Electronic Control Unit Input Buffer Protection via Voltage Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic control units for plug-in vehicles lack protection for input buffers receiving pilot signals from charging cables, which can malfunction or be damaged due to varying voltage ranges.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control unit with a pilot voltage setting circuit, a processor, an input buffer, and an input buffer voltage setting circuit that adjusts the input voltage to recommended ranges using resistance-type voltage division and switching elements to safeguard the input buffer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the input buffer is designed to accept a broad voltage range to handle varying pilot signal voltages, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the input buffer may malfunction or be destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
A voltage division circuit is introduced as an intermediary between the pilot signal input terminal and the input buffer. This mediator circuit divides the input voltage according to a predetermined ratio, ensuring that the voltage delivered to the input buffer always falls within its safe operating range regardless of the broad voltage range of the pilot signal, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage division ratio is designed to transform the broad voltage range of the pilot signal into a narrow, safe voltage range for the input buffer. By changing the voltage parameter through division, the system maintains high adaptability to different pilot signal voltages while ensuring the input buffer operates reliably within its specified range
2Reliability
If a voltage division circuit is added to protect the input buffer, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex active protection circuits, the patent uses a simple passive voltage division circuit with fixed resistors. This approach achieves reliable protection through parameter transformation (voltage division) rather than complex circuitry, minimizing the increase in device complexity while ensuring input buffer protection
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage division circuit uses simple, inexpensive resistor components that can be easily replaced if needed. This approach prioritizes reliability through a simple, low-cost solution rather than complex, expensive protection mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and complexity increase
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 effectively protects the input buffer by maintaining the input voltage within a recommended range, ensuring normal operation and preventing damage during charging, thus ensuring reliable charging control.
Implementation Method 1
an input buffer voltage setting circuit that changes the input voltage of the input buffer so as to be within a recommended input voltage range of the input buffer based on the change in the voltage of the pilot signal
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit includes a pilot voltage setting circuit that changes a voltage of a pilot signal in a stepwise manner, a processor that controls the pilot voltage setting circuit to change the voltage of the pilot signal, an input buffer that is disposed in a stage preceding a pilot signal input port of the processor, and an input buffer voltage setting circuit that changes an input voltage of the input buffer so as to be within a recommended input voltage range of the input buffer based on the change in the voltage of the pilot signal.