Interleaved Power Converter Control for Low-Current Vehicle Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor-vehicle lighting systems with multi-phase interleaved power converters face inefficiency at low output currents due to the need to deactivate many elementary light sources for functions like low-beam or anti-dazzle high-beam lighting, leading to suboptimal power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A controller selectively activates only the strictly necessary number of elementary converters in the multi-phase interleaved power converter based on the required electrical power for the desired light beam, optimizing efficiency by adjusting the number of active converters according to the lighting function needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If all elementary converters are activated to provide high electrical current for high-intensity lighting functions, then the lighting system can achieve high light intensity and high electrical current output, but the efficiency of the power converter decreases at low output currents when many light sources are deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active elementary converters based on the required lighting intensity. The controller selectively activates or deactivates elementary converters to match the output current to the actual lighting demand, transitioning from a static all-or-nothing converter activation approach to a dynamic adaptive approach that optimizes efficiency across different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the power converter by adjusting the number of active elementary converters. This parameter change allows the system to operate at optimal efficiency points for different lighting functions, transforming the fixed converter configuration into a variable one that adapts to different current requirements.
2Power
If a fixed number of elementary converters are activated to ensure sufficient power for high-intensity functions, then the system can meet peak power demands, but the power consumption is suboptimal during low-intensity lighting functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of converter activation where the number of active elementary converters is adjusted in real-time based on the required power level. This dynamic approach replaces the fixed power delivery strategy, allowing the system to scale power consumption to match actual lighting requirements while maintaining the capability to deliver peak power when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of always activating all available converters (excessive action), the system activates only the necessary number of converters required for the current lighting function (partial action). This principle allows the system to avoid unnecessary power consumption during low-intensity operations while retaining the full power capability when high-intensity lighting is required.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lighting system includes a light source, a multi-phase interleaved power converter having a plurality of selectively activatable elementary converters, each of which is configured to generate an electrical signal having its own phase. The power converter is designed to supply electrical power to the light source, and controller is designed to selectively control each of the elementary converters of the power converter. The controller is designed to receive an emission command for the emission of a desired light beam by the light source and to activate a strictly necessary number of elementary converters of the power converter such that the power converter supplies, to the light source, an electrical power needed to emit the desired light beam.