Shielded Signal Generator for Reproducible Coupling Loss Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional measurement methods for coupling attenuation in electrical systems of electric vehicles are susceptible to external interference, leading to non-reproducible results due to interference emissions from supply lines and shielding inefficiencies across the entire frequency range.

Innovation Solution

A signal generating device with a shielded housing, energy storage, and a signal generator that autonomously generates and transmits measurement signals, using load simulations to simulate the electrical system's impedances and minimize interference, ensuring accurate and reproducible measurements by isolating interference within the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional measurement methods are used to measure coupling attenuation in electrical systems, then measurement can be performed with simple setup, but measurement precision deteriorates due to susceptibility to external interference and non-reproducible results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement system is segmented into separate functional modules: a signal generator housed in a shielded enclosure, a separate measurement device, and distinct coupling interfaces. This segmentation isolates the interference-generating components from the sensitive measurement components, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A shielded housing acts as an intermediary barrier between the signal generator and the external electrical system. This intermediary structure blocks electromagnetic interference from affecting the measurement, improving precision without requiring complex active interference cancellation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If shielded housing is used to block interference emissions, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional shielding structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The signal generator is extracted and housed in a separate shielded enclosure, isolating the interference source from the measurement path. This extraction approach improves measurement precision by physically separating the harmful emissions while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through dedicated functional housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielded housing creates an electromagnetically inert environment for the signal generator, preventing interference emissions from affecting external systems. This passive shielding approach improves measurement reliability without requiring complex active interference management systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Measurement precision

If load simulations are used to simulate electrical system impedances, then measurement precision improves through accurate impedance matching, but device complexity increases due to additional simulation components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Load simulations create simplified electrical copies of the actual electrical system's impedance characteristics. These copying circuits replicate the essential impedance behavior without requiring the full complexity of the actual system, thereby improving measurement precision while adding minimal device complexity through dedicated simulation components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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 solution significantly reduces interference emissions, enhancing measurement accuracy and reproducibility by shielding the signal generation process and using load simulations to accurately represent the electrical system's impedances, thereby improving coupling loss measurement in electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a housing which has an electrically conductive material... significantly reduces interference emissions, enhancing measurement accuracy and reproducibility by shielding the signal generation process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Data Source

PatentEP3870978B1Signal generating device and measurement device
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 LISA DRAXLMAIER GMBH
  • EP3870978B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3870978B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3870978B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a signal generating device (100) for generating measurement signals (108) for electrical systems, said device comprising: a housing (101) which comprises an electrically conductive material; an energy storage device (102) which is located in the housing; a data interface (104) which is located on the housing and which is designed to receive signal data; a coupling interface (106) which is located on the housing and which can be coupled to the electrical system; and a signal generator (107) which is located in the housing and which is coupled to the electrical energy storage device and the data interface and the coupling interface, wherein the signal generator is designed to generate the measurement signals based on the signal data and to output same via the coupling interface. The present invention also relates to a corresponding measurement device.