Active Discharge Circuit Using Adjustable Gate Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing discharge solutions for electronic devices with energy storage circuits, such as those in hybrid vehicles, face issues with discharge resistor damage, increased costs, space requirements, and limited compatibility due to the consumption of energy as heat, which affects the service life and efficiency, especially in buck-boost topologies and devices with multiple energy storage locations requiring different discharge requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a discharge loop with a discharge switch tube and a driver circuit having adjustable driving resistance, allowing for increased resistance during discharge to enhance switching loss and achieve rapid discharge without additional resistors, and enabling independent discharge for multiple loops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a discharge resistor is used to discharge the energy storage device, then the discharge function is achieved, but the discharge resistor is damaged after multiple discharges due to heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional discharge resistor-based mechanical/thermal discharge system with an active discharge circuit using a discharge switch tube. This substitution eliminates the need for heat-generating resistive discharge by using controlled switching to redirect the discharge current through a different path, thereby avoiding thermal damage and extending component service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the discharge mechanism from resistive (thermal) discharge to active switching discharge. By controlling the discharge switch tube through a driver circuit, the discharge process is transformed from a passive heat-generating process to an active controlled process, fundamentally changing how energy is dissipated and avoiding the thermal damage problem.
2Ease of manufacture
If a discharge resistor-based discharge circuit is used, then the discharge function is provided, but additional components and control circuitry are required, increasing device costs and space usage
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge switch tube and its driver circuit are designed to serve multiple functions: they can discharge different energy storage devices (capacitors at input and output ends of buck-boost circuit) and can be controlled to provide active discharge. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate discharge circuits for each energy storage device, thereby reducing overall component count and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the discharge function into the existing switch tube circuitry by utilizing the discharge switch tube and driver circuit that are already present in the buck-boost converter. Instead of adding separate discharge resistors and control circuits, the existing switching components are repurposed to provide discharge functionality, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system.
3Productivity
If a discharge resistor is used for active discharge, then the discharge function is achieved, but the operating frequency is limited due to temperature characteristics and long cooling time
Solution Approach 1:
The active discharge circuit uses periodic switching action through the discharge switch tube to achieve discharge. The driver circuit controls the switch tube in a periodic manner, allowing the circuit to handle high-frequency discharge operations without the thermal accumulation problems that limit resistor-based systems. This periodic switching enables rapid repeated discharge cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing the thermal-based discharge resistor system with an active switching discharge system, the patent eliminates the thermal inertia and cooling time constraints. The switching discharge mechanism does not rely on thermal dissipation, thereby enabling high-frequency operation and significantly improving productivity and operating frequency capability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If independent discharge circuits are provided for energy storage devices at different locations, then different discharge requirements are met, but more discharge circuits are needed, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge switch tube and driver circuit are designed with multi-functionality to handle discharge of multiple energy storage devices located at different positions (input end and output end of buck-boost circuit). By controlling the switching states, the same discharge circuit can serve different energy storage devices with different discharge requirements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated discharge circuits for each location.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves discharge efficiency, reduces component wear, minimizes space and cost, and ensures flexible discharge for devices with varied energy storage locations by using adjustable resistance to manage switching loss and speed.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting the circuit structure of the driver circuit so that the driving resistance is increased... enabling the driver circuit with increased driving resistance to drive the discharge switch tube to discharge the energy storage device
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for discharging electronic devices are disclosed. The discharge loop of the electronic device includes an energy storage device and a discharge circuit connected in parallel with the energy storage device. The driver circuit of the discharge switch tube of the discharge circuit has a circuit structure with adjustable driving resistance. In response to receiving a discharge enable command, the circuit structure of the driver circuit of the discharge switch tube is adjusted so that the driving resistance is increased, and the driver circuit is enabled to drive the discharge switch tube to discharge the energy storage device until the terminal voltage of the energy storage device is discharged to a predetermined voltage value. Since the driving resistance of the driver circuit increases during discharge, the switching loss of the discharge switch tube will also increase, so that rapid discharge of the energy storage device can be achieved without using a discharge circuit implemented based on a discharge resistor.