Dual-Supply Vehicle Power Switch for Voltage Drop Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle electrical systems face issues with voltage drops in redundant on-board power supplies leading to instability in safety-relevant consumers, which can cause malfunctions during automated or autonomous driving, despite the presence of dual power supplies.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle electrical system switch with semiconductor switches and body diodes, connected in a forward direction, ensures rapid detection and isolation of voltage drops, preventing compensating currents and maintaining stable power supply to safety-relevant consumers by simultaneously opening both switches upon detection of a fault.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two on-board power supplies are connected in parallel to supply safety-relevant consumers, then redundancy and reliability are improved, but voltage drops in one power supply can still affect the other through compensating currents, worsening voltage stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces semiconductor switches as intermediary components between the two on-board power supplies and the consumers. These switches act as mediators that can be rapidly opened to isolate faulty power supplies, preventing compensating currents from affecting voltage stability while maintaining the redundant configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching control where the semiconductor switches can rapidly change state from closed to open based on detected voltage drops. This dynamic response allows the system to adapt to fault conditions in real-time, isolating problematic power supplies while maintaining stable operation of the redundant power supply.
2Stability of the object's composition
If semiconductor switches with body diodes are used to rapidly isolate faulty power supplies, then voltage stability is improved, but the complexity of the electrical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the semiconductor switch and body diode into a single integrated component configuration. The body diode is inherently connected in parallel with the semiconductor switch, creating a compact unit that provides both switching functionality and freewheeling path without requiring separate components, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The semiconductor switch with integrated body diode serves multiple functions: it acts as a controllable switch for isolating faulty power supplies, provides a freewheeling path for inductive loads through the body diode, and enables rapid response to voltage drops. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall system design.
3Speed
If the body diodes are connected in the forward direction towards the common node, then rapid isolation and response time are improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to fault detection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The body diodes are pre-configured in the forward direction towards the common node, establishing the optimal current path before faults occur. This preliminary configuration ensures that when voltage drops are detected, the switches can be immediately opened without requiring any reconfiguration, achieving maximum response speed while the monitoring circuit is already positioned to detect faults through the established current paths.
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
Ensures rapid response to voltage drops, preventing malfunctions in safety-relevant consumers by maintaining a stable voltage supply and isolating faulty power supplies, thus ensuring reliable operation during automated or autonomous driving.
Implementation Method 1
the body diodes of which are each connected in the forward direction towards a common node
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle onboard electrical system switch comprising at least two inputs for a respective one of at least two onboard electrical system power supplies, at least one output for a consumer of the motor vehicle, at least two switches, wherein a first switch is arranged between a first of the inputs and a common node point, and a second switch is arranged between a second of the inputs and the common node point, and the output is electrically connected to the common node point, wherein the switches are designed as semiconductor switches and are each connected by their body diodes in the through-flow direction to the common node point, characterised in that a monitoring circuit monitors a first voltage at the first input and/or a second voltage at the second input and/or a voltage at the common node point, and in that the monitoring circuit produces an opening signal according to a magnitude of at least one of the monitored voltages in order to simultaneously open both switches.