Vehicle AC Control System Grouping for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control systems for air conditioning apparatuses in electric and hybrid vehicles suffer from wasteful power consumption due to the need for all devices to be operational for communication, leading to excessive energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A control system is introduced where control units are grouped by operating modes and connected via common signal lines, allowing the signal control unit to send ON/OFF signals based on the vehicle's mode, thereby reducing the number of units in operation and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all control units are operated to ensure communication through the CAN system, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control units are divided into multiple groups (first group, second group, third group) with different operating modes. Each group can be independently controlled to be in either active or sleep state, allowing selective operation based on vehicle conditions rather than requiring all units to remain active for communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating state of control units based on vehicle operating modes. The signal control unit receives vehicle mode information and selectively activates only the control units needed for the current mode, transitioning units between active and sleep states as modes change, thereby optimizing power consumption while maintaining necessary communication functionality.
2Reliability
If all devices are operated to ensure signal line communication, then system reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Devices are segmented into different groups corresponding to different vehicle operating modes. Each group shares common signal lines that are selectively activated. This allows the system to maintain reliability for active groups while placing inactive groups in low-power state, reducing overall power consumption without compromising system reliability for current operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal control unit provides universal control functionality across multiple device groups. A single control unit can manage different groups of devices depending on the vehicle mode, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple functions and reducing the need for all devices to remain active simultaneously.
3Use of energy by moving object
If control units are grouped by common ON/OFF combinations, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Control units with similar operating requirements are merged into the same group and share common signal lines. This consolidation reduces the total number of independent control circuits needed, as one signal line can control multiple devices simultaneously. The signal control unit manages multiple groups, but the overall system complexity is reduced compared to individually controlling each device.
Data Source
AI summary
The electrical power consumption and cost of a control system for an air conditioning apparatus are reduced. A control system for an air conditioning apparatus mounted in a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle-side ECUs (control units) that control devices provided in the air conditioning apparatus; and a signal control unit that controls the plurality of vehicle-side ECUs wherein the plurality of vehicle-side ECUs are divided into groups each having a common ON/OFF combination for the individual operating modes of the vehicle, and the vehicle-side ECUs belonging to the same group are connected by a common signal line; and the signal control unit sends ON and OFF signals depending on the operating mode of the vehicle to the signal lines.