Vehicle Supply Rail Integrating Power, Data, and Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of multiple control units in a vehicle is hindered by substantial integration expenditures, high costs, and a large need for installation space due to the requirements of electrical supply, communication networking, and cooling.
Innovation Solution
A centralized on-board power system with a supply rail that connects electrical modules at different points on the vehicle, providing a common energy supply and data communication infrastructure, including a busbar for electrical energy and dedicated data lines or power line communication, along with plug-in locations and a temperature-control duct for efficient thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control units are integrated in a vehicle with separate electrical supply, communication networking, and cooling systems, then each control unit can function independently, but integration expenditures, costs, and installation space requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical supply, communication networking, and cooling functions into a single integrated supply rail system. Multiple control units are connected to a common rail that provides power conductors, data conductors, and thermal management through a shared architecture, eliminating the need for separate systems for each control unit and substantially reducing integration complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The supply rail is designed as a universal infrastructure that simultaneously provides electrical power, data communication, and cooling capabilities to multiple different control units. The rail system serves multiple functions (power distribution, networking, thermal management) through a single multi-functional platform, reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If separate electrical supply systems are used for each control unit, then each unit has dedicated power supply, but installation space and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power supply functions are merged into a single integrated rail system that serves multiple control units. The rail contains power conductors that distribute electrical energy to multiple units along its length, eliminating the need for separate power supply systems and reducing installation space requirements
3Reliability
If dedicated communication networks are implemented for each control unit, then data exchange is reliable, but integration costs and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates communication networking into the supply rail structure itself. Data conductors are incorporated alongside power conductors in the same rail, allowing multiple control units to exchange data through a shared communication infrastructure rather than requiring separate networking systems for each unit
4Temperature
If individual cooling systems are provided for each control unit, then thermal management is effective, but installation space and integration expenditures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supply rail integrates thermal management functionality by incorporating cooling channels or heat dissipation structures into the rail itself. Multiple control units mounted on the rail share a common cooling infrastructure, allowing effective thermal management through a single integrated system rather than requiring separate cooling systems for each unit
Data Source
AI summary
A supply rail for a vehicle includes a first busbar which is designed to provide electrical energy with a first supply voltage for supplying energy to a large number of electrical modules of the vehicle. In this case, the electrical modules of the large number of electrical modules are arranged at different points of the vehicle. The supply rail includes means for data transmission designed to allow data interchange between at least two of the large number of electrical modules. The supply rail has a large number of slots for the large number of electrical modules, wherein a first slot of the large number of slots is designed to connect a first electrical module of the large number of electrical modules to the first busbar and to the means for data transmission by way of a first plug connection. The supply rail includes a temperature-control duct which is designed to conduct a thermally conductive medium past the large number of electrical modules.