FR2791310A1 - Electric circuit lay-out for vehicles, comprises control and power modules rated for the normal demand of consuming units and means to switch two modules in parallel under high load conditions - Google Patents

Abstract

The circuit layout (11) for a vehicle consists of consuming units (12,13) which are supplied from a battery (16) through control units (14,15). A starter motor/generator (12) requires a much higher than normal current for perhaps two seconds during starting and the vehicle calculator causes a changeover switch (17) on a lightly loaded consuming unit (13) to make available the corresponding control unit (15) in parallel to the starter control unit (14).

Description

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for a network.

  electrical, in particular to a circuit arrangement for the on-board network in a vehicle, comprising a certain number of consumers which are each connected via an electronic control unit to a voltage source. In addition, the invention relates

  to a method for operating such an electrical network.

  Until now, in known circuit arrangements for electrical networks, each individual consumer is usually connected via an electronic control unit

  separate autonomous from a voltage source, for example a battery.

  In this case, the electronic control unit must be designed respectively for the maximum energy requirement of the consumer.

connected to it.

  In electrical networks, in particular in on-board networks for vehicles, there is usually a series of consumers with different energy requirements during the period of their operation. Thus, for example, in on-board networks for vehicles, consumers are used for starting up, which requires high energy which is however only necessary for a short period. During the permanent operation of the consumer, a significantly lower energy is then sufficient. In such consumers, the electronic control unit must nevertheless be designed for the maximum energy requirement, in order to supply the energy required during the short start-up phase. For normal operation, the electronic control unit is therefore

  oversized, which causes increased costs.

  When one can only ensure a small starting current by the choice of an electronic control unit of smaller dimensions, this means that the consumer must be dimensioned all the more large. This leads among other things to an increase in weight as well as an enlargement of the mounting space necessary for the consumer. These two factors represent a huge disadvantage, particularly in the field of automobile construction. Starting from the cited state of the art, the objective underlying the present invention is to develop a circuit arrangement for an electrical network of the type mentioned in the introduction so as to avoid the drawbacks described. In particular, a circuit arrangement must be made which ensures a good degree of efficiency while having a small structural size and low manufacturing costs. According to the first aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by developing the circuit arrangement described in the introduction which is characterized according to the invention by the fact that at least one switching element is provided which is arranged between one of the consumers and the corresponding electronic control unit, and that the electronic control unit connected to the switching element is or can be connected at least temporarily with

  another consumer via the switch element.

  In this case, the fundamental idea underlying the invention is that, thanks to the improved circuit arrangement, it is possible to avoid the hitherto necessary use of control electronics which are in fact oversized compared to individual consumers. . To this end, the invention provides for being able to connect at least temporarily another electronic control unit via the switching element.

  with a consumer connected to the electronic control unit.

  This other electronic control unit which is connected to another consumer during normal operation means that increased energy can be made available to the consumer during the period of connection of the other electronic control unit. In this case, the electronic control unit of such a consumer is advantageously connected, which is not necessary at the time of connection. As soon as the consumer now connected with two or more control electronics no longer needs increased energy, the switching element is actuated again, so that said at least one additional electronic control unit

  is connected to the consumer originally planned for it.

  In this way, for example for such consumers who at least temporarily have an increased energy requirement, it is possible to use an electronic control unit of reduced power compared to the solution known up to now, which is designed for the energy requirement. reduced during normal operation, which

leads to reduced costs.

  Insofar as the circuit arrangement according to the invention is used for the on-board network in a vehicle, it is thus possible to obtain

  saving structural space and weight at the engine level.

  Finally, thanks to the circuit arrangement according to the invention, simple management of the load is possible. Thus, an additional consumer can be started or stopped via the switching element, for example depending on the state of charge of the source.

  voltage, which is for example a battery.

  The circuit arrangement according to the invention is not limited to certain consumers. It is however applicable in particular for such consumers who have during certain periods a need for

  increased energy compared to normal operation.

  In addition, one can use the circuit arrangement according to the invention also so as to control for example two consumers via a single electronic control unit. One can imagine such a case for example when consumers are used

  successively, alternately or only at certain times.

  In this case, it is no longer necessary for each consumer to be connected to an autonomous electronic control unit. On the contrary, the corresponding electronic control unit can be connected via the switch element with the correct consumer,

as required.

  Advantageously, the switching element is produced with three poles

for three-phase current.

  Preferred embodiments of the conforming circuit arrangement

  to the invention emerge from the description which follows.

  Advantageously, two or more switching elements can be provided which are each arranged between a consumer and a corresponding electronic control unit, for example via a line

of connection.

  Basically, the invention is not limited to a given number of switching elements. On the contrary, the number of switching elements required is determined according to the energy needs of individual consumers. Thus, one can for example imagine that several control electronics normally connected each to an autonomous consumer are connected at least temporarily via switching elements corresponding to a single other consumer, for example a

  consumer who temporarily has a great need for energy.

  As a development, said at least one switch element can be connected to a computer. By means of appropriate software present in the computer, the control of the switch element

can be done in a simple way.

  Advantageously, two control electronics connected via the switching element to a consumer are or can be

  connected in parallel via the switch element.

  According to another development, at least individual consumers are expected whose energy needs differ from other consumers. In this case, an electronic control unit which is connected to a consumer with a low energy requirement is or can be advantageously connected with a consumer with a high energy requirement via the switching element. Thanks to this, consumers with a high energy requirement can also be connected to a small electronic control unit. Thus, the circuit arrangement is simplified and carried out at low costs. If necessary, at least one other electronic control unit is connected to the consumer with a high energy demand via

the switch element.

  Preferably, at least individual consumers are provided, presenting energy needs which differ during the period of their operation. In this case, during the period of great energy demand, these consumers are or can be connected with the electronic control unit of another consumer via the switching element. Advantageously, the consumer whose energy requirement differs during the operating time is produced so as to present at startup a greater energy requirement than during its normal operation. During the consumer start-up phase, in which the consumer has a greater energy requirement, at least one other electronic control unit is temporarily switched on via the switching element. This other electronic control unit which is connected to another consumer during normal operation means that the energy necessary in the starting operation is available to the consumer. During normal operation, that is to say during the permanent operation of the consumer, when a significantly reduced energy is still required, the switching element is reversed so as to connect said at least one additional electronic control unit again. to the intended consumer

initially for this one.

  Advantageously, at least one of the consumers is produced in the form of an electric motor. Such electric motors are used for example to generate electric energy which is then available to

most diverse consumers.

  Advantageously, it is possible to use as electric motors, and here in particular synchronous motors with permanent excitation or asynchronous motors. A particularly remarkable engine is for example the generator-starter for a vehicle. In this case, it is an electric motor, the rotor of which is mounted via the crankshaft bearing of the internal combustion engine. The generator-starter is used not only for starting and stopping the engine, but it can also fulfill various functions during engine operation, such as for example braking functions, "booster" functions, battery management. , active oscillation damping, motor synchronization at

internal combustion or the like.

  In particular in the case of the generator-starter, a high starting current (more than 300 A) is required for its starting, which must however be applied only for a very short time (up to 2 seconds). During permanent operation of the generator-starter, a significantly reduced current (approximately 100 A) is required. Until now, the electronic control unit for the generator-starter had to be designed for high peak current, in order to be able to start the internal combustion engine even at low temperatures. For normal operation, the electronic control unit was therefore oversized. Thanks to

  the circuit arrangement according to the invention, the generator-

  starter can now be connected to the voltage source via an electronic control unit which is designed for the low energy requirement of the generator-starter during continuous operation. During the start-up phase of the generator-starter, at least one other electronic control unit is temporarily switched on via the switching element. Thanks to the additional electronic control unit, the necessary electrical current is available for the generator-starter during start-up operation. After completion of the start-up of the generator-starter, the switching element is inverted, so that said at least one additional electronic control unit is connected to the consumer initially intended for it. In this case, the electronic control unit of such a consumer is advantageously switched on which is not necessary during the start-up phase of the generator-starter and thus during the phase

starting a vehicle.

  Such consumers are for example a compressor of

  air conditioning, heat pump or similar.

  When the consumer with a great need for energy is produced in the form of an electric motor and here in particular in the form of generator-starter for an internal combustion engine, the high starting currents are generally necessary

  only for very cold internal combustion engines.

  When the engines are heated in operation, a start

  with a significantly reduced current is possible.

  To design as small as possible the electronic control unit and the switching element, the switching on of another electronic control unit can advantageously take place, in

  such cases only for a cold internal combustion engine.

  Typical temperature values are around 20 C up to -

40 C.

  Such an operating mode is particularly important when the internal combustion engine has what is called a start / stop function. Such a function provides for stopping the hot engine during a vehicle stop, for example at a red light or in front of closed barriers, and restarting it when restarting. This means that the engine is very often started and stopped. When switching on several control electronics during the cold phase of the engine, the switching operations can be reduced during its service life from around 200,000 with start / stop to around 40,000

cold starts only.

  Advantageously, the voltage source is produced in the form of a battery, in particular in the form of a 36 V battery. With the usual 14 V network hitherto, it is envisaged in the automobile industry to introduce a 42 V on-board network. In this case, the nominal voltages of the on-board networks amount to 14 V when charging, or even to 42 V. In particular by means of the 42 V on-board network, the following must be done: faced with the sharp increase in the number of electrical components in the vehicle and the need for energy that is all the greater. Individual consumers of such a 42 V on-board network can be advantageously switched on at

  means of the circuit arrangement according to the invention.

  According to another development, the electronic control unit can comprise a control part and a power part. The control part can be produced, for example, in the form of a computer, microcontroller circuit, voltage supply, signal regeneration or the like. The power portion preferably includes one or more power semiconductors. In the power section, the direct current supplied by the voltage source is converted into an alternating current. Of course, the direction of conversion can also be reversed, for example in operation of

generator.

  Basically, a certain structure of the electronic control unit is not necessarily prescribed. It is however advantageous for the electronic control unit to include a switching part which is produced with a semiconductor of

power or more.

  Usually, each electronic control unit comprises at least one control part and one power part. However, one can also imagine other embodiments. Thus, the control parts of different control electronics can be grouped into a single common control part on the circuit level and / or on the structural level. In this case, only the power parts of the control electronics are arranged

  separately from each other for individual consumers.

  According to another development, the switching element can be grouped with the electronic control unit or with individual components of the electronic control unit in a

single housing.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a method is proposed for operating an electrical network, in particular an on-board network for a vehicle, using a circuit arrangement in accordance with the invention described above, in which a certain number is provided. of consumers who are each connected via an electronic control unit to a voltage source. The method is characterized in accordance with the invention in that at least one electronic control unit which is connected via a switching element to a consumer is connected at least temporarily with another consumer by a corresponding actuation of the switching element. Thanks to this, it is possible to temporarily switch on at least one other electronic control unit via the switching element for a consumer, so that the necessary energy can be supplied even for consumers with a high energy demand which are nevertheless connected to an electronic power control unit, after switching on at least one other unit

control electronics.

  With regard to the advantages, effects, consequences and mode of operation of the process according to the invention, reference is made to all of the explanations given above with reference to

  to the circuit arrangement according to the invention.

  Preferred embodiments of the process according to the invention

  emerge from the description which follows.

  Advantageously, the switching element is controlled via a

calculator.

  According to another development, in the presence of consumers with different energy needs, an electronic control unit which is connected via a switching element to a consumer with a low energy need is connected at least temporarily with a consumer with a high need in energy by the corresponding actuation of the switching element. According to another development, in the event of the presence of consumers who have different energy needs during the period of their operation, these consumers are connected, during the period of a great need for energy, with the electronic control unit of a other consumer by a corresponding actuation of

the switch element.

  The invention will be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 alone schematically shows a circuit arrangement

according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an on-board network 10 for a vehicle, which includes a circuit arrangement 1 1. In the on-board network 10 is provided a voltage source 16 produced in the form of a 36 V battery from which different consumers 12 , 13 are supplied with the necessary energy. For reasons of clarity, we have illustrated

  only two consumers 12, 13 in the exemplary embodiment.

  Of course, we can also provide a significantly higher number

high of consumers.

  In the exemplary embodiment, the consumer 12 is produced in the form of a generator-starter. Such a generator-starter requires during its starting phase a very high starting current of more than 300 A which must however be applied only for a very short period up to 2 seconds. During normal operation of the generator-starter 12, only a significantly reduced current of about 100 A is required. This current is made available to the generator-starter 12 via an electronic control unit 14 which is connected to this via a line

connection 19.

  The electronic control unit 14 includes a part of

  control 24 and a power section 25 which includes a semi

  power driver or more. In the power part 25, the direct current made available by the voltage source 16 is converted into an alternating current. To this end, the electronic control unit 14 is connected via a line 21 to a line 23 deriving from

the voltage source 16.

  The consumer 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 is produced for example in the form of an air conditioning compressor which is necessary, however, only at determined times and not permanently during the operation of the vehicle. The consumer 13 is connected via a connection line 18 also to a suitable electronic control unit 15 which in turn comprises a control part 26 and a power part 27. The electronic control unit 15 is connected via a line

  corresponding 22 to line 23 deriving from the voltage source 16.

  In addition, a switching element 17 is provided in the connection line 18 between the consumer 13 and the electronic control unit 15. The electronic control unit 15 of the consumer 13 can be switched on at least temporarily with the consumer 12 by a corresponding actuation of the switching element 17. For this purpose, the switching element 17 is connected to a corresponding connection line 20 which leads to the consumer 12. Insofar as the electronic control unit 15 is connected to the consumer 12, both

  control electronics 14 and 15 are connected in parallel.

  In the following, we will describe the process for exploiting the on-board network

10 for the vehicle.

  When the generator-starter 12 is to be started, this requires a high starting current of 300 A. During the permanent operation of the generator-starter, however, a significantly reduced current of 100 A is sufficient. the circuit arrangement 1 1 the use hitherto necessary of an electronic control unit 14 for the generator-starter 12, which is in fact oversized and designed for the current of 300A, first of all provision is made for connect the generator-starter 12 to the voltage source 16 via an electronic control unit 14

  which is designed only for the low generator current-

  starter 12 during permanent operation (100 A). During the start-up phase of the generator-starter 12, in which the latter requires the increased current, another electronic control unit 15 is temporarily switched on via the switching element 17. The other electronic control unit 15 which is connected to the air conditioning compressor during normal operation, the generator-starter 12 has the necessary current of the order of 300 A during start-up operation. After completion of the start of the generator-starter 12 (approximately after 2 seconds), the switching element 17 which is controlled via a computer, for example via the vehicle's on-board computer, is reversed, so that the electronic control unit is again connected to the consumer 13 for which it is in fact intended. Now we can also operate this

consumer 13.

  When the consumer is made in the form of a generator-

  starter for an internal combustion engine, high starting currents are only necessary during the cold start of the engine. In this case, it may be advantageous for the two control electronics 14, 15 to be connected together only during the cold phase of the engine. When the internal combustion engine is hot, starting of the generator-starter is possible with the only electronic control unit 14. The unit

  control electronics 15 is no longer necessary.

Claims (14)

Claims   1. Circuit arrangement for an electrical network, in particular circuit arrangement (11) for the on-board network (10) in a vehicle, comprising a number of consumers (12, 13) which are each connected via an electronic control unit. control (14, 15) to a voltage source (16), characterized in that at least one switching element (17) is provided which is arranged between one of the consumers (13) and the electronic control unit corresponding (15), and in that the electronic control unit (15) connected to the switching element (17) is or can be connected at least temporarily with another consumer (12) via the element switch (17).   2. Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that two or more switching elements (17) are provided which are each arranged between a consumer (13) and an electronic unit. corresponding control (15).   3. Circuit arrangement according to either of claims 1   and 2, characterized in that said at least one switch element (17) is connected to a computer.   4. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims 1   to 3, characterized in that two control electronics (14, 15) connected via the switch element (17) to a consumer (12)   are or can be connected in parallel.   5. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims 1   to 4, characterized in that at least individual consumers (12) are provided, whose energy requirement differs compared to other consumers (13), and in that an electronic control unit (15) which is connected to a consumer (13) with a low energy requirement is or can be connected with a consumer (12) having a high energy requirement via the switch element (17).   6. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims 1   to 5, characterized in that there are at least individual consumers (12) having energy needs which differ during the period of their operation, and in that during the period of great energy demand these consumers ( 12) are or can be connected with the electronic control unit (15) of a   other consumer (13) via the switching element (17).   7. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the consumer (12) whose energy requirement differs during the operating period is produced so as to present at startup a greater energy requirement than during its normal running.   8. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims 1   7, characterized in that at least one of the consumers (12) is produced in the form of an electric motor, in particular in the form   of a synchronous or asynchronous motor.   9. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims 1   8, characterized in that the voltage source (16) is produced in the form of a battery, in particular in the form of a 36 V battery.   10. Circuit arrangement according to any one of claims   1 to 9, characterized in that the electronic control unit (14, 15) comprises a control part (24, 26) and a power part (25, 27).   11. Method for operating an electrical network, in particular an on-board network for a vehicle, using a circuit arrangement   according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein is provided   a certain number of consumers which are each connected via an electronic control unit to a voltage source, characterized in that at least one electronic control unit which is connected via a switch element to a consumer is connected at least temporarily with a other consumer by   a corresponding actuation of the switching element.   12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the element   switch is controlled via a computer.   13. Method according to either of claims 1 1 and 12,   characterized in that in the presence of consumers with different energy needs, an electronic control unit which is connected via a switching element to a consumer with a low energy need is connected at least temporarily with a consumer with a high need in   energy by the corresponding actuation of the switching element.   14. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 13,   characterized in that in the event of the presence of consumers who have different energy needs during the period of their operation, these consumers are connected, during the period of a great need for energy, with the electronic control unit of a other consumer by a corresponding actuation of the switch element.