Vehicle External Terminal Switch Welding Diagnosis and Travel Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems do not adequately address the issue of ensuring safety at the external terminal while allowing maximum travel flexibility, particularly when switch welding abnormalities are detected, as they often prohibit travel even when safety can be ensured by other means.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system comprising an electric power supply, an external terminal, a lid, and an electronic control unit that determines travel permission based on the result of welding diagnosis and the open-closed state of the lid, allowing travel if the lid is closed and the diagnosis shows one-pole welding abnormality, or if the lid is open and the diagnosis is normal, ensuring safety and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welding diagnosis is performed and travel is prohibited when abnormality is detected, then safety of external terminal is ensured, but travel flexibility is reduced even when safety can be ensured by other means

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety of external terminalVSAvoidtravel flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the welding diagnosis result into two types: one-pole welding abnormality and other abnormalities. For one-pole abnormalities, the system allows travel when the lid is closed, while prohibiting travel for other abnormalities. This segmentation enables differentiated safety management that maintains travel flexibility while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control of travel permission based on the combination of lid state and welding diagnosis result. The travel permission is not fixed but changes dynamically according to whether the lid is closed or open and the type of welding abnormality detected, allowing maximum travel flexibility while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If switch welding is detected, then safety risk is identified, but prohibiting travel in all cases causes unnecessary travel restrictions when safety can be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety assuranceVSAvoidunnecessary travel restriction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments welding abnormalities into one-pole welding abnormality (less severe) and other abnormalities (more severe). This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between different levels of safety risk and apply appropriate travel restrictions, avoiding unnecessary travel losses for less severe one-pole abnormalities when the lid is closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the travel permission parameter dynamically based on the combination of welding diagnosis result and lid state. For one-pole welding abnormalities with closed lid, travel is permitted; for other abnormalities or open lid states, travel is prohibited. This parameter change approach minimizes unnecessary travel restrictions while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3134291B1Vehicle and control method for vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.04.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3134291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3134291B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3134291B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle includes an electric power supply, an external terminal, a lid, a switch, and an electronic control unit. The lid is disposed in the external terminal. The switch is disposed at an electric circuit between the external terminal and the electric power supply. The electronic control unit is configured to close the switch while the output or the input of the electric power is performed through the external terminal. The electronic control unit is configured to open the switch during traveling. The electronic control unit is configured to execute welding diagnosis for the switch. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether to permit the vehicle to travel based on a result of the welding diagnosis and an open-closed state of the lid.