EV Charging Wake-Up Detection with Dual Microcontroller Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard control units in electric vehicles with a single microcontroller for both high-level and low-level communication consume excessive power and current, even when not connected to a charging station, due to continuous activation for signaling detection.
Innovation Solution
A dual-microcontroller system where a second microcontroller handles low-level communication and wake-up signal detection, keeping the first microcontroller deactivated during normal operation, and activating it only for high-level communication when a wake-up signal is detected, reducing overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single microcontroller is used for both high-level and low-level communication, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is segmented into two separate microcontrollers: a first microcontroller dedicated to high-level communication and a second microcontroller dedicated to low-level communication and wake-up signal detection. This segmentation allows each microcontroller to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the second microcontroller to operate at lower power during normal operation while the first microcontroller remains deactivated until needed.
2Reliability
If the control unit is continuously activated to detect connection signals, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second microcontroller is configured to perform preliminary wake-up signal detection before the first microcontroller is activated. This preliminary action allows the system to reliably detect connection signals and wake-up events using a low-power microcontroller, only activating the high-power first microcontroller when actually needed for high-level communication.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the first microcontroller is deactivated during normal operation, then energy consumption is reduced, but wake-up signal detection capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The second microcontroller serves as an intermediary between the external wake-up signals and the first microcontroller. It detects wake-up signals during normal operation, processes them, and then activates the first microcontroller when needed, thereby enabling reliable wake-up signal detection while keeping the first microcontroller deactivated during normal operation to save energy.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method and a control device for triggering a high level communication between an electric vehicle and a charging station is provides. The electric vehicle includes a control unit with a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller. The method includes operating only the second microcontroller of the control unit for detecting a wake-up signal coming from a possible connection of the electric vehicle to a charging station and keeping the first microcontroller deactivated. The method also includes connecting the electric vehicle to the charging station, whereby at least one wake-up signal is sent to the control unit. Additionally, the method includes detecting the wake-up signal coming from the connection of the electric vehicle to the charging station with the second microcontroller. The method also includes activating the first microcontroller using the second microcontroller when the wake-up signal is detected.