Battery Isolator Unit Dynamic Bias Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery isolation units in automotive vehicles face issues with self-heating and high power consumption, which can reduce their reliability and service life, and lead to battery discharge due to the current required to maintain the solenoid or coil in an energized state.
Innovation Solution
A battery isolator unit with a sensing circuit that periodically determines terminal voltage values of main and auxiliary batteries, and a switch controller that adjusts the bias of a switching element based on the difference between these values, using a pulse width modulated signal to minimize power consumption and reduce self-heating by optimizing the energization of the switching element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inductor or coil is maintained in an energized state to hold the switch element closed, then the switching means reliably maintains the parallel circuit connection, but the current required to maintain energization causes self-heating and increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using a microprocessor-controlled switching system that periodically monitors battery voltage levels and selectively activates the solenoid only when isolation is required. Instead of maintaining continuous energization, the system uses intermittent control signals to achieve the same reliable isolation function with significantly reduced power consumption and self-heating effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional electromagnetic solenoid mechanism with a microprocessor-based electronic control system. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous electromagnetic field maintenance, using digital voltage monitoring and selective switching instead, thereby dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable battery isolation functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the solenoid is kept energized to maintain the closed position of the switch element, then the connection between batteries is maintained, but self-heating adversely affects reliability and service life
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic voltage monitoring and selective solenoid activation rather than continuous energization. The microprocessor periodically checks battery voltage levels and only energizes the solenoid when isolation is needed, maintaining connection stability when required while minimizing thermal accumulation and self-heating effects that degrade reliability and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic solenoid with a microprocessor-controlled electronic switching system that uses minimal power for monitoring and control. This substitution eliminates continuous electromagnetic heating, maintaining circuit connection stability through digital control while preventing the self-heating that adversely affects solenoid reliability and service life.
3Power
If the switch element is held closed by continuous energization, then the parallel circuit is maintained for increased capacity, but the available battery capacity is depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically monitors battery voltage levels and selectively activates the solenoid only when isolation is required, rather than maintaining continuous connection. This periodic control approach allows the parallel circuit to provide increased capacity when needed while minimizing the continuous power drain that would deplete available battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the continuous electromagnetic holding mechanism with a microprocessor-based system that uses minimal power for voltage monitoring and selective switching. This substitution maintains the ability to provide increased electrical supply capacity through parallel connection while dramatically reducing the continuous power consumption that would otherwise deplete battery capacity.
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
The solution reduces power consumption and self-heating, enhancing the reliability and service life of the battery isolation unit by dynamically adjusting the bias of the switching element, ensuring sufficient battery charge is preserved for starting the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing circuit for periodically determining a first and second value attributable to terminal voltage values of the first battery and the second battery respectively
Implementation Method 2
a switch controller responsive to detecting a predetermined condition of the first battery and/or the second battery to provide to the actuating input a control signal having a characteristic for biasing the switch element to the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A battery isolator unit is disclosed for controlling a switching means having a first contact for connection to a terminal of a first battery, a second contact for connection to a corresponding terminal of a second battery, and an actuating input for biasing a switch element of the switching means switch in a closed position. The battery isolator unit includes a sensing circuit and a switch controller. The sensing circuit periodically determines a first and second value attributable to terminal voltage values of the first battery and the second battery respectively. The switch controller is responsive to detecting a predetermined condition of the first battery and/or the second battery to provide to the actuating input a control signal having a characteristic for biasing the switch element to the closed position. The switch controller periodically determines a difference between the first and second values when the switch element is in the closed position to obtain a obtain a sequence of difference values, and controls the characteristic of the control signal according to a comparison of a present difference value with a previous difference value to modify the bias of the switch element.