Electric Vehicle Charging Inlet Switching for Power Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging methods for electric vehicles, particularly high-voltage batteries in electric buses, face inefficiencies as the charging speed decreases with the charge amount, and there is a need to optimize power supply using multiple inlets to improve charging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that switches from using two or more inlets to a single inlet for charging once a predetermined charge amount is reached, allowing the remaining inlets to supply power to application components, while controlling charging voltage and current to optimize charging efficiency and user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple inlets are used for charging high-voltage battery, then charging speed is improved, but charging efficiency decreases when battery charge amount increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically switches the number of active inlets based on the battery's charge amount. When charge amount is low, multiple inlets are used to maximize charging speed. When charge amount reaches a threshold, the system transitions to using fewer inlets to maintain optimal charging efficiency, thus adapting the charging configuration to the real-time state of the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching between different numbers of inlets (e.g., from two inlets to one inlet) based on the charge amount threshold. This parameter change optimizes the balance between charging speed and charging efficiency at different stages of battery charging.
2Loss of time
If multiple inlets are used for charging, then charging time is reduced, but power supply to application components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power supply function by separating the charging function and the power supply function to application components. Different numbers of inlets are allocated to different functions based on needs: more inlets for charging when battery charge amount is low, and fewer inlets for charging (with remaining inlets supplying power to applications) when battery charge amount is high.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet system is designed to serve multiple functions: both charging the high-voltage battery and supplying power to application components. By dynamically configuring which inlets are used for which function, the system achieves multi-functionality and versatility in power management.
3Loss of time
If charging voltage and current are increased to improve charging speed, then charging time is reduced, but charging efficiency decreases at high charge amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by switching between different charging configurations at different stages of charging. Initially, high voltage and current are applied through multiple inlets for fast charging. When the charge amount threshold is reached, the system periodically transitions to a different configuration with fewer inlets to maintain efficiency, thus applying different charging intensities at different time periods of the charging process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of charging electric vehicles includes charging a high-voltage battery unit with power supplied through two or more inlets. The method includes determining whether the charge amount of the high-voltage battery unit has reached a predetermined charge amount. The method includes charging the high-voltage battery unit with power supplied through one of the two or more inlets and controlling a first switching unit such that power supplied through the remaining inlets is provided to an application component when the charge amount of the high-voltage battery unit has reached the predetermined charge amount.