Low-voltage power supply architecture, low-voltage power supply control method and electric vehicle

Abstract

The application relates to a low-voltage power supply architecture, a low-voltage power supply control method and an electric vehicle. The architecture comprises: multiple power batteries, each of which is provided with a power supply contact point, wherein the voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle; a switching device which is drivingly connected with a power supply device and is used for driving the power supply device to be connected with the power supply contact points on different power batteries; and a power supply device which is connected with low-voltage electrical components and is used for connecting the power battery with the low-voltage electrical components according to the connection state of the power supply contact points on the power battery, so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components or stably supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected. The architecture of the application reduces the cost of the low-voltage power supply architecture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, specifically to a low-voltage power supply architecture, a low-voltage power supply control method, and an electric vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As the proportion of electric vehicle sales increases, the disposal of end-of-life lead-acid batteries places a significant burden on the environment. The development trend of the electric vehicle industry is towards intelligence, electrification, and connectivity. Its electronic and electrical architecture and electrical system principles are more complex, placing higher demands on the modularization and integration of electric vehicles to reduce costs and energy consumption.

[0003] To meet the needs of electric vehicles for starting, idling, and remote control, the existing low-voltage power supply architecture employs an intelligent charging solution. This solution uses the power battery to charge the lead-acid battery when necessary, maintaining the normal operation of the low-voltage system. Since the power battery's output voltage is too high to be directly used for powering the low-voltage system, a separate DC / DC converter is required during energy transfer to convert the high-voltage DC power from the power battery into DC power suitable for the low-voltage system, thereby achieving charging of the lead-acid battery and stable power supply to the low-voltage load.

[0004] However, existing technologies suffer from the problem of excessively high costs associated with low-voltage power supply architectures due to the need for separate components to provide stable power to low-voltage loads. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a low-voltage power supply architecture, a low-voltage power supply control method, and an electric vehicle, in order to solve the problem that the cost of the low-voltage power supply architecture is too high due to the need to set up independent devices to stably supply power to low-voltage loads in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, 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 equipped with power contacts. The voltage of the power battery is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle.

[0009] The switching device is connected to the power supply device and is used to drive the power supply device to connect with the 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 connection status of the power contacts of the power battery, so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components, or to provide regulated power 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 power supply contacts for mating with power supply contacts, and the power supply contacts are also connected to low-voltage electrical components, wherein...

[0012] When the power supply contact is connected to the power supply contact 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] During the process of the power supply contact moving 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 supply to the low-voltage electrical components.

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

[0015] The controller, connected to the switching device, is used to obtain the usage status of the power battery and generate and send control signals to the switching device based on the usage status, 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 signals.

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

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

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

[0019] Optionally, the backup power supply is also connected to the power supply contacts of the power supply device, for receiving and storing the power sent by the power battery when the power supply contacts are connected to the power supply contacts of the power battery, and for charging the power battery when the power battery is depleted.

[0020] Optionally, the switching device includes:

[0021] The track is set 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, connected to the power supply unit, is used to drive the power supply unit to move along the track to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries.

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

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

[0025] To obtain information on the usage of power batteries in a low-voltage power supply architecture, where there are multiple power batteries and their voltages are determined based on the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle.

[0026] Based on 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. According to the connection status of the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical component is connected so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical component, or supplies power to the low-voltage electrical component when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical component is not connected.

[0027] Optionally, based on the usage of the power batteries 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, including:

[0028] Based on the usage of power batteries in the low-voltage power supply architecture, determine the remaining voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries.

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

[0030] Optionally, the method further includes:

[0031] When the power battery is depleted, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the depleted power battery so as to charge the depleted power battery through the power supply device.

[0032] Thirdly, the present invention provides an electric vehicle including the low-voltage power supply architecture of the first aspect.

[0033] This invention provides a low-voltage power supply architecture comprising multiple power batteries, each equipped with independent power contacts. A switching device is connected to a power supply unit, which, according to control commands, drives the power supply unit to physically connect with the power contacts of different power batteries. The power supply unit is connected to low-voltage electrical components and can selectively supply power directly from the power batteries, or provide a stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical components through its own voltage regulation function when not connected. By reusing power batteries as a low-voltage power source and employing a mechanical switching method to replace the power conversion stage of traditional independent DC / DC converters, the reliance on dedicated power electronic devices is reduced, thereby effectively lowering the overall hardware cost of the low-voltage power supply system while improving system integration and reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the 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 The low-voltage power supply control method provided in the embodiments of this application;

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

[0039] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0040] In the diagram, 110—power battery; 120—switching device; 121—track; 122—drive motor; 130—power supply device; 131—power supply contact; 132—controller; 133—backup power supply; 140—power supply contact; 150—busbar; 200—low-voltage electrical components. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present invention. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the invention as detailed in the appended claims.

[0042] In existing technologies, with the continuous increase in the market share of electric vehicles, the large-scale use of lead-acid batteries and their subsequent disposal have brought increasingly significant pressure to the environment. Currently, the development trend of electric vehicles is moving towards intelligence, electrification, and connectivity, and the electronic and electrical architecture and electrical system principles of vehicles are becoming increasingly complex. This places higher demands on the modularization and integration of the entire vehicle. To meet the functions of vehicle starting, stationary operation, and remote control, the existing low-voltage power supply architecture generally adopts a scheme where the power battery replenishes the lead-acid battery through intelligent charging. However, this scheme suffers from low energy conversion efficiency of the power battery and requires an additional independent DC / DC converter controller, which not only increases the cost of the vehicle's electrical system but also affects the reliability and stability of the system to some extent, thus adversely affecting vehicle driving safety.

[0043] The low-voltage power supply architecture provided by this invention divides the power battery pack into multiple units according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle, so that the voltage of the power battery can be switched without conversion devices, thereby meeting the power demand of low-voltage electrical components in the electric vehicle. In addition, the mechanical switching method of contact points reduces the reliance on dedicated power electronic devices when the power battery supplies power to low-voltage electrical components, thereby effectively reducing the overall hardware cost of the low-voltage power supply system, while improving system integration and reliability. Furthermore, during the switching process, when the power battery cannot supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, the power supply device can use its own voltage regulation function to provide a stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical components in place of the power battery.

[0044] The technical solutions of the present invention and how they solve the above-mentioned technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a low-voltage power supply architecture provided by the present invention, as shown below. 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 equipped with a power contact 140. 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 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 regulated 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.

[0049] Among them, the power battery 110 can be a high-efficiency energy storage device designed for electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., mainly used to provide power to the vehicle's drive motor to meet the energy requirements for vehicle operation.

[0050] Because the power battery 110 typically outputs a high voltage, its voltage range does not match the operating voltage of low-voltage electrical equipment, thus it cannot directly provide a stable power supply to the low-voltage system. To solve this problem, the output voltage of the power battery 110 can be determined according to the power requirements of the low-voltage electrical equipment in the electric vehicle, so that the power battery 110 can directly adapt to and meet the power supply requirements of the low-voltage electrical equipment, thereby achieving a more efficient and simpler power supply method.

[0051] Optionally, multiple power batteries 110 can be obtained by splitting the vehicle's power battery 110 as a whole. In order to ensure that the voltage of each power battery 110 meets the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle, when the power battery 110 is divided into multiple power batteries 110, the number of power batteries 110 can be determined by the multiple of the high voltage power supply voltage and the low voltage power supply voltage. For example, if the total voltage of the vehicle's power battery 110 is 360V, and the operating voltage of the low voltage electrical equipment is 12V, then the power battery 110 can be split into 30 battery units that are connected in series or managed independently. Each unit can output a 12V voltage, 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 partially separated as needed to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components 200.

[0053] The power contact 140 provided on the power battery 110 can refer to the conductive interface used to realize the electrical connection between the power battery 110 and the external circuit. Each power battery 110 can include two contacts, namely a positive contact and a negative contact. The positive contact and the negative contact can serve as physical connection points for current input or output. They can be used to connect the circuit when the power battery 110 supplies power to the electrical device, and can also support the battery management system to monitor and control the battery status.

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

[0055] The power supply device 130 can refer to an electrical device used to control the power transmission between the power battery 110 and the low-voltage electrical component 200. Its main function is to automatically switch the power supply path according to whether it is connected to the power contact 140 of the power battery 110. When connected to the power battery 110, the power supply device 130 directly delivers the power energy of the power battery 110 to the low-voltage electrical component 200; when not connected, it provides a continuous and stable power supply to the low-voltage electrical component 200 through its internal voltage stabilizing circuit to ensure its normal operation.

[0056] Optionally, the power supply device 130 can connect to the power battery 110 via a physical connection such as a plug-in or contact connection, establishing a conductive state with the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110, so that the electrical energy of the power battery 110 can be transmitted to the low-voltage electrical component 200 via the power supply device 130. This connection process can be driven by the switching device 120 to enable the power battery 110 to directly supply power to the low-voltage system.

[0057] The power supply device 130 not being connected to the power battery 110 means that the power supply device 130 has not formed an effective electrical connection with the power contact 140 of the power battery 110, and the power battery 110 cannot supply power to the low-voltage electrical component 200. At this time, the power supply device 130 relies on its integrated voltage regulator module or internal energy storage unit to provide a stable voltage to the low-voltage electrical component 200, ensuring that it can still operate normally without main power support.

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

[0059] The low-voltage power supply architecture provided in this application embodiment uses multiple power batteries, each equipped with power contacts. The voltage of each battery is set according to the power supply voltage of the electric vehicle's low-voltage system, allowing the power batteries to directly supply power to low-voltage electrical components. A switching device is linked to the power supply device, driving the power supply device to switch physical contacts between different power batteries, enabling flexible selection of the power supply path. The power supply device automatically switches to the corresponding power supply mode depending on whether the power battery is connected; when connected, it is directly powered by the power battery, and when disconnected, it provides a regulated power supply to the low-voltage system. This overall structure simplifies traditional low-voltage power supply architectures, eliminates reliance on independent DC / DC converters, reduces system costs, and simultaneously improves power supply reliability and the integration level 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 the connection between the power supply device and the power contact 140 on the power battery 110. When the power supply contact 131 is connected to the power 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 and supplies power to the low-voltage electrical component. When the power supply contact 131 is not connected to the power contact 140 of the power battery 110, that is, during the process of the power supply contact 131 moving 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 regulated power to the low-voltage electrical component.

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

[0063] Controller 132 can refer to the vehicle control system, which can be the core control unit of the vehicle, responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and coordinating the operation status of various subsystems of the vehicle. In this invention, the vehicle control system can not only collect and analyze key parameters such as the voltage and capacity of each cell of the power battery 110 in real time, but also switch the power supply path between different power batteries 110 and low-voltage electrical components according to the power demand of external electrical equipment, so as to achieve the rational distribution of power energy.

[0064] In this invention, the controller 132 can be connected to the switching device for obtaining the usage status of the power battery 110, and generating and sending a control signal to the switching device based on the usage status of the power battery 110, so that the switching device adjusts the connection between the power supply device and the power contacts 140 of different power batteries 110 according to the control signal.

[0065] The usage status of the power battery 110 refers to its actual state of energy storage, distribution, and consumption during the operation of an electric vehicle, including key parameters such as battery charging and discharging frequency, charge variation, voltage stability, temperature performance, and lifespan. Monitoring and analyzing the usage status of the power battery 110 can effectively assess its health status, optimize energy management strategies, ensure the efficient operation of the vehicle's power system, and provide data support for battery maintenance, replacement, and secondary utilization.

[0066] Optionally, the usage status of the power battery 110 in this invention can be characterized by its remaining voltage. The remaining voltage refers to the potential difference that the power battery 110 has not yet released in its current state, i.e., the actual measured terminal voltage value of the battery, which reflects the amount of electrical energy it currently stores. Since the remaining voltage is one of the most intuitive and easily obtainable electrical parameters reflecting the current energy state of the power battery 110, it can reflect the battery's real-time depth of discharge and available capacity. Therefore, by monitoring the remaining 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, providing early warnings of low-charge states, and optimizing the vehicle's energy management strategy to ensure the safe and stable operation of the system.

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

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

[0069] The preset voltage difference condition can refer to the 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 components is lower than the residual voltage of other power batteries 110 that are not participating in power supply.

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

[0071] The backup power supply 133 can refer to an alternative power supply device that can provide continuous and stable power to the low-voltage electrical components of the vehicle when the power battery 110 cannot supply power normally or the voltage is insufficient. It can also refer to a power supply that can still continuously deliver stable power to the 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 the 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 connected to the power supply 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, for receiving and storing the power sent by the power battery 110 when the power supply contact 131 is connected to the power supply contact 140 of the power battery 110, and for charging the power battery 110 when the power battery 110 is depleted.

[0074] The backup power supply 133 can be connected to low-voltage electrical components and independently supply power to them when the power supply contact 131 is not connected to the power battery 110, 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. When the power supply contact 131 is connected to the power battery 110, it receives and stores electrical energy from the power battery 110, and reverses to replenish the power battery 110 when the power battery 110 is low on power. This achieves power supply redundancy, bidirectional energy flow, and dynamic adjustment of battery status, thereby 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 direction of the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110 and is movably connected to the power supply device.

[0077] The drive 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, they can be arranged horizontally, or clockwise or counterclockwise. When the track 121 in the switching device is set, it can be set along the arrangement direction of the power contacts 140 on the power battery 110, so as to ensure that the power supply device can connect with the power contacts 140 when it moves.

[0079] For example, when using a linear guide rail, it can be arranged linearly along the power battery 110 group, made of metal or high-strength engineering plastic, 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 through a transmission mechanism such as gears, belts or lead screws, and driven by a control signal to slide along the track 121, realizing automatic docking with the power contacts 140 on different power batteries 110. In practical applications, multiple power batteries 110 can be installed side by side in the battery module, with the track 121 fixed above it. The power supply device, as a sliding electrical connection module, is precisely positioned under the drive of the motor and connects to 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 set at their respective corresponding positions. The track 121 can be made of conductive or insulating material. The power supply device moves along the track 121 by rotation or sliding to achieve conduction with different battery contacts. That is, the power batteries 110 are installed in a disc-shaped layout, the power supply device is fixed on a rotatable turntable, and the drive motor 122 is a stepper motor or servo motor, which drives the turntable to rotate along the circular track 121, so that the power supply contacts 131 are aligned with and contact the positive and negative terminals of the target battery in sequence, thereby completing the automatic switching of the power supply path.

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

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

[0083] This invention proposes a low-voltage power supply architecture that can directly power low-voltage electrical components via a power battery, thereby eliminating the need for traditional lead-acid batteries and the DC / DC converters required for converting high-voltage to low-voltage energy. It also supports flexible adaptation of the low-voltage power supply voltage according to design requirements. This simplifies the overall vehicle electrical system structure, reduces redundant electrical components, and effectively lowers the overall vehicle cost, size, and weight, while improving the performance, reliability, and stability of the low-voltage power supply system. Furthermore, by eliminating reliance on lead-acid batteries, it fundamentally solves the long-standing industry problems of lead-acid batteries, such as easy depletion, short lifespan, and frequent maintenance, further enhancing the user experience and market acceptance of electric vehicles.

[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 regulator module, vehicle control system, and power distribution mechanical structure. Among them:

[0085] The power battery groups #1 to #n are n power battery groups made up of a power battery. Each power battery group has contacts at both ends to supply power to the low-voltage power system.

[0086] The contact block drive motor can be used to drive the power distribution contact block to a designated position and collect the position information of the power distribution contact block to the vehicle control system. In case of failure, it can be manually adjusted through an external mechanical structure.

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

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

[0089] The vehicle control system can ensure that the voltage and capacity of each cell in each power battery group are balanced. Based on the parameters of each power battery group and the external power consumption, it controls the action of the contact motor to ensure that power battery groups #1 to #n provide power to the low-voltage electrical components of the vehicle.

[0090] The power distribution mechanical structure can serve as the mechanical support for various contacts, contact block drive motors, power distribution contact blocks 05, and low-voltage stabilizing modules in a low-voltage power distribution system.

[0091] The working principle of the low-voltage power supply architecture is as follows:

[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 connects with the two contacts of the 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, and the 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 power distribution contact block from the two contacts of power battery group #1 (at this time, the low-voltage regulator module discharges to ensure stable power supply voltage). The contact motor continues to operate, moving the power distribution contact block to position 2, connecting the power distribution contact block to the two contacts of power battery group #2 (at this time, the low-voltage regulator module charges and stores energy). Power battery group #2 then supplies power to the vehicle's low-voltage electrical components. The power distribution contact blocks operate sequentially according to position sequence 1 to n (or sequence n to 1), supplying power to each power battery group #1 to #n respectively.

[0094] 3. Power battery group voltage balance: In order to ensure the balance of individual cell voltage and 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 the 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 this data, combined with the total power consumption of current low-voltage electrical components (such as the vehicle infotainment system, lights, and controllers). When the remaining voltage of power battery group #1 is detected to be 13.5V (higher than the 12.8V and 12.2V of other groups), and its usable capacity is 90% (higher than the 70% of group #2 and the 50% of group #3, respectively), while its internal resistance is low and its discharge efficiency is high, the system determines that this group has the optimal power supply capacity. Given a current low-voltage power demand of 15A, the control system selects power battery group #1 as the power source and drives the switching device to connect the power supply device to its power contacts, ensuring that the low-voltage system receives an efficient and stable power supply.

[0096] 4. Low-voltage power emergency function: When the vehicle control system is not working, the manual adjustment of the external mechanical structure of the contact block drive motor realizes the position movement of the power distribution contact block, switching the power supply to battery groups #1 to #n via low-voltage power. When the voltage of individual cells in battery groups #1 to #n is low, they can be charged separately by external low-voltage power supply through the vehicle control system, which can control the position movement of the power distribution contact block. 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 in this invention may include:

[0098] 1. No lead-acid batteries and no DC-DC converters reduce the cost of electric vehicle electrical components and the overall vehicle weight;

[0099] 2. The power battery directly provides low-voltage power, eliminating the conversion efficiency of DC-DC converters and the charging and discharging efficiency loss of lead-acid batteries, thus reducing the overall vehicle energy consumption.

[0100] 3. No lead-acid batteries and no DC-DC converter components, which facilitates vehicle structural design, improves the modularity and integration of vehicles, and can reduce the size of parts and expand user space or storage space;

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

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

[0103] 6. It has strong adaptability to low-voltage power supply. With fine-tuning of the design, it can be adapted to 12V-48V low-voltage power supply systems. If a higher low-voltage power supply platform is selected, the low-voltage energy consumption, weight and volume of the whole vehicle can be further reduced.

[0104] This application also provides an electric vehicle that includes the low-voltage power supply architecture described in the embodiments of the present invention.

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

[0106] S401. Obtain the usage status of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture. 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 connect the power battery to the low-voltage electrical components according to the connection status of the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components, or supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power battery and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected.

[0108] The system collects key parameters such as the remaining voltage, available capacity, internal resistance, and temperature of the power battery in real time through the vehicle control system. Combined with the current power demand of low-voltage electrical components (such as vehicle infotainment systems, lights, and controllers), it assesses the energy state and power supply capacity of each battery group. Based on the usage of the power battery, it controls the switching device to drive the power supply unit to physically connect with the power contacts on different power batteries. When the power supply unit successfully connects to a power battery, that battery becomes the current power source, directly providing power to the low-voltage electrical components. During the transition phase or in abnormal conditions when the power supply unit is not connected to any power battery, the internal voltage regulator module or backup energy storage unit of the power supply unit continues to supply power to the low-voltage electrical components to ensure uninterrupted system operation.

[0109] In this embodiment of the invention, based on the usage of the power batteries 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] Based on the usage of power batteries in the low-voltage power supply architecture, determine the remaining voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries.

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

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

[0113] When the power battery is depleted, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the depleted power battery so as to charge the depleted power battery through the power supply device.

[0114] The low-voltage power supply control method provided in this embodiment has a similar implementation principle and technical effect to the low-voltage power supply architecture, and will not be described in detail here.

[0115] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the control structure of the low-voltage power supply provided by the present invention is shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the low-voltage power supply control device 50 provided in this embodiment of the invention includes:

[0116] The acquisition module 501 is used to acquire the usage status of the power battery in the low-voltage power supply architecture. 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 to the low-voltage electrical components according to the connection status of the power supply device and the power contacts on the power battery, so that the power battery supplies power to the low-voltage electrical components, or supplies 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 can also be specifically used for:

[0119] Based on the usage of power batteries in the low-voltage power supply architecture, determine the remaining voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries.

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

[0121] Optionally, the control module 502 can also be specifically used for:

[0122] When the power battery is depleted, the control switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the depleted power battery so as to charge the depleted power battery through the power supply device.

[0123] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this 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, memory 602, and communication component 603 are connected via a bus 604.

[0124] In a specific implementation, at least one processor 601 executes computer execution instructions stored in memory 602, causing at least one processor 601 to perform the above-described method.

[0125] The specific implementation process of processor 601 can be found in the above method embodiments, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar. It will not be repeated here.

[0126] In the above embodiments, it should be understood that the processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in this invention can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0127] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one disk storage device.

[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, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, the buses shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to a single bus or a single type of bus.

[0129] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described method.

[0130] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the above-described method.

[0131] The aforementioned readable storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage 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 storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk. The readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0132] An exemplary readable storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the readable storage medium. Of course, the readable storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the readable storage medium can reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Alternatively, the processor and the readable storage medium can exist as discrete components in the device.

[0133] The division of units is merely a logical functional division; in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0134] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The 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 the units can 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 multiple power batteries (110), and each power battery (110) is provided with a power contact (140). The voltage of the power battery (110) is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle. The switching device (120) is driven to connect with 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); 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 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 regulated 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. The power supply device (130) includes a power supply contact (131) for mating with the power supply 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 connected to 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 regulated power to the low-voltage electrical component (200). The switching device (120) includes: 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 (130); A drive motor (122) is connected to the power supply device (130) to drive the power supply device (130) to move along the track (121) to connect with the power contacts (140) on different power batteries (110).

2. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply device (130) also includes: The 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) based on the usage status of the power battery (110), so that the switching device (120) adjusts the connection of the power supply device (130) with the power contacts (140) of different power batteries (110) according to the control signal.

3. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the control signal indicates that the residual pressure difference between the power battery (110) connected to the power supply device (130) and other power batteries meets the preset pressure difference condition, the switching device (120) adjusts the power supply device (130) to connect to the power contact (140) of the other power batteries according to the control signal.

4. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply device (130) also includes: The 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 supply contact (140) of the power battery (110).

5. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 4, characterized in that, The backup power supply (133) is also connected to the power supply contact (131) of the power supply device (130) for receiving and storing the power sent by the power battery (110) when the power supply contact (131) is connected to the power supply contact (140) of the power battery (110), and for charging the power battery (110) when the power battery (110) is depleted.

6. The low-voltage power supply architecture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power batteries (110) are connected to each other via a bus (150). The power contacts (140) of the power batteries (110) are located on both sides of the power batteries (110) and connected to the bus (150).

7. A control method for a low-voltage power supply, characterized in that, Applied to the low-voltage power supply architecture of any one of claims 1 to 6, the method comprises: The usage status of the power batteries in the low-voltage power architecture is obtained. There are multiple power batteries, and the voltage of the power batteries is determined according to the power supply voltage in the electric vehicle. Based on the usage of the power batteries 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. Based on the connection status of the power supply device with the power contacts on the power batteries, the connection between the power batteries and the low-voltage electrical components is connected, so that the power batteries supply power to the low-voltage electrical components, or supply power to the low-voltage electrical components when the connection between the power batteries and the low-voltage electrical components is not connected.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of controlling the switching device in the low-voltage power architecture to drive the power supply device in the low-voltage power architecture to connect with the power contacts on different power batteries according to the usage of the power batteries in the low-voltage power architecture includes: Based on the usage of the power battery in the low-voltage power architecture, determine the remaining voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries. Based on the residual voltage difference between the power battery connected to the power supply device and other power batteries, a drive signal is generated and sent to the switching device, so that the switching device drives the power supply device to connect to the power contacts on other power batteries.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the power battery is depleted, the switching device is controlled to drive the power supply device to connect to the depleted power battery so as to charge the depleted power battery through the power supply device.

10. An electric vehicle, characterized in that, The low-voltage power supply architecture includes any one of claims 1 to 6.

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