Vehicle Battery Parasitic Drain Detection and Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern motorized vehicles face issues with excessive parasitic current drain from the battery, leading to a low state of charge and potential no-start conditions due to increased on-board computer modules waking up periodically, which can harm battery life and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to detect and address excessive parasitic current drain by initiating a power-down sequence of electronic control units, using an intelligent battery sensor to verify the condition, and enabling remedial action software remotely to reset communications circuits and alert the operator if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple on-board computer modules wake up periodically during ignition-off situation, then vehicle security systems and electronic control systems can function, but excessive parasitic load drains the battery to low state of charge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle security systems functionalityVSAvoidbattery state of charge

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electronic control units into different power states (fully on, partially on, off) based on their functionality and priority. Critical systems like security modules can remain in a low-power standby state while non-critical systems are completely powered down, thereby reducing parasitic load while maintaining essential functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements controlled periodic wake-up cycles for specific control units rather than allowing all modules to wake up simultaneously. The master control unit coordinates staggered wake-up sequences, ensuring that only necessary systems become active at any given time, thus reducing overall parasitic current draw while maintaining security and operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If battery state of charge becomes low due to excessive parasitic load, then vehicle systems can remain powered during ignition-off, but the vehicle cannot be started at a later point in time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power supply durationVSAvoidvehicle start capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of battery state of charge during ignition-off periods and predicts potential start-capability issues before they occur. When low state of charge is detected, the master control unit proactively manages power distribution to critical systems and can selectively maintain or power down non-essential modules to preserve enough energy for engine starting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the master control unit continuously monitors battery state of charge and adjusts power distribution to various control units in real-time. When low state of charge is detected, the system automatically reduces power to non-critical systems and maintains power to essential systems, ensuring the battery retains sufficient charge for vehicle starting while maintaining necessary functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If intelligent battery sensor and remote monitoring are implemented, then excessive current draw can be detected and verified, but system complexity and communication requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent draw detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The master control unit serves multiple functions: it manages power distribution to control units, monitors battery state of charge, detects excessive current draw, coordinates wake-up sequences, and communicates with remote systems. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the system achieves precise monitoring capabilities without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10606256B2Method to prevent parasitic current drain of a vehicle battery

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method to prevent parasitic current drain of a vehicle battery includes shutting off the vehicle ignition to initiate a power down sequence of electronic control units, and detecting an excessive current draw condition from the vehicle battery after the vehicle ignition is shut off for a predetermined period of time. After verifying that an excessive current draw condition exists by analyzing data collected from the vehicle, the method continues with powering up the electronic control units on a vehicle communications network and broadcasting a system state equals run, and broadcasting a system state equals off on the vehicle communications network after the electronic control units have reached steady state operation.