Vehicle Control Device for Automatic Dark Current Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control devices fail to reliably cut off electrical paths to reduce dark current during extended periods of non-use, such as transportation, leading to battery charge depletion due to user forgetfulness.
Innovation Solution
A control device equipped with an external signal recognition device and an external environment recognition device that automatically turns off a relay connected to electrical paths when specific environmental conditions, such as unique images or signals, are recognized for an extended period, ensuring consistent dark current reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a user removes a fuse to cut off an electrical path, then dark current is reduced, but the user may forget to remove the fuse resulting in charge depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically determines whether to cut off the electrical path by itself, without requiring user action. The processor monitors vehicle usage patterns and autonomously controls the relay to maintain or cut off power supply, making the system self-regulating and eliminating human error.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle usage information and provides feedback to the processor, which adjusts the relay state accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures the electrical path is cut off only when appropriate, preventing both unnecessary power loss and charge depletion.
2Reliability
If the vehicle system is automatically controlled to cut off electrical paths, then dark current reduction becomes more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processor leverages existing vehicle sensors and control systems to perform multiple functions: monitoring vehicle usage, determining storage state, and controlling the relay. This multi-functionality approach avoids adding dedicated complex hardware while achieving reliable automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay serves as an intermediary component that the processor controls to cut off or maintain electrical paths. This simple intermediary mechanism allows complex control logic to be implemented through a straightforward hardware interface, minimizing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device is installed in a vehicle including an electrical storage device to which is connected a plurality of electrical paths. The vehicle includes an external signal recognition device that recognizes a predetermined image or signal based on an image outside of the vehicle or a signal from outside of the vehicle, an external environment recognition device that recognizes a predetermined environment based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle when the predetermined image or signal is recognized by the external signal recognition device, regardless of whether a system of the vehicle is started, and a relay connected to at least one object electrical path. The control device includes a processor that turns the relay off when a count of times of the external environment recognition device continuously recognizing the predetermined environment for no shorter than a predetermined time is no less than a predetermined count of times.