Power Controller Segmentation for Heat and Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power controller experiences responsiveness issues and control delays due to its dependence on the shunt stage count, which can lead to instability in bus voltage and increased heat generation, preventing size and weight reduction.
Innovation Solution
A power controller configuration that includes a processing unit to compute operation amounts and a signal generator to determine the switching-element count and duty ratio, allowing for distributed switching operations among multiple switching elements, reducing individual switching times and eliminating control delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the power controller drives all switching elements successively one stage after another for each control cycle, then the switching times of individual switching elements are reduced to a fraction of 1 over the shunt stage count, but the time required to drive all switching elements is equivalent to the shunt stage count for each control cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shunt stage control into multiple independent groups, where each group can be driven simultaneously. Instead of sequentially driving all switching elements one by one, the control is segmented into parallel groups, reducing the total control time while maintaining heat distribution benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of parallel processing by organizing switching elements into multiple groups that operate simultaneously. This transforms the sequential one-dimensional control approach into a multi-dimensional parallel control structure, where control signals are distributed across multiple groups in parallel.
2Speed
If the power controller increases the switching times of individual switching elements to improve responsiveness, then the control delay is reduced, but the maximum heat release from individual switching elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the switching elements into multiple groups that operate in parallel, the system achieves fast overall responsiveness without requiring any single switching element to operate at maximum speed. The segmentation distributes the time-critical operations across multiple parallel channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by having different groups of switching elements operate at different times within each control cycle. Not all switching elements need to respond at the same instant, allowing the system to achieve adequate responsiveness without maximizing the switching speed of every individual element.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the power controller uses a larger capacity capacitor to place bus voltage variation within tolerance, then the stability is improved, but the size and weight of the power controller increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power control function into multiple independent groups that can operate autonomously. This segmentation reduces the need for large energy storage capacitors because the distributed control structure can maintain voltage stability through coordinated operation of multiple smaller control units rather than relying on a single large capacitor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from individual stage-by-stage switching to group-based parallel switching. This parameter change in the control strategy allows for reduced capacitor capacity while maintaining voltage stability, as the parallel group operation provides faster overall response and better voltage regulation.
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 results in a highly responsive power controller with reduced size, weight, and heat generation, while maintaining stable bus voltage control.
Implementation Method 1
The switching operation (hereinafter, referred to as switching) of the switching element between on and off involves generation of heat caused by switching losses
Data Source
AI summary
A power controller includes: a plurality of switching elements provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of power supplies, and each of which switches on or off to switch between supplying and stopping supplying a load with electric power from a corresponding one of the plurality of power supplies; a processing unit which computes an operation amount for adjusting an amount of the electric power supplied to the load; and a signal generator which determines, for each control, a switching-element count indicating a total number of switching elements to be turned on among the plurality of switching elements, and a duty ratio of the switching-element count, based on the operation amount, and generates a drive signal for driving the plurality of switching elements successively, based on the switching-element count and the duty ratio.