Voltage Absence Check in Power Electronics via Measuring Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for checking the absence of voltage in power electronics components of high-voltage networks in motor vehicles are time-consuming, costly, and risk contamination or compromise the component's tightness, as they require opening the component for manual voltage measurements, which is not safe or efficient.
Innovation Solution
A method that applies a supply voltage via the high-voltage contacts of the plug-in terminal and measures the voltage course or resistance of the intermediate circuit capacitor to determine the absence of voltage without opening the power electronics component, thereby ensuring safety and reducing costs by using a measuring adapter to connect the device safely and avoiding the need for a touch guard insert.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power electronics component is opened for manual voltage measurements, then the voltage absence can be checked, but the component's tightness is compromised and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a measuring adapter as an intermediary device that connects to the plug-in terminal without opening the power electronics component. The adapter contains measuring contacts that interface with the terminal's high-voltage contacts, enabling voltage measurements through the closed component housing. This mediator approach allows verification of voltage absence while maintaining the component's sealed state and preventing contamination.
2Reliability
If the power electronics component is opened for voltage checking, then manual measurements can be performed, but work time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of opening the component housing with an electrical measurement approach through the plug-in terminal. Instead of physically accessing internal components by opening the housing, the measuring adapter establishes electrical contact through the existing terminal interface, substituting a mechanical opening/closing operation with an electrical measurement process that is faster and does not require disassembly.
3Reliability
If a touch guard insert is used for safety, then electric shock protection is provided, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing touch guard insert already present in the plug-in terminal design, which provides electric shock protection as an inherent feature of the terminal. The measuring adapter is designed to work with this existing safety mechanism, allowing measurements to be performed through the touch guard insert without requiring additional protective components or modifications, thereby avoiding increased manufacturing costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for a reliable and simplified determination of voltage absence in power electronics components without opening them, reducing work time and costs, and enabling safer, less invasive high-voltage network testing, even by less qualified personnel.
Implementation Method 1
measures the voltage course and/or, after a defined charging time period of the intermediate circuit capacitor, the resistance with a measuring device
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for checking the absence of voltage on a power electronic component connected to a high-voltage battery and to an electrical machine in a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle, which component has a higher voltage than a low-voltage network of the motor vehicle. The power electronic component includes an intermediate circuit capacitor, a passive discharge resistor, a plug-in terminal for at least one high-voltage load and a fuse which is connected upstream of the plug-in terminal. Following disconnection of the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage network and when the connector of the cable plugged into the plug-in terminal is withdrawn from the plug-in terminal or a target terminal, a feed voltage is applied via the high-voltage contacts of the plug connection and the voltage curve and/or, after a defined charging time interval of the intermediate circuit capacitor, the resistance is measured by means of a measuring instrument, wherein an absence of voltage is determined in the event of a voltage curve lying in an intended range or a resistance lying in an intended range.