High-Voltage Cable Connector Layout to Limit Cabin EMI

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing connection structures between high-voltage cables and control units in electric vehicles allow electromagnetic waves to propagate into the passenger compartment, complicating and costing more to mitigate this issue, and require a service plug near the compartment for maintenance, which is not safe.

Innovation Solution

A high-voltage cable connection structure that uses a connector with insulating bushings and tubes to disconnect high-voltage cables from the control unit outside the passenger compartment, eliminating the need for a service plug and reducing electromagnetic interference with a simple configuration, and includes an interlock device to ensure safe maintenance by shutting off the high-voltage circuit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the service plug is disposed near the passenger compartment for maintenance access, then maintenance of the high-voltage circuit can be performed, but electromagnetic waves propagate into the passenger compartment requiring additional shielding parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high-voltage control unit is extracted from the passenger compartment and relocated to the engine compartment, separating the high-voltage equipment from the passenger space. This eliminates the need for service plugs near the passenger compartment while preventing electromagnetic wave propagation into the passenger area, as the entire control unit is positioned outside the affected zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If additional parts are added to reduce electromagnetic wave propagation into the passenger compartment, then electromagnetic interference is mitigated, but the structure becomes more complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic wave propagationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding shielding parts or filters to the existing connector structure, the solution extracts the entire high-voltage control unit from the passenger compartment and relocates it to the engine compartment. This eliminates the need for additional electromagnetic shielding components, maintaining structural simplicity while effectively preventing electromagnetic wave propagation into the passenger area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the service plug is removed from the passenger compartment to reduce electromagnetic interference, then electromagnetic wave propagation is reduced, but maintenance access becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic wave propagationVSAvoidmaintenance access
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The high-voltage control unit is extracted from the passenger compartment and relocated to the engine compartment, where maintenance can be performed on the connector without requiring service plugs near the passenger area. This relocation maintains ease of maintenance access while eliminating electromagnetic wave propagation into the passenger compartment, as all high-voltage components are positioned outside the passenger space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4234297B1High-voltage cable connection structure
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4234297B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4234297B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4234297B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A high-voltage cable connection structure includes a first connector (40) to which a plurality of first high-voltage cables (30), each connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of terminals of a high-voltage battery, are connected, and a connector receptacle (21) provided in a high-voltage control unit (20) disposed outside a vehicle passenger compartment. Inserting the first connector (40) into and pulling out the first connector (40) from the connector receptacle (21) allows connection and disconnection between the plurality of first high-voltage cables (30) and the high-voltage control unit (20).