Transformerless Power Supply System Using Switching Units

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply systems that prevent short-circuit currents from secondary batteries often require large and heavy isolation transformers, making them impractical for certain applications.

Innovation Solution

A power supply system that uses a configuration of energization switching units and a control device to detect and control the switching states of these units, preventing short-circuit currents without the need for a transformer, by ensuring the electric storage device and connecting terminal area remain in a non-conductive state.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an isolation transformer is used to prevent short-circuit current from the secondary battery, then short circuit prevention is achieved, but the system becomes large-sized and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshort circuit preventionVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the isolation transformer from the power supply system, replacing it with a control mechanism that uses switching units and control signals to prevent short-circuit currents. This eliminates the heavy transformer while maintaining safety functionality through electronic control of the power flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic isolation provided by the transformer with an electronic control system consisting of switching units and a control device. The control device detects connection states and generates control signals to open/close switching units, substituting passive electromagnetic isolation with active electronic control to achieve the same safety objective without the weight penalty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If an isolation transformer is used to prevent short-circuit current from the secondary battery, then short circuit prevention is achieved, but the system becomes large-sized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshort circuit preventionVSAvoidsystem size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the isolation transformer from the power supply system, replacing it with a control mechanism that uses switching units and control signals to prevent short-circuit currents. This eliminates the heavy transformer while maintaining safety functionality through electronic control of the power flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical/electromagnetic isolation provided by the transformer with an electronic control system consisting of switching units and a control device. The control device detects connection states and generates control signals to open/close switching units, substituting passive electromagnetic isolation with active electronic control to achieve the same safety objective without the weight penalty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Weight of stationary object

If multiple switching units and control detection mechanisms are added to eliminate the transformer, then system size and weight are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem weightVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the power supply system into distinct functional modules: connection detection units, control signal generation units, and switching units. Each component has a specific function, and they work together in a coordinated manner. This modular segmentation makes the complex control system more manageable and easier to implement while achieving transformerless operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9718361B2Power supply system

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A power supply system includes an electric storage device, a connecting terminal area, a main energization line, a sub-energization line, a first energization switching unit for switching between an energized state and a non-energized state of an energization line of the main energization line connecting the electric storage device and a loading apparatus, a second energization switching unit for switching between an energized state and a non-energized state of an energization line of the main energization line connecting a branched part and the connecting terminal area, a third energization switching unit for switching between an energized state and a non-energized state of an energization line of the main energization line connecting the second energization switching unit and the connecting terminal area, and a control device that detects switching states of the first, second and third energization switching units and that controls their switching operations.