Vehicle Battery Charge Control for Reliable ECU Program Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, the power storage amount in the battery often becomes insufficient during stops, preventing control program updates due to insufficient power, which is not addressed by existing methods that focus solely on improving fuel efficiency during travel.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that monitor the battery's power storage amount and instruct the on-vehicle generator to charge the battery when it reaches a threshold value greater than the necessary power amount required for updates, ensuring sufficient power is stored for updates during vehicle stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the battery power storage amount is maintained at a low level to improve fuel efficiency during traveling, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the power storage amount becomes insufficient for control program updates during vehicle stops
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary charging of the battery before the vehicle stop by instructing the generator to charge the battery when the power storage amount falls below a threshold value. This advance action ensures sufficient power is available for control program updates during the stop, resolving the contradiction between maintaining low power levels for fuel efficiency and ensuring adequate power for updates.
2Reliability
If the battery power storage amount is increased to ensure sufficient power for control program updates, then update reliability is improved, but fuel efficiency during traveling deteriorates due to excessive charging cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the charging threshold value based on whether a control program update is scheduled. When an update is scheduled, the threshold is set higher to ensure sufficient power storage; when no update is scheduled, the threshold is lowered to reduce charging cycles and improve fuel efficiency. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between update reliability and fuel efficiency.
3Reliability
If the threshold value is set high to ensure sufficient power for updates, then update success rate is improved, but the frequency of charging instructions increases leading to more generator operations
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically changes the threshold value based on the update schedule status. The threshold is set to a first value (higher) when updates are scheduled and a second value (lower) when no updates are scheduled. This dynamic adjustment ensures high update success rates when needed while minimizing generator operations during normal operation.
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 ensures that the battery has enough power for control program updates during stops, preventing power shortages and allowing for both efficient fuel management and successful updates.
Implementation Method 1
an on-vehicle generator that supplies power to the on-vehicle battery
Implementation Method 2
a power storage amount of an on-vehicle battery during traveling
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes: an in-vehicle communication unit capable of communicating with an on-vehicle control device; and a control unit configured to control the in-vehicle communication unit. The control unit monitors a power storage amount of an on-vehicle battery during traveling, and executes a charge control for causing the in-vehicle communication unit to transmit an instruction of power generation to an on-vehicle generator that supplies power to the on-vehicle battery, when the power storage amount is reduced to reach a threshold value. The threshold value corresponds to a power amount greater than a necessary power amount required for an update process of a control program in the on-vehicle control device.