Outdoor Unit DC-DC Converter Current Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outdoor units (ODUs) with multiple ports face challenges in meeting the minimum supply current requirements of indoor units (IDUs) while maintaining low power consumption and hardware costs, as existing power supply networks either consume excessive power or increase hardware costs with additional converters.
Innovation Solution
The ODU incorporates a DC-DC converter and multiple ports connected to circuit blocks, allowing current sharing to meet IDU current requirements without significantly increasing power consumption or hardware costs, with the DC-DC converter providing stable currents to essential components and IDUs providing additional current as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple voltage regulators are used in a current-sharing configuration, then stable currents can be provided to circuit blocks, but the total power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple voltage regulators are merged into a single DC-DC converter that receives power from multiple IDUs and provides stable current to circuit blocks. This consolidation maintains the stable current function while reducing the power overhead associated with multiple separate regulator components.
Solution Approach 2:
The DC-DC converter is designed to perform multiple functions: it consolidates power from multiple IDUs, regulates voltage, and provides stable current to various circuit blocks. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate voltage regulators at each port, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a DC-DC converter is used to reduce output voltage and power consumption, then total power consumption decreases, but some IDUs do not provide minimum supply currents when voltages differ
Solution Approach 1:
The DC-DC converter acts as an intermediary between multiple IDUs and the circuit blocks. It receives power from multiple IDUs with different voltages, performs voltage conversion and current regulation, and provides stable current to the circuit blocks. This intermediary function ensures that IDUs with different voltages can all contribute power without compromising the minimum current requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The DC-DC converter dynamically adjusts its operating parameters (voltage conversion ratio, current distribution) based on the input conditions from different IDUs. When IDUs provide different voltages, the converter modifies its conversion ratio to ensure that each IDU contributes adequate current while meeting the minimum supply current requirements for all connected IDUs.
3Reliability
If resistors are added to power providing paths to meet minimum supply currents, then IDU current requirements are met, but total power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passive resistor-based current control method is replaced with an active DC-DC converter that uses electronic control to manage current distribution. Instead of using resistors to drop voltage and control current (which dissipates power as heat), the converter uses active switching and control circuitry to efficiently distribute current while meeting minimum supply requirements, significantly reducing power waste.
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 reduces current consumption by approximately 29.9% compared to conventional systems, meeting industry standards for low power and hardware costs while ensuring minimum supply currents are met, and can be scaled for any number of ports.
Implementation Method 1
The DC-DC converter is configured to provide current to the plurality of circuit blocks. The plurality of ports is configured to provide current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of ports is configured to provide current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter via a diode
Data Source
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AI summary
An out-door unit (600) with multiple ports comprises a plurality of circuit blocks, a DC-DC converter and a plurality of ports (601 ... 604). The DC-DC converter is configured to provide current to the plurality of circuit blocks. The plurality of ports is connected to a plurality of in-door units (21 ... 24) respectively via a diode and provides current from the plurality of in-door units to the DC-DC converter via a diode respectively. At least one of the plurality of ports is connected to a first circuit block of the plurality of circuit blocks to provide current to the first circuit block.