Vehicle Circuit Protector Timer Sleep Mode

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional protectors for vehicle electricity supply circuits fail to accurately estimate temperature immediately after vehicle ignition is turned off, leading to premature switching to sleep mode due to environmental heat, resulting in inaccurate temperature estimation when the load is activated again.

Innovation Solution

A protector with a temperature estimation unit that calculates rising and lowering temperatures based on current detection and elapsed time, and a timer to switch the controller to a low power consumption mode after a predetermined time, ensuring accurate temperature detection and preventing premature sleep mode activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the controller switches to sleep mode when the estimated temperature drops to ambient temperature, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature estimation becomes inaccurate when high-temperature air accumulates in the engine room after ignition is turned off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtemperature estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The timer starts counting immediately when the load is turned off, preparing for the potential sleep mode transition. This preliminary timing action ensures that the controller waits for the predetermined period (allowing high-temperature air to dissipate) before switching to sleep mode, thus preventing premature mode switching that would cause inaccurate temperature estimation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The timer acts as an intermediary mechanism between the load shutdown event and the sleep mode transition. It introduces a predetermined time delay that allows the engine room environment to stabilize thermally before the controller enters sleep mode, thereby mediating between power consumption reduction and temperature estimation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the controller operates continuously to maintain accurate temperature estimation, then temperature monitoring accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature estimation accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller alternates between normal operation mode and sleep mode based on timer conditions. During normal operation, temperature estimation is performed accurately; during sleep mode, power consumption is reduced. This periodic switching allows the system to balance between measurement precision and energy consumption over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes its operational parameters by switching between normal mode and sleep mode. This parameter change is controlled by the timer, which ensures that the transition occurs only after the predetermined period has elapsed, allowing thermal conditions to stabilize before reducing monitoring intensity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If the controller enters sleep mode immediately after load shutdown, then power consumption is reduced, but the controller may switch to sleep mode before the electricity supply circuit temperature actually drops to ambient temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtemperature monitoring reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The timer initiates a predetermined waiting period immediately upon load shutdown, performing a preliminary action that prevents premature sleep mode entry. This ensures that the controller waits for environmental conditions to stabilize before reducing power consumption, thereby maintaining temperature monitoring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The predetermined time period set by the timer acts as a cushioning period that protects against premature sleep mode transition. It provides a buffer that accounts for the time required for high-temperature air to dissipate from the engine room, ensuring reliable temperature monitoring before power consumption is reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Prevents premature switching to sleep mode by ensuring the electricity supply circuit temperature drops to ambient levels before entering low power consumption mode, maintaining accurate temperature estimation and proper control of the load.

Implementation Method 1

a current detector for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the quantities of heat generation and heat radiation of an electricity supply circuit are calculated on the basis of a current flowing to the load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

the quantities of heat generation and heat radiation of an electricity supply circuit are calculated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2843792B1Protector for electricity supply circuit
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP2843792B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2843792B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2843792B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A protector for an electricity supply circuit includes: a power switch (11) capable to switch between connection and disconnection of the electricity supply circuit; a controller (12) configured to output a switching command signal to the power switch (11) in accordance with an input signal; and a current detector (11) for detecting current flowing to the electricity supply circuit. The controller (12) includes: a timer (22) for counting the time that passes after a load (RL) has been turned off, when the load (RL) is turned off by the power switch (11); and a mode switching unit (23) configured to switch the controller (12) to a sleep mode when a predetermined time (Q1) is counted by the timer.