Heating Device Voltage Measurement via Separate Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing the heating device and its electrical connections in a motor vehicle drive system are imprecise, leading to potential thermal overload and damage due to large tolerances in monitoring, making it difficult to distinguish errors in the heating device from those in the supply connections.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of separate measuring lines connected directly to the heating device allows for precise voltage measurement, avoiding the influence of supply line resistance and enabling accurate error detection by comparing the measured voltage to a default value with low tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If voltage measurement is performed through supply connections, then the heating device can be monitored, but the measurement precision is poor due to supply line resistance influencing the measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage measurement precisionVSAvoidelectrical connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connection system is segmented into separate supply connections and measuring lines. The supply connections (6, 7) deliver power to the heating device (3), while separate measuring lines (23, 24) independently measure the voltage at the heating device terminals (4, 5). This segmentation eliminates the interference of supply line resistance on voltage measurements, allowing precise diagnosis of connection faults without requiring a more complex integrated measurement system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If large tolerances are used in monitoring the heating device, then the monitoring system is simpler to implement, but thermal overload and damage may occur due to imprecise error detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating safetyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit (8) continuously receives feedback from the measuring lines (23, 24) about the actual voltage at the heating device terminals (4, 5). By comparing this measured voltage with the commanded voltage, the system can detect connection faults with high precision. This feedback mechanism enables the use of tight tolerances for safe operation while maintaining a relatively simple monitoring architecture, as the separate measuring lines provide accurate real-time data for fault detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If separate measuring lines are implemented for voltage measurement, then error detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection precisionVSAvoidelectrical connection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring lines (23, 24) act as intermediaries between the control unit (8) and the heating device terminals (4, 5). These dedicated measuring lines provide a separate communication path for voltage measurement that does not interfere with the power supply function. This intermediary approach enables precise fault detection by isolating the measurement function from the power delivery function, while the modular design keeps the overall system complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach ensures a more precise diagnosis of the heating device and its electrical connections, enhancing the operating safety of the drive device by accurately identifying errors in the supply connections and preventing thermal overload.

Implementation Method 1

a heating device (3) for heating the exhaust gas aftertreatment device (2), wherein the electrical connections (4, 5) of the heating device (3) are connected via electrical supply connections (6, 7) to a control unit (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a voltage applied to the heating device (3) is measured by the control unit (8) by means of measuring lines (23, 24) separate from the supply connections (6, 7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP4352342B1Process for operating a propulsion system for a motor vehicle as well as corresponding propulsion system
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 AUDI AG
  • EP4352342B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device (1) for a motor vehicle, which drive device has an exhaust gas-generating drive assembly, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device (2) and a heating device (3) for heating the exhaust gas aftertreatment device (2), wherein electrical terminals (4, 5) of the heating device (3) are electrically connected to a controller (8) via electrical supply connections (6, 7). Provision is made here for a voltage applied to the heating device (3) to be measured by the controller (8) by means of measurement lines (23, 24) which are separate from the supply connections (6, 7) and are electrically connected to the controller (8) at one end and to the terminals (4, 5) at the other end, wherein a fault in the supply connections (6, 7) is identified when the measured voltage deviates from a prespecified value. The invention also relates to a drive device (1) for a motor vehicle.