Electronic Control Device Power Supply Circuit State Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power supply control devices for electronic control units (ECUs) face challenges in maintaining appropriate voltage and current supply to microcontrollers at low battery voltages, leading to potential reset signals and operational issues when ground failures occur in sensor power supplies within the guaranteed battery voltage range, which increases costs and affects normal device function.
Innovation Solution
The electronic control device incorporates a circuit state switching unit that uses a state detection signal from the third power supply circuit to manage the third power supply circuit's operating state, preventing reset signals from being generated at low battery voltages and ensuring continuous voltage and current supply to microcontrollers, even during ground failures in sensor power supplies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a step-down switching regulator is used to convert battery voltage to intermediate voltage, then power conversion efficiency is improved, but output voltage ripple increases which may cause problems for analog-to-digital conversion circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a series regulator as an intermediary component between the step-down switching regulator and the power supply target. The series regulator smooths the intermediate voltage with larger ripple from the switching regulator, providing stable voltage to sensitive circuits like ADCs while maintaining the high efficiency benefit of the switching regulator.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply control device is divided into two independent power supply circuits: a first power supply circuit using a step-down switching regulator for high efficiency, and a second power supply circuit using a series regulator for low ripple. This segmentation allows each circuit to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
2Reliability
If transistor area is increased to ensure operation at low battery voltage, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the power supply circuits by introducing adaptive control that adjusts circuit behavior based on battery voltage levels. At low battery voltages, the control unit modifies the operation of the switching regulator and series regulator to maintain stable output without requiring larger transistor areas, thus maintaining cost-effectiveness while ensuring reliability.
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
This solution allows the electronic control device to function normally without generating reset signals at low battery voltages, ensuring appropriate voltage and current supply to microcontrollers and preventing unexpected operations, while maintaining a low cost structure by avoiding excessive transistor area increases.
Implementation Method 1
the first power supply 1 is a step-down switching regulator and steps down a first power supply input voltage 44 to a first power supply output voltage 17
Implementation Method 2
the second power supply 2 is a series regulator that supplies a voltage to a microcontroller 5
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention addresses the problems of: providing a power supply system that does not cause a microcontroller to reset even when an abnormality occurs in the output of a third power supply within a battery voltage range in which an electronic control device ensures operation; and achieving said power supply system at low cost. An electronic control device is provided with: a first power supply circuit that outputs a predetermined voltage; a second power supply circuit that is disposed downstream from the first power supply circuit and that outputs a predetermined voltage; and a third power supply circuit that is disposed downstream from the first power supply circuit and that outputs a predetermined voltage. The electronic control device is characterized by comprising a means that makes it possible to switch the circuit operation state of the third power supply circuit in accordance with the states of the first to third power supply circuits. The electronic control device is also characterized by comprising a means that makes it possible to switch the circuit operation state of the third power supply circuit using only a state detection signal that is generated from the state of the third power supply circuit.