Integrated Charging Electronics for Electric Vehicle Power Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle devices with charging systems for electric and hybrid vehicles often have a high number of components due to separate charging electronics for contact-based and contactless charging units, which complicates the charging process and increases complexity.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle device with integrated charging electronics for both plug-based and contactless charging units, featuring a switching unit and rectifier for energy conversion, and a control unit for optimizing charging based on battery state and available time, allowing operators to select the charging method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate charging electronics are used for each charging unit, then each charging unit can be independently optimized, but the number of components increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent optimization capabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the charging electronics into a single shared unit that serves both the contact-based first charging unit and the contactless second charging unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate charging electronics for each charging unit, thereby reducing the total number of components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the ability to independently control each charging mode through a switching unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging electronics are designed as a universal component that can handle both contact-based and contactless charging operations. The switching unit enables the same charging electronics to be dynamically allocated to different charging units based on the selected charging mode,实现ing multi-functionality without requiring duplicate hardware for each charging type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a single integrated charging electronics is used for both charging units, then the number of components is reduced, but switching control between charging units is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidswitching control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The switching unit is designed to automatically detect the selected charging mode and autonomously route the charging current to the appropriate charging unit. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex control operations by the user, as the system automatically manages the switching between contact-based and contactless charging based on the operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If both charging units are always active, then charging flexibility is maximized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging flexibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically activates only the charging unit corresponding to the selected charging mode through the switching unit. When contact-based charging is selected, only the first charging unit is activated; when contactless charging is selected, only the second charging unit is activated. This dynamic activation strategy maintains charging flexibility by allowing mode selection while reducing energy consumption by keeping the non-selected charging unit inactive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution reduces the number of components, simplifies the charging process, and optimizes energy transfer by switching between charging methods based on current conditions, enhancing efficiency and user control.

Implementation Method 1

a second charging unit, which has an energy transmission unit for charging the rechargeable battery device, which is provided for contactless power transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2655122B1Motor vehicle device
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP2655122B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention is based on a motor vehicle device, in particular an electric motor vehicle device and/or hybrid motor vehicle device, having a charging device (10) for charging an accumulator device (11) which has a first charging unit (12) which has, for the purpose of charging the accumulator device (11), a plug element (13) which is provided for the transmission of energy using contacts, and a second charging unit (14) which has, for the purpose of charging the accumulator device (11), an energy transmitting unit (15) which is provided for the contactless transmission of energy. It is proposed that the charging device (10) has charging electronics (16) which are provided at least partially in one piece for the at least two charging units (12, 14).