Vehicle USB DRP Power Switching for Low On-Board Battery Charge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick charging devices for vehicles are large-scale and limited in installation location, and vehicles with internal combustion engines can charge on-board batteries through generators, but there is a need for a simple method to address low battery states.
Innovation Solution
A processing device with a USB port supporting dual-role power (DRP) for vehicles, which monitors charge levels, verifies connections, and switches current flow direction to charge or discharge the on-board battery based on charge state, using external devices like mobile terminals or household outlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a quick charging device with power converter and special cable is used, then charging speed is improved, but device complexity and installation location limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The USB port is designed to support dual-role power (DRP) function, allowing it to operate as either a charger side or a receiver side. This enables the vehicle's USB port to both charge external devices and receive power from external devices to charge the on-board battery, eliminating the need for separate quick charging equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's own USB port is utilized to charge the on-board battery when connected to an external power source. The system automatically monitors the battery charge state and switches current direction to charge the battery from the external device, enabling the vehicle to service itself without requiring external quick charging facilities.
2Productivity
If a quick charging device with special cable and connector is used, then charging capability is improved, but ease of operation and installation flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The USB port with DRP support serves multiple functions: charging electronic devices, receiving power from external devices, and enabling the vehicle to charge its own battery. This universal functionality eliminates the need for special connectors and cables, improving ease of operation and installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a special quick charging connector that charges the battery directly, the invention uses a standard USB port to receive power from an external device and then transfers that power to charge the on-board battery. This inverted approach uses common infrastructure to achieve quick charging capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the USB port charges external devices, then electronic device power supply is ensured, but on-board battery charge level may become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device includes a charge state monitoring section that continuously monitors the charge state of the on-board battery. Based on this feedback, the current switching section automatically switches the current direction to charge the battery from the external device when the charge state is insufficient, ensuring battery reliability while allowing electronic device charging when battery charge is sufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB port's power direction is made dynamic through the current switching section, which can switch between charging the external device and receiving power to charge the battery based on real-time battery charge state. This dynamic adjustment ensures both electronic device power supply and battery charge level are maintained appropriately.
Data Source
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AI summary
To resolve a low state of charge of an on-board battery. A processing device (40) includes a charge state monitoring section (41) configured to monitor a charge level of an on-board battery (60) that supplies electric power to an electronic device (70, 80) provided to a vehicle (100), a connection verification section (42) configured to verify a connection between an external device (10) and a universal serial bus (USB) port (20) having an interface supporting dual-role power (DRP) that can operate as either a charger side or a receiver side, and a current switching section (46) configured to switch, in accordance with the charge level, a direction of current flow to any one of: a direction in which the external device (10) is charged; and a direction in which electric power is received from the external device (10).