Power distribution device

Abstract

The present invention provides a power distribution device that can suppress the increase in current supplied by the power supply unit to multiple loads. [Solution] A power distribution device capable of supplying power to multiple loads, comprising: a power supply unit which is a power supply source; multiple switch units inserted between the power supply unit and each of the multiple loads and capable of switching between conduction and disconnection states; and a control unit which controls the operating timing of the multiple switch units so that the conduction states of the multiple switch units do not overlap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power distribution device mounted on a vehicle or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle power distribution device (area ECU) that distributes power supply from one in-vehicle power source to a plurality of in-vehicle loads via a plurality of switch units.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=2十一]] [[ID=2十二]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the in-vehicle power distribution device described in Patent Document 1, if the ON operation timings of two or more switch units overlap in the plurality of switch units, a large current value obtained by adding up the currents consumed by the in-vehicle loads connected to these two or more switch units will flow from the in-vehicle power source at once. However, such a large current is a factor that increases damage to solder and power loss due to heat generated in the electric circuit board through which the large current flows, and thus is not desirable.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power distribution device capable of suppressing an increase in the current flowing from a power supply unit to a plurality of loads.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the disclosed technology is a power distribution device capable of supplying power to multiple loads, comprising: a power supply unit which is a power supply source; a plurality of switch units inserted between the power supply unit and each of the plurality of loads and capable of switching between conduction and disconnection states; and a control unit which controls the operating timing of the plurality of switch units so that the conduction states of the plurality of switch units do not overlap. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the power distribution device of the present disclosure, the operating timing of multiple switch units is controlled so that they do not enter a conductive state simultaneously, thereby suppressing an increase in the current supplied by the power supply unit to multiple loads. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Functional block diagram of a power distribution device and its surrounding components according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Timing chart of an example of control for the switch section executed by a power distribution device. [Figure 3] Functional block diagram of a power distribution device and its surrounding components according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The power distribution device according to this disclosure, in a configuration that supplies power to multiple loads from one power supply unit via multiple switch units, controls the operating timing of the multiple switch units so that they do not enter a conductive state simultaneously. This makes it possible to suppress the increase in the current that the power supply unit supplies to the multiple loads. The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Embodiment> [composition] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a power distribution device 10 and its surrounding area according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The functional block illustrated in Figure 1 includes a power supply unit 100, a power distribution unit 200, and a plurality of loads (first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, fourth load 340). In Figure 1, wiring through which power is transmitted and received is shown with solid lines, and wiring through which control signals and the like are carried is shown with dotted lines.

[0011] The power supply unit 100 is configured to supply power to the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 via the power distribution unit 200. This power supply unit 100 comprises a power supply unit 110 and a SW control unit 120. As an example, the power supply unit 100 can be implemented by part or all of a body domain controller (e.g., Fr B-DC).

[0012] The power supply unit 110 is a power source capable of supplying power to the first load 310, the second load 320, the third load 330, and the fourth load 340. Examples of the power supply unit 110 include a battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery, and a DC-DC converter that converts the battery power to a predetermined voltage.

[0013] The SW control unit 120 is a functional unit that controls the operating timing of multiple switch units (first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240) provided by the power distribution unit 200, which will be described later. More specifically, it controls (switches) the conduction / off state of each switch unit so that the conduction states of the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240 do not overlap. Details of this control will be described later.

[0014] The power distribution unit 200 is configured to appropriately distribute and supply the power output from the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 to the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340. This power distribution unit 200 includes a first switch 210, a second switch 220, a third switch 230, and a fourth switch 240. As an example, the power distribution unit 200 can be implemented by part or all of a body domain controller (e.g., an L / R B-DC).

[0015] The first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240 are switch elements (such as mechanical relays and semiconductor switches) that can switch between electrical conduction and disconnection states based on control by the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100. The first SW210 is inserted between the power supply unit 110 and the first load 310. The second SW220 is inserted between the power supply unit 110 and the second load 320. The third SW230 is inserted between the power supply unit 110 and the third load 330. The fourth SW240 is inserted between the power supply unit 110 and the fourth load 340.

[0016] The first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 are power-consuming devices or systems, one example being a vehicle seat heater system. In the case of a seat heater system, the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 can be heat pads installed at different locations on the seat. It is desirable that these first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 are loads that do not lose their heating effect even when intermittent power supply control is performed. Figure 1 shows an example in which the first load 310 consumes current I1 when operating, the second load 320 consumes current I2 when operating, the third load 330 consumes current I3 when operating, and the fourth load 340 consumes current I4 when operating.

[0017] Note that the number of loads is not limited to the four loads of the first load 310, the second load 320, the third load 330, and the fourth load 340 shown in FIG. 1. Also, the number of switch units is not limited to four of the first SW210, the second SW220, the third SW230, and the fourth SW240 because they are provided corresponding to the loads.

[0018] [Control] Next, referring further to FIG. 2, the operation of the power distribution device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining a control example of a plurality of switch units executed by the power distribution device 10. In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the currents I1 to I4 consumed by the first load 310, the second load 320, the third load 330, and the fourth load 340, which are seat heater systems, are all 3 A [ampere].

[0019] a. Time T0 By an operation such as that of a vehicle driver, the seat heater system is input with ON. When the operation of the seat heater system is started, the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls the first SW210 to the conductive state (ON) and controls the second SW220, the third SW230, and the fourth SW240 to the cut-off state (OFF). By this control, power is supplied only to the first load 310. Therefore, the current I0 supplied (output) from the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 becomes 3 A.

[0020] b. Time T0 + time t When a time t has elapsed since the first SW210 was controlled to the conductive state (ON), the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls the first SW210 to the cut-off state (OFF) and controls the second SW220 to the conductive state (ON). By this control, power is supplied only to the second load 320. Therefore, the current I0 supplied (output) from the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 remains 3 A without change.

[0021] c. Time T0 + time t × 2 After time t has elapsed since the second SW220 was controlled to the conducting state (ON), the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls the second SW220 to the interrupted state (OFF) and controls the third SW230 to the conducting state (ON). As a result of this control, power is supplied only to the third load 330. Therefore, the current I0 supplied (output) by the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 remains unchanged at 3A.

[0022] d. Time T0 + time t×3 After time t has elapsed since the third switch 230 was controlled to the conducting state (ON), the switch control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls the third switch 230 to the interrupted state (OFF) and controls the fourth switch 240 to the conducting state (ON). As a result of this control, power is supplied only to the fourth load 340. Therefore, the current I0 supplied (output) by the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 remains unchanged at 3A.

[0023] e. Time T1 (= time T0 + time t×4) After time t has elapsed since the fourth SW240 was controlled to the conducting state (ON), the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls the fourth SW240 to the interrupted state (OFF) and controls the first SW210 to the conducting state (ON) again. As a result of this control, power is once again supplied only to the first load 310. Therefore, the current I0 supplied (output) by the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 remains 3A.

[0024] f.Time T1~T3 The conduction / disconnection control of each switch section by the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100, as described in a. to e. above, is repeatedly performed at a predetermined cycle (time t × 4: total time each switch section is in the conduction state (ON)) until the seat heater system stops operating.

[0025] g.Time T3 The seat heater system is turned OFF by the vehicle driver or other operator. This stops the operation of the seat heater system. In response to the cessation of operation, the SW control unit 120 of the power supply unit 100 controls all of the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240 to the OFF state.

[0026] In this way, by performing timing control that cycles through sequentially conducting one of the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240, only one of the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 will perform power consumption operations. As a result, the situation in which the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, and fourth load 340 consume power simultaneously will not occur, and the occurrence of the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 having to supply a large current (maximum 12A = 3A × 4) can be avoided.

[0027] In the control example described above, the time t for controlling the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240 to the conductive state (ON) was set to the same length, but these times may be different. Also, in the control example described above, the conductive state (ON) of the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, and fourth SW240 was switched seamlessly, but a period of time (dead time) in which each switch is in the disconnected state (OFF) may be provided in between.

[0028] <Other Embodiments> Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of a power distribution device 20 and its surrounding area according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The functional block illustrated in Figure 3 is a configuration that further adds a fifth switch 250 and a sixth switch 260, which supply power to a fifth load 350 and a sixth load 360, to the power distribution device 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0029] In Figure 3, the 5th SW250 and 6th SW260 constitute a separate power distribution unit from the power distribution unit 200, which includes the 1st SW210, 2nd SW220, 3rd SW230, and 4th SW240. For example, if the 1st SW210, 2nd SW220, 3rd SW230, and 4th SW240 are used as a power distribution unit for the seat heater system, then the 5th SW250 can be used as a power distribution unit for the steering heater system, and the 6th SW260 can be used as a power distribution unit for the defogger system.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, even in a power distribution device 20 where multiple switch units are configured across multiple systems (power distribution units), by performing operation timing control that sequentially conducts one of the first SW210, second SW220, third SW230, fourth SW240, fifth SW250, and sixth SW260 in a cyclical manner, only one of the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, fourth load 340, fifth load 350, and sixth load 360 will perform power consumption operations. As a result, the situation in which the first load 310, second load 320, third load 330, fourth load 340, fifth load 350, and sixth load 360 consume power simultaneously will not occur, and the occurrence of the power supply unit 110 of the power supply unit 100 having to supply a large current (maximum 18A = 3A × 6) can be avoided.

[0031] <Effects and Actions> As described above, according to the power distribution device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in a configuration in which power is supplied to multiple loads from one power source via multiple switch units, the period in which each switch unit is independently conductive is cyclically switched and controlled.

[0032] This control system prevents large currents from flowing from the power supply to the electrical circuit board when multiple loads consume power simultaneously, which can lead to significant damage to the solder due to heat generated within the circuit board and power loss (proportional to the square of the current). Furthermore, since power loss within the electrical circuit board is reduced, it also leads to improved energy efficiency.

[0033] Although embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described above, the disclosed technology can be understood not only as a power distribution device, but also as a control method performed by the power distribution device, a program for the control method, a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium storing the program, a vehicle equipped with the power distribution device, and so on. [Industrial applicability]

[0034] The power distribution device disclosed herein can be used in a configuration that supplies power to multiple loads from a single power source via multiple switch units. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10, 20 Power distribution equipment 100 Power supply section 110 Power supply section 120 SW control unit 200 Power distribution section 210-260 1st SW-6th SW 310~360 1st load~6th load

Claims

1. A power distribution device capable of supplying power to multiple loads, The power supply unit, which is the source of power, A plurality of switch units are inserted between the power supply unit and each of the plurality of loads, and are capable of switching between conduction and disconnection states, A power distribution device comprising: a control unit that controls the operating timing of the plurality of switch units so that the conductive states of the plurality of switch units do not overlap.

2. The power distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the operating timing of the plurality of switch units so that the conductive state of each of the plurality of switch units cycles and is repeated.

3. The power distribution device according to claim 2, wherein the cycle is the total time during which the plurality of switch units are in a conductive state.

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