Low-voltage power supply framework, control method of low-voltage power supply and electric automobile

Abstract

The invention relates to a low-voltage power supply framework, a control method of a low-voltage power supply and an electric vehicle. According to the framework, a plurality of power batteries are arranged, each power battery is provided with a power contact, and the voltage of the power batteries is determined according to the voltage of a power supply in the electric automobile; the switching device is in driving connection with the power supply device and is used for driving the power supply device to be butted with the power supply contacts on the different power batteries; and the power supply device is connected with the low-voltage power utilization component and is used for connecting the power battery with the low-voltage power utilization component according to the butt joint condition of the power supply contact of the power battery, so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage power utilization component, or supplies power to the low-voltage power utilization component in a stable-voltage manner when the power battery is not connected with the low-voltage power utilization component. According to the framework, the cost of the low-voltage power supply framework is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electric vehicles, and in particular to a low-voltage power supply architecture, a low-voltage power supply control method, and an electric vehicle. Background Art

[0002] As electric vehicle sales increase, the disposal of end-of-life lead-acid batteries is placing a significant burden on the environment. The electric vehicle industry is trending toward intelligence, electrification, and connectivity. This leads to more complex electronic and electrical architectures and electrical system principles, placing higher demands on the modularization and integration of electric vehicles to reduce costs and energy consumption.

[0003] To meet the needs of electric vehicle starting, parking, and remote control, existing low-voltage power supply architectures employ intelligent charging solutions. This solution uses power batteries to replenish lead-acid batteries when necessary to maintain normal operation of the low-voltage system. Because power batteries have a high output voltage and cannot directly power the low-voltage system, an independent DC / DC converter controller is required to convert the power battery's high-voltage DC power into DC power suitable for the low-voltage system during energy transfer. This ensures charging of the lead-acid battery and stable power supply to the low-voltage load.

[0004] However, the prior art has the problem that the cost of the low-voltage power supply architecture is too high because independent devices need to be provided to stably supply power to the low-voltage load. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a low-voltage power supply architecture, a low-voltage power supply control method and an electric vehicle, which are used to solve the problem of high cost of low-voltage power supply architecture caused by the need to set up independent devices to provide stable power supply to low-voltage loads in the prior art.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a low-voltage power supply architecture, including a power battery, a switching device, and a power supply device;

[0008] There are multiple power batteries, and each power battery is provided with a power contact, wherein the voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle;

[0009] A switching device, drivingly connected to the power supply device, for driving the power supply device to connect with power contacts on different power batteries;

[0010] The power supply device is connected to the low-voltage electrical components and is used to connect the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components according to the docking status of the power contacts of the power battery, so that the power battery can supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, or to provide stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected.

[0011] Optionally, the power supply device includes a power supply contact for docking with the power contact, and the power supply contact is also connected to the low-voltage electrical component, wherein,

[0012] When the power supply contacts are connected to the power supply contacts of the power battery, the power battery is electrically connected to the low-voltage electrical components through the power supply device and supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components;

[0013] When the power supply contact moves from the power supply contact of one power battery to the power supply contact of another power battery, the power supply device provides stable power to the low-voltage electrical components.

[0014] Optionally, the power supply device further includes:

[0015] The controller is connected to the switching device for obtaining the usage of the power battery and, based on the usage of the power battery, generating and sending a control signal to the switching device so that the switching device adjusts the connection between the power supply device and the power contacts of different power batteries according to the control signal.

[0016] Optionally, when the control signal indicates that the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and the other power batteries meets a preset pressure difference condition, the switching device adjusts the power supply device to connect with the power contacts of the other power batteries according to the control signal.

[0017] Optionally, the power supply device further includes:

[0018] The backup power supply is connected to the low-voltage electrical components and is used to electrically connect to the low-voltage electrical components and supply power to the low-voltage electrical components when the power supply contacts are not connected to the power contacts of the power battery.

[0019] Optionally, the backup power supply is also connected to the power supply contacts of the power supply device, and is used to receive and store the power sent by the power battery when the power supply contacts are docked with the power contacts of the power battery, and to charge the power battery when the power battery is low on power.

[0020] Optionally, the switching device includes:

[0021] The track is arranged along the arrangement direction of the power contacts on the power battery and is movably connected to the power supply device;

[0022] The drive motor is connected to the power supply device and is used to drive the power supply device to move along the track to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries.

[0023] Optionally, the power batteries are connected via a busbar, and the power contacts of the power batteries are provided on both sides of the power batteries and connected to the busbar.

[0024] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for controlling a low-voltage power supply, characterized in that the method is applied to the low-voltage power supply architecture of the first aspect, and includes:

[0025] Obtain the usage of power batteries in the low-voltage power architecture. There are multiple power batteries, and the voltage of the power batteries is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle;

[0026] According to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture is controlled to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries, and according to the connection between the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is connected so that the power battery can supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, or when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected, the low-voltage electrical components are supplied with power.

[0027] Optionally, according to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, controlling the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries includes:

[0028] Determine the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries based on the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power architecture;

[0029] According to the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries, a driving signal is generated and sent to the switching device, so that the switching device drives the power supply device to connect with the power contacts on the other power batteries.

[0030] Optionally, the method further comprises:

[0031] When the power battery is low on power, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the low-power power battery, so that the low-power power battery is charged by the power supply device.

[0032] In a third aspect, the present invention provides an electric vehicle comprising the low-voltage power supply architecture of the first aspect.

[0033] The present invention provides a low-voltage power supply architecture, in which a plurality of power batteries are provided, each of which is equipped with an independent power contact. A switching device is connected to a power supply device for driving the power supply device to physically connect with the power contacts of different power batteries according to control instructions; the power supply device is connected to low-voltage electrical components and can be selectively powered directly by the power battery depending on whether it is connected to the power battery, or provide a stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical components through its own voltage stabilization function when it is not connected. By reusing power batteries as low-voltage power sources and adopting a mechanical switching method to replace the power conversion link of traditional independent DC / DC converters, the dependence on dedicated power electronic devices is reduced, thereby effectively reducing the overall hardware cost of the low-voltage power supply system, while improving the system integration and reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a module of a low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0036] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0037] Figure 4 A method for controlling a low-voltage power supply provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the control of the low-voltage power supply provided by the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0040] In the figure, 110 is a power battery; 120 is a switching device; 121 is a track; 122 is a driving motor; 130 is a power supply device; 131 is a power supply contact; 132 is a controller; 133 is a backup power supply; 140 is a power contact; 150 is a busbar; 200 is a low-voltage electrical component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, when referring to the drawings, like numbers in different figures represent like or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments are not intended to represent all possible embodiments consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present invention, as detailed in the appended claims.

[0042] In existing technologies, as the market share of electric vehicles continues to rise, the extensive use and subsequent disposal of lead-acid batteries are placing increasing pressure on the environment. Currently, the development trend of electric vehicles is moving towards intelligence, electrification, and networking. The vehicle's electronic and electrical architecture and electrical system principles are becoming increasingly complex, placing higher demands on the modularization and integration of the entire vehicle. To meet functions such as vehicle starting, stationary, and remote control, existing low-voltage power supply architectures generally use a solution where the power battery replenishes the lead-acid battery through intelligent charging. However, this solution suffers from low power battery energy conversion efficiency and requires the additional configuration of an independent DC / DC converter controller. This not only increases the cost of the vehicle's electrical system, but also affects the system's reliability and stability to a certain extent, thereby adversely affecting vehicle driving safety.

[0043] The low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention divides the power battery pack into multiple types according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle, so that the voltage of the power battery does not require a conversion device, thereby meeting the power demand of the low-voltage electrical components in the electric vehicle. In addition, through the mechanical switching method of contact contact, the power battery reduces the dependence on dedicated power electronic devices when serving low-voltage electrical components, thereby effectively reducing the overall hardware cost of the low-voltage power supply system, while improving the system integration and reliability. Moreover, during the switching process, when the power battery cannot supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, the power supply device can replace the power battery through its own voltage stabilization function to provide a stable power supply for the low-voltage electrical components.

[0044] The following describes in detail the technical solutions of the present invention and how the technical solutions of this application solve the above-mentioned technical problems using specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described in detail in some embodiments. The following embodiments of the present invention are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a low-voltage power supply module provided by the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, the low-voltage power supply architecture of the present invention includes: a power battery 110, a switching device 120 and a power supply device 130; wherein,

[0046] There are multiple power batteries 110, and each power battery 110 is provided with a power contact 140, wherein the voltage of the power battery 110 is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle;

[0047] The switching device 120 is driven and connected to the power supply device 130, and is used to drive the power supply device 130 to connect with the power contacts 140 on different power batteries 110;

[0048] The power supply device 130 is connected to the low-voltage electrical component 200 and is used to connect the power battery 110 and the low-voltage electrical component 200 according to the docking status of the power contacts 140 of the power battery 110, so that the power battery 110 can power the low-voltage electrical component 200, or when the connection between the power battery 110 and the low-voltage electrical component 200 is not connected, provide stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical component 200.

[0049] The power battery 110 may be a high-efficiency energy storage device designed for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, etc., and is mainly used to provide power to the vehicle's drive motor to meet the energy requirements for vehicle driving.

[0050] Because the power battery 110 typically has a high output voltage, its voltage range doesn't match the operating voltage of low-voltage electrical equipment, making it unable to directly provide stable power to the low-voltage system. To address this issue, the output voltage of the power battery 110 can be set based on the power requirements of the low-voltage electrical equipment in the electric vehicle. This allows the power battery 110 to directly adapt to and meet the power supply requirements of the low-voltage electrical equipment, thereby achieving a more efficient and simple power supply method.

[0051] Optionally, multiple power batteries 110 can be obtained by splitting the power battery 110 of the vehicle as a whole. In order to make the voltage of each power battery 110 meet the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle, when the power battery 110 is divided into multiple power batteries 110 as a whole, the number of power batteries 110 can be determined by the multiples of the high-voltage power supply voltage and the low-voltage power supply voltage. For example, if the total voltage of the power battery 110 of the whole vehicle is 360V, and the operating voltage of the low-voltage electrical equipment is 12V, the power battery 110 can be split into 30 battery cells that are connected in series or managed independently. The output of each cell can be 12V, thereby realizing direct power supply to the low-voltage electrical components 200 without the need for additional DC / DC conversion devices.

[0052] In some embodiments, the power battery 110 may be split into some batteries as needed to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components 200 .

[0053] The power contacts 140 provided on the power battery 110 may refer to conductive interfaces for realizing electrical connection between the power battery 110 and an external circuit. Each power battery 110 may include two contacts, namely a positive contact and a negative contact. The positive contact and the negative contact may serve as physical connection points for current input or output, and may be used for circuit connection when the power battery 110 supplies power to electrical equipment, and may also support the battery management system in monitoring and controlling the battery status.

[0054] The switching device 120 may refer to a mechanical or electrical control component used to control the connection between the power supply device 130 and different power batteries 110. It can drive the power supply device 130 to connect or disconnect with the power contacts 140 of a specific power battery 110 according to system instructions. The operation of the switching device 120 can switch the power supply path between the power batteries 110, ensuring that the low-voltage electrical components 200 receive a stable and reliable power supply under different operating conditions.

[0055] The power supply device 130 refers to an electrical device used to control the transmission of power between the power battery 110 and the low-voltage electrical components 200. Its primary function is to automatically switch the power supply path based on whether it is connected to the power contacts 140 of the power battery 110. When connected to the power battery 110, the power supply device 130 directly transmits the power energy from the power battery 110 to the low-voltage electrical components 200. When disconnected, the power supply device 130 uses its internal voltage stabilization circuit to provide a continuous and stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical components 200, ensuring their normal operation.

[0056] Alternatively, docking the power supply device 130 with the power battery 110 may refer to establishing a conductive state with the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110 through a physical connection, such as plugging or contact connection, so that the power energy of the power battery 110 can be transmitted to the low-voltage electrical components 200 via the power supply device 130. This docking process can be driven by the switching device 120 to achieve direct power supply from the power battery 110 to the low-voltage electrical components 200.

[0057] The power supply device 130 and the power battery 110 are not connected, which means that the power supply device 130 has not formed an effective electrical connection with the power contacts 140 of the power battery 110, and the power battery 110 cannot supply power to the low-voltage electrical components 200. In this case, the power supply device 130 relies on its integrated voltage stabilization module or internal energy storage unit to provide a stable voltage for the low-voltage electrical components 200, ensuring that they can continue to operate normally without support from the main power supply.

[0058] When in use, the power supply device 130 can be adjusted to connect with different power batteries 110 according to the switching device 120, thereby realizing a solution of using different power batteries 110 to power the low-voltage electrical components 200.

[0059] In the low-voltage power supply architecture provided in the embodiment of the present application, multiple power batteries are provided, each of which is equipped with power contacts, and the single cell voltage is set according to the power supply voltage of the low-voltage system of the electric vehicle, so that the power battery can directly power the low-voltage electrical components. The switching device is linked with the power supply device to drive the power supply device to switch the physical contacts between different power batteries, thereby realizing flexible selection of the power supply path; the power supply device automatically switches to the corresponding power supply mode according to whether the power battery is connected. When connected, it is directly powered by the power battery, and when not connected, it provides a regulated power supply for the low-voltage system. The overall structure simplifies the traditional low-voltage power supply architecture, eliminates the dependence on independent DC / DC converters, reduces system costs, and at the same time improves the power supply reliability and the level of integration of the vehicle's electrical system.

[0060] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention Figure 1 ,like Figure 2 As shown, the low-voltage power supply architecture of the present invention includes a power battery 110, a switching device and a power supply device; the power supply device includes a power supply contact 131, a controller 132 and a backup power supply 133, wherein,

[0061] The power supply contact 131 is used for docking the power supply device with the power contact 140 on the power battery 110. When the power supply contact 131 is docked with the power contact 140 of the power battery 110, the power battery 110 is electrically connected to the low-voltage electrical components 200 through the power supply device and supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components. When the power supply contact 131 is not docked with the power contact 140 of the power battery 110, that is, when the power supply contact 131 is moved from the power contact 140 of one power battery 110 to the power contact 140 of another power battery 110, the power supply device provides stable power to the low-voltage electrical components.

[0062] There are two power supply contacts 131 on the power supply device, which are respectively connected to the two power contacts 140 on the power battery 110 .

[0063] The controller 132 may refer to the vehicle control system, which may be the core control unit of the vehicle, responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and coordinating the operating status of each vehicle subsystem. In the present invention, the vehicle control system not only collects and analyzes key parameters such as cell voltage and capacity of each power battery 110 in real time, but also switches the power supply paths between different power batteries 110 and low-voltage electrical components based on the power requirements of external electrical devices, thereby achieving the appropriate distribution of power energy.

[0064] In the present invention, the controller 132 can be connected to the switching device control to obtain the usage status of the power battery 110, and generate and send a control signal to the switching device based on the usage status of the power battery 110, so that the switching device adjusts the power supply device to connect with the power contacts 140 of different power batteries 110 according to the control signal.

[0065] The usage of the power battery 110 refers to its actual state of storage, distribution, and consumption of electrical energy during the operation of the electric vehicle, including key parameters such as the battery's charge and discharge frequency, power level fluctuations, voltage stability, temperature performance, and service life. By monitoring and analyzing the usage of the power battery 110, its health status can be effectively assessed, energy management strategies can be optimized, and efficient operation of the vehicle's power system can be ensured. Data support can also be provided for battery maintenance, replacement, and cascade utilization.

[0066] Optionally, the usage of the power battery 110 in the present invention can be characterized by its residual voltage. Residual voltage refers to the potential difference remaining in the power battery 110's current state, i.e., the actual measured terminal voltage of the battery, which reflects the amount of stored energy. Since residual voltage is one of the most intuitive and easily accessible electrical parameters reflecting the power battery's 110 current energy state, it can reflect the battery's real-time depth of discharge and available capacity. Therefore, by monitoring the residual voltage, the vehicle control system can determine whether the battery has the ability to continue driving high-voltage or low-voltage loads, thereby rationally scheduling energy distribution, warning of low-battery conditions, and optimizing vehicle energy management strategies to ensure safe and stable system operation.

[0067] Optionally, when the control signal indicates that the residual voltage difference between the power battery 110 connected to the power supply device and the other power batteries 110 meets a preset pressure difference condition, the switching device adjusts the power supply device to connect with the power contacts 140 of the other power batteries 110 according to the control signal.

[0068] The residual voltage difference may refer to the difference between the residual voltage of the power battery 110 currently used to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components and the residual voltage of other power batteries 110 that do not supply power to the low-voltage electrical components.

[0069] The preset voltage difference condition may refer to a situation where the residual voltage difference between the power batteries 110 is greater than a set threshold, that is, the residual voltage of the power battery 110 currently supplying power to the low-voltage electrical component is lower than the residual voltage of other power batteries 110 not participating in power supply.

[0070] The control signal may refer to an electrical signal or data instruction generated by the vehicle control system based on the monitored residual voltage and a preset control strategy, which is used to drive the switching device to perform the corresponding action. For example, if the residual voltage of the power battery 110 currently used to power low-voltage electrical components is 3V, and the residual voltages of other power batteries 110 are 5V, 4.5V, and 4V, respectively, a signal may be generated to move the power supply device to the power battery 110 with a residual voltage of 5V and connect it to it.

[0071] The backup power supply 133 can refer to an alternative power supply device that can provide continuous and stable power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components when the power battery 110 cannot supply power normally or the voltage is insufficient, or it can refer to a power supply that can continue to supply stable power to low-voltage electrical components when the power supply device switches from one power battery 110 to another power battery 110.

[0072] Optionally, the backup power supply 133 can be connected to low-voltage electrical components to electrically connect to and supply power to the low-voltage electrical components when the power supply contact 131 is not docked with the power contact 140 of the power battery 110 .

[0073] Optionally, the backup power supply 133 is also connected to the power supply contact 131 of the power supply device, and is used to receive and store the power sent by the power battery 110 when the power supply contact 131 is docked with the power contact 140 of the power battery 110, and to charge the power battery 110 when the power battery 110 is out of power.

[0074] That is, the backup power supply 133 can be connected to low-voltage electrical components and independently power them when the power supply contact 131 is not connected to the power battery 110, thereby ensuring the continuous operation of the low-voltage system; at the same time, the backup power supply 133 is also connected to the power supply contact 131 of the power supply device, and receives and stores electrical energy from the power battery 110 when the power supply contact 131 is connected to the power battery 110, and reversely replenishes the power battery 110 when the power is insufficient, thereby realizing power supply redundancy, bidirectional energy flow and dynamic adjustment of the battery status, and improving the stability and energy utilization efficiency of the vehicle power supply system.

[0075] Optionally, the switching device includes:

[0076] The track 121 is arranged along the arrangement direction of the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110 and is movably connected to the power supply device;

[0077] The driving motor 122 is connected to the power supply device and is used to drive the power supply device to move along the track 121 to connect with the power contacts 140 on different power batteries 110.

[0078] The power contacts 140 on the power battery 110 can be arranged according to the space inside the vehicle, for example, horizontally, clockwise, or counterclockwise. The track 121 in the switching device can be arranged along the arrangement direction of the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110, thereby ensuring that the power supply device can contact the power contacts 140 during movement.

[0079] For example, when using linear guides, they can be arranged linearly along the group of power batteries 110 and made of metal or high-strength engineering plastics to guide the power supply device to slide precisely between multiple battery cells. The drive motor 122 can be a stepper motor or a servo motor, connected to the power supply device via a transmission mechanism such as gears, belts, or a screw. Under the action of a control signal, the power supply device is driven to slide along the track 121 to achieve automatic docking with the power contacts 140 on different power batteries 110. In actual application, multiple power batteries 110 can be installed side by side in a battery module, with the track 121 fixed above them. The power supply device serves as a slidable electrical connection module, driven by the motor to accurately position and connect with the positive and negative contacts of the target battery.

[0080] If a circular track 121 is used, multiple power batteries 110 are arranged in a ring around the track 121, with power contacts 140 positioned at corresponding locations. The track 121 can be made of conductive or insulating materials, and the power supply device rotates or slides along the track 121 to achieve electrical connection with the contacts of different batteries. Specifically, the power batteries 110 are arranged in a disc-like arrangement, and the power supply device is fixed to a rotatable turntable. The drive motor 122, which can be a stepper motor or servo motor, drives the turntable along the circular track 121, causing the power supply contacts 131 to sequentially align with and contact the positive and negative terminals of the target batteries, thereby automatically switching the power supply path.

[0081] Optionally, the power batteries 110 are connected to each other via a bus bar 150 , and the power contacts 140 of the power batteries 110 are provided on both sides of the power batteries 110 and connected to the bus bar 150 .

[0082] Among them, multiple power batteries 110 are electrically connected through a busbar 150. The busbar 150 serves as a common conductor for power transmission, connecting the positive pole of each battery cell with the negative pole or the same polarity terminal of the adjacent battery; the power contacts 140 of each power battery 110 are arranged on both sides of the battery body and are fixedly connected to the busbar 150, thereby forming a stable current path.

[0083] The present invention proposes a low-voltage power supply architecture that can directly power low-voltage electrical components through a power battery, thereby eliminating traditional lead-acid batteries and the DC / DC conversion equipment required to convert high-voltage electricity to low-voltage electricity, while supporting flexible adaptation of the low-voltage power supply voltage according to design requirements. As a result, the electrical system structure of the entire vehicle is simplified, redundant electrical components are reduced, thereby effectively reducing the cost, volume and weight of the entire vehicle, and improving the performance, reliability and stability of the low-voltage power supply system. In addition, by eliminating the dependence on lead-acid batteries, it fundamentally solves the problems that have long plagued the industry, such as the easy loss of power, short life, and frequent maintenance of lead-acid batteries, further improving the user experience and market recognition of electric vehicles at the user end.

[0084] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention Figure 2 ,like Figure 3 As shown, the low-voltage power supply architecture includes: power battery groups #1 to #n, contact block drive motor, power distribution contact block, low-voltage voltage regulator module, vehicle control system, and power distribution mechanical structure. Among them:

[0085] Power battery groups #1 to #n are n power battery groups divided from power batteries. Contacts are drawn out at both ends of each power battery group to supply power to the low-voltage power supply system.

[0086] The contact block drive motor can be used to drive the power distribution contact block to a specified position and collect the power distribution contact block position information to the vehicle control system. In the event of a fault, manual adjustment can be made through an external mechanical structure.

[0087] The power distribution contact block can be moved or rotated to achieve contact and power supply with the contacts between the power battery groups #1 to #n.

[0088] The low-voltage stabilization module can stabilize the low-voltage power supply when the power distribution contacts are actuated, and collect the low-voltage power current of the vehicle.

[0089] The vehicle control system can ensure that the voltage and capacity of the cells in each power battery group are balanced. According to the parameters of each power battery group and the external power consumption, it will control the action of the contact motor so that the power battery groups #1 to #n respectively provide power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components.

[0090] The power distribution mechanical structure can be the mechanical structure carrier of each contact, contact block drive motor, power distribution contact block 05, and low voltage stabilization module in the low voltage power distribution system.

[0091] Among them, the working principle of the low-voltage power supply architecture is:

[0092] 1. Low-voltage power supply principle: When the vehicle control system is in operation, the control contact block drives the motor to move the power distribution contact block to position 1. The power distribution contact block is connected to the two contacts of power battery group #1. At this time, the vehicle's low-voltage power circuit (such as the vehicle control system) is connected to the low-voltage power supply. At this time, power battery group #1 provides power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components.

[0093] 2. Low-voltage power supply switching: The vehicle control system controls the contact motor to disconnect the two contacts between the power distribution contact block and power battery group #1 (the low-voltage regulator module discharges to ensure stable power supply voltage). The contact motor then continues to move the power distribution contact block to position 2, connecting the two contacts between the power distribution contact block and power battery group #2 (the low-voltage regulator module charges and stores energy). Power battery group #2 now provides power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components. The power distribution contact blocks operate sequentially in position order 1 to n (or n to 1), providing power to each power battery group #1 to #n.

[0094] 3. Power battery group voltage balance: To ensure balanced cell voltage and cell capacity of each power battery group, the vehicle control system calculates the power battery group number (#1 to #n) that provides power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components based on the parameters of each power battery group and external power consumption.

[0095] For example, the vehicle control system collects key parameters such as the remaining voltage, capacity, and internal resistance of each power battery group in real time, and makes a comprehensive judgment based on the total power consumption of the current low-voltage electrical components (such as the vehicle system, lights, controllers, etc.). When it is detected that the remaining voltage of power battery group #1 is 13.5V (higher than the 12.8V and 12.2V of other groups), and its available capacity is 90% (higher than 70% of group #2 and 50% of group #3, respectively), and the internal resistance is low and the discharge efficiency is high, the system determines that the group has the optimal power supply capacity. When the current low-voltage power demand is 15A, the control system selects power battery group #1 as the power supply source and drives the switching device to connect the power supply device to its power contacts to ensure that the low-voltage system obtains efficient and stable power supply.

[0096] 4. Low-voltage power supply emergency function: When the vehicle control system is not operating, the contact block drive motor manually adjusts the external mechanical structure to activate the power distribution contact block position, switching power battery groups #1 to #n to low-voltage power supply. If the voltage of each cell in power battery group #1 to #n is low, the vehicle control system can control the power distribution contact block position to charge each power battery group #1 to #n separately through the external low-voltage power supply. This solution can be used for low-voltage DC emergency charging of solar panels in the field.

[0097] The beneficial effects of the low voltage power supply architecture of the present invention may include:

[0098] 1. No lead-acid battery and no DCDC conversion components, which reduces the cost of electric vehicle electrical components and the weight of the vehicle;

[0099] 2. The power battery directly provides low-voltage power, without the conversion efficiency loss of DCDC and the charge and discharge efficiency loss of lead-acid batteries, thus reducing the energy consumption of the entire vehicle;

[0100] 3. No lead-acid battery and no DC / DC conversion components, which facilitates vehicle structural design, improves vehicle modularity and integration, reduces component size, and expands user use or storage space;

[0101] 4. Solve the environmental pollution problem and power shortage problem of lead-acid batteries, improve the performance, reliability and stability of low-voltage power supply for electric vehicles, and ensure the safety of users;

[0102] 5. The power battery directly provides low-voltage power, without high- and low-voltage power-on and power-off solutions. The control logic is simple and reliable, and can meet the low-voltage power supply requirements of various scenarios of electric vehicles at any time;

[0103] 6. The low-voltage power supply has strong adaptability, and the design can be fine-tuned to adapt to 12V-48V low-voltage power supply systems. If a high low-voltage power supply voltage platform is selected, the low-voltage energy consumption, weight and volume of the vehicle can be further reduced.

[0104] An embodiment of the present application also provides an electric vehicle, which includes the low-voltage power supply architecture in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] Figure 4 The control method of the low-voltage power supply provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied to the low-voltage power supply architecture of the embodiment of the present invention. The execution subject of the method can be a vehicle control system. The control method includes:

[0106] S401. Obtaining usage of a power battery in a low-voltage power supply architecture, where there are multiple power batteries and the voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle;

[0107] S402. Based on the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, control the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries, and based on the connection between the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, connect the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components, or supply power to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected.

[0108] Among them, the vehicle control system collects key parameters such as the remaining voltage, available capacity, internal resistance, and temperature of the power battery in real time, and combines the current power demand of low-voltage electrical components (such as vehicle-mounted systems, lights, controllers, etc.) to evaluate the energy status and power supply capacity of each battery group. According to the usage of the power battery, the switching device is controlled to drive the power supply device to physically connect with the power contacts on different power batteries; when the power supply device is successfully connected to a power battery, the battery serves as the current power supply source and directly provides power to the low-voltage electrical components; and in the transition stage or abnormal state when the power supply device is not connected to any power battery, the internal voltage stabilizing module or backup energy storage unit of the power supply device continues to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components to ensure uninterrupted system operation.

[0109] In an embodiment of the present invention, according to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, controlling the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries includes:

[0110] Determine the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries based on the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power architecture;

[0111] According to the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries, a driving signal is generated and sent to the switching device, so that the switching device drives the power supply device to connect with the power contacts on the other power batteries.

[0112] In this embodiment of the present invention, the control method further includes:

[0113] When the power battery is low on power, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the low-power power battery, so that the low-power power battery is charged by the power supply device.

[0114] The implementation principle and technical effects of the low-voltage power supply control method provided in this embodiment are similar to the use principle and technical effects of the low-voltage power supply architecture, and are not described in detail in this embodiment.

[0115] Figure 5 The schematic diagram of the structure of the control of the low-voltage power supply provided by the present invention is as follows: Figure 5 As shown, the low-voltage power supply control device 50 provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0116] An acquisition module 501 is used to acquire the usage of a power battery in a low-voltage power supply architecture, where there are multiple power batteries and the voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle;

[0117] The control module 502 is used to control the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries according to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, and to connect the power battery with the low-voltage electrical components according to the connection between the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery so that the power battery can supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, or to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected.

[0118] Optionally, the control module 502 may also be specifically configured to:

[0119] Determine the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries based on the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power architecture;

[0120] According to the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries, a driving signal is generated and sent to the switching device, so that the switching device drives the power supply device to connect with the power contacts on the other power batteries.

[0121] Optionally, the control module 502 may also be specifically configured to:

[0122] When the power battery is low on power, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the low-power power battery, so that the low-power power battery is charged by the power supply device.

[0123] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the electronic device 60 provided in this embodiment includes: at least one processor 601 and a memory 602. Optionally, the electronic device 60 further includes a communication component 603. The processor 601, the memory 602 and the communication component 603 are connected via a bus 604.

[0124] During the specific implementation process, at least one processor 601 executes the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory 602, so that the at least one processor 601 performs the above method.

[0125] The specific implementation process of the processor 601 can be found in the above method embodiment. Its implementation principle and technical effects are similar and will not be repeated here in this embodiment.

[0126] In the above embodiments, it should be understood that the processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSP), application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in the present invention may be directly implemented by a hardware processor or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor.

[0127] The memory may include a high-speed memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), and may also include a non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one disk memory.

[0128] The bus can be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus. Buses can be classified into address buses, data buses, and control buses. For ease of illustration, the buses in the drawings of this application are not limited to just one bus or just one type of bus.

[0129] The present application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program, which implements the above method when executed by a processor.

[0130] The present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, in which computer-executable instructions are stored. When a processor executes the computer-executable instructions, the above method is implemented.

[0131] The above-mentioned readable storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile memory device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory, magnetic disk or optical disk. The readable storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0132] An exemplary readable storage medium is coupled to a processor so that the processor can read information from the readable storage medium and write information to the readable storage medium. Of course, the readable storage medium can also be an integral part of the processor. The processor and the readable storage medium can be located in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Of course, the processor and the readable storage medium can also exist in the device as discrete components.

[0133] The division of units is merely a logical functional division; actual implementations may employ alternative divisions, such as combining or integrating multiple units or components into another system, or omitting or disabling certain features. Furthermore, any direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be an indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units, either through an interface, electrical, mechanical, or other means.

[0134] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

Claims

1. A low voltage power supply architecture, characterized in that: It includes a power battery (110), a switching device (120) and a power supply device (130); There are a plurality of power batteries (110), and each power battery (110) is provided with a power contact (140), wherein the voltage of the power battery (110) is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle; The switching device (120) is drivingly connected to the power supply device (130) and is used to drive the power supply device (130) to connect with power contacts (140) on different power batteries (110); The power supply device (130) is connected to the low-voltage electrical component (200) and is used to connect the power battery (110) and the low-voltage electrical component (200) according to the docking condition of the power contact (140) of the power battery (110), so that the power battery (110) supplies power to the low-voltage electrical component (200), or to provide stable power to the low-voltage electrical component (200) when the connection between the power battery (110) and the low-voltage electrical component (200) is not connected.

2. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, wherein: The power supply device (130) includes a power supply contact (131) for docking with the power contact (140), and the power supply contact (131) is also connected to the low-voltage electrical component (200), wherein: When the power supply contact (131) is docked with the power supply contact (140) of the power battery (110), the power battery (110) is electrically connected to the low-voltage electrical component (200) through the power supply device (130) and supplies power to the low-voltage electrical component (200); During the process of the power supply contact (131) moving from the power supply contact (140) of one power battery (110) to the power supply contact (140) of another power battery (110), the power supply device (130) provides stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical component (200).

3. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, wherein: The power supply device (130) further includes: A controller (132) is connected to the switching device (120) for obtaining the usage status of the power battery (110) and generating and sending a control signal to the switching device (120) according to the usage status of the power battery (110), so that the switching device (120) adjusts the connection between the power supply device (130) and the power contact (140) of different power batteries (110) according to the control signal.

4. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 3, wherein: When the control signal indicates that the residual pressure difference between the power battery (110) connected to the power supply device (130) and the other power batteries (110) meets a preset pressure difference condition, the switching device (120) adjusts the power supply device (130) to connect with the power contacts (140) of the other power batteries (110) according to the control signal.

5. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, wherein: The power supply device (130) further includes: A backup power supply (133) is connected to the low-voltage electrical component (200) and is used to electrically connect to the low-voltage electrical component (200) and supply power to the low-voltage electrical component (200) when the power supply contact (131) is not connected to the power contact (140) of the power battery (110).

6. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 5, wherein: The backup power supply (133) is also connected to the power supply contact (131) of the power supply device (130), and is used to receive and store the power sent by the power battery (110) when the power supply contact (131) is docked with the power contact (140) of the power battery (110), and is used to charge the power battery (110) when the power battery (110) is low on power.

7. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, wherein: The switching device (120) comprises: A track (121) is arranged along the arrangement direction of the power contacts (140) on the power battery (110) and is movably connected to the power supply device (130); A drive motor (122) is connected to the power supply device (130) and is used to drive the power supply device (130) to move along the track (121) so as to dock with power contacts (140) on different power batteries (110).

8. The low voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, wherein: The power batteries (110) are connected to each other via a bus bar (150), and power contacts (140) of the power batteries (110) are arranged on both sides of the power batteries (110) and connected to the bus bar (150).

9. A method for controlling a low-voltage power supply, characterized in that: Applied to the low-voltage power supply architecture according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising: Obtaining usage of a power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, where there are multiple power batteries and the voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle; According to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture is controlled to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to dock with the power contacts on different power batteries, and according to the docking situation of the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is connected so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components, or when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected, the low-voltage electrical components are supplied with power.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The controlling, according to the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture, of the switching device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power supply architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries includes: determining a residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries based on usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture; According to the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries, a driving signal is generated and sent to the switching device, so that the switching device drives the power supply device to connect with the power contacts on the other power batteries.

11. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: When the power battery is low on power, the switching device is controlled to drive the power supply device to connect to the low-power power battery, so that the low-power power battery is charged by the power supply device.

12. An electric vehicle, characterized in that: The invention comprises the low voltage power supply architecture described in claims 1 to 8.

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