Isolated DC Charging Circuit for Fixed-Voltage Vehicle Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle electrical systems face challenges in operating at high voltages without excessive filter capacities, which can lead to dangerous electric shocks due to faulty insulation, and require complex configurations to manage accumulator voltages effectively.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle electrical system with a non-configurable accumulator connected in series without switches, coupled with a galvanically isolating DC-DC converter that isolates the DC charging connection from Cy capacitances, reducing the need for additional switches and allowing for a fixed nominal voltage, and incorporating a switchable connection circuit with direct and charging connection switches to manage energy flow safely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If filter capacitors are used in high-voltage vehicle electrical systems, then interference from switched components is diverted, but the risk of electric shock increases due to excessive capacitance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference diversionVSAvoidelectric shock risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A DC-DC converter is introduced as an intermediary component between the high-voltage battery and the DC charging port. This converter galvanically isolates the charging port from the battery's filter capacitors, allowing interference diversion to function while preventing dangerous capacitance from reaching the charging port, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If accumulator cells are connected in series without switches, then the nominal voltage remains constant and no additional switches are required, but the inability to reconfigure for different voltages reduces flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch reductionVSAvoidvoltage configuration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The DC-DC converter acts as a mediator that enables voltage adaptation between the fixed-voltage accumulator and the charging port. Instead of requiring switches to reconfigure the battery, the converter handles voltage transformation, thus maintaining simplicity while gaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the DC charging port is galvanically isolated from Cy capacitances, then the capacitance at the charging port is reduced, but additional switching components are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacitance reductionVSAvoidswitching components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the isolation function with the existing DC-DC converter architecture. The converter's switching mechanism serves dual purposes: maintaining galvanic isolation to reduce capacitance and enabling controlled power transfer, thereby achieving capacitance reduction without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration minimizes the risk of electric shock by reducing Cy capacitance and eliminating the need for reconfiguring the accumulator, enabling safe and efficient charging and operation of vehicle components while adapting to changing accumulator voltages without reconfiguration.

Implementation Method 1

the galvanic isolation of the DC charging connection from Cy capacitances is achieved in a simple way

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGalvanic isolation:

Implementation Method 2

filter capacitors (also called Cy capacitors) between the high-voltage potentials of the batteries on the one hand and the ground potential on the other. These serve to divert interference generated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3980292B1Vehicle on-board electrical system having a DC voltage charging connection
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP3980292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3980292B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle on-board electrical system (FB) equipped with a DC voltage charging connection (DC), a non-configurable battery (AK), an electrically isolating DC voltage converter (GW), and an electrical drive (EA). The battery (AK) is connected to a first side of the DC voltage converter (GW) via a switchable connecting circuit (VS, VS') to which a DC voltage charging connection (DC) is connected. The battery (AK) is connected to the electrical drive (EA) and to a second side of the DC voltage converter (GW) via a drive switch (S3). The connecting circuit (VS, VS') has a direct connecting switch (S1, S1') which switchably connects the battery (AK) to the first side of the DC voltage converter. The DC voltage charging connection (DC) is connected to the direct connecting switch (S1, S1') via a charging connection switch (S2, S2') of the connecting circuit (VS, VS').