Vehicle Power Path Current Balancing for Failure-Time Continuity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-vehicle power supply systems face challenges in achieving cost-effective failure-time operation continuity while maintaining high performance and reliability, particularly due to the increased cost associated with redundant power distribution systems.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system comprising multiple power sources, multiple power supply paths, and a current adjustment unit that compares state quantities of electrical states across each power supply path and adjusts current flow to reduce differences, thereby optimizing power distribution and reducing redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant power distribution systems are implemented to ensure failure-time operation continuity, then reliability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple power supply paths into a single integrated power supply unit that can dynamically switch between different power sources (main battery, auxiliary battery, DC-DC converter). This consolidation maintains reliability through functional redundancy while reducing the number of separate physical components, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power source selection and switching capabilities within the power supply unit. The system can dynamically adjust which power source supplies power to the load based on availability and requirements, enabling a single flexible unit to replace multiple static power supply paths. This dynamic behavior maintains reliability while reducing hardware redundancy.
2Reliability
If multiple power supply paths are provided for redundancy, then failure-time operation continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power supply functions into a single integrated power supply unit that manages connections to the main battery, auxiliary battery, and DC-DC converter. This consolidation reduces the number of separate power distribution modules while maintaining the ability to draw power from multiple sources, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply unit is designed as a universal interface that can handle multiple power sources and distribute power to multiple loads. This multi-functional design allows a single unit to perform the roles of what would traditionally require separate dedicated power supply paths, reducing system complexity while maintaining operational redundancy.
3Productivity
If current flow is not balanced across power supply paths, then power distribution performance deteriorates, but heat generation imbalance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates current detection units that continuously monitor the current flowing through each power supply path and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the power distribution to balance the current flow, preventing excessive heat generation in any single path while optimizing overall power distribution performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts electrical parameters (current distribution ratios) across different power supply paths based on real-time conditions. By changing the current flow parameters in response to detected conditions, the system optimizes power distribution efficiency while preventing thermal imbalances that would occur with fixed current allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
The power supply system related to the present invention includes plural power sources for supplying power to a single load in a vehicle, plural power supply paths for connecting the single load and each of the plural power sources, and a current adjustment unit for adjusting current flowing through at least one of the plural power supply paths, and the current adjustment unit compares state quantities of electrical states of each of the power supply paths, and, when a difference between the state quantities meets prescribed conditions, adjusts current flowing through the power supply paths so as to reduce the difference between the state quantities.