Electric Vehicle Control Device Power Cutoff for Mode Switching Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicles face instability when switching between discharging and charging modes due to unexpected events like software bugs, leading to potential control mode issues.

Innovation Solution

An electric vehicle configuration that includes a control device which cuts off electric power supply to itself for a specified time during mode switching, resetting the system to ensure stable operation between discharging and charging modes, and an input device operated by the user to command these switches, along with a switch control section to manage the power supply path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the control device maintains continuous power supply during mode switching, then the control device can respond quickly to switching commands, but the system becomes unstable due to software bugs and unexpected events

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching response speedVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by cutting off power supply to the control device for a specified time period during mode switching. This periodic power interruption resets the control device, eliminating accumulated errors and software bugs, thereby ensuring stable operation during charging-discharging mode transitions while maintaining adequate response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the control device is reset during mode switching, then control stability is improved, but the switching operation time is extended due to power cutoff and reset process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidswitching operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by initiating the power cutoff and reset process as part of the predetermined mode switching sequence. The control device is reset in advance before the actual mode transition is completed, ensuring that the reset is already performed when switching is needed, thus minimizing the impact on overall switching time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If frequent switching operations are performed by the user, then the system becomes more responsive to user commands, but the risk of control instability increases due to repeated mode transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser command responsivenessVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the control device to automatically reset itself during each mode switching operation without requiring external intervention. This self-resetting mechanism ensures that the control device is always in a stable, known state before executing new commands, allowing frequent user operations while maintaining control stability through automatic recovery from potential software errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2799275B1Electric vehicle, and method for operating control device for same
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK
  • EP2799275B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2799275B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2799275B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric vehicle 1 comprises an electric motor 5 for generating driving power for moving a vehicle body of the electric vehicle; a battery unit 60 for supplying electric power to the electric motor 5; a charging connector 49 connected to an outside electric power supply for supplying the electric power to be charged; a main controller 100 for controlling switching between a first connection state in which the battery unit 60 is connected to the electric motor 5 and a second connection state in which the battery unit 60 is connected to the charging connector 49; and a relay 101 for opening and closing a power supply path from the low-voltage battery 43 to the main controller 100; wherein a relay 101 opens the power supply path to cut -off electric power supply to the main controller 100 for a specified time, when the relay 101 switches one of the first connection state and the second connection state to the other connection state.