Battery-less Engine System Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing engine systems that rely on backup batteries to supply electric power for starting increase manufacturing costs and may fail to start if the battery charge is insufficient, leading to high power consumption during engine initiation.

Innovation Solution

A battery-less engine system that utilizes a generator driven by the internal combustion engine to supply electric power to the igniter, fuel pump, and injector, with a control unit managing power distribution based on crank angle to avoid overlapping power supply periods and reduce overall starting power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a backup battery is provided to supply electric power for engine starting, then the engine can be started reliably, but the manufacturing cost increases and the system becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine starting reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the backup battery and charging circuit from the system, extracting the unnecessary components that increase complexity and cost. The generator alone is used to supply power during starting, and the control unit manages power distribution timing to ensure reliable starting without the battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit implements periodic action by controlling the power supply timing to the igniter, fuel pump, and injector in a coordinated sequence during engine starting. This timing control ensures that power is supplied to each component at the appropriate moment without overlap, enabling reliable starting with reduced power consumption from the generator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If a backup battery is provided to supply electric power for engine starting, then the engine can be started reliably, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine starting reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the backup battery and charging circuit components, directly reducing manufacturing costs. The system relies on the generator alone with intelligent power management control to achieve reliable starting, removing the need for expensive additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If power is supplied to all components simultaneously during engine starting, then all components operate reliably, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent operation reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during starting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements periodic action by controlling the power supply timing to the igniter, fuel pump, and injector in a coordinated sequence during engine starting. This timing control ensures that power is supplied to each component at the appropriate moment without overlap, enabling reliable starting with reduced power consumption from the generator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static simultaneous power supply to dynamic timed power supply. The control unit dynamically adjusts when each component receives power based on the engine starting process requirements, optimizing power consumption while maintaining reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 reduces power consumption during engine starting, eliminates the need for a backup battery and charging circuit, and ensures reliable engine startup, making the engine system more compact and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

a generator that is driven by the internal combustion engine and produces electric power

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

an igniter that ignites fuel compressed in the internal combustion engine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical discharge: Electric Spark

Data Source

PatentEP3608530B1Engine system
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3608530B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3608530B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3608530B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine system includes a fuel tank for containing fuel, an internal combustion engine, a generator that is driven by the internal combustion engine and produces electric power, a recoil starter for starting the internal combustion engine, a control unit that operates by receiving electric power generated by the generator, an injector that operates by receiving electric power generated by the generator, is controlled by the control unit, and supplies fuel to the internal combustion engine, a fuel pump that operates by receiving electric power generated by the generator, is controlled by the control unit, and supplies fuel contained in the fuel tank to the injector, an igniter that ignites fuel compressed in the internal combustion engine, and a detection unit that detects the crank angle of the internal combustion engine. The control unit, in a starting period of the internal combustion engine, which is started using the recoil starter, supplies electric power to the igniter, the injector, and the fuel pump such that a power supply period of the igniter will not overlap a power supply period of the injector and the fuel pump, using the crank angle as a reference.