DC/DC Charging Circuit With Soft-Start Bus Pre-Charge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle charging devices face high costs and low energy utilization efficiency due to the use of conventional resistors for current-limiting soft start and multiple-level energy conversions, particularly when integrating photovoltaic and energy storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A charging apparatus with a soft-start circuit connected to a DC/DC conversion circuit, pre-charging buses to enable current-limiting soft start, reducing the need for multiple conversion circuits and optimizing energy flow from photovoltaic or energy storage systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional resistors are used for current-limiting soft start in high-power charging devices, then soft start function is achieved, but circuit volume and costs increase due to the need for multiple high-power resistors connected in series or parallel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoft start functionVSAvoidcircuit volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the working parameter of the soft-start circuit by controlling the duty cycle of the switch tube to adjust the equivalent resistance dynamically. This allows the soft-start circuit to achieve current limiting without requiring multiple high-power resistors, thereby reducing circuit volume while maintaining the soft start function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple conversion circuits (DC/AC, AC/DC, DC/DC) are used to integrate photovoltaic or energy storage systems, then energy conversion capability is achieved, but energy utilization efficiency decreases due to multiple conversion stages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy conversion capabilityVSAvoidenergy utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the soft-start circuit with the DC/DC conversion circuit, allowing the DC/DC circuit to perform both soft-start current limiting and power conversion functions. This eliminates the need for separate AC/DC and DC/AC conversion stages when integrating photovoltaic or energy storage systems, reducing the number of conversion stages and improving energy utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The DC/DC conversion circuit is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the soft-start circuit for current limiting and the power conversion circuit for energy transformation. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity and minimizes energy losses from multiple conversion stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple conversion circuits are used in the charging device, then compatibility with different energy sources is improved, but device complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with energy sourcesVSAvoidnumber of conversion circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the soft-start functionality with the DC/DC conversion circuit, eliminating the need for separate conversion circuits. The DC/DC circuit can directly accept input from photovoltaic panels or energy storage batteries and perform both soft-start and power conversion in one stage, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining compatibility with different energy sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution reduces the volume and cost of the charging apparatus while improving energy utilization efficiency by minimizing impulse currents and requiring fewer conversion stages, enhancing reliability and flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a soft-start circuit... configured to pre-charge the positive bus and the negative bus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

the DC/DC conversion circuit... perform power conversion on a second voltage received from the photovoltaic apparatus or the energy storage apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4366106B1Charging apparatus, charging pile, and charging system
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4366106B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4366106B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2A
  • EP4366106B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

This application provides a charging apparatus, a charging pile, and a charging system. The charging apparatus includes a positive bus, a negative bus, a DC/DC conversion circuit, and a soft-start circuit. The soft-start circuit is connected to an input end of the DC/DC conversion circuit through the positive bus and the negative bus, and the input end of the DC/DC conversion circuit is connected to a photovoltaic apparatus or an energy storage apparatus through the positive bus and the negative bus. Therefore, when a first voltage between the positive bus and the negative bus is greater than or equal to a first threshold, the DC/DC conversion circuit may perform power conversion on a second voltage received from the photovoltaic apparatus or the energy storage apparatus, and output the second voltage obtained after power conversion.