Vehicle-mounted power distribution box, power distribution method and vehicle-mounted power supply

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle-mounted distribution box, which is arranged between a main power supply and at least one load branch to be supplied with power by the main power supply, and is used for electrically isolating the main power supply from the at least one load branch and emergently supplying power to the at least one load branch in the event of a failure of the main power supply, the vehicle-mounted distribution box comprises a first electronic fuse, a controller and a standby energy storage unit, and the first electronic fuse is connected in a main line between the main power supply and the at least one load branch and used for electrically isolating the main power supply from the at least one load branch under the control of the controller; the standby energy storage unit is bridged between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the main power supply and is used for replacing the main power supply to emergently supply power to at least one load branch when the main power supply fails; the controller is configured to detect current and / or voltage in the main line in real time, and disconnect the first electronic fuse when the detected current and / or voltage in the main line exceeds a predetermined threshold, so as to supply power to the at least one load branch by means of the standby energy storage unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, and more particularly to an on-board power distribution box, power distribution method, and on-board power supply for electric vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies are increasingly being used in modern vehicles. While these advanced technologies enhance driving convenience, they also place higher demands on the overall vehicle safety. Especially in autonomous or ADAS modes, in the event of a vehicle malfunction, it is crucial to ensure that the vehicle can quickly and safely reach the lowest-risk location, such as a roadside parking area, to protect the safety of the driver, passengers, and other road users. To achieve this goal, the vehicle's power system must possess high reliability and redundancy.

[0003] The traditional "relay + fuse" combination has many drawbacks in terms of daily maintenance, size, weight, power consumption, protection diagnostics, and functional safety design. In addition, the fusing time of fuses is usually in the millisecond to second range and is affected by various factors such as fusing current and operating temperature, while the long switching time, adhesion, and mechanical vibration of relays also limit their application in the field of functional safety.

[0004] Currently, safe power distribution solutions using E-Fuse (electronic fuses) have emerged to replace traditional relays and fuses. However, this E-Fuse-based solution requires the addition of an extra power distribution controller or a domain controller that includes power distribution control, and necessitates a redesign of the entire vehicle's electronic and electrical architecture. This not only requires lengthy development time and substantial development costs but also carries certain technical risks.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to further improve the existing vehicle-mounted power distribution boxes, power distribution methods, and vehicle power supplies for electric vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention proposes an improved on-board power distribution box, power distribution method, and on-board power supply for electric vehicles. The on-board power distribution box combines electronic fuse (e-Fuse) technology and redundant power distribution topology design, which simplifies the structure of the on-board power distribution box, reduces development costs and risks, and can meet the stringent functional safety requirements of advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving vehicles.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an on-board power distribution box is provided, which is disposed between a main power supply and at least one load branch to be powered by the main power supply, for electrically isolating the main power supply from the at least one load branch and providing emergency power to the at least one load branch in the event of a main power supply failure. The on-board power distribution box includes a first electronic fuse, a controller, and a backup energy storage unit. The first electronic fuse is connected in the main line between the main power supply and the at least one load branch, for electrically isolating the main power supply from the at least one load branch under the control of the controller. The backup energy storage unit is connected across the positive and negative terminals of the main power supply, for providing emergency power to the at least one load branch in place of the main power supply in the event of a main power supply failure. The controller is configured to detect the current and / or voltage in the main line in real time, and to disconnect the first electronic fuse when the detected current and / or voltage in the main line exceeds a predetermined threshold, so as to supply power to the at least one load branch by means of the backup energy storage unit.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, an on-board power supply is provided, the on-board power supply including a main power supply for supplying power to at least one load branch, wherein the on-board power supply also includes any variation of the aforementioned on-board power distribution box.

[0009] Finally, the present invention also proposes a method for distributing power to a vehicle using the aforementioned vehicle-mounted power distribution box, the method comprising the following steps:

[0010] The controller monitors the current and / or voltage in the main circuit in real time; and

[0011] If the current or voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, the first electronic fuse is disconnected to supply power to the at least one load branch via the backup energy storage unit.

[0012] The vehicle-mounted power distribution box proposed in this invention achieves the goals of electrical isolation of faulty circuits and safe power supply without altering the overall vehicle's electronic and electrical architecture, simply by adding a backup energy storage unit and an electronic fuse built into the box. Within this box, the current and operating voltage input from the main power source are monitored. When a fault is detected through current and / or voltage, the electronic fuse can isolate the main power network fault within microseconds, while simultaneously providing emergency power to safe loads using a built-in supercapacitor module. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Figure 1This is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of one embodiment of the power distribution method according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 This is an exemplary architecture diagram of a controller in an on-board power distribution box according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make the content of the invention comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated or modified for clarity. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0018] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a full understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details described, or other methods, elements, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, methods, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0019] Figure 1 A circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the vehicle power distribution box according to the present invention is shown. The vehicle power distribution box is connected between the main power supply and multiple load branches 4, 5, 6. The vehicle power distribution box includes a main switch designed as a first electronic fuse 1 (E-Fuse), a controller 2, and a backup energy storage unit designed as a supercapacitor module 3. Compared with the traditional combination of fuse and mechanical relay, the electronic fuse (E-Fuse) integrates protection and switching functions into a single small package structure, thus being more compact and providing a faster and more accurate response in case of failure. The first electronic fuse 1 is connected in the main line 7 (not shown) between the main power supply and the load branches 4, 5, 6 to electrically isolate the load branches 4, 5, 6 from the main line, especially the main power supply, in an emergency. Here, an emergency is an emergency such as an internal short circuit or overvoltage in the battery, which serves as the main power supply. In such an emergency, it is necessary to immediately electrically isolate the load branches 4, 5, 6 from the main power supply to prevent damage to the load branches. Here, the main power supply is, for example, a 12V vehicle low-voltage power supply.

[0020] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated scheme, controller 2 is connected across both sides of the first electronic fuse 1. That is, controller 2 is electrically connected to the main circuit 7 on both sides of the first electronic fuse 1. A first diode 8 and a second diode 9 are respectively installed on the connection line between controller 2 and the main circuit 7. The positive terminals of these diodes are connected to the main circuit 7, and the negative terminals are connected to controller 2. When the main power supply is operating normally, that is, when the first electronic fuse 1 is not disconnected, controller 2 is powered by the main power supply. However, in an emergency, for example, after the first electronic fuse 1 disconnects, the main power supply is electrically isolated, and controller 2 is powered by the backup power supply 3. The first diode 8 and the second diode 9 are respectively configured to prevent current backflow, for example, preventing current from the backup power supply 3 from entering the main power supply, or preventing current from the main power supply from entering the backup power supply 3 through this branch. Furthermore, the voltage across the first electronic fuse 1 can be collected to monitor whether the first electronic fuse 1 has successfully disconnected, and the operating status of the first electronic fuse 1 can be recorded or displayed as needed.

[0021] Controller 2 is configured to detect the current and / or voltage in the main line 7 in real time, for example, via a sensing resistor (not shown) electrically connected to the main line 7. Obviously, it is also possible to acquire the current and / or voltage on the main line in a non-direct electrical connection manner. For example, controller 2 can be connected to a sensor signal used to measure the current and / or voltage on the main line.

[0022] The supercapacitor module 3, serving as a backup energy storage unit, is connected between the positive and negative terminals of the main power supply. A first electronic fuse is connected between the positive terminal of the main power supply and the first terminal of the backup energy storage unit. That is, the first terminal of the supercapacitor module 3 is electrically connected to the main line 7 via a step-up / step-down DC / DC converter 11 between the first electronic fuse 1 and load branches 4, 5, 6. The second terminal of the supercapacitor module 3 is connected to the negative terminal of the main power supply or directly to ground potential 10. The supercapacitor module 3 is signal-connected to the controller 2 and can be driven by the controller 2. When the first electronic fuse 1 electrically isolates the main power supply from the main line 7, the supercapacitor module 3 is connected and provides emergency power to load branches 4, 5, 6. The controller 2 is also configured to monitor the state of charge (SOC) of the supercapacitor module 3, control the charging and discharging process of the supercapacitor module 3, and perform balancing between the cells of the supercapacitor module 3. Here, the design parameters of the supercapacitor module 3, such as capacitance size, the number, type, and capacitance value of the supercapacitor cells, can be determined according to the specific application and the power requirements of the load.

[0023] The vehicle-mounted power distribution box also includes a DC / DC converter 11 connected between the main power supply and the supercapacitor module. This DC / DC converter is designed as a buck-boost DC / DC converter and configured to: in the charging mode of the supercapacitor module, convert the power supply voltage provided by the main power supply into a first voltage suitable for charging the supercapacitor module 3; and in the discharging mode of the supercapacitor module 3, convert the discharging voltage of the supercapacitor module 3 into a second voltage suitable for supplying power to at least one load branch. During normal operation of the main power supply, the supercapacitor module 3 can be charged by the main power supply via the buck DC / DC converter under the control of the controller 2, ensuring that the supercapacitor module 3 has sufficient energy to support the emergency power demands of each safe load, while also ensuring that the supercapacitor module 3 still has the ability to absorb surge voltages on the vehicle power network. In the event of a main power supply failure, the supercapacitor module 3 is used as a backup energy storage unit. At this time, the supercapacitor module 3 is connected to the main line via a boost DC / DC converter and provides emergency power to load branches 4, 5, and 6 to provide short-term emergency output for use by safe loads. Because it has a built-in step-up / step-down DC / DC converter, when the supercapacitor module 3 is discharged, even if the supercapacitor module 3 itself has generated a large voltage drop, the output of the supercapacitor module can still be guaranteed to be stable within the working voltage range of the step-up / step-down bidirectional DC / DC converter.

[0024] The vehicle-mounted power distribution box further includes at least one second electronic fuse, each second electronic fuse being connected to a corresponding load branch in at least one load branch, for isolating that load branch from the main power line in the event of a fault in that load branch. Figure 1 As can be seen, multiple load branches 4, 5, and 6 are connected in parallel between the positive and negative terminals of the main power supply. Each load branch includes a load 12, 13, or 14 and a second electronic fuse 15, 16, or 17. Here, loads 12, 13, and 14 are, for example, the vehicle's steering unit, braking unit, and possibly other functional safety loads. Each load branch can be individually electrically isolated from the main circuit via its own second electronic fuse 15, 16, or 17 to avoid mutual interference. The second electronic fuses 15, 16, and 17 of each load branch are also connected to the controller 2 and can electrically isolate the corresponding load branch under the control of the controller 2.

[0025] Preferably, the controller 2 is also designed to: monitor the current and / or voltage in at least one load branch in real time, and disconnect the second electronic fuse connected to the load branch if the current and / or voltage in a corresponding load branch in at least one load branch exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0026] Here, controller 2 continuously monitors the current and / or voltage in the main circuit, especially periodically. In the event of a fault or failure in the main power supply, changes in output voltage and / or current typically occur, potentially leading to overcurrent and / or overvoltage in the main circuit. If the current or voltage in the main circuit exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller trips the first electronic fuse and connects a backup energy storage unit to power the load branch. Here, the "threshold" can be predetermined through experimentation or simulation. By also periodically acquiring the current and / or voltage on each load branch, if the current and / or voltage on a corresponding load branch exceeds another predetermined threshold, the controller trips the second electronic fuse on that load branch, thereby isolating that load branch and preventing mutual interference between load branches. Similarly, the "other threshold" can also be predetermined through experimentation or simulation.

[0027] Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the power distribution method according to the present invention is shown. The power distribution method includes the following steps:

[0028] S1: Real-time detection of current and / or voltage in the main circuit using a controller; and

[0029] S2: If the current or voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, the first electronic fuse is disconnected to supply power to the at least one load branch by means of the backup energy storage unit.

[0030] Figure 3 An exemplary architecture diagram of a controller 2 for an on-board power distribution box according to the present invention is shown. Figure 3 As shown, the controller 2 includes a processor module 21, a storage module 22, a detection module 24, and a communication module 23. The processor module 21 is connected to the first electronic fuse, the second electronic fuse, and the supercapacitor module via the communication module 23. Additionally, the controller 2 is electrically connected to the main circuit, enabling the detection module 24 to detect the current and / or voltage levels on the main circuit. Alternatively, the detection module 24 can be configured as a separate sensor device, independent of the controller 2, meaning it can be located externally to the controller 2 and connected to the processor via the communication module 23.

[0031] Although not shown, controller 2 may also include other possible functional modules or be signal-connected to other external devices, such as an emergency communication module. Additionally, although memory 22 is shown here, it is not mandatory; processor module 21 may also be signal-connected to external or remote memory via communication module 23 to read data from or store data in external memory. Controller 2 is further configured to detect current and / or voltage in the main line in real time.

[0032] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be implemented by software or by combining software with necessary hardware. Therefore, the technical solution of the power distribution method according to this application can be embodied in the form of a software product. This software product can be stored in a non-volatile storage medium (such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, or external hard drive) or on a network, and includes several instructions to cause a computing device (such as a personal computer, server, or network device) to execute the power distribution method according to this application.

[0033] Overall, the solution described in this application allows for the application of the on-board power distribution box to existing vehicle architectures without requiring major modifications to the overall vehicle's electronic and electrical architecture or power topology. Furthermore, because supercapacitors possess high-power output characteristics, they can reliably support short-term high-power demands from loads such as steering and braking in emergency situations. During normal vehicle operation, the supercapacitor module, serving as a backup energy storage unit, can also stabilize the vehicle's power network, both supporting peak power demands and absorbing surge voltages on the vehicle's power network. This reduces the peak power demand of the high-voltage DC / DC converter and lowers costs. Additionally, the built-in e-Fuse allows for timely isolation of faulty or accidental circuit sections by monitoring the input of the main power supply and the current and voltage of the load branches.

[0034] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted power distribution box, wherein the vehicle-mounted power distribution box is disposed between a main power supply and at least one load branch to be powered by the main power supply, for electrically isolating the main power supply from the at least one load branch and providing emergency power to the at least one load branch in the event of a main power supply failure, characterized in that, The vehicle's power distribution box includes a first electronic fuse, a controller, and a backup energy storage unit. The first electronic fuse is connected in the main line between the main power supply and the at least one load branch, and is used to electrically isolate the main power supply from the at least one load branch under the control of the controller. The backup energy storage unit is connected across the positive and negative terminals of the main power supply and is used to provide emergency power to the at least one load branch in the event of a failure of the main power supply. The controller is configured to detect the current and / or voltage in the main line in real time, and to disconnect the first electronic fuse when the detected current and / or voltage in the main line exceeds a predetermined threshold, so as to supply power to the at least one load branch by means of the backup energy storage unit.

2. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted power distribution box further includes a DC / DC converter connected between the main power supply and the backup energy storage unit, the DC / DC converter being configured to: In the charging mode of the backup energy storage unit, the power supply voltage provided by the main power supply is converted into a first voltage suitable for charging the backup energy storage unit; as well as In the discharge mode of the backup energy storage unit, the discharge voltage of the backup energy storage unit is converted into a second voltage suitable for supplying power to the at least one load branch.

3. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The backup energy storage unit is designed as a supercapacitor module.

4. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first electronic fuse is connected between the positive terminal of the main power supply and the first terminal of the backup energy storage unit, and the second terminal of the backup energy storage unit is connected to the negative terminal of the main power supply or grounded.

5. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The main power supply is a vehicle-mounted low-voltage power supply.

6. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The vehicle-mounted power distribution box further includes at least one second electronic fuse, each second electronic fuse being connected to a corresponding load branch in the at least one load branch, for isolating the load branch from the main line in the event of a fault in the corresponding load branch.

7. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 6, characterized in that, The controller is also designed to: monitor the current and / or voltage in the at least one load branch in real time, and disconnect the second electronic fuse connected to the load branch when the current and / or voltage in a corresponding load branch of the at least one load branch exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The vehicle-mounted power distribution box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The controller is electrically connected to the main circuit at both ends of the first electronic fuse.

9. A vehicle-mounted power supply, comprising a main power supply for supplying power to at least one load branch, characterized in that, The vehicle power supply also includes a vehicle power distribution box according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for distributing power to a vehicle using an on-board power distribution box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: The controller monitors the current and / or voltage in the main circuit in real time; and If the current or voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold, the first electronic fuse is disconnected to supply power to the at least one load branch via the backup energy storage unit.

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