Vehicle Energy Arbitration via Segmented Power Managers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems fail to appropriately adjust the input and output of various forms of energy, such as electric, kinetic, heat, and chemical energy, leading to inefficient energy management and temperature control, particularly in configurations where only electric power is controlled.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising sub-power managers for individual vehicle subsystems and an integrated power manager that exchanges information to calculate and arbitrate power limits based on priority levels, enabling precise control of energy input and output across multiple domains, including movement, battery, cooling water, and air-conditioning systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only electric power is controlled in vehicle subsystems, then the control system is simple, but energy management efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidenergy management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into multiple independent sub-power managers (one for each subsystem: engine, motor generator, battery, auxiliary apparatus) and one integrated power manager. Each sub-power manager controls a specific subsystem, while the integrated power manager performs overall coordination. This segmentation allows detailed energy management for each subsystem while maintaining modular system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated power manager acts as an intermediary that receives requested power values from sub-power managers, performs arbitration based on subsystem priority levels, and determines final input/output-power limit values. Information exchange between managers enables coordinated energy management without requiring direct complex interconnections between all subsystems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If integrated control of all energy forms is implemented, then energy management efficiency is improved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy management efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated power manager performs multiple functions: receiving requested power values from all sub-power managers, arbitrating based on subsystem priority levels, determining input/output-power limit values, and transmitting control information back to subsystems. This multi-functional approach consolidates complex control logic in a single manager, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If priority-based arbitration is used for power allocation, then energy distribution optimization is improved, but control processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy distribution optimizationVSAvoidcontrol processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Subsystem priority levels are determined in advance based on vehicle operation states and are stored for quick retrieval. When power arbitration is needed, the integrated power manager directly uses these pre-determined priority levels without recalculation, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses discrete priority level parameters (e.g., high priority, medium priority, low priority) instead of continuous optimization calculations. This parameterization allows rapid comparison and decision-making in the arbitration process, improving processing speed while maintaining effective energy distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20220258715A1Control system

Publication Date: 2022.08.18 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A control system includes: a plurality of sub-power managers that control respective output power of a plurality of subsystems that actualize functions of the vehicle; and an integrated power manager that performs integrated control of output power in an overall vehicle by exchanging information. The plurality of subsystems respectively corresponds to a plurality of domains that include one or apparatuses and a storage unit. Information that is exchanged between the plurality of sub-power managers and the integrated power manager is information that enables calculation of a physical quantity that is expressed by at least either of a power dimension and an energy dimension. The integrated power manager determines an input/output-power limit value of each subsystem by performing arbitration of requested power values that are received from the sub-power managers based on subsystem priority levels that are priority levels of the plurality of subsystems.