for in-vehicle beverages, used to implement the method of the precise temperature control system for a dual-mode TEC system for in-vehicle beverages as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Real-time acquisition of beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, and TEC hot end temperature signal; Receives external input commands for selecting coffee or mineral water mode and setting target temperature; Based on the beverage container wall temperature signal, ambient temperature signal, TEC hot end temperature signal, selection command, and target temperature setting command, a power adjustment signal for cooling or heating, a mode direction signal, and a fan speed control signal are generated respectively. Based on the power adjustment signal and the mode direction signal, the corresponding current is output to drive the TEC to work in either cooling or heating mode. Adjust the speed of the cooling fan according to the fan speed control signal.

10. The in-vehicle beverage-specific dual-mode TEC precise temperature control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method for generating the power adjustment signal for cooling or heating, the mode direction signal, and the fan speed control signal respectively is as follows: The mode direction signal for cooling or heating is directly determined according to the selection command; The difference between the beverage container wall temperature signal and the target temperature setting command is used to perform compensation calculations based on the ambient temperature signal to generate a base power value. Then, the base power value is limited and corrected based on the TEC hot end temperature signal to obtain the power adjustment signal. The fan speed control signal is generated based on the comparison between the TEC hot end temperature signal and the preset hot end temperature threshold.

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