Vehicle Thermal Control Integration for Coolant and Refrigerant Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle control systems require separate lower-level controllers for coolant and refrigerant modules, leading to increased costs, time, and limited software reusability due to individual software development and updates.

Innovation Solution

An integrated control system that uses a single control module to manage both coolant and refrigerant modules, employing code-free driving modules and a control module that transmits control signals based on higher-level commands and environment information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate lower-level controllers are used for coolant and refrigerant modules, then each module can be controlled independently, but the number of controllers and circuit components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control capabilityVSAvoidnumber of controllers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate lower-level controllers (coolant module controller and refrigerant module controller) into a single integrated lower-level controller. This integrated controller receives control signals from the higher-level controller and distributes them to both the coolant module and refrigerant module, thereby reducing the total number of controllers while maintaining independent control capability for each module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated lower-level controller is designed to perform multiple functions by controlling both the coolant module and refrigerant module. It includes multiple output terminals that can independently control different modules based on received control signals, making a single controller universal for managing multiple thermal management components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If individual software development is performed for each lower-level controller, then each controller can be optimized for its specific module, but software development costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule-specific control optimizationVSAvoidsoftware development time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated lower-level controller uses segmentation by implementing distinct output terminals and control pathways for different modules. Each terminal can be independently configured and optimized for its specific module (coolant or refrigerant), allowing module-specific control optimization while sharing a common control platform that reduces overall software development effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate controllers are used for coolant and refrigerant modules, then each controller can be updated independently, but software update costs and time expenditures increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware update flexibilityVSAvoidsoftware update time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the control functions into a single integrated lower-level controller, the system enables centralized software management. Software updates can be applied to the integrated controller once, and the updates automatically benefit both the coolant and refrigerant module control functions, reducing update time and costs while maintaining the flexibility to update the entire thermal management control system simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If multiple lower-level controllers are deployed, then comprehensive control of all end devices is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate lower-level controllers into one integrated controller that provides comprehensive control coverage for all end devices in both coolant and refrigerant modules. This consolidation reduces the bill of materials, assembly complexity, and manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to control all necessary components through a single control unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Measurement precision

If individual controllers control each module, then control precision for each module is maintained, but the number of circuit components and wire entanglement increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcircuit components

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated lower-level controller combines the circuitry of multiple separate controllers into a single unit with multiple output terminals. This merging reduces the total number of circuit components and wiring requirements while maintaining control precision through dedicated control pathways and terminals for each module, eliminating wire entanglement associated with multiple separate controllers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250276559A1Integrated control system for vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 HANON SYST CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to an integrated control system for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an integrated control system capable of controlling both a refrigerant module and a coolant module included in the vehicle in an integrated manner. The present invention aims to control the end devices of the connected coolant module and refrigerant module using a single control module.