Electronic Steering Inverter Redundancy with Lower-Power Backup
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic steering systems face challenges with complexity and thermal load due to redundant inverters having the same power capabilities, leading to potential loss of steering capability and discomfort during unexpected operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an electronic steering system with at least three inverters, where the third inverter has lower power capabilities than the first and second inverters, providing dual redundancy while ensuring the system can maintain 133% of nominal actuator power demand, thus reducing complexity and thermal load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant inverters with the same power capabilities are implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and thermal load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different power capabilities to different inverters based on their specific roles. The first and second inverters are configured with higher power capabilities to handle primary steering operations, while the third inverter is configured with lower power capabilities for backup operations. This differentiated configuration reduces overall system complexity and thermal load while maintaining reliability through selective redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the power capability parameter of the third inverter to be lower than that of the first and second inverters. The control device dynamically adjusts which inverter operates at full power based on operational needs, allowing the system to maintain high availability while reducing the cumulative thermal load and complexity associated with having all inverters at maximum power capacity.
2Reliability
If full-power redundant inverters are used, then steering capability is maintained during failures, but thermal load and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring the third inverter with lower power capabilities specifically tailored for backup operations rather than full-power continuous operation. This localized power capability differentiation reduces the thermal load generated by the redundant inverter while ensuring sufficient power is available to maintain steering capability during failures of the primary inverters.
3Reliability
If multiple high-power inverters are implemented, then system reliability is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by reducing the power capability parameter of the third inverter compared to the first and second inverters. Since inverter size is directly related to power capability, this parameter change results in a smaller physical footprint for the third inverter, thereby reducing overall space requirements while maintaining system availability through selective redundancy.
Data Source
AI summary
An example electronic steering system for a vehicle includes a first inverter coupled to a first winding set of an electric motor, the first inverter to provide first power to the first winding set, a second inverter coupled to a second winding set of the electric motor, the second inverter to provide second power to the second winding set, and a third inverter including first power electronics coupled to the first winding set, the first power electronics to provide third power to the first winding set, second power electronics coupled to the second winding set, the second power electronics to provide fourth power to the second winding set, and a control device to cause the first power electronics to provide the third power and a portion of the first power to the first winding set after limited operating condition of the first inverter.