Vehicle Power Control for Open-Circuit Fault Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for diagnosing open-circuit faults in autonomous vehicle power systems are inadequate, particularly when large currents are involved, as they rely on current sensors with measurement errors, making it difficult to accurately detect faults in vehicle wiring.
Innovation Solution
A power control device with a processor that determines open-circuit faults by monitoring current flow through a power control switch, measuring output voltage, and assessing whether the electric load can be driven by auxiliary power, allowing for identification of fault locations and ensuring safety by disconnecting unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If current measurement method is used to detect open-circuit faults, then fault detection capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sensor errors in high current environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary diagnostic approach by using voltage measurements and power consumption calculations as mediators to indirectly detect open-circuit faults. Instead of directly measuring current through faulty wiring, the system measures voltage at key points and calculates power consumption to infer the presence and location of open-circuit faults, thereby avoiding the measurement precision limitations of direct current sensing in high current environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical direct current measurement system with an electronic calculation-based diagnostic system. By substituting direct current sensing with voltage measurement and power consumption calculation algorithms, the system achieves more precise fault detection without being constrained by sensor measurement errors in high current conditions.
2Reliability
If power redundancy is implemented for safety in autonomous vehicles, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the power control device universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions: normal power distribution, open-circuit fault detection, fault location identification, and diagnostic information generation. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high reliability through redundancy while avoiding the need for separate dedicated fault detection hardware, thereby controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The power control device performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own operational parameters (voltage, power consumption) and automatically identifying open-circuit faults. This self-service capability enables the redundant power system to monitor its own health status without requiring additional external diagnostic equipment, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power control device configured for diagnosing an open-circuit fault occurring in a power system of an autonomous vehicle and an open-circuit diagnosis method thereof, may include a power control switch that selectively connects or separates main power output from the first power supply and auxiliary power output from the second power supply, and a processor that determines a possibility of an open-circuit fault of a vehicle power source based on a current flowing through the power control switch and determines whether it is possible to drive an electric load with an output power of the second power supply alone and determine an open-circuit position based on an output of the first power supply when there is the possibility of the open-circuit fault.