An isolation controller and control method applied to an automotive power network

Abstract

The present invention provides an isolation controller and a control method applied to an automotive power network, including a main power supply module, a storage battery, and several electrical appliances. A main path is provided between the main power supply module and the storage battery, and several sub-paths are provided between the main path and the electrical appliances. An isolation control module is installed between the main power supply module and the electrical appliances and between the main power supply module and the storage battery. The isolation control module includes a main switch, an internal controller, and several sub-switches. The isolation controller and the control method applied to the automotive power network provided by the present invention can diagnose faults in the main power network and the electrical appliance power network, and disconnect the main switch or the sub-switches after a fault occurs. After the main switch is disconnected, the storage battery can supply power to the electrical appliances, enabling the autonomous driving components and the safety components of the vehicle to still complete their functions according to the established design requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automotive electronics design, and particularly to an isolation controller and a control method applied to an automotive power network. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing sophistication and popularity of autonomous driving, the vehicle as a whole has put forward higher requirements for the safety of the power network to achieve safety functions in the automatic mode.

[0003] In the existing vehicle power supply framework, when a single point failure occurs in the power network, the controller cannot isolate the main power network and the backup power network in a short time, resulting in the electrical appliances and controllers on other power network nodes being unable to work properly, and further causing the vehicle braking system to be unable to work properly and leading to accidents. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an isolation controller and a control method applied to an automotive power network to solve all or part of the above problems.

[0005] Based on the above purpose, the present invention provides an isolation controller applied to an automotive power network, including a main power supply module, a storage battery and a plurality of electrical appliances. A main path is provided between the main power supply module and the storage battery, and a plurality of sub-paths are provided between the main path and the electrical appliances. An isolation control module is installed between the main power supply module and the electrical appliances and between the main power supply module and the storage battery. The isolation control module includes a main switch, an internal controller and a plurality of sub-switches. The main switch is installed on the main path to control the on-off of the main path, and the sub-switches are installed on the sub-paths to control the on-off of the sub-paths;

[0006] Wherein, when a fault occurs, the main switch and a plurality of sub-switches automatically disconnect, and the storage battery supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switches to close within a predetermined time. When no fault occurs, it remains in the closed state and controls the main switch to close; when a fault still occurs, the sub-switches automatically disconnect and keep the main switch in the open state.

[0007] Optionally, the electrical appliances include all or part of a redundant braking device, an integrated braking controller, an electric power steering system, and an electronic brake assist system.

[0008] Optionally, the main power supply module is a mainstream converter or a generator.

[0009] Optionally, the internal controller collects data on the current values and voltage values on the main switch and the sub-switch, and sets thresholds for the current values of the current flowing through the main switch and the sub-switch and the voltage values at both ends of the main switch and both ends of the sub-switch. When the current value or voltage value exceeds the threshold, the internal controller disconnects the main switch and the sub-switch.

[0010] Optionally, both the main switch and the sub-switch include a disconnector and an intelligent electronic fuse.

[0011] Based on the above embodiments, a control method for an isolation controller applied to an automotive power network is proposed, including the following steps:

[0012] Calibrate the thresholds for faults such as overvoltage, undervoltage, and overcurrent of the main switch and the sub-switch, and the internal controller collects data on the current value and voltage value;

[0013] When a fault occurs, the internal controller controls the main switch and several sub-switches to disconnect, and the battery supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switch to attempt to close within a predetermined time;

[0014] When no fault occurs after the sub-switch is closed, the sub-switch remains closed, and the main switch is controlled to close; when a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch and keeps the main switch in the disconnected state.

[0015] Optionally, the internal controller controls the sub-switch to attempt to close within a predetermined time, specifically:

[0016] The internal controller controls the sub-switch to attempt to close within 1 minute.

[0017] Optionally, when a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch and keeps the main switch in the disconnected state, and further includes:

[0018] When a fault still occurs, the internal controller controls the sub-switch to make 5 closing attempts within 10 seconds. If a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch and keeps the main switch in the disconnected state.

[0019] As can be seen from the above, the isolation controller and control method applied to the automotive power network provided by the present invention can control the on-off of the circuit by setting an isolation control module and combining a disconnector and an intelligent electronic fuse. It can diagnose the faults of the main power network and the electrical appliance power network by detecting the voltage and current values of the power network nodes and the voltage and current values output to the electrical appliances, and disconnect the main switch or the sub-switch after a fault occurs. After the main switch is disconnected, the battery can supply power to the electrical appliances, enabling the autonomous driving components and the safety components of the vehicle to still complete their functions according to the established design requirements, improving the safety level of the whole vehicle. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only those of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the isolation controller applied to the automotive power supply network of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 Schematic flowchart of the control method of the isolation controller applied to the automotive power supply network of the present invention;

[0023] Among them, main power supply module 1, storage battery 2, electrical appliance 3, main path 4, sub-path 5, main switch 6, sub-switch 7. Detailed Embodiments

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure clearer and more understandable, the following further elaborates on the present disclosure in conjunction with specific embodiments.

[0025] It should be noted that unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the present invention should have the ordinary meanings understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The "first", "second" and similar terms used in the present invention do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. The terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the elements or objects appearing before this word cover the elements or objects listed after this word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms such as "connected" or "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms such as "upper", "lower", "left" and "right" are only used to represent relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0026] Based on the above objectives, the present invention provides an isolation controller applied to the automotive power supply network, as Figure 1As shown in the figure, it includes a main power supply module 1, a storage battery 2 and several electrical appliances 3. There is a main path 4 between the main power supply module 1 and the storage battery 2, and several sub-paths 5 are provided between the main path 4 and the electrical appliances 3. An isolation control module is installed between the main power supply module 1 and the electrical appliances 3 and between the main power supply module 1 and the storage battery 2. The isolation control module includes a main switch 6, an internal controller and several sub-switches 7. The main switch 6 is installed on the main path 4 to control the on-off of the main path 4, and the sub-switch 7 is installed on the sub-path 5 to control the on-off of the sub-path 5;

[0027] Among them, when a fault occurs, the main switch 6 and several sub-switches 7 automatically disconnect, and the storage battery 2 supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switch 7 to close within a predetermined time. When no fault occurs, it remains in the closed state and controls the main switch 6 to close; when a fault still occurs, the sub-switch 7 automatically disconnects and keeps the main switch 6 in the off state.

[0028] The present invention can realize the diagnosis of faults in the main power network and the power network of the electrical appliance 3 by detecting the voltage and current values of the power network nodes and the voltage and current values output to the electrical appliance 3, and disconnect the main switch 6 or the sub-switch 7 after a fault occurs. After the main switch 6 is disconnected, the storage battery 2 can supply power to the electrical appliance 3, so that the automatic driving components and the safety components of the vehicle can still complete their functions according to the established design requirements, improving the safety level of the whole vehicle.

[0029] In one embodiment, the electrical appliance 3 includes all or part of a redundant braking device, an integrated braking controller, an electric power steering system, and an electronic control brake assist system. The electrical appliance 3 can also be other components, and the number of sub-switches 7 can be increased or decreased according to the situation of the electrical appliances 3 in the whole vehicle.

[0030] In one embodiment, the main power supply module 1 is a mainstream converter or a generator. After being powered on, the main power supply module 1 supplies power to the storage battery 2 through the main switch 6 and supplies power to the sub-path 5 through the connection of the sub-switch 7 to provide power for the electrical appliances 3 on the sub-path 5.

[0031] Specifically, the internal controller collects data on the current values and voltage values on the main switch 6 and the sub-switch 7, and sets thresholds for the current values of the current flowing through the main switch 6 and the sub-switch 7 and the voltage values at both ends of the main switch 6 and both ends of the sub-switch 7. When the current value or voltage value exceeds the threshold, the internal controller disconnects the main switch 6 and the sub-switch 7.

[0032] Further, according to the actual situation, set the thresholds of each fault point on the main switch 6 as follows: the voltage threshold during overvoltage is greater than 16.5V, the voltage threshold during undervoltage is less than 8.5V, and the current threshold during overcurrent is greater than 200A; set the thresholds of each fault point on the sub-switch 7 as follows: the voltage threshold during overvoltage is greater than 17V, the voltage threshold during undervoltage is less than 8V, and the current threshold during overcurrent is greater than 70A.

[0033] In one embodiment, both the main switch 6 and the sub-switch 7 include a disconnect switch and an intelligent electronic fuse.

[0034] Based on the above embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, a control method for an isolation controller applied to an automotive power network is proposed, including the following steps:

[0035] Calibrate the thresholds of faults such as overvoltage, undervoltage, and overcurrent of the main switch 6 and the sub-switch 7, and the internal controller collects data on current values and voltage values;

[0036] When a fault occurs, the internal controller controls the main switch 6 and several sub-switches 7 to disconnect, and the battery 2 supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switch 7 to attempt to close within a predetermined time;

[0037] When no fault occurs after the sub-switch 7 closes, the sub-switch 7 remains closed, and the main switch 6 is controlled to close; when a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch 7 and keeps the main switch 6 in the open state.

[0038] Optionally, the internal controller controls the sub-switch 7 to attempt to close within a predetermined time, specifically:

[0039] The internal controller controls the sub-switch 7 to attempt to close within 1 minute.

[0040] Optionally, when a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch 7 and keeps the main switch 6 in the open state, and further includes:

[0041] When a fault still occurs, the internal controller controls the sub-switch 7 to make 5 closing attempts within 10 seconds. If a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switch 7 and keeps the main switch 6 in the open state.

[0042] In the present invention, by providing an isolation control module and adopting a method of combining a disconnecting switch with an intelligent electronic fuse to control the on / off of a circuit, it is possible to detect the voltage and current values of the power network node and the voltage and current values output to the electrical appliance 3, so as to realize the diagnosis of faults in the main power network and the power network of the electrical appliance 3. After a fault occurs, the main switch 6 or the sub-switch 7 is disconnected. After the main switch 6 is disconnected, the storage battery 2 can supply power to the electrical appliance 3, enabling the autonomous driving components and the safety components of the vehicle to still complete their functions according to the established design requirements, thus improving the safety level of the whole vehicle.

[0043] Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the discussion of any embodiment above is only exemplary, and is not intended to imply that the scope of the present disclosure (including the claims) is limited to these examples; under the concept of the present disclosure, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations in different aspects of the present invention as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0044] The present invention is intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An isolation controller applied to an automotive power network, characterized in that It includes a main power supply module, a storage battery and several electrical appliances. There is a main path between the main power supply module and the storage battery, and several sub-paths between the main path and the electrical appliances. An isolation control module is installed between the main power supply module and the electrical appliances and between the main power supply module and the storage battery. The isolation control module includes a main switch, an internal controller and several sub-switches. The main switch is installed on the main path to control the on / off of the main path. The sub-switches are installed on the sub-paths to control the on / off of the sub-paths; Among them, when a fault occurs, the main switch and several sub-switches automatically disconnect, and the storage battery supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switches to close within a predetermined time. When no fault occurs, it remains in the closed state and controls the main switch to close; when a fault still occurs, the sub-switches automatically disconnect and keep the main switch in the open state; The internal controller collects data on the current values and voltage values on the main switch and the sub-switches, and sets the thresholds for the current values flowing through the main switch and the sub-switches and the voltage values at both ends of the main switch and both ends of the sub-switches. When the current value or voltage value exceeds the threshold, the internal controller disconnects the main switch and the sub-switches.

2. The isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 1, characterized in that The electrical appliances include all or part of a redundant braking device, an integrated braking controller, an electric power steering system, and an electronic brake assist system.

3. The isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 1, wherein, The main power supply module is a mainstream converter or a generator.

4. The isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 1, wherein Both the main switch and the sub-switches include a disconnector and an intelligent electronic fuse.

5. The control method of the isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: Calibrate the overvoltage, undervoltage and overcurrent thresholds of the main switch and the sub-switches, and the internal controller collects data on the current value and voltage value; When a fault occurs, the internal controller controls the main switch and several sub-switches to disconnect, and the storage battery supplies power. The internal controller controls the sub-switches to attempt to close within a predetermined time; When no fault occurs after the sub-switches close, the sub-switches remain in the closed state and control the main switch to close; when a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switches and keeps the main switch in the open state.

6. The control method of the isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 5, characterized in that, The internal controller controls the sub-switches to attempt to close within a predetermined time, specifically: The internal controller controls the sub-switches to attempt to close within 1 minute.

7. The control method of the isolation controller applied to the automotive power network according to claim 5, characterized in that, When a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switches and keeps the main switch in the open state, and further includes: When a fault still occurs, the internal controller controls the sub-switches to make 5 closing attempts within 10 seconds. If a fault still occurs, the internal controller disconnects the sub-switches and keeps the main switch in the open state.

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