Vehicle Battery Charging Control Using Route Topography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face challenges in battery charging optimization, particularly in high-altitude areas where regenerative braking is restricted, leading to energy loss and difficulties in cruise control, which affects the reliability and marketability of hybrid electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that predicts the topography of the driving path to optimize battery charging by calculating a gain charging amount in uphill or downhill sections, setting an optimum charging setting value, and controlling battery charging to perform optimal charging, thereby ensuring energy conservation and improving vehicle functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If regenerative braking is used to charge the battery, then fuel efficiency is improved, but charging is restricted when the battery is fully charged, causing energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel efficiencyVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the driving route topography and battery state of charge before charging occurs. By predicting upcoming downhill sections and current SOC levels, the system proactively determines optimal charging amounts, preventing energy loss by ensuring the battery is charged to appropriate levels before regenerative braking opportunities arise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery state of charge, vehicle position, and route topography data. This feedback loop allows the controller to adjust charging amounts in real-time based on actual battery status and predicted driving conditions, optimizing the balance between fuel efficiency through regenerative braking and preventing energy loss from charging restrictions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Quantity of substance

If the battery is fully charged, then energy storage capacity is maximized, but cruise control becomes difficult to perform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidcruise control

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively analyzes the driving route to identify upcoming downhill sections and calculates the charging amount needed before the battery reaches full charge. By determining the optimal charging amount in advance based on predicted regenerative braking opportunities, the system ensures the battery is charged to the appropriate level for maintaining cruise control functionality while still maximizing energy storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the charging necessity alarm lamp is controlled based on current battery charge level, then charging status is indicated, but the alarm may turn off incorrectly when entering downhill sections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging alarm reliabilityVSAvoidcharging necessity information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the driving route topography and battery state of charge before controlling the alarm lamp. By predicting upcoming downhill sections and calculating expected regenerative charging amounts, the system proactively determines whether charging is actually necessary, preventing incorrect alarm behavior when entering downhill sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors battery state of charge, vehicle position, and route topography data to provide feedback on charging necessity. This feedback mechanism ensures the alarm lamp accurately reflects whether charging is needed, preventing false positives or negatives by considering both current battery status and predicted driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Device complexity

If standard charging control is used, then charging process is simple, but energy loss occurs in high-altitude areas with downhill sections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging control complexityVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the driving route topography and battery state of charge before charging occurs. By predicting upcoming downhill sections and calculating the optimal charging amount in advance, the system minimizes energy loss without requiring complex real-time adjustments during charging, maintaining relatively simple charging control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11505078B2Apparatus and method for controlling optimization of charging amount of battery for vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for controlling optimization of a charging amount of a battery for a vehicle charged with external power includes: a map storage, a position detector, and a controller to control the map storage and the position detector. The controller acquires a current position of the vehicle when a driver's desired charging setting value is input, acquires altitude information of topography corresponding to a driving path, calculates a gain charging amount in an uphill or downhill section on the driving path based on the altitude information, calculates an optimum charging setting value based on the driver's desired charging setting value and the gain charging amount, calculates a final target charging amount based on the optimum charging setting value and a current residual charging amount, and performs optimum charging of the battery.