Switching Device for Motor Vehicle Voltage Level Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for linking high-power drive voltage levels with vehicle electrical systems in motor vehicles are complex, costly, and heavy due to the need for additional adaptive devices like DC/DC converters, which result in increased installation space, weight, and system complexity.
Innovation Solution
A switching device with a coupling circuit that directly connects the electrical machine to the vehicle electrical system, using a switching unit with finite impedance, allowing for adjustable power flow independent of the electrical machine's mechanical output, and integrating additional functionality into the power converter or inverter portion, eliminating the need for additional magnetic elements and semiconductor components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is used to connect various voltage levels, then voltage level coupling is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DC/DC converter functionality with the existing power converter that controls the electrical machine. Instead of using separate adaptive devices for voltage level coupling, the control unit integrates both functions, allowing the power converter to perform both motor control and voltage transformation tasks, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining voltage level coupling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The power converter is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a motor control device for the electrical machine and as a DC/DC converter for voltage level adaptation. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate adaptive devices, reducing overall system complexity while achieving both motor control and voltage coupling objectives
2Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is used to connect various voltage levels, then voltage level coupling is achieved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the DC/DC converter with the existing power converter housing and components. By integrating both functions into a single device, the installation space required is reduced to that of one power converter unit rather than requiring separate spaces for both the power converter and DC/DC converter, thereby significantly reducing overall installation space
3Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is used to connect various voltage levels, then voltage level coupling is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DC/DC converter functionality with the existing power converter into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate converter housings, magnetic elements, and semiconductor components, thereby reducing the total weight by the amount of the eliminated separate DC/DC converter components
4Adaptability or versatility
If a DC/DC converter is used to connect various voltage levels, then voltage level coupling is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates DC/DC converter functionality into the existing power converter, eliminating the need to manufacture and purchase separate adaptive devices. This reduces system cost by removing the need for additional magnetic elements, semiconductor components, cooling systems, and monitoring devices that would be required for a separate DC/DC converter
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the DC/DC converter functionality from the set of required components and integrates it into the existing power converter control unit. This extraction and integration approach eliminates the need for separate adaptive devices and their associated costs, thereby reducing overall system manufacturing cost
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 reduces system complexity, cost, and weight by more than two-thirds, enabling efficient energy conversion and providing emergency operation capabilities, while minimizing storage losses and allowing direct power conversion between the vehicle electrical system and mechanical output.
Implementation Method 1
a switching unit which has at least one non-diminishing, finite impedance
Data Source
AI summary
Switching device for linking various electrical voltage levels in a motor vehicle, in which a drive voltage level has an electric drive machine which may be actuated by a power converter, and a drive energy accumulator which is associated with an intermediate circuit, and in which the drive voltage level is connected to a vehicle electrical system voltage level by an electrical converter. The electrical converter is designed as a coupling circuit which is connected at the drive side to at least one node point of a winding circuit of the electric drive machine and to a voltage potential relative to the intermediate circuit. The coupling circuit is connected at the vehicle electrical system side to the vehicle electrical system via a switching unit which has at least one non-diminishing, finite impedance.