JP2016030539A - Power saving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stop power supply to an insulation circuit for cutting off a DC component of a communication signal and reduce power consumption when pulling and removing a connector for connecting a communication line with another circuit device having different reference potential.SOLUTION: A power saving device includes: a communication driver 22 for driving a communication signal; a processing circuit section 21 for inputting or outputting a signal with the communication driver 22; an insulation circuit 24 for cutting off a DC component of a signal input or output between the communication driver 22 and the processing circuit section 21; connector connection detection means 21, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 for detecting that connectors 26 and 27 for connecting communication lines CANH and CANL abut on each other; and a power supply switch 11 for controlling power supply to the insulation circuit 24. The connector connection detection means 21, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 control the power supply switch 11 to be turned on when the abutting of the connectors 26 and 27 is detected and control the power supply switch 11 to be turned off when the abutting of the connectors 26 and 27 is not detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a power saving device, and more particularly to a power saving device for a circuit device including an insulating circuit.

  An electric forklift, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like is equipped with a battery pack that incorporates an assembled battery in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are connected in series and supplies high-voltage power. Such a battery pack includes a battery monitoring unit (for example, a battery monitoring ECU: Electronic Control Unit) that monitors each built-in battery.

  The battery monitoring unit (1) detects the state of each battery such as voltage, current, temperature, etc., (2) calculates the remaining battery capacity from the detected state information, determines an abnormal state, (3) calculates or Depending on the result of the determination, it has processing functions such as control of charge / discharge of each battery and coping with abnormality.

  The battery monitoring unit also has a communication function such as CAN (Control Area Network) communication, and communicates with other circuit devices such as a travel control unit (travel control ECU) mounted on the vehicle side by communication such as CAN communication. A processing function for transmitting and receiving various communication signals is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a main part of a conventional battery monitoring unit. The battery monitoring unit 20 includes a processing circuit unit 21 such as a microcomputer that performs processing such as calculation, determination, control, and coping with respect to the state of each battery in the battery pack. The battery monitoring unit 20 includes a communication driver 22 that drives a communication signal such as CAN communication in order to perform communication such as CAN communication with a circuit device (not shown) such as a vehicle-side travel control unit.

  Further, the battery monitoring unit 20 separates the conductor of the signal transmission path 23 between the processing circuit unit 21 and the communication driver 22 and cuts off the direct current component of the signal transmitted between them. An insulation circuit (isolator) 24 that allows only change components such as frequency or phase to pass is provided.

  The processing circuit unit 21 such as a microcomputer in the battery monitoring unit 20 operates at a low voltage (low voltage system) of about 5 volts, for example. On the other hand, a vehicle-side circuit device (not shown) connected to the battery monitoring unit 20 via a communication line such as a CAN communication line CANH, CANL is driven at a high voltage (high voltage system) such as 48 volts.

  A low-voltage circuit device and a high-voltage circuit device have different reference potentials such as ground potentials, and circuit devices having different reference potentials connect communication lines such as CAN communication lines CANH and CANL by connectors 26 and 27. In some cases, communication signals such as CAN communication are mutually transmitted and received.

  Thus, when circuit devices having different reference potentials are connected via a communication line, the communication driver 22 that converts a communication signal transmitted / received through the communication line into a signal having a potential suitable for each circuit device is provided. Provided.

  One side of the communication driver 22 is connected to a high-voltage circuit device through a communication line such as a CAN communication line CANH, CANL, and inputs / outputs a high-voltage signal. The other side of the communication driver 22 is connected to the low-voltage processing circuit unit 21 via the insulating circuit 24, and inputs and outputs low-voltage signals.

  The insulation circuit 24 is supplied with an operating current from a low-voltage power supply circuit 25 and operates at a low voltage. The insulation circuit 24 galvanically insulates between the communication driver 22 and the processing circuit unit 21 and is affected by a difference in reference potential. A circuit is incorporated that removes and passes only the changing components of the signal transmitted between them.

  In the conventional battery monitoring unit 20, the operating current from the power supply circuit 25 is always supplied to the insulating circuit 24 so that the processing circuit unit 21 can transmit and receive communication signals such as CAN communication at any time. Therefore, even when communication such as CAN communication is not performed, the insulating circuit 24 is always activated by the operating current supplied from the power supply circuit 25.

  As a prior art document related to the present invention, in an electronic control unit such as a vehicle, a technique for cutting power supply to a light receiving circuit for optical communication and reducing power consumption when not in operation, for example, the following patent It is described in Literature 1 etc.

  In addition, in a power line communication terminal device interposed between a power line and a network device, when a disconnection state with the network device is detected, the internal circuit is changed to a hibernation state or a power off state to reduce power consumption. Is described in, for example, Patent Document 2 below.

JP-A-5-193427 JP 2007-336174 A

  As described above, in a circuit device such as the battery monitoring unit 20 connected to another circuit device via a communication line such as CAN communication, when the reference potential differs between the other circuit device and its own circuit device, those circuits A communication driver 22 that converts the potential of signals transmitted and received between the devices and an insulation circuit 24 that blocks a DC component of the transmitted signals are provided. Even when communication such as CAN communication is not performed, the conventional insulation circuit 24 is always supplied with an operating current and consumes invalid and wasteful power as standby power.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an insulating circuit when a communication line of another circuit device is disconnected from a communication line of its own circuit device in a circuit device connected to the other circuit device by a communication line. An object of the present invention is to stop the supply of the operating current and reduce the power consumed as standby power in the insulating circuit.

  A power saving apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication driver that drives a communication signal transmitted to and received from another circuit device, and a processing circuit unit that outputs a signal to the communication driver and inputs a signal from the communication driver. And an insulating circuit that cuts off a direct current component of the signal input and output between the communication driver and the processing circuit unit and allows a change component to pass therethrough, and a power saving device for a circuit device comprising: Connector connection detecting means for detecting that a connector of its own circuit device for connecting a communication line for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the other circuit device is in contact with a connector of the other circuit device; and the insulation It is detected by the power supply switch that controls the supply of the operating current of the circuit and the connector connection detecting means that the connector of the circuit device is in contact with the connector of the other circuit device. Control means for turning on the power supply switch and controlling the power supply switch to be turned off when contact between the connector of the circuit device and the connector of the other circuit device is not detected. It is characterized by that.

  The connector connection detecting means has one end connected to the input terminal of the processing circuit unit and the other end connected to the first contact portion of the connector of the circuit device itself, and one end A predetermined potential line connected to the second contact portion of the connector of the circuit device of the own and having the other end held at a predetermined potential, and the connector of the circuit device of the own device and the connector of the other circuit device Are arranged such that the first and second contact portions of the circuit device come into contact with the folded contact portions at both ends of the folded connection line provided in the other circuit device. It is characterized by being.

  According to the present invention, in a circuit device that is connected to another circuit device by a communication line, the contact between the connectors that connect the communication line is detected, and the operating current of the insulating circuit is supplied according to the detection result. When the communication line of the other circuit device is disconnected from the communication line of its own circuit device, the supply of the operating current of the insulating circuit is stopped and consumed as standby power in the insulating circuit. Power can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the principal part of the battery monitoring part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the principal part of the conventional battery monitoring part.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A battery monitoring unit will be described as an example of a circuit device including an insulating circuit in the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a main part of the battery monitoring unit of the present embodiment. As described in FIG. 2, the battery monitoring unit 20 includes a processing circuit unit 21 such as a microcomputer and a communication driver 22 that drives a communication signal such as CAN communication.

  Further, the battery monitoring unit 20 separates the conductor of the signal transmission path 23 between the processing circuit unit 21 and the communication driver 22 and cuts off the direct current component of the signal transmitted between them, the signal voltage, An insulation circuit (isolator) 24 that passes only change components such as current, frequency, or phase is provided.

  The processing circuit unit 21 in the battery monitoring unit 20 operates at a low voltage (low voltage system) of about 5 volts, for example. On the other hand, a circuit device on the vehicle side (not shown) connected to the battery monitoring unit 20 via the connectors 26 and 27 operates at a high voltage (high voltage system) such as 48 volts.

  The insulation circuit 24 in the battery monitoring unit 20 is supplied with an operating current from a low-voltage power supply circuit 25. In the present embodiment, the insulating circuit 24 includes a power supply switch 11 that switches supply / stop of the operating current. The power supply switch 11 supplies an operating current from the power supply circuit 25 to the insulating circuit 24 when turned on, and stops supplying the operating current when turned off. The processing circuit unit 21 controls on / off of the power supply switch 11.

  In the present embodiment, the connector connection detection line 12 is provided. One end of the connector connection detection line 12 is connected to the input terminal of the processing circuit unit 21, and the other end is connected to the first contact portion 13 of the connector 26 on the battery monitoring unit 20 side.

  One end of the connector 27 on the other circuit device side that contacts the connector 26 on the battery monitoring unit 20 side is connected to the first folded contact portion 14 that contacts the first contact portion 13 of the connector 26. The folding connection line 15 having the other end connected to the second folding contact portion 16 that contacts the second contact portion 17 is provided.

  The connector 26 on the battery monitoring unit 20 side is further provided with a predetermined potential line 18 held at a predetermined potential, for example, a ground potential, on the second contact portion 17 that contacts the second folded contact portion 16 of the connector 27. Keep connected.

  Therefore, when the connector 26 and the connector 27 are in contact with each other, the predetermined potential applied by the predetermined potential line 18 is such that the second contact portion 17 → the second folded contact portion 16 → the folded connection line 15 → the first folded portion. The contact connection 14 is given to the connector connection detection line 12 by a route of the first contact part 13 → the connector connection detection line 12.

  The processing circuit unit 21 monitors the potential of the connector connection detection line 12. When the predetermined potential given by the predetermined potential line 18 appears on the connector connection detection line 12, the connector 26 and the connector 27 are in contact with each other. Recognizing and detecting connector connection by the connectors 26 and 27.

  When the predetermined potential given by the predetermined potential line 18 appears on the connector connection detection line 12, the processing circuit unit 21 recognizes that the communication line is connected by the connectors 26 and 27, and turns on the power supply switch 11. A control signal to be supplied to the power supply switch 11.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined potential given by the predetermined potential line 18 does not appear on the connector connection detection line 12, the processing circuit unit 21 recognizes that the connector 26 and the connector 27 are disconnected and the communication line is disconnected. Then, a control signal for turning off the power supply switch 11 is given to the power supply switch 11.

  By doing this, when the connector 26 and the connector 27 are disconnected and communication such as CAN communication is not performed with other circuit devices, the supply of the operating current from the power supply circuit 25 to the insulating circuit 24 is stopped. Thus, consumption of invalid standby current can be reduced.

  Further, the connector connection detection line 12 and the predetermined potential line 18 are provided on the connector 26 of its own circuit device, the return connection line 15 is provided on the connector 27 of the other circuit device, and the potential of the connector connection detection line 12 is set to the processing circuit unit. By monitoring at 21, connector connection detection can be performed with a simple configuration.

  The current supply switch 11 may be incorporated in the processing circuit unit 21. Further, the current supply switch 11 is incorporated in the insulation circuit 24, and an on / off control signal for the current supply switch 11 is supplied from the processing circuit unit 21 to the insulation circuit 24, and current is supplied by the on / off control signal in the insulation circuit 24. The switch 11 may be turned on / off.

  In addition, a control circuit for controlling on / off of the power supply switch 11 according to a predetermined potential appearing on the connector connection detection line 12 is provided separately from the processing circuit unit 21, and the control circuit turns on / off the power supply switch 11 with the control circuit. You may comprise so that off may be controlled.

  In addition, the predetermined potential applied to the predetermined potential line 18 is preferably a potential (for example, a ground potential) corresponding to the reference potential in the battery monitoring unit 20 that is its own circuit device. Even if the potential is in accordance with the potential (for example, ground potential), the connector connection detection line 12 is electrically connected to the terminal of the potential, and the connector connection detection line 12 is in a state different from the open state. What is necessary is just to discriminate | determine in the processing circuit part 21 grade | etc.,.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment described above, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, various structures or embodiment can be taken. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Power supply switch 12 Connector connection detection line 13 1st contact part 14 1st return contact part 15 Return connection line 16 2nd return contact part 17 2nd contact part 18 Predetermined potential line 20 Battery monitoring part 21 Processing circuit Unit 22 Communication driver 23 Signal transmission path 24 Insulation circuit (isolator)
25 Power supply circuit 26, 27 Connector

Claims (2)

A communication driver for driving a communication signal transmitted / received to / from another circuit device; a processing circuit unit for outputting a signal to the communication driver and inputting a signal from the communication driver; and the communication driver and the processing circuit unit An insulation circuit that cuts off a direct current component of the signal that is input to and output from the signal and passes a change component, and a power saving device for a circuit device,
A connector connection detecting means for detecting that a connector of its own circuit device for connecting a communication line for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from the other circuit device is in contact with a connector of the other circuit device;
A power supply switch for controlling the supply of operating current of the isolation circuit;
When it is detected by the connector connection detecting means that the connector of the own circuit device is in contact with the connector of the other circuit device, the power supply switch is turned on, and the connector of the own circuit device is turned on. And control means for controlling the power supply switch to be off when contact with the connector of the other circuit device is not detected,
A power-saving device comprising: The connector connection detection means has one end connected to the input terminal of the processing circuit unit and the other end connected to the first contact part of the connector of the circuit device, and one end of the connector connection detection unit. A predetermined potential line connected to the second contact portion of the connector of the circuit device and having the other end held at a predetermined potential,
When the connector of the own circuit device and the connector of the other circuit device are in contact with each other, the first and second contact portions of the own circuit device are provided in the connector of the other circuit device. The power-saving device according to claim 1, wherein the power-saving device is disposed so as to come into contact with the folded contact portions at both ends of the folded connection line.

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