Hot plug soft start circuit

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of hot plug, in particular to a hot plug soft start circuit, which is used for being connected between a power supply and electric equipment, and comprises an anode lead, a cathode lead and a control circuit, one end of the anode lead and one end of the cathode lead are used for being connected with the power supply, and the other end of the cathode lead is used for being connected with the electric equipment. The other ends of the positive wire and the negative wire are used for connecting electric equipment; a pre-charging resistor is connected to the positive wire in series, a shunt is connected to the negative wire in series, the control circuit comprises a driving controller, a load detector and a straight-through control switch, the load detector and the straight-through control switch are electrically connected with the driving controller, and the straight-through control switch is connected to the two ends of the pre-charging resistor in parallel; compared with a traditional connection mode, the intelligent control mode has the advantages that the stability and the reliability of the system are greatly improved, and the intelligent control mode has extremely high practical value for application scenes where hot plug operation is frequently carried out and occasions where the requirement for equipment operation stability is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hot-swappable technology, and in particular to a hot-swappable soft-start circuit. Background Technology

[0002] In modern electronic devices and electrical systems, the connection between high-power power supplies or batteries and electrical equipment is crucial. A series of serious problems arise when using mechanical connectors to connect high-power power supplies or batteries to electrical equipment with built-in decoupling capacitors (especially large-capacity capacitors). Currently, contact arcing and sparking generated during electrical connections are a major challenge. This not only causes ablation of the contact metal conductors, leading to contact failures, but also damages internal components due to the massive surge impact generated by forceful power application.

[0003] Existing technical solutions have many drawbacks. Most adopt a direct connection method, which means that once the connector is damaged due to arcing or other reasons, it can only be replaced. This method increases maintenance costs and reduces the stability and reliability of the system. Some methods connect the mechanical connector first and then start the battery or power supply, but the impact damage to the control device at startup still occurs, failing to fundamentally solve the problem. Although a very small number of connectors have anti-sparking connection functions, such as certain models of a certain ams model aircraft, these connectors can only prevent instantaneous spark erosion and have no delayed protection function. They will still burn out after prolonged use and cannot effectively prevent surge damage to the equipment.

[0004] Taking a robot hot-swappable battery project as an example, frequent contact arcing occurs each time a battery is installed, causing premature connector damage and leading to problems such as poor contact and severe overheating, thus limiting the battery's discharge power. If the battery is installed before the switch is turned on, the battery BMS's discharge MOS is highly susceptible to surge impact at the moment of startup, with a certain probability of being broken down or burned out. These problems seriously affect the normal operation and lifespan of the equipment, urgently requiring an effective solution to overcome these technical challenges. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings mentioned above, this utility model aims to provide a technical solution that can solve the above problems.

[0006] A hot-swappable soft-start circuit is provided for connecting a power supply and an electrical device. The hot-swappable soft-start circuit includes a positive wire, a negative wire, and a control circuit. One end of the positive and negative wires is connected to the power supply, and the other end is connected to the electrical device. A pre-charge resistor is connected in series on the positive wire, and a shunt is connected in series on the negative wire. The control circuit includes a drive controller, a load detector, and a direct-through control switch. The load detector and the direct-through control switch are electrically connected to the drive controller. The direct-through control switch is connected in parallel across the pre-charge resistor and has a trigger terminal connected to the drive controller to turn the direct-through control switch on or off under the control of the drive controller. The load detector is connected across the shunt to collect the voltage across the shunt and send the generated voltage signal to the drive controller.

[0007] Preferably, the drive controller is also connected to a delay regulator, which delays the closing time of the direct control switch.

[0008] Preferably, the direct-acting control switch is an EV contactor, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor, or a high-current, high-power MOSFET.

[0009] Preferably, the hot-swappable soft-start circuit is installed in the electrical equipment, and one end of the positive wire and one end of the negative wire are connected to the equipment connector, and the power supply is connected to the equipment connector.

[0010] Preferably, the hot-swappable soft-start circuit is located in the power supply, and one end of the positive wire and one end of the negative wire are connected to the battery connector, and the electrical device is connected to the battery connector.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0012] When connecting the power supply to the electrical equipment, the current-limiting effect of the pre-charging resistor greatly reduces the initial current, effectively preventing contact arcing and sparking caused by excessive current. This prevents the burning of contact metal conductors, significantly extends the service life of the mechanical connector, and reduces the probability of contact failures caused by connector damage. Furthermore, the slow charging process avoids the huge surge impact generated by forceful power-on, providing excellent protection for the components inside the electrical equipment and greatly reducing the risk of damage to equipment components due to surge impact. In addition, the coordinated work of the load detector and drive controller enables real-time monitoring and precise control of the circuit status, ensuring the smooth progress of the soft-start process. Therefore, compared with traditional connection methods, this intelligent control method greatly improves the stability and reliability of the system, and has extremely high practical value for applications with frequent hot-swapping operations or occasions with high requirements for equipment operational stability.

[0013] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the circuit connection module of this utility model connecting the power supply and the electrical equipment;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a circuit connection diagram of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a circuit connection diagram of the present invention when integrated into an electrical device;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a circuit connection diagram of the present invention when integrated into a power supply.

[0019] The reference numerals and names in the figure are as follows:

[0020] Positive lead wire 10, pre-charge resistor 11, negative lead wire 20, shunt 21, control circuit 30, drive controller 31, load detector 32, through control switch 33, delay regulator 34, power supply 40, battery connector 41, electrical equipment 50, equipment connector 51. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0022] Please see Figure 1-4In this embodiment of the present invention, a hot-swappable soft-start circuit is used to connect between a power supply 40 and an electrical device 50. The hot-swappable soft-start circuit includes a positive wire 10, a negative wire 20, and a control circuit 30. One end of the positive wire 10 and the negative wire 20 is used to connect to the power supply 40, and the other end of the positive wire 10 and the negative wire 20 is used to connect to the electrical device 50. A pre-charging resistor 11 is connected in series on the positive wire 10, and a shunt 21 is connected in series on the negative wire 20. The control circuit 30 includes a drive controller 31. The load detector 32 and the direct-through control switch 33 are electrically connected to the drive controller 31. The direct-through control switch 33 is connected in parallel across the pre-charging resistor 11. The direct-through control switch 33 has a trigger terminal connected to the drive controller 31 so that the direct-through control switch 33 can be turned on or off by the control of the drive controller 31. The load detector 32 is connected across the shunt 21 to collect the voltage across the shunt 21 and send the generated voltage signal to the drive controller 31.

[0023] When the power supply 40 and the electrical device 50 are connected via a hot-swappable soft-start circuit, the direct-connect control switch 33 is in the open state during the initial connection phase. At this time, current can only flow to the electrical device 50 through the pre-charging resistor 11 connected in series on the positive conductor 10. Due to the current-limiting effect of the pre-charging resistor 11, the current entering the electrical device 50 is limited to a low level, thus slowly charging the decoupling compensation capacitor built into the electrical device 50. During this process, the load detector 32 periodically monitors the voltage across the shunt 21. The voltage across the shunt 21 is proportional to the current in the circuit. The load detector 32 will collect the voltage... After the voltage signal is converted into an electrical signal, it is sent to the drive controller 31. As the capacitor charging process proceeds, the voltage at the terminal of the electrical device 50 gradually increases, the current in the circuit gradually decreases, and the voltage across the shunt 21 also decreases accordingly. When the voltage signal received by the drive controller 31 indicates that the current in the circuit has decreased to the set threshold, the drive controller 31 will send a control signal to the trigger terminal of the direct control switch 33 to turn on the direct control switch 33. After the direct control switch 33 is turned on, the pre-charging resistor 11 is short-circuited, and the power supply 40 can directly supply power to the electrical device 50 through the direct control switch 33, completing the entire soft start process.

[0024] Through the above technical solution, when connecting the power supply 40 and the electrical equipment 50, the current limiting effect of the pre-charging resistor 11 greatly reduces the initial current, effectively avoiding contact arcing and sparking caused by excessive current, thereby preventing the burning of contact metal conductors, significantly extending the service life of the mechanical connector, and reducing the probability of contact failures caused by connector damage; moreover, the slow charging process avoids the huge surge impact generated when forcefully powered on, playing a good protective role for the components inside the electrical equipment 50, and greatly reducing the risk of equipment components being damaged by surge impact; in addition, the coordinated work of the load detector 32 and the drive controller 31 realizes real-time monitoring and precise control of the circuit status, ensuring the smooth progress of the soft start process; therefore, this intelligent control method greatly improves the stability and reliability of the system compared with the traditional connection method, and has extremely high practical value for both application scenarios with frequent hot-swapping operations and occasions with high requirements for equipment operation stability.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 2 Based on the above technical solution, it is further proposed that the drive controller 31 is also connected to a delay regulator 34. The drive controller 31 uses the delay regulator 34 to delay the closing time of the direct control switch 33. By setting the delay regulator 34, in some devices with extremely precise requirements for the startup process, different electrical devices 50 have different internal circuit structures, capacitor parameters, etc., and require different pre-charging times. Through the delay regulator 34, the pre-charging time can be accurately set to ensure that the capacitor is fully and stably charged to the appropriate voltage, avoiding the impact on normal operation of the device due to insufficient charging time or energy waste and unnecessary waiting time due to excessive charging time. At the same time, in complex electrical systems, there may be situations where multiple electrical devices 50 start sequentially. Reasonably setting the closing time can effectively coordinate the startup sequence of each device, avoiding excessive impact on the power supply 40 when multiple devices start simultaneously, further improving the stability and reliability of the entire electrical system, and significantly enhancing the adaptability of the hot-swappable soft-start circuit to diverse application scenarios.

[0026] Based on the above technical solutions, it is further proposed that the direct control switch 33 be an EV contactor, an insulated gate bipolar transistor, or a high-current, high-power field-effect transistor.

[0027] Among them, the drive controller 31 is a power drive controller 31. The EV contactor has good breaking capacity and high reliability, and can work stably under high current conditions. In the hot-swappable soft start circuit, when it is necessary to switch to the state where the power supply 40 directly supplies power to the electrical equipment 50, the EV contactor can close quickly and reliably, ensuring the stable connection of the circuit, and can effectively resist the electric arc caused by current switching, reduce interference to other parts of the circuit, and extend the overall service life of the circuit.

[0028] An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) combines the high input impedance of a field-effect transistor (FET) with the low on-state voltage drop of a bipolar transistor (BPT). In a circuit, it has a fast switching speed and can accurately respond to the signal of the drive controller 31, quickly achieve short circuit of the pre-charge resistor 11, reduce conduction losses, and improve the energy efficiency of the circuit.

[0029] High-current, high-power MOSFETs have low on-resistance and can carry large currents. In the on-state, they can supply power from power supply 40 to device 50 with minimal power loss, greatly improving circuit efficiency. Furthermore, their control is relatively simple, and when combined with drive controller 31, they can accurately control the circuit, adapting to the requirements of hot-swappable soft-start circuits in different devices 50 and complex application scenarios.

[0030] Please refer to Figure 3-4 Based on the above technical solution, it is further proposed that a hot-swappable soft-start circuit be installed in the electrical device 50, and one end of the positive wire 10 and one end of the negative wire 20 be connected to a device connector 51, with the power supply 40 docking with the device connector 51. Alternatively, the hot-swappable soft-start circuit be installed in the power supply 40, and one end of the positive wire 10 and one end of the negative wire 20 be connected to a battery connector 41, with the electrical device 50 docking with the battery connector 41.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, for the electrical device 50, this is equivalent to adding a built-in protection mechanism. When connected to the power supply 40, regardless of the type of power supply 40, as long as it is compatible with the device connector 51, the electrical device 50 can achieve stable startup through the internal hot-swappable soft-start circuit, avoiding damage to its own components due to arcing, surges and other problems caused by the connection of the power supply 40. This greatly improves the versatility and adaptability of the electrical device 50, and it does not depend on a specific power supply 40 configuration, and can be widely used in a variety of power supply scenarios.

[0032] like Figure 4As shown, if the hot-swappable soft-start circuit is placed in the power supply 40 and connected to the device 50 via the battery connector 41, the power supply 40 can directly control the current at the output end. In this way, different devices 50 connected to the power supply 40 can benefit from the soft-start process, reducing the impact on the device and ensuring device safety. At the same time, for the power supply 40 manufacturer, this integration method simplifies the compatibility issues between the power supply 40 and various devices, enhances the market versatility of the power supply 40 product, improves product competitiveness, and provides a flexible and practical solution for safe and efficient connection between the power supply 40 and the device 50.

[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention.

Claims

1. A hot-swappable soft-start circuit for connecting between a power supply (40) and an electrical device (50), characterized in that, The hot-swappable soft-start circuit includes a positive wire (10), a negative wire (20), and a control circuit (30). One end of the positive wire (10) and the negative wire (20) is used to connect to a power supply (40), and the other end of the positive wire (10) and the negative wire (20) is used to connect to an electrical device (50). A pre-charge resistor (11) is connected in series on the positive wire (10), and a shunt (21) is connected in series on the negative wire (20). The control circuit (30) includes a drive controller (31), a load detector (32), and a pass-through control switch (33). The load detector (32) and the direct control switch (33) are electrically connected to the drive controller (31) respectively. The direct control switch (33) is connected in parallel across the two ends of the pre-charge resistor (11). The direct control switch (33) has a trigger terminal connected to the drive controller (31) so that the direct control switch (33) can be turned on or off by the control of the drive controller (31). The load detector (32) is connected across the two ends of the shunt (21) to collect the voltage across the two ends of the shunt (21) and send the generated voltage signal to the drive controller (31).

2. The hot-swappable soft-start circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive controller (31) is also connected to a delay regulator (34), which delays the closing time of the direct control switch (33) through the delay regulator (34).

3. The hot-swappable soft-start circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The direct control switch (33) is an EV contactor, an insulated gate bipolar transistor, or a high-current, high-power field-effect transistor.

4. The hot-swappable soft-start circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, A hot-swappable soft-start circuit is installed in the electrical equipment (50), and one end of the positive wire (10) and one end of the negative wire (20) are connected to the device connector (51), and the power supply (40) is connected to the device connector (51).

5. A hot-swappable soft-start circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, A hot-swappable soft-start circuit is provided in the power supply (40), and one end of the positive wire (10) and one end of the negative wire (20) are connected to a battery connector (41), and the electrical device (50) is connected to the battery connector (41).

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