A super capacitor-based power supply system and automobile door handle

Abstract

The application discloses a supercapacitor-based power supply system and a car door handle, and relates to the field of automobile accessories. The supercapacitor-based power supply system comprises a battery, a transient voltage suppression diode, a voltage stabilizing circuit, a supercapacitor, a micro control unit, a driving circuit and a motor. The positive electrode of the battery is connected with the input end of the transient voltage suppression diode. The output end of the voltage stabilizing circuit is connected with the charging end of the supercapacitor and the power input end of the micro control unit. The discharging end of the supercapacitor is connected with the output end of the voltage stabilizing circuit, which is used for providing backup power for the micro control unit, the driving circuit and the motor when the battery is disconnected or the output voltage of the battery is lower than a preset value. The control signal output end of the micro control unit is connected with the input end of the driving circuit, and the output end of the driving circuit is connected with the motor. The micro control unit is configured to monitor the voltage and / or the electric quantity of the supercapacitor. The supercapacitor supplies power to the motor through the driving circuit, thereby improving the power supply stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive parts, and in particular to a power supply system based on a supercapacitor and an automotive door handle. Background Technology

[0002] As automotive industrial design undergoes a dual revolution of electrification and intelligentization, the diversity of traffic accidents is also increasing.

[0003] Most vehicles on the market are equipped with automatic door locking function, but they cannot perform the ejection action when the battery is depleted or the voltage is insufficient (such as electric vehicles running out of power in low temperatures or experiencing power loss due to collisions), resulting in a decline in user experience and potential safety hazards. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a power supply system based on a supercapacitor, in which the supercapacitor powers the motor via a drive circuit, thereby improving power supply stability. Correspondingly, an automotive door handle is also provided, including a supercapacitor-based power supply system for different scenarios.

[0005] The first technical solution adopted in this application is: providing a power supply system based on a supercapacitor, including a battery, a transient voltage suppression diode, a voltage regulator circuit, a supercapacitor, a microcontroller unit, a drive circuit, and a motor;

[0006] The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the input terminal of the transient voltage suppression diode, and the output terminal of the transient voltage suppression diode is connected to the input terminal of the voltage regulator circuit.

[0007] The output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit is simultaneously connected to the charging terminal of the supercapacitor and the power input terminal of the microcontroller unit.

[0008] The discharge terminal of the supercapacitor is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit, and is used to provide backup power to the microcontroller unit, the drive circuit and the motor when the battery is disconnected or the battery output voltage is lower than a preset value.

[0009] The control signal output terminal of the microcontroller is connected to the input terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of the drive circuit is connected to the motor.

[0010] The microcontroller unit is configured to monitor the voltage and / or charge of the supercapacitor.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the transient voltage suppression diode is connected in parallel between the input terminal of the voltage regulator circuit and the ground terminal.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the rated operating voltage of the supercapacitor is set to a predetermined value that matches the door handle control circuit, the nominal capacitance range is a predetermined capacitance range, and the operating temperature range is a predetermined wide temperature range.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the power supply system is configured to control the door handle to perform multiple pop-out actions based on the initial charging voltage and capacitance value of the supercapacitor.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the microcontroller is configured to control the drive circuit to reduce the power consumption of the motor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to be lower than a first preset threshold.

[0015] In an optional embodiment, the microcontroller is configured to control the voltage regulator circuit to stop charging the supercapacitor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to reach or exceed a second preset threshold.

[0016] In an optional embodiment, the driving circuit is an H-bridge driving circuit.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the supercapacitor has a predetermined long cycle life.

[0018] In an optional embodiment, the change in the equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor under high temperature conditions does not exceed a predetermined proportion.

[0019] The second technical solution adopted in this application is: providing a car door handle, including:

[0020] case;

[0021] A supercapacitor-based power supply system as described in any of the preceding claims; the power supply system is housed within the housing;

[0022] The door lock control circuit is powered by the power supply system.

[0023] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, this application has at least one of the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0024] 1. Power is supplied to the motor by supercapacitors when the battery is out of power or the voltage is insufficient, thereby improving the stability of power supply.

[0025] 2. The power supply system is housed within the casing, avoiding the wiring issues associated with wired power supply and making the installation of the door handle more convenient.

[0026] 3. Supercapacitors can be charged quickly and are easy to recycle at the end of their service life, improving environmental protection and convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] in:

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the framework of a supercapacitor-based power supply system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the discharge characteristics of a supercapacitor provided in the first embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the discharge characteristics of a supercapacitor provided in the second embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the frame of a car door handle provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining this application and not for limiting it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts related to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, not all structures. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or apparatuses.

[0035] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0036] Against the backdrop of a dual revolution in automotive industrial design—electrification and intelligentization—the increasing number of vehicles on the road has led to a greater diversity of traffic accidents. Currently, most vehicles on the market are equipped with automatic door locking, where the doors automatically lock while the vehicle is in motion. However, when the battery is depleted or the voltage is insufficient (such as in scenarios like low-temperature battery depletion or collision-induced power loss in electric vehicles), the door cannot be opened, resulting in a decreased user experience and safety hazards. Furthermore, rescue personnel cannot directly open the doors from the outside, increasing the difficulty and time of rescue efforts and impacting occupant safety. Therefore, this application provides a supercapacitor-based power supply system that uses a supercapacitor to power the motor when the battery is depleted or the voltage is insufficient, improving power supply stability. Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The schematic diagram of a supercapacitor-based power supply system provided in an embodiment of this application includes a battery, a transient voltage suppressor diode (TVS), a voltage regulator circuit, a supercapacitor, a microcontroller unit, a drive circuit, and a motor.

[0037] The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the input terminal of the transient voltage suppressor diode (TVS), and the output terminal of the TVS is connected to the input terminal of the voltage regulator circuit. The battery serves as the initial power source, providing electrical energy to the entire system. The battery is connected to subsequent circuits via wires, with its positive terminal connected to VBAT and its negative terminal grounded to GND. The TVS is connected to the positive terminal of the battery to suppress transient overvoltages and improve the reliability of the system.

[0038] The output of the voltage regulator circuit is connected to both the charging terminal of the supercapacitor and the power input terminal of the microcontroller unit. The voltage regulator circuit regulates the voltage output by the battery to ensure a stable voltage input for subsequent circuits.

[0039] The discharge terminal of the supercapacitor is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit, which is used to provide backup power for the microcontroller, drive circuit and motor when the battery is disconnected or the battery output voltage is lower than the preset value.

[0040] The control signal output terminal of the microcontroller is connected to the input terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of the drive circuit is connected to the motor. The drive circuit receives the control signal from the microcontroller and converts electrical energy into a drive signal suitable for the motor to run, thereby driving the motor.

[0041] In this embodiment, an MCU is selected as the microcontroller unit. In other embodiments, the microcontroller unit may be selected from other options, and no limitation is made in this regard.

[0042] The microcontroller unit is configured to monitor the voltage and / or charge of the supercapacitor; the operating principle of the power supply system is described in detail below:

[0043] When the battery is connected to the system, its output voltage first undergoes transient voltage suppression via a TVS (Transient Voltage Suppressor) and then enters a voltage regulator circuit for regulation. The regulated voltage provides power to components such as the MCU and simultaneously charges the supercapacitor. The supercapacitor stores energy during charging, and when the battery is disconnected or its charge is low, it quickly releases the stored energy to continuously power components such as the MCU, drive circuit, and motor, ensuring the door handle continues to function normally.

[0044] Throughout the operation, the MCU monitors parameters such as the voltage and current of the supercapacitor, as well as the operating status of the motor, in real time. When the voltage of the supercapacitor falls below a certain threshold, the MCU can control the drive circuit to reduce the power consumption of the motor, thereby extending the power supply time of the supercapacitor. When the supercapacitor is fully charged, the MCU will control the charging circuit to stop charging to protect the lifespan of the supercapacitor.

[0045] In summary, the supercapacitor-based power supply system of this embodiment includes a battery, a transient voltage suppression diode, a voltage regulator circuit, a supercapacitor, a microcontroller unit, a drive circuit, and a motor. The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the input terminal of the transient voltage suppression diode. The output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit is simultaneously connected to the charging terminal of the supercapacitor and the power input terminal of the microcontroller unit. The discharging terminal of the supercapacitor is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit, providing backup power to the microcontroller unit, drive circuit, and motor when the battery is disconnected or the battery output voltage is lower than a preset value. The control signal output terminal of the microcontroller unit is connected to the input terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of the drive circuit is connected to the motor. The microcontroller unit is configured to monitor the voltage and / or charge of the supercapacitor. The supercapacitor supplies power to the motor through the drive circuit, improving power supply stability.

[0046] A transient voltage suppressor diode (TVS) is connected in parallel between the input terminal and ground of the voltage regulator circuit. When a transient overvoltage occurs at the input voltage, the TVS responds quickly and conducts the overvoltage to ground, thus protecting downstream electronic components from damage. Once the overvoltage event ends, the TVS returns to a high-impedance state, allowing normal operating voltage to pass through the voltage regulator circuit.

[0047] The supercapacitor's rated operating voltage is set to a predetermined value that matches the door handle control circuit. This rated operating voltage is compatible with common door handle control circuits, ensuring proper circuit operation. This setting not only provides sufficient power support but also avoids damage to other low-voltage components; for example, in this embodiment, the rated operating voltage is set to 5.0VDC.

[0048] The nominal capacitance range is a predetermined range of capacitance values, allowing for the selection of appropriate capacitance values ​​based on specific application requirements. For example, if a door handle needs to perform multiple pop-out actions even when the battery is disconnected or low on power, a larger capacity supercapacitor can be selected to extend its operating time; in this embodiment, the nominal capacitance range is selected between 0.5F and 7.5F.

[0049] The operating temperature range is a predetermined wide temperature range; the supercapacitor can operate stably in a wide temperature range of -40℃ to +85℃, which allows it to maintain its performance under extreme climatic conditions and provide reliable power supply in both cold winters and hot summers.

[0050] The power supply system is configured to control the door handle to perform multiple pop-out actions based on the initial charging voltage and capacitance value of the supercapacitor; such as Figure 2 — Figure 3 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the discharge characteristics of the supercapacitor provided in the first embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the discharge characteristics of the supercapacitor provided in the second embodiment of this application.

[0051] When the initial voltage is 12V, the capacitor capacitance is 1,000,000μF (i.e., 1F), and the safety threshold voltage is 9V, the calculated time required to reach the safety voltage is approximately 1.15 seconds. During this period, the load can operate normally for approximately 1.1 seconds, which can support the door handle to perform 3 pop-out actions.

[0052] When the initial voltage is increased to 16V, under the same conditions, it takes about 2.3 seconds to reach the safe voltage, and the load can work normally for about 2.3 seconds, which can support the door handle to perform 7 pop-out actions. By adjusting the initial charging voltage and capacitance value of the supercapacitor, the number of times the door handle pops out can be precisely controlled, which ensures the realization of the function and maximizes the use of energy.

[0053] The microcontroller unit is configured to control the drive circuit to reduce the power consumption of the motor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to be lower than a first preset threshold. The MCU continuously monitors the voltage level of the supercapacitor. Once the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to drop below the first preset threshold (e.g., set to 4.5V), the MCU will send a command to the drive circuit, requesting it to reduce the power consumption of the motor.

[0054] After receiving the instruction, the drive circuit will reduce the current supplied to the motor or reduce the operating frequency to reduce the motor's energy consumption. This allows the motor to maintain basic functions even when the supercapacitor is low on power, such as allowing the door handle to pop out at least once.

[0055] The microcontroller unit is configured to control the voltage regulator circuit to stop charging the supercapacitor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to reach or exceed a second preset threshold. Similarly, the MCU is also responsible for monitoring whether the supercapacitor is fully charged. When the voltage of the supercapacitor rises to the second preset threshold (e.g., set to 5.0V) or higher, the MCU will send a command to the voltage regulator circuit, instructing it to stop charging the supercapacitor.

[0056] Upon receiving the instruction, the voltage regulator circuit will cut off the charging path from the battery or other power source to the supercapacitor, preventing overcharging and thus protecting the supercapacitor from damage and extending its service life.

[0057] It should be clarified that this application does not limit the specific values ​​of the first preset threshold and the second preset threshold.

[0058] The drive circuit is an H-bridge drive circuit. When the MCU detects that the door handle needs to pop out or retract, it sends a corresponding control signal to the H-bridge drive circuit. The H-bridge adjusts the direction and magnitude of the current according to the received instructions, thereby precisely controlling the motor's movement. The H-bridge drive circuit allows for precise speed and direction control of the motor, making the door handle operation smoother and more stable, thus improving the user experience.

[0059] Supercapacitors have a predetermined long cycle life, which greatly reduces maintenance needs, lowers user costs, and improves system reliability. The long cycle life of supercapacitors means that they almost never need to be replaced, which not only reduces long-term maintenance costs but also reduces service interruption time caused by maintenance.

[0060] The equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor changes by no more than a predetermined proportion under high temperature conditions; this ensures that the supercapacitor maintains good performance even under extreme temperature conditions, and will not cause excessive energy loss due to the increase in equivalent series resistance, thus affecting the system's operating efficiency.

[0061] This application also provides a car door handle, such as Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a car door handle frame provided in one embodiment of this application includes:

[0062] case;

[0063] The supercapacitor-based power supply system described in the above embodiment is housed within a casing.

[0064] The door lock control circuit is powered by a power supply system.

[0065] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed methods and devices can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and 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.

[0066] 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, depending on actual needs.

[0067] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0068] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A power supply system based on a supercapacitor, characterized in that, It includes batteries, transient voltage suppression diodes, voltage regulator circuits, supercapacitors, microcontroller units, drive circuits, and motors; The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the input terminal of the transient voltage suppression diode, and the output terminal of the transient voltage suppression diode is connected to the input terminal of the voltage regulator circuit. The output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit is simultaneously connected to the charging terminal of the supercapacitor and the power input terminal of the microcontroller unit. The discharge terminal of the supercapacitor is connected to the output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit, and is used to provide backup power to the microcontroller unit, the drive circuit and the motor when the battery is disconnected or the battery output voltage is lower than a preset value. The control signal output terminal of the microcontroller is connected to the input terminal of the drive circuit, and the output terminal of the drive circuit is connected to the motor. The microcontroller unit is configured to monitor the voltage and / or charge of the supercapacitor.

2. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transient voltage suppression diode is connected in parallel between the input terminal and the ground terminal of the voltage regulator circuit.

3. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rated operating voltage of the supercapacitor is set to a predetermined value that matches the door handle control circuit, the nominal capacitance range is a predetermined capacitance range, and the operating temperature range is a predetermined wide temperature range.

4. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The power supply system is configured to control the door handle to perform multiple pop-out actions based on the initial charging voltage and capacitance value of the supercapacitor.

5. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The microcontroller unit is configured to control the drive circuit to reduce the power consumption of the motor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to be lower than a first preset threshold.

6. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 5, characterized in that, The microcontroller unit is configured to control the voltage regulator circuit to stop charging the supercapacitor when the voltage of the supercapacitor is detected to reach or exceed a second preset threshold.

7. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving circuit is an H-bridge driving circuit.

8. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The supercapacitor has a predetermined long cycle life.

9. The power supply system based on a supercapacitor according to claim 8, characterized in that, The equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor changes by no more than a predetermined proportion under high temperature conditions.

10. A car door handle, characterized in that, include: case; The power supply system based on supercapacitors as described in any one of claims 1-9; The power supply system is housed within the housing; The door lock control circuit is powered by the power supply system.

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