Centralized Current Sensor for Vehicle Load Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles require efficient monitoring and control of electrical loads for safety, comfort, and convenience, but existing systems often necessitate multiple sensors for each load, increasing manufacturing costs and potential failure points.
Innovation Solution
A centralized current sensor measures total current drawn by all electrical loads, allowing a processor to determine the current and temperature of a target load without individual sensors, enabling control of voltage duty cycles to maintain target temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple individual sensors are used for each electrical load, then measurement precision and load monitoring accuracy are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single current sensor to monitor multiple electrical loads simultaneously. The sensor is positioned to measure total current from the power source, and the processor calculates individual load currents by analyzing total current variations when loads are activated or deactivated. This multi-functional approach allows one sensor to perform what traditionally required multiple sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by using the electrical loads themselves as indicators. When a load is activated or deactivated, it naturally causes a measurable change in total current. The processor detects these self-generated current variations to identify which loads are active, eliminating the need for separate sensors on each load. The loads' own operational characteristics provide the measurement information needed.
2Reliability
If multiple individual sensors are used for each electrical load, then diagnostic capabilities are improved, but manufacturing costs and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single current sensor serves multiple diagnostic functions by monitoring total current characteristics. The processor analyzes current magnitude, rate of change, and temporal patterns to diagnose various load conditions including overheating, short circuits, and activation states. This multi-functional diagnostic capability from one sensor achieves comprehensive monitoring while reducing manufacturing costs compared to multiple specialized sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring total current and comparing it against expected values for different load combinations. The processor uses this feedback to detect anomalies, diagnose load conditions, and control power delivery. The feedback mechanism provides robust diagnostic capabilities without requiring expensive individual sensors for each load, as the collective current information reveals individual load states.
3Device complexity
If a centralized current sensor is used to measure total current, then device complexity and manufacturing costs are reduced, but measurement precision for individual loads may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by controlling the activation and deactivation of electrical loads in a structured sequence. The processor deliberately activates or deactivates specific loads and measures the resulting total current changes. This controlled preliminary action creates distinct, measurable current transitions that allow precise calculation of individual load currents from the aggregate measurement, maintaining measurement precision while using a single sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by exploiting temporal variations in total current as loads are dynamically activated or deactivated. Rather than attempting to measure static individual load currents simultaneously, the system dynamically changes load states and measures the dynamic current responses. This dynamic approach transforms a potentially imprecise static measurement problem into a precise dynamic measurement problem, where current changes over time reveal individual load characteristics.
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 approach reduces the need for multiple sensors, lowers manufacturing costs, and enhances diagnostic capabilities while ensuring proper operation and safety by maintaining target temperatures across electrical loads.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical sensor configured to detect a total current provided by the power source to a plurality of electrical loads
Implementation Method 2
setting a voltage duty cycle of the target load to maintain the target load temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining and controlling a vehicle load current and temperature through the use of a common current sensor. An example vehicle includes a power source, an electrical sensor configured to detect a total current provided by the power source to a plurality of electrical loads, and a processor. The a processor is configured to determine a target load temperature based on the total current, and set a voltage duty cycle of the target load to maintain the target load temperature.