Vehicle Battery SOC Control for Reprogramming Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing program capacity during reprogramming in vehicles often results in longer reprogramming times, leading to higher electric power consumption, which can cause program updates to be aborted due to insufficient battery power, especially when the battery is not sufficiently charged.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes a high-voltage battery, a low-voltage battery, a DC-DC converter, and a controller, where the controller adjusts the target state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery to a higher lower-limit value before reprogramming, ensuring sufficient electric power by reducing the voltage output of the high-voltage battery and supplying it to the low-voltage system for reprogramming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the program capacity is increased during reprogramming, then the program update capability is improved, but the reprogramming time increases leading to higher electric power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The controller preliminarily determines the power requirement for reprogramming before the actual update occurs. By calculating the needed power based on program capacity and estimated time, the system prepares in advance by adjusting charging parameters or selecting power sources, ensuring sufficient power is available during the extended reprogramming process without causing power deficiency aborts
2Quantity of substance
If the reprogramming time increases due to larger program capacity, then the program update capability is improved, but the electric power consumption increases causing potential power deficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the state of charge during reprogramming and uses feedback to adjust charging parameters in real-time. When the monitored charge level indicates potential power deficiency, the controller modifies charging current or voltage to ensure the battery maintains sufficient charge throughout the extended reprogramming operation, preventing aborts due to power insufficiency
3Adaptability or versatility
If the battery charge level is not sufficiently maintained, then the vehicle operation flexibility is improved, but the reprogramming may be aborted due to insufficient battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the target state of charge range based on reprogramming requirements. When reprogramming is detected or scheduled, the controller raises the lower-limit value of the target SOC range to ensure sufficient power availability. This dynamic adjustment balances vehicle operation flexibility with reprogramming reliability, allowing normal operation when not updating while guaranteeing power sufficiency during updates
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 approach reduces the likelihood of reprogramming being aborted due to electric power deficiency, ensuring successful updates by maintaining a sufficient charge level in the high-voltage battery during reprogramming.
Implementation Method 1
The DC-DC converter is coupled between the high-voltage system circuit and the low-voltage system circuit and is capable of reducing in voltage output electric power of the high-voltage battery and supplying the electric power reduced in voltage to the updater of the low-voltage system circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a high-voltage system circuit including a high-voltage battery, a low-voltage system circuit including a low-voltage battery and an updater, a DC-DC converter coupled between the high-voltage system circuit and the low-voltage system circuit, and a controller. The low-voltage battery has a lower output voltage than the high-voltage battery. The updater updates a program of an update-target device with electric power supplied from the low-voltage or high-voltage battery. The DC-DC converter is capable of reducing in voltage output electric power of the high-voltage battery and then supplying the electric power to the updater. The controller sets a target SOC range of the high-voltage battery and controls charging of the high-voltage battery based on the target SOC range. The controller changes a target SOC lower-limit value of the high-voltage battery to a value higher than a normal value when updating of the program of the update-target device is scheduled.