High Voltage Network Control Unit Reset Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-voltage networks in motor vehicles are prone to failure due to short-term resets of the control unit, leading to unintended deactivation and potential damage to the high-voltage battery, which affects the robustness and availability of the system.

Innovation Solution

A method that checks the type of reset and uses a two-stage detection algorithm to reconstruct the last valid state of the high-voltage network after an internal reset, allowing the system to resume operation without switching off the network, thereby increasing robustness and availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the control unit is restarted after reset to restore functions, then system functionality is improved, but the risk of battery damage increases due to contactor operation under current load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidbattery damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by reconstructing the last valid operational state before allowing contactors to close. By recovering the stored state information and verifying system readiness beforehand, the patent ensures that contactors only operate under safe conditions, preventing battery damage while restoring full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms to monitor system state after reset and before contactor operation. The control unit continuously checks whether the high-voltage network is in a safe state for contactor closure, using feedback from system sensors and state reconstruction to prevent harmful operations that could damage the battery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the high-voltage network state is reconstructed after internal reset, then system availability is improved, but complexity of reset handling increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidreset handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces complexity through segmentation by creating distinct handling paths for external and internal resets. The system uses simple classification (external vs. internal) to route to appropriate recovery procedures, avoiding the need for complex decision logic while improving availability through selective state reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating a reconstructed copy of the last valid system state from stored information. This copied state allows the system to resume operation without reinitializing all components, simplifying the reset handling process while maintaining high availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3096970B1Method for operating a high voltage network of a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 AUDI AG
  • EP3096970B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3096970B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a high voltage network (3) of a motor vehicle (1), said high voltage network having a higher voltage than a low voltage network (2), wherein a high voltage network unit (14) of a control device (13) of the motor vehicle (1) is used, wherein, when the control device (13) is restarted after same is reset, the type of reset is analysed and if a reset has been triggered from within the control device (13) and if a comparison made between a saved state of the high voltage network (3) before the reset and a current state of the high voltage network (3) indicates a match, said comparison being carried out in an initialisation phase of the high voltage unit (14), the operation of the high voltage network unit (14) for the matched state is resumed, without the high voltage network (3) being shut down.