Vehicle Wire Temperature Computation and Current Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interrupting devices for electrical wires in vehicle power systems fail to suppress power consumption related to temperature computation when current constantly flows, leading to potential overheating and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
An interrupting device that computes the temperature difference between the electrical wire and ambient temperature, suspends computation when the difference is low and current is below a threshold, and resumes computation when current increases, using a microcomputer to manage a Field-Effect Transistor switch and suspend temperature calculations during low-load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If computation of electrical wire temperature is continuously performed to prevent overheating, then safety against smoke and fire is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the computation operation adjustable between continuous and suspended states based on real-time conditions. The control unit dynamically switches between computing the temperature difference continuously and suspending computation based on whether the temperature difference exceeds the threshold and whether current exceeds the reference value, optimizing both safety and power consumption adaptively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the computation process based on detected conditions. When the temperature difference is within the threshold and current is below the reference value, the system changes the computation parameter from active to suspended state, reducing power consumption while maintaining safety through conditional monitoring
2Use of energy by moving object
If computation is suspended to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but response time to detect overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the control unit continuously monitors both the temperature difference and current values. When either parameter exceeds its threshold during suspension, the system immediately receives feedback and resumes computation, ensuring rapid response to potential overheating conditions while maintaining power savings during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment by checking both temperature difference and current conditions before suspending computation. This preliminary action ensures that suspension only occurs when both parameters indicate low risk, preventing delayed detection of actual overheating scenarios while enabling power savings in safe conditions
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 approach effectively suppresses power consumption and prevents overheating by intelligently managing temperature computation and current interruption, reducing the risk of smoke or fire.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical wire has a resistance component. Thus, in the case where current flows through the electrical wire, the electrical wire generates heat.
Implementation Method 2
a switch provided on the electrical wire is turned off, and the current flowing through the electrical wire is interrupted
Data Source
AI summary
In an interrupting device, a CPU temporally calculates a temperature difference between an ambient temperature of an electrical wire and an electrical wire temperature, based on current information indicating a value of current flowing through the electrical wire, and adds the ambient temperature of the electrical wire to the calculated temperature difference. In this way, the CPU temporally computes the electrical wire temperature. In the case where the electrical wire temperature computed by the CPU is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature, a FET turns off and current flowing through the electrical wire is interrupted. The CPU suspends computation of the electrical wire temperature, in the case where the calculated temperature difference is less than a reference temperature difference and the current value indicated by the current information is less than a reference current value.