DC/DC Converter Voltage Determination via Single Sensing Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Duplicate voltage sensing circuits in vehicle power converters increase cost and size, and reduce total impedance between high and low voltage systems, necessitating a more efficient method to determine operating characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the duty cycle, on time, and off time of a DC/DC power converter by measuring one voltage and calculating the other, eliminating the need for duplicate voltage sensing circuits by using equations based on measured and known variables to derive the missing voltage and current ripple.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If duplicate voltage sensing circuits are used to measure both battery voltage and boost voltage, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single voltage sensing circuit to measure the battery voltage, then calculates the boost voltage through mathematical relationships based on duty cycle and circuit parameters. This replaces the need for duplicate physical sensing circuits while maintaining measurement accuracy, directly applying the copying principle by using calculated values instead of additional physical sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operating parameters (duty cycle, switching frequency) and the measured battery voltage to self-determine the boost voltage through calculation. The converter system serves its own measurement needs by deriving unmeasured voltages from measured voltages and known operational characteristics, eliminating the need for external duplicate sensing circuits
2Measurement precision
If duplicate voltage sensing circuits are installed, then voltage measurement accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing additional physical voltage sensing circuits, the patent creates a virtual copy of the voltage measurement capability through calculation. The boost voltage is computed by the controller using the measured battery voltage, duty cycle, and circuit parameter relationships, eliminating manufacturing costs for duplicate sensing hardware while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical/mechanical voltage sensing circuit with a computational/electronic calculation system. The controller uses mathematical relationships and digital processing to determine voltages, substituting physical sensing hardware with electronic computation, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving measurement accuracy
3Reliability
If duplicate voltage sensing circuits are used, then system reliability is improved, but total impedance between high and low voltage systems decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual measurement path through calculation rather than a physical sensing path. By deriving the boost voltage mathematically from the battery voltage measurement and duty cycle, the system avoids creating additional physical connections between high and low voltage systems, thereby maintaining high impedance isolation while achieving reliable voltage determination
Data Source
AI summary
Measured or otherwise known operating characteristics of a DC/DC power converter are used to determine, without measuring, an operating characteristic of the DC/DC power converter.