Low-power-consumption vehicle fire detection and risk avoiding system and vehicle

Abstract

The method is mainly applied to the technical field of automobile engineering. The invention discloses a low-power-consumption vehicle fire detection and risk avoiding system and a vehicle, the system comprises a temperature phase-change switch device, a discharge device and a vehicle-mounted domain control device, and the discharge device is electrically connected with the vehicle-mounted domain control device through the temperature phase-change switch device; the temperature phase-changing switch device is internally provided with a filler which is physically deformed along with the change of the environment temperature, and is used for triggering the state of a switch to change when the environment temperature reaches a target value; the discharging device is used for providing electric energy for the vehicle-mounted domain control device when the on-off state of the temperature phase-change switching device is changed; and the vehicle-mounted domain control device sends out a fire alarm and executes a preset fire emergency action when obtaining the electric energy provided by the discharging device. According to the invention, the early risk of the battery fire can be identified, and the safety during vehicle parking is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive engineering technology, specifically to a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, the safety of power batteries, as core components, has become a major technological focus of widespread public concern. Statistics show that approximately 30% of power battery-related fires occur when vehicles are stationary, including during parking, charging breaks, or dormant operation. These accidents often result in significant property damage and personal injury due to delayed detection and inadequate response. Battery thermal runaway in a stationary state typically stems from delayed evolution of internal micro-short circuits, lithium dendrite growth, or mechanical damage. It is characterized by its high degree of concealment, low threshold for sudden onset, and rapid spread, making it difficult for traditional monitoring methods to effectively capture early signs. However, existing vehicle battery management systems (BMS) primarily serve the driving state, relying on numerous contact sensors for real-time monitoring, with power consumption typically exceeding 50W. When the vehicle is off and dormant, to maintain the lifespan of the 12V lead-acid battery, the overall vehicle power consumption must be strictly controlled below 5W. This forces the BMS into a low-power mode, causing a sharp drop in data acquisition frequency of over 90%, resulting in a severe deficiency in the ability to detect early potential hazards such as internal micro-short circuits and localized thermal anomalies. Meanwhile, contact sensors suffer from limitations such as limited deployment density, complex wiring, and susceptibility to signal drift due to electrolyte corrosion, making it difficult to cover minute changes at the battery cell level. Although non-contact technologies such as infrared thermal imaging can compensate for these shortcomings to some extent, traditional solutions suffer from high power consumption, susceptibility to ambient temperature interference, and high false alarm rates, failing to meet automotive-grade reliability requirements. Therefore, under the stringent conditions of stationary vehicles and limited power consumption, overcoming the physical limitations of contact monitoring and constructing a low-power, non-contact, highly accurate, and highly reliable early fire risk warning system has become an urgent technical challenge to ensure the safe parking of new energy vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system and vehicle, which can identify early risks of battery fires and effectively improve vehicle safety when parked.

[0004] This invention provides a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system. The system includes a temperature phase-change switch device, a discharge device, and an on-board domain control device. The discharge device is electrically connected to the on-board domain control device through the temperature phase-change switch device. The temperature phase-changing switch device has a built-in filling material that physically deforms with changes in ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature reaches a target value, the filling material triggers a change in the switch state. The discharge device is used to provide electrical energy to the vehicle domain control device when the switching state of the temperature phase-changing switch device changes. When the vehicle-mounted domain control device receives electrical energy from the discharge device, it issues a fire alarm and executes preset fire emergency actions.

[0005] Optionally, the vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a first domain control unit; One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device, and the other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit. When the temperature phase-changing switch is in the on state, the discharge device provides electrical energy to the first domain control unit, and the first domain control unit issues a fire alarm and executes a preset fire emergency action. When the temperature phase-changing switch is in the open state, the discharge device stops supplying power to the first domain control unit, and the first domain control unit is in a stopped state.

[0006] Optionally, the discharge device is a capacitor unit; The vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a second domain control unit; One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit; The second domain control unit is used to control the vehicle power supply to charge the capacitor unit.

[0007] Optionally, the low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system also includes a control device; The discharge device is a capacitor unit, and the vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a first domain control unit and a second domain control unit. One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device. The other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit to form a discharge circuit. One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit to form a charging circuit; The control device is used to control the vehicle to enter a sleep state when a vehicle lock signal is detected, and to control the second domain control unit to open the charging circuit to stop charging the capacitor unit. When the vehicle is in a dormant state and the temperature phase-change switch is in the on state, the capacitor unit outputs electrical energy to the first domain control unit through the temperature phase-change switch.

[0008] Optionally, the vehicle domain control device is further configured to, when receiving electrical energy provided by the discharge device, interact with the vehicle owner's terminal device connected to the vehicle communication device via the vehicle's vehicle communication device.

[0009] Optionally, the vehicle-mounted domain control device is further configured to connect to the vehicle's intelligent driving control device and the vehicle owner terminal device respectively when it receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device, and remotely control the vehicle through the intelligent driving control device according to the instructions sent by the vehicle owner terminal device.

[0010] Optionally, if the ambient temperature rises, the filler is in an expanded state. When the ambient temperature reaches the target value, the volume of the filler is greater than or equal to a preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-changing switch device to be in a conducting state. If the ambient temperature decreases, the filler is in a contracted state. When the ambient temperature is lower than the target value, the volume of the filler is smaller than the preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-change switch to be in an open state.

[0011] Optionally, the filler is a mixture of solid alkane compounds.

[0012] Optionally, the temperature phase-changing switch device is located at the position of the vehicle's left rearview mirror, right rearview mirror, or taillight.

[0013] The present invention also provides a vehicle comprising any of the aforementioned low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance systems.

[0014] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: This technical solution utilizes a temperature-changing phase-switch device, a discharge device, and an on-board domain control device to collaboratively identify early-stage battery fire risks and improve vehicle parking safety. The temperature-changing phase-switch device contains a filling material that physically deforms with changes in ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature reaches a target value, the filling material triggers a switch change. At this time, the discharge device is activated, providing power to the on-board domain control device. Upon receiving power, the on-board domain control device issues a fire alarm and executes preset fire emergency actions, such as cutting off power and activating fire extinguishing devices. This design enables a rapid response to early-stage temperature anomalies in battery fires, effectively improving vehicle parking safety and reducing the risk of fire damage. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings are provided to further understand the technical solutions of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present invention to explain the technical solutions of the present invention, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating a vehicle fire scene.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system. Figure 3 This is another structural diagram of a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0019] It should be noted that as the market share of new energy vehicles increases, fires caused by unstable battery quality are becoming more and more frequent. Most OEMs mainly monitor batteries on the vehicle side and add corresponding fire prevention devices, but this still cannot fully cover all situations. As a result, in some densely populated areas, such as parking lots and charging stations, when a vehicle catches fire due to a malfunction, surrounding vehicles are affected and suffer losses.

[0020] Currently, some companies are beginning to focus on solving such situations, mainly by using electrical devices such as cameras, smoke sensors, and temperature sensors to monitor the surrounding environment in real time to determine whether a fire exists. However, such solutions require the vehicle to continuously supply power to these sensing devices, resulting in very high power consumption for vehicles, especially new energy vehicles, which reduces the vehicle's range. Furthermore, because cameras, radar, and other devices have a high false alarm rate when identifying flames, and smoke sensors also need to 'draw' the surrounding burning air into the cabin (which may be toxic), smoke recognition in windy environments or other non-combustible environments also has a high false alarm rate.

[0021] like Figure 1As shown, the researchers of this application investigated numerous fire accidents reported in the news, occurring in parking lots and charging stations. They found that the main fire sources in fire-prone vehicles are the front and rear compartments, with flames spreading to surrounding vehicles. Therefore, the design aims to minimize losses, reduce vehicle power consumption, and improve recognition reliability. It employs a temperature-controlled phase-change switch as a triggering device, combined with a supercapacitor and charging / discharging circuit, along with an onboard domain controller, to create a vehicle fire avoidance system. This system uses the principle of thermal expansion of the phase-change switch to determine the presence of a fire, eliminating the need to continuously activate numerous high-false-alarm-rate sensing devices. While this approach may result in later fire detection (the fire may have already reached external flammable components such as rearview mirrors and exterior lights), its high reliability in temperature determination avoids false alarms and also prevents power consumption from prolonged vehicle locking and subsequent load activation. The following are various embodiments of the technical solution presented in this application.

[0022] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system.

[0023] This embodiment provides a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system, including a temperature phase-change switch device 101, a discharge device 102, and an on-board domain control device 103. The discharge device 102 is electrically connected to the on-board domain control device 103 through the temperature phase-change switch device 101.

[0024] The temperature phase-changing switch device 101 has a built-in filling material that physically deforms with changes in ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature reaches a target value, the filling material triggers a change in the switch state.

[0025] The discharge device 102 is used to provide electrical energy to the vehicle domain control device 103 when the switching state of the temperature phase-changing switch device 101 changes.

[0026] When the vehicle-mounted domain control device 103 receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device 102, it issues a fire alarm and executes preset fire emergency actions.

[0027] Understandably, this technical solution utilizes the coordinated operation of a temperature-changing phase-switch device 101, a discharge device 102, and an on-board domain control device 103 to identify early-stage battery fire risks and improve vehicle parking safety. The temperature-changing phase-switch device 101 contains a filling material that physically deforms with changes in ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature reaches a target value, the filling material triggers a change in the switch state. At this time, the discharge device 102 is activated, providing electrical energy to the on-board domain control device 103. Upon receiving electrical energy, the on-board domain control device 103 issues a fire alarm and executes preset fire emergency actions, such as cutting off the power supply and activating fire extinguishing devices. This design enables a rapid response to early-stage battery fires with abnormal temperatures, effectively improving vehicle parking safety and reducing the risk of fire damage.

[0028] In some embodiments, if the ambient temperature rises, the filler is in an expanded state. When the ambient temperature reaches the target value, the volume of the filler is greater than or equal to the preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-change switch device 101 to be in a conducting state. If the ambient temperature drops, the filler is in a contracted state. When the ambient temperature is lower than the target value, the volume of the filler is less than the preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-change switch device 101 to be in a disconnected state.

[0029] In some embodiments, the filler is a mixture of solid alkanes.

[0030] Alternatively, the solid alkane mixture in the phase-changing switch can be replaced with other materials that achieve the same phase-changing expansion effect, have good stability, and are non-toxic.

[0031] In some embodiments, the temperature phase-change switch device 101 is disposed at the position of the left rearview mirror, the right rearview mirror, or the taillight of the vehicle.

[0032] Optionally, the temperature-sensitive phase-change switch is preferably located in the exterior rearview mirror or taillight, or it can be located in a relatively protruding non-metallic structure depending on the vehicle's appearance (the body and other materials have good heat conduction due to steel, which significantly delays the time). Understandably, this embodiment incorporates temperature-controlled switches within the vehicle's exterior rearview mirrors and taillights. These switches contain a solid alkane mixture (such as paraffin wax), and based on its phase-change temperature (achieved through a specific mixture ratio at approximately 140°C, taking into account the climate and sunlight conditions in China), the volume expansion caused by this phase-change temperature pushes the switch, triggering the vehicle's disaster avoidance system. Therefore, whether the flames are intense or have spread to protruding and flammable external components such as the exterior mirrors and taillights, the phase-change temperature can be successfully reached (the main combustion temperatures of vehicle materials include: PE and PP at 300-500°C, PVC at 600-800°C, and PS and ABS at 500-700°C). After being removed from the fire source, the temperature returns to a solid state, disengaging the switch. Because a phase-change temperature switch is used, the vehicle does not need to activate numerous sensing devices for environmental monitoring; only one device that can wake up the vehicle's domain controller via the switch is required. This avoids excessive power consumption due to prolonged environmental monitoring, and the phase-change switch has self-recovery capabilities.

[0033] In some embodiments, the vehicle domain control device 103 includes a first domain control unit.

[0034] One end of the discharge device 102 is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device 102 is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device 101. The other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device 101 is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit.

[0035] When the temperature phase-changing switch 101 is in the on state, the discharge device 102 supplies power to the first domain control unit, which then issues a fire alarm and executes a preset fire emergency action. When the temperature phase-changing switch 101 is in the off state, the discharge device 102 stops supplying power to the first domain control unit, which then stops operating.

[0036] In some embodiments, the discharge device 102 is a capacitor unit.

[0037] The vehicle domain control device 103 includes a second domain control unit.

[0038] One end of the discharge device 102 is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device 102 is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit; the second domain control unit is used to control the vehicle power supply to charge the capacitor unit.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is another structural diagram of a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system.

[0040] In some embodiments, a low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system further includes a control device.

[0041] The discharge device is a capacitor unit, and the vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a first domain control unit and a second domain control unit.

[0042] One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device. The other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit to form a discharge circuit. One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit to form a charging circuit.

[0043] The control device is used to control the vehicle to enter a sleep state when a vehicle lock signal is detected, and to control the second domain control unit to open the charging circuit to stop charging the capacitor unit; when the vehicle is in a sleep state and the temperature phase-change switch is in the on state, the capacitor unit outputs electrical energy to the first domain control unit through the temperature phase-change switch.

[0044] In this embodiment, during normal vehicle operation, the capacitor unit is powered by the domain controller of the second domain control unit. Since the capacitor unit is only used to wake up the domain controller of the first domain control unit, a large-capacity capacitor is not required (other power sources can also be used). When the vehicle is locked, it enters a sleep state, the charging circuit is cut off, and the power can only be supplied through a temperature-sensitive phase-change switch. When the switch is closed, the domain controller of the first domain control unit will be woken up, triggering the emergency avoidance system, which includes, but is not limited to, cutting off the power supply and activating the fire extinguishing device to achieve emergency avoidance.

[0045] Understandably, in this embodiment, when a vehicle lock signal is detected, the control device puts the vehicle into a sleep state and cuts off the charging circuit, stopping charging the capacitor unit and thus reducing power consumption. When the vehicle is in a sleep state and the temperature phase-change switch is activated, the capacitor unit outputs electrical energy to the first domain control unit through the discharge circuit, triggering a fire alarm and emergency actions. This design can accurately identify early battery fire risks when the vehicle is parked and maintain low power consumption operation in non-fire conditions, effectively improving vehicle parking safety and extending system lifespan.

[0046] In some embodiments, the vehicle domain control device is further configured to interact with the vehicle owner terminal device connected to the vehicle communication device via the vehicle's vehicle communication device when it receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device.

[0047] Understandably, in this embodiment, when the vehicle detects a fire risk and is powered by the discharge device, the on-board domain control device can not only trigger a fire alarm and emergency actions, but also interact with the owner's terminal device through the on-board communication equipment to promptly notify the owner of the fire situation. This design not only improves the safety of the vehicle when parked, but also enhances the owner's real-time control over the vehicle's status, enabling the owner to take timely measures to further reduce the losses and risks caused by the fire.

[0048] In some embodiments, the vehicle domain control device is further configured to connect to the vehicle's intelligent driving control device and the vehicle owner terminal device respectively when it receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device, and to remotely control the vehicle through the intelligent driving control device according to the instructions sent by the vehicle owner terminal device.

[0049] Understandably, in this embodiment, when the vehicle detects a fire risk and is powered by the discharge device, the on-board domain control device can not only trigger a fire alarm and emergency actions, but also receive instructions from the owner's terminal device through the intelligent driving control equipment to remotely control the vehicle, such as remotely activating the fire extinguishing device or moving the vehicle to a safe area. This design further enhances the vehicle's ability to respond in the early stages of a fire, strengthens the owner's ability to remotely intervene in the vehicle, effectively reduces fire losses, and significantly improves the safety of vehicle parking and use.

[0050] This invention also provides a vehicle including any of the aforementioned low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance systems.

[0051] The vehicle can be a private car, such as a sedan, SUV, MPV, or pickup truck. It can also be a commercial vehicle, such as a van, bus, small truck, or large semi-trailer. The vehicle must have an electric motor capable of outputting power or acting as a generator to store mechanical energy. When the vehicle is a new energy vehicle, it can be a hybrid or a pure electric vehicle.

[0052] Since the vehicle applies all the technical solutions of the aforementioned low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0053] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

Claims

1. A low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance system, characterized in that, The system includes a temperature phase-changing switch, a discharge device, and an on-board domain control device. The discharge device is electrically connected to the on-board domain control device through the temperature phase-changing switch. The temperature phase-changing switch device has a built-in filling material that physically deforms with changes in ambient temperature. When the ambient temperature reaches a target value, the filling material triggers a change in the switch state. The discharge device is used to provide electrical energy to the vehicle domain control device when the switching state of the temperature phase-changing switch device changes. When the vehicle-mounted domain control device receives electrical energy from the discharge device, it issues a fire alarm and executes preset fire emergency actions.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a first domain control unit; One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device, and the other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit. When the temperature phase-changing switch is in the on state, the discharge device provides electrical energy to the first domain control unit, and the first domain control unit issues a fire alarm and executes a preset fire emergency action. When the temperature phase-changing switch is in the open state, the discharge device stops supplying power to the first domain control unit, and the first domain control unit is in a stopped state.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The discharge device is a capacitor unit; The vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a second domain control unit; One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit; The second domain control unit is used to control the vehicle power supply to charge the capacitor unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes a control device; The discharge device is a capacitor unit, and the vehicle-mounted domain control device includes a first domain control unit and a second domain control unit. One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the first domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the temperature phase-changing switch device. The other end of the temperature phase-changing switch device is electrically connected to the other end of the first domain control unit to form a discharge circuit. One end of the discharge device is electrically connected to one end of the second domain control unit, and the other end of the discharge device is electrically connected to the other end of the second domain control unit to form a charging circuit; The control device is used to control the vehicle to enter a sleep state when a vehicle lock signal is detected, and to control the second domain control unit to open the charging circuit to stop charging the capacitor unit. When the vehicle is in a dormant state and the temperature phase-change switch is in the on state, the capacitor unit outputs electrical energy to the first domain control unit through the temperature phase-change switch.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle domain control device is also used to interact with the vehicle owner's terminal device that is connected to the vehicle communication device via the vehicle's vehicle communication device when it receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted domain control device is also used to connect to the vehicle's intelligent driving control device and the vehicle owner terminal device respectively when it receives electrical energy provided by the discharge device, and to remotely control the vehicle through the intelligent driving control device according to the instructions sent by the vehicle owner terminal device.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, If the ambient temperature rises, the filler is in an expanded state. When the ambient temperature reaches the target value, the volume of the filler is greater than or equal to the preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-changing switch device to be in a conducting state. If the ambient temperature decreases, the filler is in a contracted state. When the ambient temperature is lower than the target value, the volume of the filler is smaller than the preset volume value, causing the temperature phase-change switch to be in an open state.

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The filler is a mixture of solid alkanes.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The temperature phase-changing switch device is located at the position of the vehicle's left rearview mirror, right rearview mirror, or taillight.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes any one of the low-power vehicle fire detection and avoidance systems of claims 1 to 9.

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