Method for diagnosis of a supercapacitor

The method addresses the challenge of monitoring supercapacitor degradation in electronic door systems by using voltage and resistance measurements to ensure reliable performance and timely maintenance.

WO2026087673A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-04-30KIEKERT AG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
KIEKERT AG
Filing Date
2025-10-23
Publication Date
2026-04-30

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current methods lack effective ways to monitor the condition of supercapacitors in electronic door actuation systems, particularly in emergency situations, due to degradation over time, which can impair system performance.

Method used

A method for diagnosing supercapacitors in electronic door actuation systems by applying main supply energy, detecting voltage values during charging and discharging, and determining diagnostic-specific values such as equivalent series resistance and capacitance, using alternating voltages and resistors to ensure continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance.

Benefits of technology

Enables accurate and continuous monitoring of supercapacitor condition during normal vehicle operation, ensuring reliable performance especially in emergencies, reducing maintenance costs, and enhancing diagnostic efficiency.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the diagnosis of at least one supercapacitor (3) of an electronic door actuation arrangement (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the at least one supercapacitor (3) is designed to actuate the electronic door actuation arrangement (1), comprising the following method steps: S1) applying main supply energy to the electronic door actuation arrangement (1), S2) detecting a voltage value at the at least one supercapacitor (3) during charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor (3), and S3) determining at least one diagnosis-specific value on the basis of the detected voltage value such that a state of the at least one supercapacitor (3) is determined. In this way, a method for diagnosis of a supercapacitor in an electronic door actuation arrangement is provided.
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Description

[0001] Methods for diagnosing a supercapacitor

[0002] The invention relates to a method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor of an electronic door actuation arrangement of a vehicle, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is configured for actuating the electronic door actuation arrangement. The invention further relates to the electronic door actuation arrangement with the at least one supercapacitor, and the use of the electronic door actuation arrangement on a door of the vehicle.

[0003] Electrically actuated door locks, door openers, and door closers are increasingly being installed in vehicles to facilitate opening, closing, and unlocking / locking the vehicle's doors and tailgate. The electrically actuated door lock, often also called an eLatch, is electrically unlocked and locked. The electrically actuated door opener, also called a presenter, is also electrically operated and serves to open the door. The electrically actuated door closer closes the opened door. Often, the electrically actuated door opener, the electrically actuated door closer, and the electrically actuated door lock are integrated into a single component. Opening and closing the door can be achieved in various ways. For example, there are doors that swing open and close. However, there are also doors that are pushed or pulled in one direction. Such sliding doors can be found, for example, in...They are equipped with an automatic system to implement an electrically actuated sliding door. Electrically actuated door locks, electrically actuated door openers, and electrically actuated door closers are collectively referred to as "electronic door operating devices." To ensure that these electronic door operating devices can be operated even in emergencies such as accidents or long-term parking situations, it is necessary to provide an auxiliary power supply that takes over in the event of a primary power supply failure and enables the operation of the electronic door operating device. Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors or supercaps, are special electrical energy storage devices that can store and release large amounts of electrical energy in a short time and are therefore ideally suited to providing this auxiliary power supply.They typically consist of two electrodes made of conductive material, often activated carbon, which provide a large surface area for ion adsorption. Between the electrodes is an electrolyte that acts as an ion conductor, and a separator that prevents short circuits. The charging and discharging process of a supercapacitor is based on the separation and movement of ions in the electrolyte, enabling high power density, fast charging and discharging times, and a long lifespan.

[0004] However, a condition that characterizes the remaining lifespan of the supercapacitor changes over time due to degradation or aging. This degradation is influenced by various factors such as environmental conditions, charge and discharge cycles, and the applied charging voltage. Such degradation processes lead to an increase in the equivalent series resistance and a decrease in the supercapacitor's capacitance. The reduced functionality of the supercapacitor can impair the performance of electronic door control systems, which is particularly problematic in emergency situations, such as when a vehicle door needs to be opened or unlocked after an accident or prolonged parking. Currently, there are only limited ways to obtain information about the supercapacitor's condition with regard to its degradation.

[0005] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for diagnosing a supercapacitor in an electronic door actuation arrangement.

[0006] This task is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further details are found in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, a method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor of an electronic door actuation arrangement of a vehicle is provided, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is designed for actuating the electronic door actuation arrangement, comprising the following method steps:

[0008] Applying a main supply energy to the electronic door operating mechanism,

[0009] Detecting a voltage value across at least one supercapacitor during charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor, and

[0010] Determine at least one diagnosis-specific value based on the recorded voltage value, so that a state of at least one supercapacitor is determined.

[0011] According to the invention, the method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor of an electronic door actuation assembly of a vehicle comprises supplying the electronic door actuation assembly with a primary power supply. A primary power supply can be understood as the energy provided by a primary electrical power source that supplies the vehicle and its components. An advantage of this arrangement is that it ensures that the entire electronic door actuation assembly is tested under normal operating conditions, thus enabling realistic diagnostics. Likewise, it makes it possible to determine the condition of the at least one supercapacitor during everyday vehicle operation, since the at least one supercapacitor is charged with the primary power supply.

[0012] The method according to the invention provides that a voltage value is detected across the at least one supercapacitor during charging and / or discharging. A voltage value can be understood as the measured electrical voltage at the terminals of the at least one supercapacitor during the charging and / or discharging process. A technical advantage lies in the fact that it enables continuous monitoring of the state of the at least one supercapacitor by allowing voltage values ​​to be detected during both charging and discharging. If the voltage value is detected during the discharge of the at least one supercapacitor, the at least one supercapacitor is intentionally discharged after charging due to the application of the main supply energy to the at least one supercapacitor in order to detect this voltage value.

[0013] The method according to the invention further comprises determining at least one diagnostic-specific value based on the detected voltage value, thus determining the state of the at least one supercapacitor. A diagnostic-specific value can be defined as a parameter specifically used to evaluate the state, i.e., the degradation, of the at least one supercapacitor based on the detected voltage values. A technical advantage of this arrangement is that it enables an accurate determination of the state of the at least one supercapacitor during normal vehicle operation, which supports proactive maintenance and timely replacement of defective supercapacitors. This continuous monitoring and diagnosis during regular vehicle operation ensures that the electronic door actuation systems function reliably, especially in emergency situations.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the main supply energy is provided by a primary energy source of the vehicle, and the detection and determination steps are performed during vehicle operation, particularly immediately after the vehicle is started. A primary energy source of the vehicle can be understood as the primary energy source, such as the vehicle battery, that supplies the entire vehicle with electrical energy. An advantage of this arrangement is that the diagnosis of the at least one supercapacitor is carried out under realistic operating conditions, which increases the accuracy and reliability of the diagnosis. Likewise, the condition of the at least one supercapacitor is thus continuously detected. In a further embodiment, it is provided that the detection and determination steps are performed during vehicle operation, particularly immediately after the vehicle is started, at every start orThe operation of the vehicle is carried out. This allows for particularly close monitoring of the condition of the at least one supercapacitor, which in turn significantly increases the reliability of the electronic door control system. Accordingly, it is planned to charge the at least one supercapacitor immediately after the vehicle is put into operation, or to discharge the charge present in the at least one supercapacitor and then recharge it.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the detection of the discharge of the at least one supercapacitor is carried out due to actuation of the electronic door control device. Actuation of the electronic door control device can be understood as any action that triggers the opening, closing, or locking of the door and thereby stresses the supercapacitor. An advantage of this method is that the diagnosis of the condition of the at least one supercapacitor is carried out directly in connection with its actual use, which allows for a practical assessment of its condition.

[0016] One embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one diagnostic-specific value is an equivalent series resistance and / or capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor. An equivalent series resistance can be understood as the resistance that is in series with the capacitance element of a supercapacitor and describes the losses due to internal resistances in the supercapacitor. The capacitance can be understood as the ability of the at least one supercapacitor to store electrical charge. An advantage of this arrangement is that the essential parameters that determine the state and performance of the at least one supercapacitor are monitored, thus enabling comprehensive diagnostics and condition monitoring.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that, in the acquisition step, a base voltage corresponding to the main supply energy is additionally acquired at the electronic door actuation arrangement, and the voltage value is acquired at a predetermined time during the charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor. A base voltage corresponding to a main supply energy can be understood as the voltage that is applied to the at least one supercapacitor during normal operation of the electronic door actuation arrangement. By acquiring the voltage value at a predetermined time, the voltage value is acquired as a function of this time. Together with the knowledge of the base voltage, a charging time constant of the at least one supercapacitor can be determined.

[0017] A further embodiment of the invention provides that, in the acquisition step, voltage values ​​are successively acquired over a predetermined period, and in the determination step, at least one diagnosis-specific value is determined based on an average of the acquired voltage values. An advantage is that the successive acquisition and averaging compensates for short-term fluctuations, resulting in a more accurate diagnosis-specific value.

[0018] In the course of further developing the invention, it is intended that the method will include the following additional steps:

[0019] in a reference phase, at different states of at least one supercapacitor:

[0020] Acquiring the voltage value and / or a current value at the at least one supercapacitor during charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor, determining at least one diagnostic-specific reference value based on the acquired voltage value and / or the acquired current value as well as a reference charging time constant based on the acquired voltage at the at least one supercapacitor, and storing the at least one diagnostic-specific reference value and the reference charging time constant in a diagnostic reference series, and executing the steps of applying the voltage up to the step of determining the value in a diagnostic phase that follows the reference phase in time, wherein the diagnostic-specific value and / or a charging time constant are determined during the determination process and:

[0021] Comparing the diagnostic reference series with at least one diagnostic-specific value and / or the charging time constant and determining a further diagnostic-specific value based on the comparison.

[0022] Comparing the diagnostic reference series with at least one diagnostic-specific value allows for the determination of a further diagnostic-specific value. For example, equivalent series resistance or capacitance can be assigned to the reference charging time constant in the diagnostic reference series. By determining the at least one diagnostic-specific value or the long-term constant, the corresponding capacitance or equivalent series resistance can then be extracted from the diagnostic reference series and used to determine the further diagnostic-specific value. The reference phase is to be understood as a phase into which the electronic door actuation arrangement is placed during its design or maintenance, and in which the diagnostic-specific reference values ​​are recorded at the at least one supercapacitor by bringing the at least one supercapacitor into the various states.The different states are, accordingly, the decreasing capacitance with increasing degradation and the increasing equivalent series resistance of the at least one supercapacitor. The diagnostic reference series can be stored on a data carrier in the vehicle or in the electronic door control assembly and provide the diagnostic reference series in the form of data for comparison. One advantage of this method is that changes in the state of the at least one supercapacitor can be precisely tracked over time, enabling predictive maintenance. Similarly, it is sufficient to determine the charging time constant of the at least one supercapacitor and thus obtain the diagnostic-specific value by comparison with the reference charging time constant, since the equivalent series resistance is inversely proportional to the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor via the charging time constant.

[0023] As part of a further development of the invention, it is planned that the method will include an additional step:

[0024] Applying an alternating voltage with a frequency f to the at least one supercapacitor. One advantage of this arrangement is that it allows for a more detailed analysis of the impedance characteristics of the at least one supercapacitor. By applying an alternating voltage to the supercapacitor, frequency and phase information can be used to determine diagnostic-specific values ​​such as the equivalent series resistance and capacitance under changing conditions.

[0025] According to a further development of the invention, an alternating voltage is applied to the at least one supercapacitor, wherein the frequency of the alternating voltage is at most 100 Hz. An advantage of using a frequency lower than 100 Hz for the diagnosis of at least one supercapacitor lies in the minimization of errors caused by parasitic inductances and capacitances. At higher frequencies, such parasitic elements can influence the measurement results and lead to inaccurate determinations of electrical parameters such as capacitance and equivalent series resistance. A lower frequency reduces these influences and enables more precise measurements.

[0026] Additionally, at lower frequencies, the reactance of the at least one supercapacitor is higher, which facilitates the measurement of small capacitive changes. This is particularly useful for accurately determining the state of the at least one supercapacitor. A frequency lower than 100 Hz also minimizes the heating of the at least one supercapacitor, thus reducing the risk of thermal damage.

[0027] Furthermore, the use of a low frequency allows for more detailed observation of the charging and discharging behavior of at least one supercapacitor over longer periods, which can lead to better detection of long-term degradation patterns. This contributes to improved reliability and efficiency of diagnostics and helps to implement preventive maintenance measures in a timely manner.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the method includes a resistor R arranged in series with the at least one supercapacitor, wherein in the determination step a charging time constant T is additionally determined on the basis of the detected voltage value at the at least one supercapacitor and the at least one diagnostic-specific value in the form of the capacitance C is determined using the following formula:

[0029]

[0030] A charging time constant can be understood as the time required by the at least one supercapacitor to reach approximately 63% of its maximum charge or discharge. This constant time is an important parameter for characterizing the charging and discharging characteristics of the at least one supercapacitor. An advantage of this arrangement is that the inclusion of a known resistance allows for precise measurements of the charging time constant, thus increasing the accuracy of condition determination and diagnosis. Another advantage of this method is that it provides a simple yet precise way to determine the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor. A further advantage of this method is that it enables continuous monitoring and diagnosis during normal vehicle operation.Regular monitoring and analysis of the charging time constant allows for the early detection of degradation in at least one supercapacitor, facilitating proactive maintenance and timely replacement. This contributes to increased reliability of the electronic door control system and minimizes the risk of failure in critical situations, such as emergency door opening.

[0031] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that, in the detection step, an additional voltage value U is measured using the resistor R arranged in series with the at least one supercapacitor. R The resistance R is measured, and in the step of determining at least one diagnosis-specific value in the form of the capacitance C is determined using the following formula:

[0032] C =

[0033]

[0034] where U cThe voltage value at which at least one supercapacitor is present. A voltage value U R This can be understood as the electrical voltage measured across the resistor R when current flows through the resistor. An advantage of this arrangement is that it provides an additional measurement that can be used to more accurately determine the electrical properties of the supercapacitor. By recording the voltage values ​​and applying the formula mentioned above, precise statements can be made about the condition and performance of the at least one supercapacitor. This is particularly useful for monitoring the aging or degradation of the at least one supercapacitor over time.

[0035] Furthermore, this method allows diagnostics to be performed during normal vehicle operation, reducing the need for dedicated test environments and increasing diagnostic efficiency. This contributes to lower maintenance costs and increased reliability of the electronic door actuation system. Continuous monitoring and adjustment of operating parameters ensures the operational safety of the electronic door actuation system. One embodiment of the invention provides that the resistor is formed by an actuator located within the electronic door actuation system. An actuator can be understood as a component that performs mechanical movements, thereby converting electrical energy into kinetic energy. An advantage of this arrangement is that it utilizes existing components of the electronic door actuation system to simplify the diagnostic process and reduce complexity.

[0036] A further embodiment of the invention provides that the alternating voltage applied in step S2a has at least one abrupt level change, that in the detection step an additional current value I is detected, and in the determination step at least one diagnosis-specific value in the form of the equivalent series resistance R is determined. ESR The phase angle is determined using the following formula:

[0037] _ U Jump

[0038]

[0039] ESR — ", f

[0040] where U SprungA voltage change across the at least one supercapacitor corresponds to at least one abrupt level change of the AC voltage. An abrupt level change can be understood as a sudden change in the amplitude of the applied AC voltage, which serves to test the dynamic responses of the at least one supercapacitor. One advantage of this method is that it allows the behavior of the supercapacitor to be observed under abrupt voltage changes, providing valuable information about its dynamic performance and possible signs of aging. AC voltages exhibiting such an abrupt level change include, for example, a square wave or a sawtooth wave. Another advantage of this method is that it allows for a precise determination of the equivalent series resistance, which in this case is the diagnostic-specific value and provides information about the condition of the supercapacitor.

[0041] Another advantage of this arrangement is that it enhances diagnostic capabilities by providing detailed information about the losses and efficiency of the at least one supercapacitor under dynamic conditions. Accurate measurement of the response to abrupt level changes allows for the early detection of signs of degradation and deterioration, enabling proactive maintenance and timely replacement of defective components. This contributes to increased reliability and service life of the electronic door control assembly.

[0042] Furthermore, this method allows continuous monitoring of the electrical properties of at least one supercapacitor during normal vehicle operation, which increases diagnostic efficiency.

[0043] In a further development of the invention, it is intended that, during the acquisition step, the voltage and current values ​​are successively acquired over a predetermined period, and that at least one diagnostic-specific value is determined based on the average of the acquired voltage and current values. An advantage of this arrangement is that averaging over a longer period compensates for short-term fluctuations, leading to more stable and reliable diagnostic-specific values.

[0044] According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that in the detection step a current value is additionally detected and in the determination step at least one diagnostic-specific value in the form of the capacitance C is determined using the following formula:

[0045] C = 2nfX c with X c =

[0046]

[0047] where X ca capacitive reactance and U c The voltage value at which at least one supercapacitor is applied. The capacitive reactance describes the resistance that the supercapacitor presents to an alternating current and is inversely proportional to the frequency of the applied alternating voltage and to the capacitance of the capacitor.

[0048] One advantage of this method is that it allows for a precise determination of the capacitance of at least one supercapacitor, leading to a more accurate assessment of its condition. By recording the current and voltage values ​​and applying the aforementioned formula, precise conclusions can be drawn about the capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor. This is particularly important for monitoring the condition and performance of the supercapacitor and for reacting early to signs of degradation.

[0049] Another advantage of this arrangement is that it enhances diagnostic capabilities by providing detailed information about the AC characteristics of at least one supercapacitor. This enables a comprehensive analysis of the supercapacitor's electrical properties under real operating conditions, increasing diagnostic accuracy and improving the reliability of the electronic door actuation system. Furthermore, this method allows diagnostics to be performed during normal vehicle operation, reducing the need for dedicated test environments and increasing diagnostic efficiency.

[0050] The invention further relates to an electronic door actuation arrangement for a vehicle comprising at least one supercapacitor, a control unit, and an actuator, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is connected to the actuator, the at least one supercapacitor being configured to actuate the electronic door actuation arrangement, and the control unit being connected to the actuator and the at least one supercapacitor and configured to perform the method described above. A control unit can be understood as an electronic unit responsible for controlling and monitoring the functions of the electronic door actuation arrangement. An advantage of this arrangement is that it offers an integrated solution encompassing both the diagnostics and the control of the door actuation arrangement, thus increasing efficiency and reliability.

[0051] According to a further development of the invention, the electronic door actuation arrangement comprises an inverter, the inverter being connected to the at least one supercapacitor, such that an alternating voltage is applied to the at least one supercapacitor. An inverter can be understood as a device that converts direct current into alternating current. An advantage of this arrangement is that it offers the possibility of performing detailed AC analyses of the at least one supercapacitor, leading to a more accurate diagnosis of the condition of the at least one supercapacitor. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the electronic door actuation arrangement, as described above, on a vehicle door.

[0052] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments. However, it is important to note that these exemplary embodiments do not limit the invention but merely represent different configurations. The features shown can be implemented individually or in combination with other features described in the text and claims.

[0053] The drawings show

[0054] Fig. 1 schematically shows a method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor of an electronic door actuation arrangement of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0055] Fig. 2 schematically shows a method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor of an electronic door actuation arrangement of a vehicle according to a further embodiment of the invention and

[0056] Fig. 3 schematically shows an electronic door actuation arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a method for diagnosing a supercapacitor 3 of an electronic door actuation arrangement 1 of a vehicle 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. In a first step Sla, the supercapacitor 3 is brought into different states under controlled conditions in a reference phase. The different states are different capacitances of the supercapacitor 3. The capacitance of the supercapacitor 3 decreases from an initial capacitance due to degradation. In the reference phase, a voltage value across the supercapacitor 3 is then detected in a further step Slb. Upon detection of the voltage value, a diagnostic-specific reference value in the form of an equivalent series resistance of the supercapacitor 3 and a reference charging time constant are determined in step Sic.The diagnosis-specific reference value and the reference loading time constant are then stored in a diagnosis reference series.

[0057] In a diagnostic phase following the reference phase, the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 is first supplied with main supply energy from a vehicle battery 8 of the vehicle 2 in step S1. In a subsequent step S2, voltage values ​​U(t') are successively recorded at predetermined times t during the charging of the supercapacitor 3 over a predetermined period. In addition, a base voltage U corresponding to the main supply energy is also recorded. o A charging time constant T is determined in step S3 according to the following formula:

[0058] T = t * In (1 —

[0059]

[0060] In the subsequent step S4, the charging time constant is compared with the reference charging time constant from the diagnostic reference series. This comparison yields the diagnostic-specific reference value or the diagnostic-specific value in the form of the equivalent series resistance R. ESR • According to the following formula:

[0061]

[0062] R ESR

[0063] Another diagnostic-specific value, in the form of the capacitance C, is calculated. In this way, a state of at least one supercapacitor 3 is determined.

[0064] Figure 2 shows a method for diagnosing a supercapacitor 3 of an electronic door actuation arrangement 1 of a vehicle 2 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In a first step S1, the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 is supplied with the main supply energy. In the following step S2a, a sinusoidal alternating voltage with a frequency f is applied to the supercapacitor 3 and a resistor 5 R connected in series with the supercapacitor. In step S2, a voltage value U is measured. R at the resistance 5 R and a voltage value U c The temperature of supercapacitor 3 is measured during charging. In step S3, the diagnostic-specific value in the form of capacitance C is calculated using the following formula:

[0065] c

[0066]

[0067] =

[0068] In this way, a state of at least one supercapacitor 3 is determined, characterized by a reduced capacitance compared to an original capacitance. The electronic door actuation arrangement 1 on a door 7 of the vehicle 2 is shown in Fig. 3. The electronic door actuation arrangement 1 comprises a supercapacitor 3, a control unit 4, an actuator 5, and an inverter 6. The supercapacitor 3 is connected to the actuator 5 and the inverter 6. The control unit 4 is connected to the actuator 5, the inverter 6, and the supercapacitor 3 and is configured to execute the method from Fig. 2. The actuator 5 serves as a resistor 5 for determining the capacitance. The inverter 6 is connected to a main power source 8 of the vehicle 2, in this case the vehicle battery 8, which provides the base voltage corresponding to the main power supply.The inverter 6 transforms the direct current into a sinusoidal alternating current to determine the state of the supercapacitor 3. Otherwise, the supercapacitor 3 is supplied with direct current. The supercapacitor 3 provides auxiliary power during an auxiliary operating state in the event of the main power supply provided by the vehicle battery 8 being unavailable, so that the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 can be operated using the supercapacitor 3. During normal operation of the vehicle 2, the supercapacitor 3 is charged with the main power supply from the vehicle battery 8 by supplying the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 with this power supply.Furthermore, actuator 5 is connected to the vehicle battery 8, thus enabling actuation of actuator 5 in normal operating conditions using the main power supply provided by the vehicle battery 8. Reference numeral list.

[0069] 1 Electronic door operating arrangement 2 Vehicle

[0070] 3 Supercapacitor

[0071] 4 Control unit

[0072] 5 Resistor / Actuator

[0073] 6 inverters

[0074] 7 Door

[0075] 8 Main power source / vehicle battery 9 Door

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for diagnosing at least one supercapacitor (3) of an electronic door actuation arrangement (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the at least one supercapacitor (3) is configured for actuating the electronic door actuation arrangement (1), comprising the following method steps: 51) Applying a main supply energy to the electronic door operating arrangement ( 1 ). 52) Detecting a voltage value across the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) during charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ), and 53) Determine at least one diagnosis-specific value based on the recorded voltage value, so that a state of the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) is determined.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the main supply energy is provided by a main energy source ( 8 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ), and steps S2 and S3 are carried out during the operation of the vehicle ( 2 ), in particular immediately after the vehicle ( 2 ) has been started.

3. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the at least one diagnosis-specific value is an equivalent series resistance and / or a capacitance of the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step S2 an additional basic voltage corresponding to the main supply energy is detected at the electronic door actuation arrangement ( 1 ), and the voltage value is measured. a predetermined time during the charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step S2 voltage values ​​are successively recorded over a predetermined period, and in step S3 the at least one diagnosis-specific value is determined on the basis of an average of the recorded voltage values.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following further steps: Sla) in a reference phase, at different states of the at least one supercapacitor (3 ) : Slb) Determining the voltage value and / or a current value at the at least one supercapacitor (3) during charging and / or discharging of the at least one supercapacitor (3), Sic) Determining at least one diagnostic-specific reference value based on the detected voltage value and / or the detected current value, as well as a reference charging time constant based on the detected voltage at the at least one supercapacitor (3), and storing the at least one diagnostic-specific reference value and the reference charging time constant in a diagnostic reference series, and Execute steps S1 to S3 in a diagnostic phase that follows the reference phase in time, whereby in step S3 the diagnostic-specific value and / or a charging time constant is determined and: S4 ) Comparison of the diagnostic reference series with at least one diagnostic-specific value and / or the charging time constant and determination of a further diagnostic-specific value based on the comparison .

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following further step: S2a) Applying an alternating voltage having a frequency f to the at least one supercapacitor (3 ).

8. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the frequency of the alternating voltage is at most 100 Hz.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims with a resistor (5) R arranged in series with the at least one supercapacitor (3), wherein In step S3, an additional charging time constant T is determined based on the recorded voltage value at which at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) is determined and at least one diagnostic-specific value in the form of the capacitance C is determined using the following formula:

10. Method according to claim 7 or 8 with the resistor (5) R arranged in series with the at least one supercapacitor (3), wherein In step S2, an additional voltage value U is entered. R at the resistance (5) R is detected, and In step S3, at least one diagnosis-specific value in the form of capacity C is determined using the following formula: where U c the voltage value at which at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) is .

11. Method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the resistance (5 ) is formed with an actuator (5 ) arranged in the electronic door actuation arrangement ( 1 ).

12. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the alternating voltage applied in step S2a has at least one abrupt level change, In step S2, an additional current value I is recorded, and in step S3, at least one diagnostic-specific value in the form of the equivalent series resistance R^SR is determined over a phase angle using the following formula: Jump ESR — i where U Sprun g a voltage change at the at least one supercapacitor (3 ) corresponds to the at least one abrupt level change of the alternating voltage .

13. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein in step S2 an additional current value I is recorded, and In step S3, at least one diagnosis-specific value in the form of capacity C is determined using the following formula: C = 2nfX c with X c = where X c a capacitive reactance and U c the voltage value at which at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) is .

14. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2) comprising at least one supercapacitor (3), a control unit (4) and an actuator (5), wherein the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) is connected to the actuator ( 5 ), wherein which is configured as at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) for actuating the electronic door actuation arrangement ( 1 ), and the control unit ( 4 ) is connected to the actuator ( 5 ) and the at least one supercapacitor ( 3 ) and is configured to perform the method according to one of the preceding claims .

15. Use of the electronic door actuation arrangement ( 1 ) according to the preceding claim on a door ( 7 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ).

Citation Information

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