Charge Port Illumination Microcontroller LIN Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrified vehicles lack effective illumination systems for their charge ports, making it difficult for users to charge and manage the state of charge of the traction battery in low-light conditions, and existing solutions do not efficiently integrate with different charge port configurations.
Innovation Solution
A charge port illumination system utilizing a microcontroller to selectively activate a courtesy lamp assembly and indicators, which are configured to illuminate the charge port and indicate the battery's state of charge, using LIN messages to control the lighting components, and can be adapted for different charge port assemblies, including activating a charger unlock button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a charge port illumination system is added to electrified vehicles, then visibility for charging operations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller is designed to work with multiple charge port assemblies through standardized LIN message communication. The same microcontroller can control different charge port configurations (first charge port assembly with courtesy lamp and indicators, second charge port assembly with charger unlock button), reducing overall system complexity and component variety while maintaining improved visibility across different vehicle configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the microcontroller is designed to work with multiple charge port assemblies, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller uses standardized LIN (Local Interconnect Network) message protocols to communicate with different charge port assemblies. This universal communication interface allows the same microcontroller hardware to control various charge port configurations without requiring complex custom integration for each assembly, achieving adaptability while keeping the control architecture relatively simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate control systems are used for different charge port assemblies, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using separate control systems for different charge port assemblies, the patent merges the control functionality into a single microcontroller that can manage multiple charge port assemblies through standardized LIN messages. This consolidation reduces the total number of control units needed in the vehicle while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular charge port assemblies that interface with the universal controller.
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 system provides improved visibility for charging operations, enhances user experience by indicating the battery state, and reduces design complexity by allowing the microcontroller to be used across various charge port configurations without substantial modifications.
Implementation Method 1
The courtesy lamp assembly includes at least one Light Emitting Diode. Each of the indicators includes at least one Light Emitting Diode.
Data Source
AI summary
A charge port illumination system includes, among other things, a first charge port assembly having a charge port, a courtesy lamp assembly configured to selectively activate to illuminate the charge port, and indicators each configured to selectively activate to illuminate and indicate a state of charge of a traction battery. The system further includes a microcontroller that selectively activates the courtesy lamp assembly and selectively activates the plurality of indicators of the first charge port assembly.