Vehicle Current Control Device with Emergency Power Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle electrical systems face challenges in maintaining a safe state during system errors, particularly when voltage drops occur, leading to parasitic current injection between energy systems, which causes uncontrolled overcharging and overheating.
Innovation Solution
A device with controllable switches and an emergency power source ensures safe current flow management by maintaining the first switch in a closed state, even during voltage drops, using an emergency power source and voltage conversion devices to prevent parasitic current flow and maintain system stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control device relies on the control voltage from the first energy system to keep the first switch closed, then the system operates normally under nominal voltage conditions, but the system fails to maintain the safe state when voltage drops occur due to system errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second energy system that is preliminarily prepared to provide control voltage when the first energy system fails. This preliminary action ensures that the control voltage is available in advance during system errors, allowing the control device to maintain the first switch in the closed state and prevent parasitic current flow even when the first energy system's voltage drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the first and second energy systems. It monitors the control voltage from the first energy system and automatically switches to using control voltage from the second energy system when a voltage drop is detected. This intermediary function ensures seamless transition and maintains system reliability without requiring complex manual intervention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the first switch opens during voltage drops to protect the control device, then the control device is protected from damage, but parasitic current flows from the first energy system to the second energy system causing uncontrolled overcharging and overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed to preemptively counteract the opening of the first switch by using the second energy system to supply control voltage that keeps the first switch closed. This preliminary anti-action prevents the parasitic current flow path from forming in the first place, rather than reacting after the switch opens. The control device actively maintains the switch closed state as a preventive measure against harmful parasitic currents.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the first switch remains closed during system errors, then parasitic current flow is prevented and the second energy system is protected, but the control device requires a redundant control voltage supply from the second energy system increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with multi-functionality to operate from either the first or second energy system's control voltage. It can normally operate from the first energy system's control voltage, but automatically switches to using the second energy system's control voltage when needed. This universal design allows the same control device to serve multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated control circuits for each energy system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (V) for controlling the current flow in the electrical system of a vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with said device. The device according to the invention comprises a control unit (SE1) and an emergency power source (NQ) for closing a self-locking switch (S1) that controls the current flow in the electrical system, in order to prevent a possible parasitic current injection (Ii) and thus system overheating in the event of a faulty voltage drop in the electrical system.