Hybrid Vehicle Power Allocation Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric vehicles face challenges in efficiently allocating high-voltage electrical power between electric traction motors and additional high-voltage systems, such as active suspension systems, leading to potential oversizing of the battery pack or additional weight and packaging issues.
Innovation Solution
A controller dynamically allocates power from a high-voltage battery pack to electric traction motors and active suspension motors based on input signals from sensors, such as steering angle and throttle level, ensuring optimal power distribution and reducing the need for a dedicated additional high-voltage battery pack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated additional high-voltage battery pack is added to power the active suspension system, then the active suspension system can operate independently, but the vehicle weight increases and packaging space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply for the active suspension system with the existing high-voltage battery pack that powers the electric traction motor. The controller dynamically allocates power from the shared battery pack to both systems, eliminating the need for a separate battery pack while maintaining functional independence of the suspension system.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-voltage battery pack is designed to serve multiple functions: powering the electric traction motor for vehicle propulsion and powering the active suspension motors for suspension control. This multi-functionality allows a single battery pack to support multiple high-voltage systems without requiring dedicated power sources for each.
2Reliability
If the battery pack is oversized to account for additional high-voltage systems, then all systems have sufficient power available, but the battery pack weight and packaging space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements dynamic power allocation that adjusts in real-time based on the power requirements of the electric traction motor and active suspension system. The system monitors the state of charge and dynamically redistributes power between systems, allowing the battery pack to be sized for average rather than peak combined demand, thereby reducing overall battery capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by dynamically adjusting power distribution ratios between the traction motor and suspension motors based on real-time conditions. This allows the battery pack to operate within optimized charge/discharge cycles that reduce the required battery capacity while maintaining sufficient power availability for both systems.
3Weight of moving object
If power is dynamically allocated between traction motors and active suspension system, then battery pack size is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the state of charge of the high-voltage battery pack, the power demand of the electric traction motor, and the suspension control requirements. Based on this feedback, the controller dynamically adjusts power allocation to maintain optimal battery utilization while ensuring sufficient power for both systems, thereby optimizing battery size without excessive complexity.
4Weight of moving object
If a single high-voltage battery pack powers both traction motors and active suspension system, then vehicle weight is reduced, but power allocation management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a self-service approach where the controller automatically manages power allocation between the traction motor and suspension motors based on real-time conditions. The controller monitors battery state of charge and system demands, and autonomously distributes power without requiring manual intervention or complex external management systems, thereby reducing weight while keeping management complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a high-voltage (HV) battery pack, an HV electric traction motor, an additional HV system such as suspension motors of an active suspension system, sensors, and a controller in communication with the sensors. The controller dynamically allocates HV power from the battery pack between the traction motor(s) and the additional HV system using signals from the sensors. Signals may include steering angle, acceleration, and throttle request. A method includes measuring input signals using sensor(s) and processing the measured input signals, including comparing each of the measured input signals to a corresponding threshold. The method also includes allocating some of the HV power from the battery pack via between the traction motor(s) and the additional HV system when the values of any one of the input signals exceeds a corresponding threshold.