Charge Control Apparatus Advancing Timer Start Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charge control systems for electric vehicles require a high-capacity heater to complete battery charging within a predetermined time, leading to increased costs and potential shortages in charging power due to simultaneous battery heating and charging.

Innovation Solution

A charge control apparatus that advances the timer charge start time by a predetermined period when battery heating is necessary, allowing for prolonged charge time and simultaneous battery heating during the timer charge, thus avoiding the need for a high-capacity heater and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the battery is heated by a heater before starting charge to complete charging within a predetermined time, then the charge completion time is improved, but the required heater capacity increases leading to increased cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge completion timeVSAvoidheater capacity requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery heating is performed in advance before the timer charge start time, so that by the time charging begins, the battery has already reached a suitable temperature. This preliminary heating action eliminates the need for high-capacity heaters during charging, as the heating requirement is satisfied beforehand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the heating timing based on the scheduled charge time and battery temperature conditions. The control device determines whether heating is needed before charge based on the time difference between current time and timer charge start time, optimizing heater capacity requirements through dynamic timing adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the battery is heated by a high-capacity heater before charge, then the charge time is reduced, but the charging power becomes insufficient due to simultaneous power consumption by heater and charger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging speedVSAvoidavailable charging power
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The heating operation is completed before the timer charge start time, separating the heating power consumption from the charging power consumption. This temporal separation ensures that the full charging power is available during charging without being reduced by simultaneous heater operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The overall process is segmented into distinct heating phase and charging phase. The heating function is executed in a time zone before charge, while the charging function executes at the timer charge start time, allowing independent optimization of power allocation for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Power

If the charge start time is advanced to accommodate simultaneous heating and charging, then the charge completion time is extended, but the originally scheduled charge time zone is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable charging powerVSAvoidcharge time zone
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Heating is performed as a preliminary action before the scheduled charge time zone, rather than concurrently during it. This allows the charge to start at the originally scheduled time without delay, while still accommodating the heating requirement in the time zone before charge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures complete battery charging within the designated time without enhancing the heater capacity, preventing energy shortages and maintaining charging efficiency while reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

the battery is heated by a heater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2685597B1Charge control apparatus for vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.09.13 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2685597B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2685597B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2685597B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

When a timer charge time zone is set by a timer charge reservation means for allowing a user to designate a predetermined timer charge time zone and a target charge amount, and timer charge is carried out from a timer charge start time previously designated, it is judged whether or not the timer charge start time should be advanced, at a time earlier by a predetermined time period than the timer charge start time. Owing to the judgment, charge of a battery can be completed at a predetermined time without enhancing a required capacity of a heater.