Vehicle Power Supply Relay Cleaning Using Capacitor Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control devices fail to effectively utilize the power stored in a capacitor after the vehicle ignition is turned off, leading to wastage of energy.
Innovation Solution
A control device that initiates a discharge process of the capacitor after ignition off, simultaneously performing a fixation prevention process of the relay, utilizing the discharged power for contact cleaning and diagnostics, thereby optimizing the utilization of capacitor power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the capacitor is discharged to ground after ignition off, then the capacitor power is dissipated, but the power is not effectively utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste of capacitor power (which would otherwise be dissipated to ground) into a beneficial resource by utilizing it for relay contact cleaning. The discharge current that was previously wasted is now redirected through the relay contacts, serving a useful function while eliminating energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-maintenance by using its own discharged capacitor power to clean the relay contacts. The capacitor's inherent discharge function is repurposed to serve the dual purpose of energy dissipation and contact maintenance, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external power sources.
2Reliability
If the relay fixation prevention process is performed separately from the discharge process, then the relay contacts are maintained, but the capacitor power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate processes - the relay fixation prevention process and the capacitor discharge process - into a single integrated operation. By combining these functions, the system achieves both relay contact maintenance and capacitor power utilization simultaneously, eliminating the waste of capacitor power while ensuring relay reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor discharge process is given multiple functions: it serves both as the traditional discharge-to-ground function and as a contact cleaning mechanism. This multi-functionality allows the same discharge current to perform both energy dissipation and relay maintenance tasks.
3Device complexity
If the capacitor power is not utilized after ignition off, then the system is simple, but energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste of capacitor power into a beneficial contact cleaning process. By redirecting the discharge current through the relay contacts, the system eliminates energy waste while maintaining simplicity in the control logic - the same discharge circuit serves dual purposes.
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
The discharged power from the capacitor is effectively utilized for contact cleaning and diagnostics, reducing the time required for the capacitor to reach a discharge completion state.
Implementation Method 1
a redundant power supply that includes a capacitor for storing power, and supplies power to the load from the capacitor when the main power supply fails
Implementation Method 2
a relay that switches a power supply source to the load to any of the main power supply and the redundant power supply
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for an in-vehicle power supply system, comprising: a main power supply that supplies electric power to a load mounted on a vehicle; a redundant power supply that includes a capacitor for storing electric power and supplies electric power from the capacitor to the load when the main power supply fails; and a relay that switches the power supply source to the load to either the main power supply or the redundant power supply, wherein after the ignition of the vehicle is turned off, the discharge process of the capacitor is started, and the fixation prevention process of the relay using the electric power of the capacitor is executed during the discharging process of the capacitor.