EV Charging Inlet Lid Sensing for Accurate Connector Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining whether a connector is attached to an inlet in electrified vehicles face challenges due to allowed errors in resistance and detection, which can widen the potential range and make it difficult to set a threshold for accurate attachment determination.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an electrified vehicle configuration that includes an inlet with a lid, a first detection circuit for the lid's open or closed state, a second detection circuit for determining connector attachment, and a control device that performs an offset learning process when the connector is not attached, calculating a correction value based on the voltage difference from a predetermined voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the possible range of the potential is widened to allow for errors in resistance and detection, then compatibility between the vehicle and connector is improved, but the ability to set a threshold for determining connector attachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs offset learning in advance when the lid is closed (connector not attached) to establish a baseline voltage value. This preliminary action captures the actual voltage under current environmental conditions and component variations, creating a reference point that accounts for resistance errors and detection variations. By learning the offset beforehand, the system can then accurately determine connector attachment by comparing subsequent voltage readings against this pre-established baseline, maintaining both compatibility and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If the threshold range for potential is set narrowly to ensure accurate connector attachment determination, then measurement precision is improved, but compatibility with connectors having resistance variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the reference voltage parameter through offset learning. Instead of using a fixed predetermined threshold, the system learns the actual baseline voltage value under current conditions (accounting for resistance variations, temperature, and component tolerances) and uses this learned value as the reference. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain narrow, accurate threshold ranges while remaining compatible with connectors having resistance variations, as the threshold is continuously adapted to match actual operating conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
ECU performs a process including: a step of determining whether or not the current value of the value indicating the state of the lid is a value indicating the open state; a step of determining whether or not the previous value of the value indicating the state of the lid is a value indicating the closed state; a step of performing an offset learning process if the current value is a value indicating the closed state; and a step of using the current value as the value of the previous value.