Electric Drivetrain Stop-State Control to Reduce Switching Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent ramping-up and ramping-down of electric drivetrains in vehicles can lead to wear and tear on components like switches and capacitors, reducing their lifespan and increasing energy costs due to unnecessary switching operations.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a vehicle with an electric drivetrain that determines whether the vehicle is parked for a short time or not, and accordingly shifts the drivetrain into a blocking state or a switched-off state, while continuing to supply the converter with DC voltage in the blocking state to minimize wear and energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the electric drivetrain is frequently ramped up and ramped down during short-term parking, then the vehicle can respond quickly to usage needs, but the lifespan of switches and capacitors is reduced due to excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing a blocking state that allows the drivetrain to remain electrically powered and ready for immediate operation while not being fully active. This dynamic intermediate state enables quick response to usage needs without completing the full ramp-up process, thereby reducing wear on switching components and capacitors during short-term parking periods.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle is switched off during parking to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the drivetrain cannot respond quickly when needed again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drivetrain's operational states into three distinct modes: drive-ready state, blocking state, and switched-off state. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for different scenarios - maintaining power for quick response when needed, or switching off for energy savings during extended parking, with the blocking state serving as an intermediate mode that balances both requirements.
3Speed
If the converter continues to be supplied with DC voltage during blocking state, then the drivetrain can be quickly activated, but energy is continuously consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by transitioning the drivetrain between blocking state and switched-off state based on monitored parking duration and predicted usage patterns. The system periodically evaluates whether to maintain power supply or switch off, optimizing the balance between quick activation capability and energy conservation based on actual usage behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A method (100) for operating a vehicle (1) with an electric drive-train (2), wherein this electric drivetrain (2) is fed via a DC voltage source (3) and a converter (4) for converting the DC voltage into a single-phase or multiphase AC voltage, comprising the steps: —it is detected (110) that the vehicle (1) is stopped; —it is checked (120) on the basis of at least one specified criterion (10) whether the vehicle (1) is expected to be stopped only briefly; —in response to the fact that the vehicle (1) is expected to be stopped only briefly, the vehicle (1) is transferred (130) from the ready-to-drive state into a disabled state, wherein in this disabled state the vehicle (1) is protected against unauthorized use but the converter (4) continues to be supplied with the DC voltage from the DC voltage source (3); —in response to the fact that the vehicle (1) is not expected to be stopped only briefly, at least one functional test of the electric drivetrain (2), said test being provided for powering down the electric drivetrain (2), is performed (140), and after the termination of this functional test the vehicle (1) is transferred (150) into a switched-off state, in which the vehicle (1) is secured against unauthorized use and the supply of the converter (4) from the DC voltage source (3) is interrupted.