Integrated electronic power control unit of a vehicle

Abstract

Integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of a vehicle, comprising: an inverter (110), which is an electronic power control unit that drives a motor (20) by converting DC voltage into AC voltage, and a low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), which is another electronic power control unit that charges a low-voltage battery (150) by converting high DC voltage into low DC voltage, wherein the inverter (110) comprises a capacitor module (112) formed of an input voltage compensating capacitor (112a) and an input voltage noise eliminating capacitor (112b), and the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130) are integrated such that the output of the capacitor module (112) of the inverter (110) becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), wherein the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter (31) share cooling channels, and wherein the capacitor module (112) is arranged between the cooling channels.

Description

BACKGROUND(a) Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated electronic power control unit sharing a DC input terminal of an environmentally friendly vehicle, in which an inverter and an LDC (Low Voltage DC-DC Converter) constituting EPCUs (Electronic Power Control Units) in the environmentally friendly vehicle share a DC input terminal. (b) Description of the prior art

[0002] US 2003 / 0146726 A1 describes a drive unit for a hybrid or electric vehicle with a main power supply and an auxiliary battery.

[0003] DE 10 2011 006 510 A1 describes a method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid vehicle, wherein after detecting an accident signal a warning signal is issued if there is a danger due to an electrical voltage.

[0004] US 2008 / 0186751 A1 describes a power converter with an inverter circuit, with a cooling channel built into a channel housing for cooling the semiconductor modules.

[0005] It is known for providing vehicles that are environmentally friendly, ie, that have improved fuel efficiency, meet current legal requirements, e.g. those with OBD (on-board diagnostics) via the exhaust gas, and that use fossil fuels as a fuel to a minimum.

[0006] Such environmentally friendly vehicles, including fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, are equipped with one or more motors and an internal combustion engine.

[0007] For example, eco-friendly vehicles may include a battery charged with energy at a high voltage for driving the motors, an inverter which is an electronic power control unit that drives the motors by converting the high DC voltage of the battery into an AC voltage, an LDC (Low Voltage DC-DC Converter) which is also an electronic power control unit that charges a low-voltage battery by converting a high DC voltage into a low DC voltage (for example, 12V), a motor clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the motors for transmitting power of the internal combustion engine to a drive shaft, and various electronic power control units for controlling the operation of the eco-friendly vehicle.

[0008] Typically, eco-friendly vehicles can run in a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) mode and an EV (Electric Vehicle) mode by engaging or disengaging the clutch of the internal combustion engine according to the intention of acceleration / deceleration determined by the driver operating the accelerator and brake pedals, the load, the vehicle speed and the SOC (State of Charging) of the battery.

[0009] When an eco-friendly vehicle changes the driving mode from the EV mode to the HEV mode, the clutch of the internal combustion engine is engaged after the engine speed and the motor speed are synchronized, so that the torque does not change while the power is transmitted between the internal combustion engine and the motors that use different energy sources, thus ensuring drivability.

[0010] As described above, environmentally friendly vehicles typically include an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter. The inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter can, for example, be implemented by separate individual circuits, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, or by an integrated circuit, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0011] Fig. 1 (PRIOR ART) shows an example of the circuit arrangement of the inverter and Fig. 2 (PRIOR ART) shows an example of the circuit arrangement of the low-voltage DC-DC converter.

[0012] Fig. 3 (PRIOR ART) shows a circuit arrangement which can be realized by simply integrating the Fig. 1 shown inverter with the one in Fig. 2 shown low voltage DC-DC converter.

[0013] The inverter can be referred to in the automotive trade as an MCU (Motor Control Unit) because it is an electronic power control unit that drives a motor by converting a high DC voltage into an alternating voltage (AC voltage).

[0014] With reference to Fig. 1, an inverter 10 is configured such that a DC high voltage HV input to a DC input terminal passes through a capacitor module 12 formed of a plurality of capacitors, and the DC high voltage that has passed through the capacitor module 12 is converted into alternating current (AC) by a power conversion module 14, thereby driving a motor 20.

[0015] In the capacitor module 12 of the inverter 10, a direct current (DC) capacitor 12a, which is a capacitor that equalizes an input voltage, is a large-sized device, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, and a Y capacitor 12b, a capacitor that reduces noise in the input voltage, is generally a small-sized device. Accordingly, the capacitor module 12 of the inverter 10 is formed of the large-sized DC capacitor 12a and the small-sized Y capacitor 12b.

[0016] With reference to Fig. 2, the low-voltage DC-DC converter 30 is configured such that the DC high voltage HV passes through a choke coil 31, a Y capacitor 32b, and an X capacitor 32c, and is converted via a plurality of different devices including a plurality of MOSFETs 33, a coil, a transformer, an inductor, a diode, and a capacitor, and is then output.

[0017] The Y capacitor 32b and the X capacitor 32c included in the low-voltage DC-DC converter 30, which are capacitors for eliminating noise in the input voltage, are generally small-sized devices.

[0018] With reference to Fig. 1 to 3, it can be seen that an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter 30 according to the prior art are separate individual electronic power control units or are simply integrated into one assembly so that they do not share a DC voltage input terminal.

[0019] Accordingly, the inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter according to an embodiment of the prior art have the problem of reducing the space availability in environmentally friendly vehicles and increasing the manufacturing cost.

[0020] The description of the prior art is provided to promote understanding of the background of the present invention and may include subject matter outside the prior art known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0021] The information disclosed above in this Background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the background of the invention and may therefore contain information that does not constitute prior art already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art in this country. SUMMARY

[0022] The present invention provides an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of a vehicle, as well as a vehicle having the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0023] The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an integrated electronic power control unit sharing a DC input terminal of an environmentally friendly vehicle, having advantages of being able to reduce the size of an electronic power control unit, improve performance, and reduce costs by allowing an inverter and an LDC (Low Voltage DC-DC Converter), which are EPCUs (Electronic Power Control Units), to share a DC input terminal in an environmentally friendly vehicle.

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle, comprising an inverter which is an electronic power control unit that drives a motor by converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage, and a low-voltage DC-DC converter which is an electronic power control unit that charges a low-voltage battery by converting a high DC voltage into a low DC voltage, wherein the inverter may include a capacitor module formed of an input voltage compensating capacitor and a capacitor that eliminates input voltage noise, and the inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter may be integrated such that the output of the capacitor module of the inverter becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter.

[0025] The capacitor module of the inverter can take over the function of the capacitor in the low-voltage DC-DC converter.

[0026] The inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter share cooling channels.

[0027] The condenser module is located between the cooling channels.

[0028] As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to achieve the following effects by sharing the capacitor module acting as a DC input terminal of the inverter with a low-voltage DC-DC converter and by allowing the inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter to share the cooling channels.

[0029] First, it is possible to reduce the size of an assembly by integrating the inverter and the low-voltage DC-DC converter, so that it is possible to easily utilize the space arrangement of the internal combustion engine of an environmentally friendly vehicle.

[0030] Secondly, since the capacitor module of the inverter works both as a filter in the inverter and an additional filter of the low-voltage DC-DC converter, it is possible to significantly reduce the noise more than the state of the art is capable of, and consequently, it is possible to improve and optimize the electromagnetic wave performance of an environmentally friendly vehicle.

[0031] Thirdly, by dividing the cooling channels, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of a housing and reduce the costs by simplifying the cooling channels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 (PRIOR ART) shows a schematic diagram of an inverter in an environmentally friendly vehicle according to the prior art. Fig. 2 (PRIOR ART) shows a schematic diagram of a low-voltage DC-DC converter in an environmentally friendly vehicle according to the prior art. Fig. 3 (PRIOR ART) shows a schematic diagram where an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter are integrated in a simple manner according to the prior art. Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated electronic power control unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle in which an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter are integrated to share an input terminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows another schematic diagram of a low voltage DC-DC converter included in an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows a schematic layout diagram of an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 shows a schematic layout diagram of an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other ways.

[0033] The same reference symbols are used for the same components throughout the description.

[0034] It should be noted that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other synonymous terms as used herein include motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars including sports utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various utility vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuel derived from sources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, such as both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

[0035] Further, as provided herein, environmentally friendly vehicles include fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, and the like, and are preferably equipped with one or more motors and an internal combustion engine.

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that the terms "comprising" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, describe the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of an environmentally friendly vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] With reference to Fig. 4, an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an inverter 110 that drives a motor 20 by converting a DC voltage to an AC voltage, and a low voltage DC-DC converter 130 that charges a low voltage battery 150 by converting a high DC voltage to a low DC voltage.

[0039] The inverter 110 may include a capacitor module 112 formed of a DC capacitor 112a that compensates for a high input voltage HV and a Y capacitor 112b that removes noise from the high input voltage.

[0040] Although the capacitor module 112 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the capacitor module according to a prior art embodiment may be the same, it should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. The teachings of the present invention may be applied to a device that compensates for the high input voltage and removes high input voltage noise, even if it is a different device.

[0041] The inverter 110 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130 are connected by a circuit such that the output of the capacitor module 112 of the inverter becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0042] As in Fig. 4, when the inverter 110 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130 are connected, the capacitor module 112 of the inverter 110 can operate both as a filter of the inverter 110 and an additional filter of the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130.

[0043] Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to remove the noise more efficiently compared to the prior art.

[0044] On the other hand, as in Fig. 4, when the inverter 110 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130 are connected so that the output of the capacitor module 112 of the inverter 110 becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130, the capacitor module 112 of the inverter 110 can operate as a capacitor in the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130, for example, the Y capacitor 32b and the X capacitor 32c shown in Fig. 2 are shown.

[0045] Accordingly, in a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 5, the Y capacitor 32b and the X capacitor 32c are removed, as in a low-voltage DC-DC converter 130'. Accordingly, according to another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of parts and achieve a more compact size.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a schematic layout diagram of an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] With reference to Fig. 6, the inverter 110 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130 in the integrated electronic power controller / power regulator according to an embodiment of the present invention may share cooling channels formed by input and output coolant lines 160a and 160b.

[0048] In particular, in the integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling channels formed by the input and output coolant lines 160a and 160b are shared to cool an assembly of the capacitor module 112, an inverter power module 114 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter, which are arranged in parallel, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown.

[0049] Since the capacitor module 112 is shared by the inverter 110 and the low-voltage DC-DC converter 130, it may generate an excessive amount of heat.

[0050] Accordingly, in a further embodiment of the present invention, the condenser module 112 may be arranged near or between the cooling channels realized by the inlet and outlet coolant lines 160a and 160b, as shown in Fig. 7 to more efficiently remove the heat of the capacitor module 112.

[0051] In particular, in another embodiment of the present invention, the capacitor module 112 may be arranged near or between the low voltage DC-DC converter 130 and the inverter power module 114, as shown in Fig. 7 is shown.

[0052] Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter can share a capacitor module, which is also the DC input of the inverter, and cooling channels, it is possible to reduce the size of an electronic power control unit / power regulation unit with an inverter and a low-voltage DC-DC converter integrated, improve performance, and reduce costs.

[0053] Although this invention has been described in connection with what are presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

[1] Integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit of a vehicle, comprising: an inverter (110), which is an electronic power control unit that drives a motor (20) by converting DC voltage into AC voltage, and a low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), which is another electronic power control unit that charges a low-voltage battery (150) by converting high DC voltage into low DC voltage, wherein the inverter (110) comprises a capacitor module (112) formed from an input voltage compensating capacitor (112a) and an input voltage noise eliminating capacitor (112b), and the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130) are integrated such that the output of the capacitor module (112) of the inverter (110) becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), wherein the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter (31) share cooling channels, and wherein the capacitor module (112) is arranged between the cooling channels. [2] Integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor module (112) of the inverter (110) takes over the function of the capacitor in the low voltage DC-DC converter (130). [3] The integrated electronic power control unit according to claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic power control unit is adapted to be installed in the vehicle selected from the group consisting of: a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, a plug-in electric vehicle, and a hybrid vehicle. [4] The integrated electronic power control unit according to claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic power control unit is adapted to be installed in the vehicle operable in a HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) mode and an EV (Electric Vehicle) mode. [5] A vehicle operable in at least one HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) mode and one EV (Electric Vehicle) mode, comprising: an integrated electronic power control unit / power regulation unit, comprising: an inverter (110), which is an electronic power control unit that drives a motor (20) by converting DC voltage into AC voltage, and a low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), which is another electronic power control unit that charges a low-voltage battery (150) by converting high DC voltage into low DC voltage, wherein the inverter (110) comprises a capacitor module (112) formed from an input voltage compensating capacitor (112a) and an input voltage noise eliminating capacitor (112b), and the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter are integrated such that the output of the capacitor module (112) of the inverter (110) becomes the input of the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130), wherein the inverter (110) and the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130) share cooling channels, and wherein the capacitor module (112) is arranged between the cooling channels. [6] Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the capacitor module (112) of the inverter (110) performs the function of the capacitor in the low-voltage DC-DC converter (130).

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