Vehicle Power Source Layout for Stable Automated Driving Voltage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric power source systems for vehicles with automatic driving systems are vulnerable to voltage fluctuations from on-board infrastructure loads, leading to instability and potential malfunction of the automatic driving system.

Innovation Solution

A separate electric power source arrangement for the automatic driving system, using DCDC converters to isolate it from on-board infrastructure loads, combined with redundant backup systems and a control unit to manage battery states and prioritize power distribution, ensuring stable power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the automatic driving system is connected to the existing electric power source arrangement for on-board infrastructure, then the system can share the power source infrastructure, but voltage fluctuation from on-board loads causes unstable power supply to the automatic driving system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower source arrangementVSAvoidpower supply stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the power source system into separate arrangements: a first electric power source arrangement dedicated to the automatic driving system and a second electric power source arrangement for on-board infrastructure. This segmentation isolates the automatic driving system from voltage fluctuations caused by other loads, ensuring stable power supply while maintaining infrastructure sharing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a DC-DC converter as an intermediary component between the high-voltage battery and the first electric power source arrangement. This converter acts as a buffer that stabilizes voltage output, preventing fluctuations from affecting the automatic driving system while allowing flexible power distribution to various loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a redundant power source configuration is used for the automatic driving system, then operation can continue during power source abnormalities, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation continuityVSAvoidpower source arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a separate first electric power source arrangement with its own battery and DC-DC converter dedicated to the automatic driving system. This segmentation enables independent operation during abnormalities in the second arrangement, ensuring continuity while organizing complexity into manageable, isolated modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent provides different power source configurations for different functions: the first arrangement with full redundancy components (battery, DC-DC converter) for the critical automatic driving system, and the second arrangement for general on-board infrastructure. This local quality optimization ensures reliability where needed while controlling overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution stabilizes the power supply to the automatic driving system, preventing voltage fluctuations and enabling continuous, optimal operation even in the event of power source faults, allowing safe vehicle operation until a stable state is reached.

Implementation Method 1

a first DCDC converter configured to perform voltage conversion of electric power supplied from the high-voltage battery and to output electric power of which voltage is converted

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3616971B1Electric power source system for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3616971B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3616971B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An electric power source system (1) for a vehicle includes: a high-voltage battery (10); a first electric power source arrangement (100); a second electric power source arrangement (200); and a third electric power source arrangement (300), wherein the first electric power source arrangement includes a first DCDC converter (21) and a first battery (31) and is configured to supply the electric power to a first load (41) including at least an automatic driving system (411), the second electric power source arrangement includes a second DCDC converter (22) and a second battery (32) and is configured to supply the electric power to a second load (42) including at least a steering ECU (422, 431), a brake ECU (423, 432), and an information communication unit (424), and the third electric power source arrangement includes a connection controller (23) and a third battery (33) and is configured to supply the electric power to a third load (43) including at least the steering ECU, the brake ECU, and the information communication unit.