Voltage Converter Sensor Abnormality Detection Without Stoppage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load-driving devices for electricity-powered vehicles face a challenge in determining abnormality in voltage sensors without stopping the step-up operation, leading to degraded power performance due to the stoppage of the step-up operation for sensor abnormality determination.

Innovation Solution

A voltage conversion device with a battery, step-up circuit, battery voltage sensor, input voltage sensor, input current sensor, and a control unit that calculates an estimated input voltage value to determine sensor abnormality without stopping the step-up operation, allowing continued control using the detected value of the other sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the step-up operation is stopped to determine sensor abnormality, then the abnormality determination can be made by comparing voltage values, but the load power performance degrades due to stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor abnormality determination accuracyVSAvoidload power performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit calculates an estimated input voltage value in advance using the battery voltage and step-up circuit duty ratio before sensor abnormality determination. This preliminary calculation enables continuous operation during abnormality checking, as the estimated value serves as a reference without requiring step-up operation stoppage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The estimated input voltage value acts as an intermediary between the battery voltage sensor and input voltage sensor readings. By comparing the actual input voltage sensor reading against this estimated value (derived from battery voltage and duty ratio), the system can determine sensor abnormality without stopping the step-up operation, thus maintaining load power performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the step-up operation is stopped for sensor abnormality determination, then the voltage sensors can be discriminated, but the electrical power supply to the load is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor abnormality detection reliabilityVSAvoidelectrical power supply continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit pre-calculates the estimated input voltage value based on battery voltage and duty ratio before performing sensor abnormality determination. This advance preparation allows the system to maintain continuous step-up operation and power supply while still enabling reliable sensor abnormality detection through comparison of actual readings against the pre-calculated estimate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous step-up operation and electrical power supply to the load during sensor abnormality determination. By using the estimated input voltage value (calculated from battery voltage and duty ratio) as a reference, the abnormality check can be performed without interrupting the useful action of power conversion and load supply.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If the step-up operation is stopped to compare voltage values for sensor abnormality, then accurate discrimination can be made, but the operation time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoltage sensor discrimination accuracyVSAvoidstep-up operation stoppage time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit calculates the estimated input voltage value in advance using battery voltage and duty ratio before sensor abnormality determination is needed. This preliminary calculation eliminates the need to stop operation for voltage comparison, as the estimated value is immediately available for comparison with actual sensor readings, thus preventing operation time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit continuously monitors the relationship between battery voltage, duty ratio, and actual input voltage readings. By using feedback from these measurements to calculate and update the estimated input voltage value, the system maintains accurate sensor abnormality detection capability without requiring operation stoppage, thereby eliminating time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9647547B2Voltage conversion device for stepping up voltage

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 DENSO CORP

AI summary

The present invention is intended to discriminate between a battery voltage sensor and the input voltage sensor of a converter for abnormality, without stopping the step-up operation of the converter. A voltage conversion device is provided with a battery, a converter, a battery voltage sensor, a voltage sensor for detecting the input voltage of the converter, a current sensor for detecting a reactor current, and a control unit. The control unit determines the abnormality of the battery voltage sensor or the input voltage sensor on the basis of an estimated value of input voltage calculated based on the reactor current, the input voltage of the converter and a battery voltage, without stopping the step-up operation of the converter.