Vehicle Power Supply Relay Disconnection Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power supply systems for electric and hybrid vehicles require a time-consuming process to check the relays on both the battery and capacitor sides, leading to inefficiencies in shutting down the power supply due to potential relay contact welding and the need for sequential diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that includes a voltage converter, relays for connection and disconnection between the capacitor and the voltage converter, and a control device to rapidly determine the disconnection status of these relays, allowing for simultaneous and efficient checking of both the secondary battery and capacitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If relay checking is performed sequentially on both battery side and capacitor side, then reliability of power supply shutdown is improved, but checking time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the checking operations for the battery-side relay and capacitor-side relay into a single simultaneous operation. The control device activates both relays at the same time and performs both checks concurrently, eliminating the sequential waiting time while maintaining comprehensive reliability verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device performs preliminary actions by pre-charging the capacitor and pre-activating both relays before the actual checking process begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the checking starts, all necessary conditions are already in place, allowing immediate simultaneous verification without sequential delays.
2Reliability
If capacitor is disconnected from voltage converter, then power supply can be shut down reliably, but checking process becomes time-consuming due to required recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the capacitor charged and ready throughout the checking process. Instead of disconnecting and requiring recharging, the system maintains continuous power availability while performing checks, allowing immediate resumption of normal operation after verification without time-consuming recharging cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor is pre-charged before the checking process begins and remains charged throughout. This preliminary charging action eliminates the need for time-consuming recharging operations during or after the check, as the capacitor is already in the required state for immediate operation.
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 solution enables a short period for checking the power supply system, reducing the time required for diagnosis and preventing relay welding by ensuring proper disconnection, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of the power supply.
Implementation Method 1
a voltage converter boosting a voltage of the secondary battery
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply system for driving a vehicle includes a battery, a boost converter boosting the voltage of the battery, a capacitor to which the voltage boosted by the boost converter is applied across the electrodes, system main relays provided between the capacitor and the output of the boost converter for connection and disconnection between the capacitor and the boost converter, and a control device controlling the boost converter and the system main relays. The control device, after giving an instruction for disconnection to the system main relays, causes the boost converter to change the voltage of the output to determine whether the system main relays are normally disconnected.