Star-Point Battery Terminal for Vehicle Electrical Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle electrical systems, especially for autonomous driving, there is a need for error-tolerant solutions that can reliably detect and isolate defective electrical consumers or networks to ensure continuous and safe power supply, as traditional coupling/disconnecting elements are inadequate in handling simultaneous adverse effects across coupled systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intelligent battery terminals that function as both coupling/disconnecting elements and multichannel electronic fuses, equipped with sensors and evaluation circuits, allowing for automatic error detection and feedback-free isolation of defective components, distributed across the positive pole of the voltage source, enhancing reliability and reducing thermal and electrical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional coupling/disconnecting elements are used to connect safety-relevant vehicle electrical systems, then the systems can be coupled together, but they cannot reliably detect and isolate defective consumers or networks, leading to simultaneous adverse effects across coupled systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle electrical system into multiple independent channels (first and second channels) with separate coupling/disconnecting elements (first and second elements) that can independently control power flow to different consumer groups. This segmentation allows defective consumers in one channel to be isolated without affecting other channels, thereby improving error tolerance while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling/disconnecting elements act as intermediary devices between the voltage source and consumer groups, providing feedback-based control to detect and isolate defective consumers. These intermediaries monitor system status and automatically disconnect problematic components, enhancing reliability without requiring complex manual intervention or system-wide redesign
2Reliability
If redundant energy sources are implemented for safety-relevant consumers, then error tolerance is improved, but the device complexity and cable requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundancy through segmented channel architecture where consumers can be supplied from different channels (first or second channel) depending on system status. This allows selective activation of redundant paths only when needed, reducing the need for permanent dual-cable configurations and minimizing cable weight while maintaining safety redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different power supply paths based on detected consumer status. When a consumer becomes defective, the coupling/disconnecting element automatically redirects power flow through alternative channels, enabling flexible use of redundant energy sources without requiring fixed dual-cable installations for all consumers
Data Source
AI summary
A battery terminal which implements an electronically controlled vehicle electrical system coupling-disconnecting functionality including an electronically controlled power distribution, the battery terminal including a number of switching elements, of which at least some are connected to one another in a star point shape, the star-point connection being provided to be connected to a positive pole of a voltage source.