Integrated Battery Control Module for HEV Power Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) power systems require additional components and complex designs, leading to increased costs and potential damage during abnormal conditions due to communication delays and separate management of relay and power converter functions.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a power converter, battery control module, and relay within the battery power integration apparatus, where the power converter steps down high-voltage DC voltage to supply low-voltage DC power and includes pre-charge and relay control circuits to manage and protect the system, reducing component count and design complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication interfaces (SPI) are used between the battery management system and power converter, then control signals can be transmitted, but communication delay occurs during abnormal conditions causing slow relay response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the relay control function from the separate battery management system and places it directly within the integrated battery control module. The microcontroller in the control module directly controls the relay switch without requiring communication through SPI interfaces. This extraction of the critical protection function eliminates communication delays and enables immediate relay response when abnormal conditions are detected, significantly improving system reliability during fault conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the relay control and pre-charge control are managed by a separate battery management system, then control functions are distributed, but the design complexity of the management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the relay control circuit and pre-charge control circuit within a single integrated battery control module that is directly connected to the power converter. The microcontroller integrates multiple control functions (relay control, pre-charge control, and power converter management) into one unified control unit. This merging simplifies the overall system architecture by reducing the number of separate control systems and their interconnections, making the design more manageable despite the increased functionality within the module.
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 integration simplifies the system design, reduces costs, and ensures rapid protection operations during abnormal conditions by eliminating the need for SPI interfaces and enabling immediate relay control, enhancing power supply reliability and extending the lifespan of components.
Implementation Method 1
the power converter steps down the high-voltage DC voltage to output a low-voltage DC voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A battery power integration apparatus includes a power converter, a battery control module, and a relay. The power converter has an input side and an output side, and the input side is connected to a high-voltage DC voltage. The battery control module includes a relay control circuit and a pre-charge control circuit. The relay is connected to the input side of the power converter and the battery control module. The pre-charge control circuit receives a pre-charge enable signal generated from the power converter to pre-charge the input side of the power converter. The power converter steps down the high-voltage DC voltage to output a low-voltage DC voltage at the output side thereof when the relay control circuit turns on the relay, thus supplying the required power for low-voltage devices inside a hybrid electric vehicle.