Electronic Vacuum Pump Threshold Control for Altitude Pressure Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining vacuum degree thresholds in electronic vacuum pumps of electric vehicles are inaccurate due to the inability to account for changes in external atmospheric pressure caused by varying altitudes, which can affect the service life of the vacuum pump.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize current and historical altitude signals to adjust vacuum degree thresholds based on actual working times, updating these thresholds when deviations exceed predetermined ranges, and incorporating atmospheric pressure adjustments when altitude data is unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vacuum pump operates for a long time to reach shutdown threshold under low atmospheric pressure, then the vacuum degree threshold is maintained, but the service life of the vacuum pump deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevacuum degree threshold maintenanceVSAvoidservice life of vacuum pump
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the shutdown threshold based on atmospheric pressure changes. When atmospheric pressure decreases (high altitude), the shutdown threshold is lowered proportionally, allowing the vacuum pump to stop earlier and reduce operating time, thus protecting service life while maintaining adequate vacuum performance for the current environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors atmospheric pressure and uses this feedback to adjust the shutdown threshold in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures the vacuum pump operates optimally across varying altitudes, preventing both over-operation (which reduces service life) and under-operation (which compromises vacuum performance)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the vacuum degree threshold is adjusted according to atmospheric pressure changes, then the service life of the vacuum pump is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice life of vacuum pumpVSAvoidthreshold adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the vehicle's existing atmospheric pressure sensor and altitude data to automatically determine threshold adjustments without requiring additional specialized sensors or complex calculation units. The control unit leverages available data to self-adjust the vacuum pump thresholds, minimizing added system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit performs multiple functions: it manages vacuum pump control, processes atmospheric pressure data, calculates threshold adjustments, and monitors system status. By consolidating these functions in an existing control unit rather than adding dedicated hardware, the patent avoids significant complexity increases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If GPS positioning data is used to determine altitude and adjust vacuum threshold, then the vacuum degree threshold accuracy is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when GPS signal is unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealtitude measurement accuracyVSAvoidvacuum threshold determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses atmospheric pressure as an intermediary parameter to determine altitude when GPS is unavailable. The atmospheric pressure sensor provides continuous data that correlates with altitude, serving as a reliable backup that maintains threshold determination accuracy without depending on GPS signal availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes the relationship between atmospheric pressure and altitude, and between atmospheric pressure and vacuum threshold adjustments. This preliminary calibration allows the system to immediately use atmospheric pressure data for threshold determination when GPS becomes unavailable, without requiring complex real-time calculations or external data sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4159560B1Method and apparatus for determining vacuum degree threshold value, and medium, program and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 GREAT WALL MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4159560B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4159560B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4159560B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for determining a vacuum degree threshold value. The method comprises: acquiring the current altitude signal of a vehicle; when the current altitude signal is invalid, acquiring a vacuum degree threshold value and a standard working time, which correspond to a historical altitude signal that was received by an electronic vacuum pump of the vehicle last time, wherein the vacuum degree threshold value comprises a vacuum degree turn-on threshold value and a vacuum degree turn-off threshold value, and the standard working time comprises a preset working time of the electronic vacuum pump corresponding to the historical altitude signal; acquiring the actual working time of the vacuum degree threshold value corresponding to the historical altitude signal of the electronic vacuum pump when the current working cycle is completed; and when the difference between the actual working time and the standard working time exceeds a preset range, updating, according to the difference, the vacuum degree threshold value corresponding to the historical altitude signal, and taking the updated vacuum degree threshold value as a target vacuum degree threshold value of the next working cycle. When an altitude signal is invalid, a target vacuum degree threshold value of the next working cycle can be determined. Further provided are an apparatus for determining a vacuum degree threshold value, and a computer storage medium, an electronic device and a computer program.