Vehicle Charging Device with Segmented Battery Pack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles with multiple battery packs face inefficiencies in charging time due to the need for each pack to be charged through separate charging ports, limiting the ability to utilize multiple external power sources and resulting in increased heat loss and convenience issues with connector alignment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle configuration with a single battery pack and multiple charging ports, where the power storage units can be electrically disconnected from each other, allowing charging via multiple external power sources, reducing charging current and improving efficiency, and strategically placing charging ports on opposite sides of the vehicle to facilitate connector alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple battery packs are used to increase cruising distance, then the battery capacity increases, but the charging time increases because each battery pack must be charged through separate charging ports
Solution Approach 1:
The single battery pack is divided into multiple power storage units that can be electrically disconnected from each other using switching relays. This segmentation allows each power storage unit to be charged independently through separate charging ports, enabling parallel charging operations that reduce total charging time while maintaining the total battery capacity needed for extended cruising distance
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple external power sources are provided around the vehicle, then charging infrastructure availability increases, but the ability to utilize multiple power sources simultaneously is limited by the single charging port configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is segmented into multiple independently controllable power storage units, each capable of accepting charge from separate external power sources. The switching relays enable selective electrical connection between power storage units and charging ports, allowing the vehicle to simultaneously utilize multiple external power sources available in the environment, thereby improving both adaptability to charging infrastructure and overall charging productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is designed with multiple charging ports and a control unit that can manage charging from different types of external power sources. The switching relays provide universal connectivity, allowing any external power source to be connected to any power storage unit, making the system adaptable to various charging infrastructures while maximizing charging speed through parallel operation
3Productivity
If high charging current is used to reduce charging time, then charging speed increases, but heat generation in current-carrying components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The total charging current is divided and distributed to multiple power storage units through separate charging ports. By segmenting the charging path, the current carried by each individual cable and component is reduced, which decreases I²R heat losses in the current-carrying components while maintaining the same total charging power and speed through parallel charging channels
4Volume of moving object
If charging ports are disposed close to each other, then vehicle design space is optimized, but connector alignment with multiple charging facilities becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The charging ports are positioned asymmetrically at different locations on the vehicle body rather than being clustered together. This asymmetric distribution allows charging connectors from multiple external facilities to approach and align with the ports from different directions, making it easier to connect to multiple charging sources simultaneously while still optimizing the overall vehicle space utilization
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 configuration allows for faster charging by distributing the charging current, reducing heat generation, and enhancing user convenience by simplifying the connection of charging connectors, even with multiple charging facilities.
Implementation Method 1
switching relays that switch to a first state in which the plurality of power storage units are electrically connected to each other or to a ground, or switch to a second state in which the plurality of power storage units are electrically disconnected from each other or from the ground
Implementation Method 2
a battery pack including a plurality of power storage units
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A vehicle (1) includes a battery pack (10) including battery stacks (11, 12) and switching relays (R1, R2), and charging ports (90a, 90b) that are respectively connected to the battery stacks (11, 12). The switching relays (R1, R2) are configured to switch between a first state where the battery stack (11) and the battery stack (12) are electrically connected to each other, and a second state where the battery stack (11) and the battery stack (12) are electrically disconnected from each other.