Vehicle Charging Inlet Lock Control via Power Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for controlling the lock of a vehicle's charging inlet cause a delay in turning off the vehicle when the ignition off request is generated during the operation of the automatic lock function, leading to an unsatisfactory waiting time for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where the vehicle controller maintains power using a power latch to turn off the power relays, initiate the ignition off process, and then re-activate the power relay to operate the lock device after a predetermined time, ensuring immediate vehicle shutdown and lock function completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock device is operated after a predetermined standby period to complete the lock function, then the charging outlet is securely locked, but the vehicle shutdown is delayed when ignition off request is generated during lock operation
Solution Approach 1:
The power relay is turned off in advance when the ignition off request is received, initiating the vehicle shutdown process before the lock function completes. This preliminary action allows the vehicle to start shutting down immediately rather than waiting for the lock operation to finish, thereby reducing the shutdown delay while ensuring the lock function still completes successfully.
2Reliability
If the vehicle shutdown waits for the lock device operation to complete, then the lock function is ensured, but the driver experiences unsatisfactory waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary shutdown actions by turning off the power relay immediately upon receiving the ignition off request, rather than waiting for the lock function to complete. This allows the vehicle shutdown process to begin in advance, significantly reducing the waiting time for the driver while ensuring the lock function still completes successfully through the power latch mechanism.
3Loss of time
If the power relay is turned off immediately upon ignition off request, then vehicle shutdown is immediate, but the lock device may not receive power to complete its operation
Solution Approach 1:
The power latch acts as an intermediary mechanism that maintains power supply to the lock device even after the power relay is turned off. This intermediary power source ensures the lock device receives sufficient power to complete its operation while allowing the vehicle shutdown process to proceed immediately, thus resolving the conflict between shutdown speed and lock function reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system turns off the power relay in advance when the ignition off request is received, initiating vehicle shutdown before the lock function completes. This preliminary power cutoff enables immediate shutdown response while the power latch ensures the lock device still receives power to finish its operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a lock of a charging inlet of a vehicle having a lock device for preventing a charging outlet from being disengaged while the charging outlet is engaged. The method for controlling a lock of a charging inlet of a vehicle includes: receiving, by a vehicle controller, an ignition off request of the vehicle in an operation standby state in which the lock device is set to be operated after a predetermined standby period of time; turning off, by the vehicle controller, a power relay of the vehicle while a power latch is maintained to start an ignition off of the vehicle; and operating, by the vehicle controller, the lock device by supplying power to the lock device by turning on the power relay if the ignition off of the vehicle is completed.