A drive circuit, a power distribution box, and a vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a driving circuit, a power distribution box and a vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of driving circuits. The driving circuit comprises a driver and at least one on-off circuit, and the driver has a driving signal output end and a reference potential end. Each on-off circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, the first switching device is connected with the driving signal output end, the second switching device has a first end, a second end and a first control end, the first end is configured to be connected with a power supply, the second end is configured to be connected with a load and the reference potential end respectively, and the first control end is connected with the first switching device. The embodiment of the application adopts the structure that a single driver is connected with at least one on-off circuit, and the on and off of multiple loads can be realized through a driver combined with the first switching device and the second switching device, the number of drivers is reduced, the number of circuit devices is further reduced, and the complexity of the circuit structure is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of drive circuit technology, and in particular to a drive circuit, a power distribution box, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In multi-load power distribution scenarios, the power distribution box needs to drive the power on and off of multiple loads. Currently, most multi-load power distribution boxes on the market adopt a separate driver architecture, that is, each load is equipped with an independent driver to control the power on and off of the load, and the power on and off of the corresponding load is achieved through individual driving. However, multiple drivers controlling the power on and off of each corresponding load increases the number of circuit components and makes the circuit structure complex. Utility Model Content

[0003] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a driving circuit, the driving circuit comprising:

[0004] The driver has a drive signal output terminal and a reference potential terminal;

[0005] At least one switching circuit, each switching circuit including: a first switching device and a second switching device, the first switching device being connected to a drive signal output terminal; the second switching device having a first terminal, a second terminal and a first control terminal, the first terminal being configured to be connected to a power supply, the second terminal being configured to be connected to a load and a reference potential terminal respectively, and the first control terminal being connected to the first switching device.

[0006] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a power distribution box, which includes:

[0007] Power supply, and

[0008] The driving circuit is as described in the above embodiments.

[0009] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

[0010] Load, and

[0011] The power distribution box as described in the above embodiments.

[0012] Beneficial effects: This application provides a driving circuit comprising: a driver and at least one switching circuit. The driver has a driving signal output terminal and a reference potential terminal. Each switching circuit includes: a first switching device and a second switching device. The first switching device is connected to the driving signal output terminal. The second switching device has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a first control terminal. The first terminal is configured to be connected to a power supply, the second terminal is configured to be connected to a load and the reference potential terminal respectively, and the first control terminal is connected to the first switching device. This application adopts a structure where a single driver connects to at least one switching circuit. By combining a single driver with the first and second switching devices, multiple loads can be powered on and off, reducing the number of drivers, thereby reducing the number of circuit components and lowering the complexity of the circuit structure.

[0013] The power distribution box provided in this application includes the above-described driving circuit. Therefore, the power distribution box can have all the technical features and beneficial effects of the above-described driving circuit, which will not be repeated here.

[0014] The vehicle provided in this application embodiment includes the power distribution box described above. Therefore, the vehicle can have all the technical features and beneficial effects of the drive circuit described above, which will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application 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 application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an overcurrent protection module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 6 A circuit diagram of an overcurrent protection module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a circuit diagram of a driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0024] 1. Driver; 11. Drive signal output terminal; 12. Reference potential terminal; 13. Enable terminal;

[0025] 2. On / off circuit; 21. First switching device; 211. Third terminal; 212. Fourth terminal; 213. Second control terminal; 22. Second switching device; 221. First terminal; 222. Second terminal; 223. First control terminal; 23. Third switching device; 231. Fifth terminal; 232. Sixth terminal; 233. Third control terminal;

[0026] 3. Protection circuit; 31. Signal conversion module; 32. Overcurrent protection module; 321. Comparator; 3211. First input terminal; 3212. First output terminal; 322. D flip-flop; 3221. Second input terminal; 3222. Second output terminal; 33. Fourth switching device; 331. Seventh terminal; 332. Eighth terminal; 333. Fourth control terminal;

[0027] 4. Power supply; 5. Load; 6. Control unit. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in the embodiments of this application are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0030] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, "connection" can be understood as electrical connection. The connection between two electrical components can be a direct or indirect connection between the two electrical components. For example, the connection between A and B can be a direct connection between A and B, or an indirect connection between A and B through one or more other electrical components.

[0031] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0032] In multi-load power distribution scenarios, the power distribution box, as the core control unit, needs to control the power supply to multiple loads to meet the needs of different loads to be powered on, powered off, or isolated from faults as required.

[0033] The drive circuit in a multi-load power distribution box typically adopts a separate drive architecture design: for the power supply on / off control of each load, an independent on / off device is configured, and to ensure the stable operation of the on / off device, an independent driver is required. That is, one load corresponds to one on / off device, and the power supply on / off of a single load is realized through a one-to-one control mode of an independent driver.

[0034] However, having multiple drivers control the switching devices for each load increases the number of circuit components and complicates the circuit structure. As the number of loads increases, the number of drivers and associated peripheral components grows linearly, leading to a significant increase in the total number of components in the circuit. This not only requires more space for component placement during circuit layout but also exacerbates redundancy due to increased wiring nodes and complex wiring patterns, hindering the miniaturization design of the power distribution box. Furthermore, while some drivers possess strong driving capabilities, in a single-driver architecture, each driver only serves one switching device, leaving its remaining driving capabilities idle and wasted. Simultaneously, the use of numerous independent drivers and associated components drives up material procurement and circuit debugging costs, resulting in a high overall design cost for the power distribution box, making it difficult to meet the market demand for low-cost, high-performance components.

[0035] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a driving circuit aimed at solving at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0037] This application provides a driving circuit, which includes: a driver 1 and at least one switching circuit 2. The driver 1 has a driving signal output terminal 11 and a reference potential terminal 12. Each switching circuit 2 includes: a first switching device 21 and a second switching device 22. The first switching device 21 is connected to the driving signal output terminal 11. The second switching device 22 has a first terminal 221, a second terminal 222 and a first control terminal 223. The first terminal 221 is configured to be connected to a power supply 4, the second terminal 222 is configured to be connected to a load 5 and the reference potential terminal 12 respectively, and the first control terminal 223 is connected to the first switching device 21.

[0038] In this system, driver 1 generates and outputs a drive signal (such as a voltage or current signal) upon startup, which meets the conduction requirements of the switching circuit 2. The drive signal output by driver 1 then works in conjunction with the switching circuit 2 to turn the circuit on or off, thereby changing the power supply to the multiple loads 5 and fulfilling the power-on or power-off requirements of the loads 5. It should be noted that the specific drive signal output by driver 1 is set according to the conduction requirements of the switching circuit 2 in the actual implementation scheme.

[0039] The drive signal output terminal 11 and the reference potential terminal 12 of the driver 1 are respectively connected to each switching circuit 2. The drive signal output terminal 11 is used to output the drive signal, which, in turn, cooperates with the switching circuit 2 to realize the switching control of the power supply line of the load 5. The reference potential terminal 12 is used to provide a potential reference for the drive signal, ensuring that the level amplitude of the drive signal (such as the voltage difference relative to the reference potential) meets the conduction / turn-off threshold requirements of the switching devices in the switching circuit 2, and also provides a floating ground in the drive circuit, providing a stable voltage reference point for the drive circuit and ensuring the normal operation of the circuit.

[0040] It should be noted that the driver 1 also has an enable terminal 13, which is used to receive an enable signal to enable the driver 1 to start working. If the enable terminal 13 does not receive an enable signal, the driver 1 is not started working. The driver 1 can start working when the enable signal is low or high, depending on the start-up triggering method of the driver 1 in the actual implementation. For example, when the triggering method of the driver 1 is low-voltage triggering, a low-level enable signal input to the enable terminal 13 of the driver 1 triggers the driver 1 to start working, and the drive signal output terminal 11 outputs a drive signal. The low level of the enable signal can be achieved by grounding the enable terminal 13 of the driver 1, thus keeping the driver 1 in a continuously started working state. Alternatively, it can be achieved by sending a low level to the enable terminal 13 after a certain triggering condition (such as vehicle start-up) is met.

[0041] The driver 1 can be a circuit composed of integrated chips or discrete components. For example, the discrete component circuit can be a transistor-based circuit, or a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) based driving circuit. For instance, it can be a single NPN or PNP transistor, or a push-pull structure composed of NPN and PNP transistors, or a single NMOS or PMOS transistor. For example, using an NPN transistor, the enable terminal 13 is connected to the base of the transistor through a suitable resistor, the collector of the transistor is connected to the drive signal output terminal 11, and the emitter is grounded and connected to the reference potential terminal 12. The integrated chip can be an AUIR3241 or 2ED2410 type chip. The chip's Vdd pin is connected to the drive power supply (e.g., 5V), the chip's GND is connected to system ground and connected to the reference potential terminal 12, the chip's IN pin is connected to the enable terminal 13, and the chip's OUT pin is connected to the drive signal output terminal 11.

[0042] It is also important to understand that each switching circuit 2 is an independent unit, and each switching circuit 2 corresponds to only one load 5, ensuring that the power supply line switching control of multiple loads 5 does not affect each other. The switching circuit 2 is used to connect the power supply 4 and the load 5; therefore, the conduction or deactivation of each switching circuit 2 indicates the on / off state of the power supply line between the corresponding load 5 and the power supply 4. If the switching circuit 2 is in the conducting state, it means that the power supply 4 supplies power to the load 5 connected to that switching circuit 2, and the load 5 is powered on. If the switching circuit 2 is in the deactivation state, it means that the power supply 4 does not supply power to the load 5 connected to that switching circuit 2, and the load 5 is de-energized.

[0043] In each on / off circuit 2, the first switching device 21 is connected to the drive signal output terminal 11, and the first switching device 21 receives the drive signal output by the driver 1. When the first switching device 21 is turned on, it can convert the drive signal into a signal that controls the second switching device 22 to turn on, thereby adapting the drive capability and turning on the second switching device 22. The second switching device 22 is connected in series between the power supply 4 and the load 5. The second switching device 22 is connected to the first switching device 21 through the first control terminal 223 and receives the control signal transmitted by the first switching device 21. Thus, when the driver 1 is not running and the first switching device 21 is turned on, the second switching device 22 turns on, connecting the power supply 4 connected to the second switching device 22 to the load 5, thereby powering on the load 5. It can be seen that if the first switching device 21 is turned off, the drive signal cannot be converted and transmitted to the first control terminal 223 of the second switching device 22 through the first switching device 21. Therefore, the second switching device 22 is turned off, causing the power supply 4 connected to the second switching device 22 to be disconnected from the load 5, thereby causing the load 5 to be powered off. It can also be seen that if the driver 1 is not started, that is, if the driver 1 does not output a drive signal, the first switching device 21 cannot be turned on, and consequently, the second switching device 22 cannot be turned on. Therefore, the load 5 connected to the on / off circuit 2 is in a powered-off state.

[0044] In this embodiment, the driving circuit includes: a driver 1 and at least one switching circuit 2; each switching circuit 2 is connected to the driver 1, each switching circuit 2 is configured to be connected to a power supply 4, and each switching circuit 2 is configured to be connected to a load 5. Please refer to... Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 Taking two switching circuits 2 as an example, the drive signal output terminal 11 of a driver 1 is connected to two first switching devices 21 in the two switching circuits 2. The two first switching devices 21 are connected to the first control terminals 223 of the corresponding second switching devices 22. The first terminals 221 of the two second switching devices 22 are connected to the power supply 4, and the second terminals 222 of the two second switching devices 22 are connected to the corresponding loads 5. Furthermore, when the driver 1 is started, the drive signal output terminal 11 outputs a drive signal, which, based on the simultaneous on or off of the two first switching devices 21, causes the two second switching devices 22 to be simultaneously on or off, thereby enabling the two loads 5 to be powered on or off simultaneously. Alternatively, one of the two first switching devices 21 can be turned on while the other is turned off, causing the second switching device 22 connected to the turned-on first switching device 21 to be turned on, thereby powering on the load 5 connected to the turned-on second switching device 22, causing the second switching device 22 connected to the turned-off first switching device 21 to be turned off, thereby powering off the load 5 connected to the turned-off second switching device 22.

[0045] It is understood that the switching unit in this application embodiment includes a first switching device 21 and a second switching device 22. The switching of the first switching device 21, in conjunction with a driving signal, drives the second switching device 22 to switch on and off, thereby powering on and off the load 5. This allows multiple loads 5 to be controlled using only one driver 1, significantly reducing the number of drivers 1 and related components, lowering material costs and circuit layout complexity. Furthermore, in this application, the first switching device 21 receives the driving signal output by the driver 1 and performs adaptation conversion, while the second switching device 22 directly carries the power circuit between the power supply 4 and the load 5. This hierarchical design isolates the noise of the power circuit from interfering with the driving signal. Simultaneously, the buffering effect of the first switching device 21 avoids the risk of damage caused by the driver 1 directly driving high-power devices, improving the stability and reliability of the circuit operation. Moreover, the circuits between each load 5 are independent. When a certain switching circuit 2 is turned on / off, it only affects the power supply state of the corresponding load 5 and does not interfere with the operation of other loads 5, achieving completely independent control of multiple loads 5 and meeting the isolation requirements in multi-load 5 scenarios. In addition, in this application, a single driver 1 can serve multiple on / off circuits 2, making full use of its remaining driving capacity and reducing the waste of idle driving resources.

[0046] Please continue reading. Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the first switching device 21 has a third terminal 211, a fourth terminal 212, and a second control terminal 213. The third terminal 211 is connected to the drive signal output terminal 11, the fourth terminal 212 is connected to the first control terminal 223, and the second control terminal 213 is configured to be connected to the input / output port of the control unit 6.

[0047] It should be understood that the third terminal 211 of the first switching device 21 is connected to the drive signal output terminal 11 to receive the drive signal output by the driver 1. When the first switching device 21 is turned on, the fourth terminal 212 is connected to the first control terminal 223 to convert the drive signal into a signal that can control the second switching device 22 to turn on, thereby turning on the second switching device 22. The second control terminal 213 is configured to be connected to the input / output port of the control unit 6, and thus receives the control signal output by the control unit 6. When the driver 1 starts working, the first switching device 21 can be turned on or off based on the control signal received by the second control terminal 213. For example, the first switching device 21 can be turned on when the control signal is low and turned off when the control signal is high; the first switching device 21 can also be turned on when the control signal is high and turned off when the control signal is low. The specific settings can be configured according to the performance of the first switching device 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the driver 1 is started, based on the power-on requirement of the load 5, the first switching device 21 in the on / off circuit 2 connected to the load 5 is turned on via the input / output port of the control unit 6, thereby turning on the second switching device 22, thus powering on the load 5. Similarly, based on the power-off requirement of the load 5, the first switching device 21 in the on / off circuit 2 connected to the load 5 is turned off via the input / output port of the control unit 6, thereby turning off the second switching device 22, thus powering off the load 5. It is understood that the control unit 6 receives the power-on and power-off requirements of each load 5, and accordingly controls the on / off state of the first switching device 21 corresponding to each load 5 via its input / output port. It is also understood that if the driver 1 is not started, i.e., the driver 1 does not output a drive signal, the first switching device 21 cannot be turned on. The first switching device 21 is only in a turned-on state when it receives a drive signal and a turn-on signal output from the input / output port of the control unit 6. It should be noted that different first switching devices 21 can be connected to different input / output ports of the control unit 6. The signals output by different input / output ports can be the same or different, depending on the power-on and power-off requirements of the load 5 in the actual implementation scheme.

[0048] Understandably, in this embodiment, the switching on / off state of the first switching device 21 can be controlled by the control unit 6 and the drive signal, thereby driving the switching on / off state of the second switching device 22, which in turn powers the load 5 on and off. This allows multiple loads 5 to be controlled using only one driver 1. Furthermore, it retains the basic driving capability of the driver 1 to switch the load 5 on and off, while using the control unit 6 to achieve fine-grained control of a single load 5. This simplifies the architecture while maintaining control flexibility, adapting to the needs of power distribution scenarios for multiple loads 5.

[0049] Please see Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] In some embodiments, the switching circuit 2 further includes a third switching device 23, which has a fifth terminal 231, a sixth terminal 232 and a third control terminal 233. The fifth terminal 231 is connected to the first terminal 221, the sixth terminal 232 is connected to the second terminal 222, and the third control terminal 233 is connected to the first control terminal 223.

[0051] In this embodiment, the third switching device 23 is connected in parallel with the second switching device 22, and the third control terminal 233 of the third switching device 23 is connected to the first control terminal 223. That is, the control terminals of the third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 are simultaneously connected to the first switching device 21. Therefore, when the driver 1 starts working and the first switching device 21 is on, the second switching device 22 and the third switching device 23 can be turned on simultaneously, allowing the power supply 4 to supply power to the load 5 via the second switching device 22 and the third switching device 23. Alternatively, when the driver 1 starts working and the first switching device 21 is off, the second switching device 22 and the third switching device 23 can be turned off simultaneously, preventing the power supply 4 from supplying power to the load 5.

[0052] In some examples, the number of third switching devices 23 can be at least one. In this case, each third switching device 23 is connected in parallel with the second switching device 22, and the control terminals of each third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 are collinear and simultaneously connected to the first switching device 21, so that the third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 are simultaneously turned on or simultaneously turned off. The number of third switching devices 23 can be set according to the rated current parameters of the load 5.

[0053] It should be noted that the configuration of the third switching device 23 in each switching circuit 2 is flexibly designed and can be set according to the rated current parameters of the load 5 connected to each switching circuit 2: when the current level of the load 5 connected to the switching circuit 2 is high (such as exceeding the rated carrying current of the second switching device 22), a third switching device 23 can be added to the switching circuit 2. The total current carrying capacity of the switching circuit 2 can be improved through the synergy of the third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 to meet the power supply requirements of the high current load 5; when the current level of the load 5 connected to the switching circuit 2 is low (such as not exceeding the rated carrying current of the second switching device 22), the current carrying requirements of the load 5 can be met by the second switching device 22 alone. In this case, the third switching device 23 may not be provided in the switching circuit 2.

[0054] Understandably, in this embodiment, adding a third switching device 23 to the switching circuit 2, connecting the third switching device 23 in parallel with the second switching device 22, and enabling the third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 to be synchronously turned on or off, can significantly improve the current carrying capacity of the switching circuit 2, allowing the switching circuit 2 to meet the power supply requirements of the high-current load 5. On the other hand, the synchronous switching of the third switching device 23 and the second switching device 22 further ensures the stability and reliability of the circuit under high-current conditions.

[0055] Please see Figure 3 As shown, the figure is a schematic diagram of another driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0056] In some embodiments, the driving circuit further includes at least one protection circuit 3, which corresponds one-to-one with the switching circuit 2. The protection circuit 3 is connected to the first terminal 221, the second terminal 222, the first control terminal 223 and the reference potential terminal 12, respectively. The protection circuit 3 is configured to switch the on / off state of the second switching device 22 based on the current between the first terminal 221 and the second terminal 222.

[0057] It is important to understand that each switching circuit 2 can correspond to a protection circuit 3. That is, each switching circuit 2 is connected to a corresponding protection circuit 3. The protection circuit 3 can intervene in the switching of the second switching device 22 based on the current across the second switching device 22 in the connected switching circuit 2. When the current across the second switching device 22 is too high, the protection circuit 3 can use the first control terminal 223 to switch the second switching device 22 from conducting to turning it off, thus achieving short-circuit protection for the load 5 connected to the switching circuit 2. When the current across the second switching device 22 is normal, the protection circuit 3 does not intervene in the switching of the second switching device 22. At this time, the switching of the second switching device 22 is controlled by the first switching device 21 and the drive signal. The reference potential terminal 12 is used to provide a potential reference for the protection circuit 3, so that in the event of a short circuit, the protection circuit 3 can turn off the second switching device 22.

[0058] Understandably, in this embodiment, the protection circuit 3 can detect the current across the second switching device 22 in the corresponding on / off circuit 2 and monitor for abnormalities in real time. When the current is too high, the protection circuit 3 can directly intervene in the first control terminal 223, forcing the second switching device 22 to quickly turn off to cut off the current and avoid overcurrent damage to the device. Furthermore, by having each on / off circuit 2 correspond one-to-one with each protection circuit 3, a fault in one circuit only isolates that circuit and does not affect the normal operation of other circuits.

[0059] It should be noted that when the overcurrent protection circuit 3 performs short-circuit protection and turns off the second switching device 22, the control unit 6 will receive the short-circuit protection requirements of each load 5, and then control the first switching device 21 corresponding to each load 5 to turn off through the input and output ports, so as to protect the device between the first switching device 21 and the driver 1, and cut off the unnecessary power supply path in case of failure, avoid ineffective power loss, and achieve the goal of energy saving.

[0060] As can be seen, when the switching circuit 2 also includes a third switching device 23, the third switching device 23 is connected in parallel with the first switching device 21, and the third control terminal 233 is connected to the first control terminal 223. Therefore, when the current is too large, the protection circuit 3 can directly intervene in the first control terminal 223, so that the first switching device 21 and the third switching device 23 are turned off at the same time.

[0061] Please see Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a protection circuit 3 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0062] In some embodiments, the protection circuit 3 includes: a signal conversion module 31, an overcurrent protection module 32, and a fourth switching device 33. The signal conversion module 31 is connected to the first terminal 221 and the second terminal 222, respectively. The overcurrent protection module 32 is connected to the signal conversion module 31. The fourth switching device 33 is connected to the overcurrent protection module 32, the first control terminal 223, and the reference potential terminal 12, respectively.

[0063] It is important to understand that the signal conversion module 31 is used to convert the current acquired between the first terminal 221 and the second terminal 222 into a voltage. The signal conversion module 31 can convert the acquired current into a voltage signal that can be recognized by the overcurrent protection module 32, thus achieving quantization and adaptation of the current signal. The signal conversion module 31 can be implemented using an integrated chip, such as the IN186 chip or the LM393 chip.

[0064] The overcurrent protection module 32 compares the voltage signal output by the signal conversion module 31 with a preset overcurrent threshold voltage. When the voltage signal exceeds the threshold, it outputs a protection trigger signal to drive the fourth switching device 33 to operate. It should be noted that the protection trigger signal can be either high or low, depending on the performance characteristics of the fourth switching device 33.

[0065] The fourth switching device 33 has a seventh terminal 331, an eighth terminal 332, and a fourth control terminal 333. The fourth control terminal 333 is connected to the output terminal of the overcurrent protection module 32. The seventh terminal 331 is connected to the first control terminal 223 of the second switching device 22, and the eighth terminal 332 is connected to the reference potential terminal 12. The fourth control terminal 333 of the fourth switching device 33 can be turned on after receiving a protection trigger signal from the overcurrent protection module 32, thereby turning off the second switching device 22 to cut off the current in the load circuit 5 and achieve short-circuit protection. It can be seen that when the fourth switching device 33 is turned on, the second switching device 22 is turned off, achieving short-circuit protection. When the fourth switching device 33 does not receive a protection trigger signal, and the fourth switching device 33 is turned off, the on or off state of the second switching device 22 is affected by the on / off state of the first switching device 21.

[0066] It should be noted that when the short circuit is released, that is, when the current at the first terminal 221 and the second terminal 222 of the first switching device 21 drops below the threshold, the overcurrent protection module 32 outputs a signal to control the fourth switching device 33 to turn off, thereby enabling the first control terminal 223 of the second switching device 22 to resume normal driving. That is, the on / off state of the second switching device 22 is controlled by the driving signal of the driver 1 and the on / off state of the first switching device 21 in a coordinated manner.

[0067] Understandably, the protection current in this application uses hardware circuitry to implement the protection logic, eliminating the need for software intervention. This improves the response time, enabling timely short-circuit protection and enhancing the safety and reliability of the circuit. Furthermore, in this application, the protection circuit 3 indirectly controls the second switching device 22 through the fourth switching device 33, without interfering with the main power circuit and thus not affecting the power transmission efficiency under normal operating conditions.

[0068] Please see Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an overcurrent protection module 32 provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0069] In some embodiments, the overcurrent protection module 32 includes a comparator 321 and a D flip-flop 322. The comparator 321 has a first input terminal 3211 and a first output terminal 3212, and the first input terminal 3211 is connected to the signal conversion module 31; the D flip-flop 322 has a second input terminal 3221 and a second output terminal 3222, the second input terminal 3221 is connected to the first output terminal 3212, and the second output terminal 3222 is connected to the fourth switching device 33.

[0070] It should be understood that in this embodiment, the overcurrent threshold is determined by the comparator 321, and then the protection state is latched and maintained by the D flip-flop 322 to ensure stable triggering of the protection action when an overcurrent fault occurs. For example, when the voltage signal received by the first input terminal 3211 from the signal conversion module 31 is less than or equal to the preset overcurrent threshold voltage, the first output terminal 3212 outputs a low level. When the converted current-voltage signal received by the first input terminal 3211 is greater than the preset overcurrent threshold voltage, the first output terminal 3212 outputs a high level. When the D flip-flop 322 receives the low-level signal output by the comparator 321, the D flip-flop 322 outputs a low-level signal, and the fourth switching device 33 is turned off. When the D flip-flop 322 receives the high-level signal output by the comparator 321, the D flip-flop 322 outputs a high-level signal, and the fourth switching device 33 is turned on. The comparator 321 can be an LM393 voltage comparator. The D flip-flop 322 can be an SN74LVC1G80QDCKTQ1 flip-flop. It should be noted that the D flip-flop has a latching function. When the D flip-flop 322 receives a high-level signal from the comparator 321, it outputs a high-level signal to turn on the fourth switching device 33, thus maintaining a high output to protect the circuit. When the overcurrent fault is cleared, the latching state of the D flip-flop needs to be released. After release, the D flip-flop 322 will, based on the received low-level signal from the comparator 321, output a low-level signal to turn off the fourth switching device 33.

[0071] Please see Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6This is a circuit diagram of an overcurrent protection module provided in an embodiment of this application. The overcurrent protection module includes a comparator U1, a trigger U2, resistors R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7, capacitors C1, C2, and C3, and a bidirectional diode D1. The non-inverting input of comparator U1 is connected to one end of signal conversion module 31 and one end of capacitor C2. The inverting input of comparator U1 is connected to one end of resistors R1, R2, and C1. The other end of resistor R1 is connected to a 5V power supply. The other ends of resistors R2, C1, and C2 are grounded. The output of comparator U1 is connected to one end of resistor R3 and one end of bidirectional diode D1. The other end of resistor R3 is connected to a 5V power supply. The other end of bidirectional diode D1 is externally connected to a control unit. The common cathode of D1 is connected to one end of resistor R4. The other end of resistor R4 is connected to one end of resistor R7 and the clock pin (CLK) of flip-flop U2. The data input pin (D) of flip-flop U2 is connected to one end of resistor R5 and one end of resistor R6. The other end of resistor R5 is connected to the control unit. The power supply pin (VCC) of flip-flop U2 is connected to one end of capacitor C3 and the 5V power supply voltage. The ground pin (GND) of flip-flop U2, the other ends of resistor R7, resistor R6, and capacitor C3 are grounded. The inverting output pin of flip-flop U2 is connected to the ground. It is connected to the fourth switching device 33. It should be noted that comparator U1 is comparator 321, and flip-flop U2 is D flip-flop 322. Additionally, bidirectional diode D1 and resistor R5 are connected to different input / output ports of the control unit (MCU).

[0072] based on Figure 6 The circuit diagram shown illustrates the specific working process of the overcurrent protection module as follows:

[0073] When the voltage signal output by the signal conversion module 31 received at the non-inverting input of comparator U1 is less than or equal to a preset overcurrent threshold voltage, the output of comparator U1 outputs a low level. When the voltage signal output by the signal conversion module 31 received at the non-inverting input of comparator U1 is greater than the preset overcurrent threshold voltage, the output of comparator U1 outputs a low level. The preset overcurrent threshold voltage can be obtained by a voltage divider between resistors R1 and R2.

[0074] When the output of comparator U1 is low, it indicates that there is no overcurrent fault in the circuit. At this time, the clock pin of flip-flop U2 continuously receives the low-level signal sent by the control unit and the low-level signal output by the output of comparator U1, and the data input pin of flip-flop U2 continuously receives the low-level signal sent by the control unit. As a result, the inverting output pin of flip-flop U2 continuously outputs a low-level signal to the fourth switching device 33, so that the fourth switching device 33 remains off.

[0075] When the output of comparator U1 is high, it indicates that there is an overcurrent fault in the circuit. At this time, the clock pin of flip-flop U2 continuously receives the low-level signal sent by the control unit, and the data input pin of flip-flop U2 continuously receives the low-level signal sent by the control unit. However, the output of comparator U1 is high, which makes the clock pin of flip-flop U2 high. Consequently, the inverting output pin of flip-flop U2 will continuously output a high-level signal to the fourth switching device 33, keeping the fourth switching device 33 on.

[0076] When the overcurrent fault in the circuit is resolved, i.e., there is no overcurrent fault, the output of comparator U1 is low. This requires releasing the latch state of flip-flop U2. Specifically, the control unit provides a valid rising edge clock signal to the clock pin of flip-flop U2 and a high-level signal to its data input pin, updating the output signal of flip-flop U2. Afterward, flip-flop U2 outputs a low-level signal while both the clock and data input pins are low, until comparator U1 outputs a high-level signal.

[0077] Understandably, in this embodiment, the latching function of the D flip-flop 322 ensures that even if the overcurrent fault disappears momentarily (such as a short circuit being briefly disconnected), the protection state remains intact, preventing the load 5 or switching devices from being repeatedly powered on before the fault is completely eliminated, thus reducing the risk of secondary damage. Furthermore, the comparator 321 in this application can quickly capture the overcurrent signal, and combined with the instantaneous latching characteristic of the D flip-flop 322, enables timely overcurrent protection.

[0078] In some embodiments, the fourth switching device 33 is a current-controlled switching element.

[0079] In some embodiments, the first switching device 21 is a current-controlled switching element, and the second switching device 22 and the third switching device 23 are voltage-controlled semiconductor switching elements.

[0080] It should be understood that current-controlled switching elements can be bipolar transistors, such as NPN or PNP transistors. For example, if it is a PNP transistor, then the third terminal 211 of the first switching device 21 and the seventh terminal 331 of the fourth switching device 33 are the emitters of the transistor, the fourth terminal 212 of the first switching device 21 and the eighth terminal 332 of the fourth switching device 33 are the collectors of the transistor, and the second control terminal 213 of the first switching device 21 and the eighth terminal 332 of the fourth switching device 33 are the bases of the fourth control terminal 333.

[0081] Voltage-controlled semiconductor switching elements can be insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), such as N-channel power MOSFETs or P-channel power MOSFETs. For example, in the case of an N-channel power MOSFET, the first terminal 221 of the second switching device 22 and the fifth terminal 231 of the third switching device 23 are the drains of the transistor, the second terminal 222 of the second switching device 22 and the sixth terminal 232 of the third switching device 23 are the sources of the transistor, and the first control terminal 223 of the second switching device 22 and the third control terminal 233 of the third switching device 23 are the gates of the transistor.

[0082] Understandably, the first switching device 21 and the fourth switching device 33 are transistors, while the second switching device 22 and the third switching device 23 are transistors. The transistor is responsible for amplifying the weak control signal and providing sufficient drive current to the transistor, enabling the transistor to turn on and off quickly and reliably; while the transistor, with its low on-resistance and high switching speed, can effectively improve the efficiency of the circuit and reduce energy loss during the switching process.

[0083] Please see Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a circuit diagram of a driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 Taking the example of two on / off circuits, the following is based on... Figure 6 The structural working process of the embodiments of this application will be described by way of example:

[0084] The driving circuit provided in this application includes a driver 1, a switching circuit 2 and a protection circuit 3. In the switching circuit 2, the first switching device 21 is a PNP transistor, the second switching device 22 is an N-channel power MOSFET, and in the protection circuit 3, the fourth switching device 33 is a PNP transistor.

[0085] When no overcurrent fault occurs in the drive circuit, the enable terminal 13 of driver 1 receives a low voltage, causing driver 1 to start working. With driver 1 working, the drive signal output terminal 11 can output a 24V voltage. When at least one load 5 needs to be powered on, the second switching device 22 connected to the load 5 needs to be turned on. At this time, the control unit 6 outputs a low-level signal to the corresponding first switching device 21 through the input / output port, causing the first switching device 21 to turn on, thereby turning on the second switching device 22. At this time, load 5 is powered on, and the power supply 4 supplies power to load 5. For load 5 that does not need to be powered on, the second switching device 22 connected to this load 5 needs to be turned off. At this time, the control unit 6 outputs a high-level signal to the corresponding first switching device 21 through the input / output port, causing the first switching device 21 to turn off, thereby turning off the second switching device 22. At this time, load 5 is de-powered. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the power supply 4 can provide a 12V voltage, with a low-level range of 0V to 1.5V and a high-level range of 3.5V to 5V. The specific high and low level data can be set according to the actual implementation requirements.

[0086] When an overcurrent fault occurs in the drive circuit, it is known that the excessive current will create a large voltage drop across the second switching device 22. When an overcurrent fault occurs, the signal conversion module 31 in the protection circuit 3 can collect the voltage across the second switching device 22. Then, the overcurrent protection module 32 can output a protection trigger signal based on the voltage collected by the signal conversion module 31. The protection trigger signal will trigger the fourth switching device 33 to conduct, thereby causing the second switching device 22 to disconnect, thus realizing the short-circuit protection of the load 5.

[0087] It should be noted that after the overcurrent fault is cleared, the output voltage of the signal conversion module 31 will drop below the preset threshold. At this time, the overcurrent protection module 32 will output a release signal, causing the fourth switching device 33 to turn off. Then, the second switching device 22 will resume normal drive signal, and the load 5 will be powered on or off again by the drive signal of the driver 1 and the on / off state of the first switching device 21.

[0088] In summary, the driving circuit provided in this application embodiment independently drives multiple on / off circuits 2 with a single driving signal, and configures an independent short-circuit protection function for each on / off circuit 2, thereby achieving efficient management and safety protection of multiple loads 5. At the same time, the driving circuit uses discrete components to replace integrated circuits to realize core functions, which not only significantly reduces system design costs, but also reduces PCB size by simplifying the circuit structure, thereby reducing PCB manufacturing costs, and effectively reduces dependence on integrated chips, improving the flexibility of circuit design and supply chain security.

[0089] This application also provides a power distribution box, which includes a power supply 4 and a drive circuit as described in the above embodiments. The specific structure of the drive circuit is as described in the above embodiments. The power supply 4 supplies power to the load 5 through the drive circuit.

[0090] It is understood that the power distribution box provided in this application includes the aforementioned driving circuit, and therefore the power distribution box can possess all the technical features and beneficial effects of the aforementioned driving circuit, which will not be repeated here. Furthermore, by reducing the total number of drivers 1 and related components in the circuit based on the driving circuit, wiring nodes and line complexity are reduced, circuit layout space occupancy is optimized, and circuit structural redundancy is alleviated, making the power distribution box easier to miniaturize. Moreover, material costs are reduced, and the circuit debugging process is simplified, reducing debugging costs, ultimately achieving a reduction in the design cost of the power distribution box.

[0091] This application also provides a vehicle, which includes a load 5 and a power distribution box as described in the above embodiments. The specific structure of the power distribution box is as described in the above embodiments. The load 5 receives power from the power distribution box, thereby enabling the load 5 to operate. In the vehicle, the load 5 can be a vehicle air conditioner, seat motor, light, dashboard, or other similar equipment.

[0092] It is understood that the vehicle provided in this application embodiment includes the power distribution box described above, and the power distribution box includes the drive circuit described above. Therefore, the vehicle can have all the technical features and beneficial effects of the drive circuit described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0093] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the inventive concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A driving circuit, characterized in that, include: A driver (1) having a drive signal output terminal (11) and a reference potential terminal (12); At least one switching circuit (2), each of the switching circuits (2) includes: a first switching device (21) and a second switching device (22), the first switching device (21) being connected to the drive signal output terminal (11); the second switching device (22) having a first terminal (221), a second terminal (222) and a first control terminal (223), the first terminal (221) being configured to be connected to a power supply (4), the second terminal (222) being configured to be connected to a load (5) and the reference potential terminal (12) respectively, and the first control terminal (223) being connected to the first switching device (21).

2. The driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first switching device (21) has a third terminal (211), a fourth terminal (212), and a second control terminal (213). The third terminal (211) is connected to the drive signal output terminal (11), the fourth terminal (212) is connected to the first control terminal (223), and the second control terminal (213) is configured to be connected to the input / output port of the control unit (6).

3. The driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switching circuit (2) also includes: The third switching device (23) has a fifth terminal (231), a sixth terminal (232) and a third control terminal (233). The fifth terminal (231) is connected to the first terminal (221), the sixth terminal (232) is connected to the second terminal (222), and the third control terminal (233) is connected to the first control terminal (223).

4. The driving circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving circuit also includes: At least one protection circuit (3) is provided, which corresponds one-to-one with the switching circuit (2). The protection circuit (3) is connected to the first terminal (221), the second terminal (222), the first control terminal (223), and the reference potential terminal (12), respectively. The protection circuit (3) is configured to switch the second switching device (22) on and off based on the current between the first terminal (221) and the second terminal (222).

5. The driving circuit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The protection circuit (3) includes: A signal conversion module (31) is connected to the first terminal (221) and the second terminal (222) respectively; An overcurrent protection module (32) is connected to the signal conversion module (31); The fourth switching device (33) is connected to the overcurrent protection module (32), the first control terminal (223) and the reference potential terminal (12) respectively.

6. The driving circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The overcurrent protection module (32) includes: A comparator (321) having a first input terminal (3211) and a first output terminal (3212), wherein the first input terminal (3211) is connected to the signal conversion module (31); D flip-flop (322), the D flip-flop (322) has a second input terminal (3221) and a second output terminal (3222), the second input terminal (3221) is connected to the first output terminal (3212), and the second output terminal (3222) is connected to the fourth switching device (33).

7. The driving circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fourth switching device (33) is a current-controlled switching element.

8. The driving circuit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first switching device (21) is a current-controlled switching element, and the second switching device (22) and the third switching device (23) are voltage-controlled semiconductor switching elements.

9. A power distribution box, characterized in that, include: Power supply (4), and The driving circuit as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: Load (5), and The power distribution box as described in claim 9.

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