Bidirectional Vehicle Charger Voltage Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle chargers, configured as step-down converters, often supply insufficient power for charging portable devices due to mismatched input and output voltages, leading to slow charging or incomplete charging, especially in cold weather.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charger with a power supply device that can step up or step down input voltage, a communication module to acquire charging requirements, a compensator to generate compensation signals based on sensed and reference voltages/currents, and a controller to control switching operations, ensuring optimal voltage and current delivery to portable devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a vehicle charger is configured as a step-down converter, then the device complexity is reduced, but the charging power becomes insufficient when portable device input voltage exceeds battery output voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating mode of the power converter from step-down only to bidirectional (step-up and step-down) operation. The controller dynamically adjusts the converter mode based on comparing portable device input voltage with battery output voltage, enabling the charger to adapt its voltage transformation direction to match charging requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control mechanisms including voltage sensing, comparison logic, and real-time mode switching. The system continuously monitors voltage levels and dynamically transitions between step-up and step-down modes, making the charger adaptable to varying voltage requirements rather than fixed in a single conversion direction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a step-down converter is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability to different portable device voltage requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the charger universal by enabling it to perform both step-up and step-down voltage conversion. This multi-functionality allows a single charger design to accommodate various portable device input voltage requirements, whether higher or lower than the battery output voltage, eliminating the need for multiple specialized chargers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes its operating parameters (conversion ratio, switching frequency, mode) based on the detected voltage requirements of the connected portable device. This parameter adaptation enables the charger to maintain ease of manufacture while achieving broad voltage compatibility across different device types.
3Reliability
If the battery output voltage decreases in cold weather, then the charging speed should maintain performance, but the charging speed becomes slower due to insufficient power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through voltage sensing and comparison. The system continuously monitors both battery output voltage and portable device input voltage, using this feedback to determine the appropriate conversion mode and adjust operating parameters accordingly, ensuring reliable charging performance despite temperature-induced voltage variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The charger dynamically adapts its operation in response to changing battery voltage conditions. When cold weather causes battery voltage to drop, the system can switch to step-up mode to maintain adequate charging voltage and current, preserving charging speed and performance rather than allowing it to degrade with temperature.
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
Enables fast and complete charging of portable devices regardless of their input voltage, improving charging efficiency and reliability across various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply device configured to change an input voltage into a voltage required to charge a portable device
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle charger includes a power supply device, a communication module, a reference changing unit, a compensator, a controller, and a gate driver. The power supply device changes an input voltage into a voltage required to charge a portable device and outputs the changed voltage. The communication module receives information on at least one of a voltage and a current, which are required to charge the portable device. The reference changing unit generates at least one of a reference voltage and a reference current based on the information on the at least one of the voltage and the current. The compensator generates a compensation signal based on a result obtained by comparing the at least one of the reference voltage and the reference current with at least one of a sensed voltage and a sensed current, which are obtained by sensing at least one of an output voltage of the power supply device and a current supplied from the power supply device to the portable device. The controller generates a gate driving signal according to the compensation signal. The gate driver generates a gate voltage for controlling switching operation of the power supply device according to the gate driving signal.