Onboard Solar Charging System Dynamic Battery Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing onboard charging systems for electric vehicles face inefficiencies in power conversion due to high step-up ratios in solar cell power charging, leading to increased power loss, especially when the solar cell output power and voltage vary, and current systems lack adaptability to different solar cell specifications.
Innovation Solution
An onboard charging system that calculates the step-up ratio of the solar cell power and dynamically selects either the main or auxiliary battery as the charging target based on this ratio, avoiding voltage stepping up when the step-up ratio is high and allowing it when low, thereby minimizing power loss, and includes a vehicle speed sensor to optimize charging decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the voltage of power generated by a solar cell is stepped up using a step-up converter to charge the main battery, then the main battery can be charged with solar power, but converter efficiency decreases and power loss increases as the step-up ratio increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically switches between two charging modes based on real-time conditions: (1) Direct charging mode where solar power charges the auxiliary battery without voltage conversion when step-up ratio would be high, and (2) Step-up charging mode where the step-up converter charges the main battery when step-up ratio is low. This dynamic adaptation optimizes charging efficiency while minimizing power loss in different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameters (charging target battery and voltage conversion mode) based on the step-up ratio calculation. When the step-up ratio exceeds a threshold, the system switches to direct charging of the auxiliary battery; when below the threshold, it uses the step-up converter to charge the main battery, thereby optimizing energy efficiency across different solar output conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the charging target battery is selected according to the output power of the solar cell, then charging can be performed adaptively, but the step-up ratio and thus the power loss in the step-up converter may increase even when output power is the same
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the step-up ratio based on the voltage of power generated by the solar cell and uses this feedback to determine the optimal charging target. By incorporating step-up ratio calculation into the charging control logic, the system provides feedback-driven adaptive charging that minimizes power loss while maintaining versatility in charging different battery types under various solar output conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a step-up converter is used to charge the main battery with solar power, then the main battery can be charged regardless of solar cell voltage, but converter efficiency decreases as step-up ratio increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging function into two independent pathways: (1) A direct charging pathway for the auxiliary battery that bypasses the step-up converter when step-up ratio would be high, and (2) A step-up converter pathway for the main battery when step-up ratio is low. This segmentation allows the system to maintain voltage adaptability while avoiding efficiency losses by selecting the appropriate charging pathway based on real-time conditions.
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 system effectively reduces power loss in the step-up converter by dynamically adjusting the charging target battery based on the step-up ratio and vehicle speed, ensuring efficient charging regardless of solar cell output variations and specifications, while also reducing system power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a main battery 3 that is charged with generated power that is power generated by a solar cell 2 mounted in a vehicle, the solar cell generating power by being subjected to sunlight
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An onboard charging system in which a main battery (3) is charged with generated power by a solar cell (2) after the generated power is stepped up in a voltage by a step-up converter (9) includes a step-up ratio calculating portion (62) configured to calculate a step-up ratio when stepping up the voltage with the step-up converter (9). The auxiliary battery (4) is set as a charging target battery if it is determined that the calculated step-up ratio is equal to or greater than the determination threshold value, and the main battery (3) is set as the charging target battery if it is not determined that the calculated step-up ratio is equal to or greater than the determination threshold value.