Vehicular Power Source Controller with Dual Switching Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular electric power source controllers consume unnecessary electricity when operating electrical loads while a vehicle is parked, as they require electrification of accessory and ignition power sources, leading to wasteful energy use even when only specific loads need to be active.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular electric power source controller with dual switching devices that selectively electrify only the necessary loads, allowing for independent control of electrical loads using a first switching device for primary loads and a second switching device for secondary loads, reducing standby current consumption by preventing overlapping commands and prioritizing the electrification of secondary loads when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the accessory electric power source or the ignition electric power source is electrified while the vehicle is parked to operate an electrical load, then the electrical load can be operated, but electric power is supplied also to electrical loads that do not need to be operated, causing wasteful consumption of electric power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to operate electrical load while parkedVSAvoidwasteful consumption of electric power
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the electrical load control into two independent switching devices: a first switching device for controlling electrification of the accessory electric power source and ignition electric power source, and a second switching device for controlling electrification of only the specific electrical load. This segmentation allows selective powering of only the necessary load without electrifying the entire system, thereby reducing wasteful energy consumption while maintaining the ability to operate the desired electrical load while parked.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a construction is adopted in which an electrical load that is desired to be used while the vehicle is parked is constantly connected to the battery, then the load can be operated while parked, but the wasteful stand-by current (dark current) will increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to operate electrical load while parkedVSAvoidstand-by current consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control through the second switching device, which can selectively connect or disconnect the specific electrical load from the battery based on operational needs. Instead of a constant connection that causes continuous stand-by current drain, the switching device dynamically establishes the electrical connection only when the load needs to operate, thereby eliminating wasteful dark current while maintaining operational availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the first switching device switches the electrification of the first electrical load and the second electrical load, then the control is simplified, but the commands from the first switching device may interfere with the commands from the second switching device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching control structureVSAvoidcommand interference between switches
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the switching control into two distinct switching devices with clearly defined functional boundaries. The first switching device controls the accessory electric power source and ignition electric power source, while the second switching device controls only the specific electrical load. This segmentation eliminates command interference by ensuring that each switching device operates independently within its designated scope, thereby maintaining system reliability while keeping the overall control structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2032396B1Vehicular electric power source controller
Publication Date: 2014.08.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2032396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2032396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2032396B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicular electric power source controller that controls the electrification of an electrical load mounted in a vehicle includes: a first electrical load that are a portion of the electrical load mounted in the vehicle; a second electrical load that are electrified preferentially over first electrical loads when a vehicle is parked; an electric power source-switching ECU, an ACC relay and an IG relay that switch not only the electrification of the first electrical load to but also the electrification of the second electrical load; and an electric power source management ECU, a parked state ACC relay and a parked state IG relay that switch the electrification of only the second electrical load. The vehicular electric power source controller curbs wasteful electricity consumption while operating an electrical load that is used while the vehicle is parked.