WO2021251118A1 - Wire protection device, wire protection method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

In a power supply control device (10) that functions as a wire protection device, a fusion element (F1) is disposed on a current pathway for current that flows through a wire (W1). The fusion element (F1) fuses according to the temperature of the fusion element (F1). A switch circuit (G1) has an FET. The FET is disposed on the current pathway for the current that flows through the wire (W1). The FET is switched off when a microcomputer (20) has determined that the wire temperature of the wire (W1) is greater than or equal to a temperature threshold.

Description

Wire protection device, wire protection method and computer program

The present disclosure relates to wire protection devices, wire protection methods and computer programs.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Application No. 2020-101070 filed on June 10, 2020, and incorporates all the contents described in the Japanese application.

Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply system for a vehicle that supplies electric power from a DC power source to a load. In this power supply system, a fusing element is arranged in the current path of the current flowing from the DC power supply to the load. The fusing element is specifically a fuse. When a current flows from the DC power supply to the load via the fusing element, the fusing element and the electric wire arranged in the current path generate heat.

For the fusing element, if the amount of heat generated per unit time exceeds the amount of heat released per unit time, the temperature of the fusing element will rise. Similarly, for an electric wire, when the heat generation amount per unit time exceeds the heat dissipation amount per unit time, the electric wire temperature of the electric wire rises. When the wire temperature rises above a certain temperature, the fusing element is blown and the current flow from the DC power supply to the load is stopped. The constant temperature is lower than the smoke generation temperature at which the electric wire emits smoke. Therefore, the fusing element is blown before the electric wire emits smoke, and the electric wire is protected from the smoke emission.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-212065

The electric wire protection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure performs processing with a fusing element arranged in a current path of a current flowing through the electric wire and fusing according to its own temperature, and an FET arranged in the current path. The processing unit includes a processing unit to execute, and the processing unit repeatedly determines whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, the FET. Instruct to switch to off.

In the electric wire protection method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is a step of repeatedly determining whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, the electric wire is said. The computer executes a step of instructing switching of the FET arranged in the current path of the current flowing through the current path to off, and a fusing element that is fused according to its own temperature is arranged in the current path.

The computer program according to one aspect of the present disclosure repeatedly determines whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, the electric wire is used. A fusing element is placed in the current path, which is used to cause the computer to perform a step of instructing the computer to switch off the FET placed in the current path of the current flowing through the current path, and is blown according to its own temperature. ing.

It should be noted that the present disclosure can be realized not only as an electric wire protection device provided with such a characteristic processing unit, but also as an electric wire protection method in which such characteristic processing is a step, or such a step can be applied to a computer. It can be realized as a computer program for execution. Further, the present disclosure can be realized as a semiconductor integrated circuit that realizes a part or all of the electric wire protection device, or can be realized as a power supply system including the electric wire protection device.

It is a block diagram which shows the main part structure of the power supply system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the main part structure of a switch circuit. It is explanatory drawing of the relationship between the reference temperature of a fusing element and the temperature threshold value of the electric wire temperature of an electric wire. It is explanatory drawing of the arrangement of the component part of the power supply control device. It is a block diagram which shows the main part structure of a microcomputer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the power supply control processing of a load. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of electric wire protection processing of an electric wire.

[Problems to be solved by this disclosure]
In the power supply system described in Patent Document 1, the only element that stops the flow of current to the load before the electric wire emits smoke is the fusing element. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the fusing element will be fusing, and the frequency of replacing the fusing element is high. Therefore, the fusing element must be arranged in a place where the user can easily replace the fusing element in the vehicle, and the degree of freedom regarding the arrangement of the fusing element is small.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wire protection device, a wire protection method, and a computer program in which the fusing element is unlikely to be blown.

[Effect of this disclosure]
According to the present disclosure, it is unlikely that the fusing element will be fusing.

[Explanation of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. At least a part of the embodiments described below may be arbitrarily combined.

(1) The electric wire protection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a fusing element arranged in a current path of a current flowing through an electric wire and fused according to its own temperature, and an FET arranged in the current path. , The processing unit repeatedly determines whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold. Instructs the switching of the FET to off.

(2) In the electric wire protection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the fusing element is fused when the electric wire temperature becomes a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature threshold is a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature. ..

(3) In the electric wire protection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the processing unit repeatedly calculates the electric wire temperature based on the electric wire current value of the current flowing through the electric wire.

(4) In the electric wire protection device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the fusing element, the FET, and the processing unit are arranged on one printed circuit board.

(5) In the electric wire protection method according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there are a step of repeatedly determining whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and a case where it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold. , The computer executes a step of instructing switching of the FET arranged in the current path of the current flowing through the electric wire to off, and a fusing element to be fused according to its own temperature is arranged in the current path. ing.

(6) The computer program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a step of repeatedly determining whether or not the electric wire temperature of the electric wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold, and when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold. A fusing element that is used to cause a computer to perform a step of instructing a computer to switch off an FET arranged in a current path of a current flowing through the electric wire and is blown according to its own temperature is the current path. Is located in.

In the wire protection device, wire protection method, and computer program according to the above aspect, the fusing element is blown or the FET is turned off before the wire temperature reaches the smoke temperature at which the wire emits smoke. Switch. Therefore, the electric wire is protected from smoke generation. It is assumed that the FET is switched off before the fusing element is blown. In this configuration, the fusing element is blown when the FET is not switched off even though the wire temperature becomes a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value. Therefore, it is unlikely that the fusing element will be fusing.

In the electric wire protection device according to the above aspect, the temperature threshold of the FET is a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature of the fusing element, and therefore, unless a failure occurs in the device, before the fusing element is blown. FET switches off.

In the wire protection device according to the above aspect, the wire temperature is calculated based on the wire current value.

In the electric wire protection device according to the above aspect, since the possibility that the fusing element is fracted is low, it is not necessary to dispose the fusing element in a place where it can be easily replaced. Therefore, the fusing element, the FET, and the processing unit are arranged on one printed circuit board. When the device is mounted on a vehicle, efficient placement can be achieved in the limited space within the vehicle.

[Details of Embodiments of the present disclosure]
Specific examples of the power supply system according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these examples, and is indicated by the scope of claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

<Power system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the power supply system 1 in the present embodiment. The power supply system 1 is mounted on a vehicle and includes a power supply control device 10, a DC power supply 11, and n loads E1, E2, ..., En. Here, n is an integer of 2 or more. The DC power supply 11 is, for example, a battery. The loads E1, E2, ..., En are electrical devices. The power supply control device 10 is connected to the positive electrode of the DC power supply 11. The power supply control device 10 is further connected to one end of n loads E1, E2, ..., En via n electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn, respectively. The negative electrode of the DC power supply 11 and the other ends of the n loads E1, E2, ..., En are grounded. In the following, any natural number less than or equal to n is represented by k. Therefore, k may be any of 1, 2, ..., N.

The DC power supply 11 supplies power to the load Ek via the power supply control device 10 and the electric wire Wk. When power is supplied to the load Ek, the load Ek operates. When the power supply to the load Ek is stopped, the load Ek stops operating. The power supply control device 10 has an operation signal indicating a load to be operated in n loads E1, E2, ..., En, and an operation in n loads E1, E2, ..., En. A stop signal indicating the load to be stopped is input.

The power supply control device 10 electrically connects the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek when an operation signal indicating the load Ek is input. As a result, the DC power supply 11 supplies power to the load Ek, and the load Ek operates. When a stop signal indicating the load Ek is input, the power supply control device 10 cuts off the electrical connection between the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek. As a result, the power supply from the DC power supply 11 to the load Ek is stopped, and the load Ek stops operating.

<Configuration of power supply control device 10>
The power supply control device 10 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 20, a temperature sensor 21, n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn, and n switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn. Have. Each of the fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn is a fuse, a fusible link, or the like. Each of the switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn is, for example, an IPD (Intelligent Power Device).

A fusing element Fk and a switch circuit Gk are arranged in the current path of the current flowing through the electric wire Wk. In the current path of the electric wire Wk, the fusing element Fk and the switch circuit Gk are arranged on the upstream side of the electric wire Wk. The load Ek is arranged on the downstream side of the electric wire Wk. The fusing element Fk is arranged on the upstream side of the switch circuit Gk. The switch circuit Gk is connected to the microcomputer 20. The temperature sensor 21 is connected to the microcomputer 20.
In the current path of the electric wire Wk, the fusing element Fk may be arranged on the downstream side of the switch circuit Gk. Hereinafter, an example in which the fusing element Fk is arranged on the upstream side of the switch circuit Gk will be described.

The microcomputer 20 outputs a high level voltage or a low level voltage to each of the switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn. The switch circuit Gk is based on the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 and the current value of the current flowing through the electric wire Wk, the electrical connection of the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek, and the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek. It cuts off the electrical connection. In the following, the current value of the current flowing through the electric wire Wk is referred to as the electric wire current value.

The switch circuit Gk switches the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek when the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched from the low level voltage to the high level voltage in a state where the wire current value of the wire W1 is less than a constant current value. Connect electrically. When the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched from the high level voltage to the low level voltage, the switch circuit Gk cuts off the electrical connection between the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek regardless of the wire current value of the wire Wk. do.

In the switch circuit Gk, when the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is a high level voltage and the current value of the wire Wk becomes a current value equal to or higher than a certain current value, the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek are electrically operated. Disconnect the connection. After that, the switch circuit Gk maintains the disconnection of the electrical connection until the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched to the low level voltage. When the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched to the low level voltage, the switch circuit Gk releases the maintenance of the disconnection of the electrical connection.

The switch circuit Gk has a resistor 33 (see FIG. 2). The switch circuit Gk outputs the voltage value between both ends of the resistor 33 to the microcomputer 20. Hereinafter, the voltage value between both ends of the resistor 33 is referred to as a voltage value across the ends. The voltage value across the switch circuit Gk is an analog value, and indicates the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk.

The constant current values related to the electric wire current values of the electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn may be the same. Further, the constant current value for each of the electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn may be different from at least one of the other constant current values.

When a current flows through the electric wire Wk, the fusing element Fk and the electric wire Wk generate heat. Regarding the fusing element Fk, when the calorific value per unit time exceeds the heat dissipation amount per unit time, the temperature of the fusing element Fk rises. Similarly, for the electric wire Wk, when the heat generation amount per unit time exceeds the heat dissipation amount per unit time, the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk rises. When the temperature of the fusing element Fk becomes a temperature equal to or higher than a certain fusing temperature, the fusing element Fk is fused. When the temperature of the fusing element Fk is the fusing temperature, the wire temperature of the wire Wk is described as the reference temperature. The reference temperature is constant. Therefore, when the wire temperature of the wire Wk becomes a temperature equal to or higher than the reference temperature, the fusing element Fk is blown. When the fusing element Fk is flew, the flow through the electric wire Wk is stopped. The reference temperature corresponds to a predetermined temperature.
The reference temperatures of the fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn may be the same. Further, the reference temperature of each of the fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn may be different from at least one of the other reference temperatures.

The temperature sensor 21 detects the environmental temperature of the environment in which the n electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn are arranged. The temperature sensor 21 outputs analog environmental temperature information indicating the detected environmental temperature to the microcomputer 20. The analog environmental temperature information is, for example, a voltage value that fluctuates according to the environmental temperature.

An operation signal and a stop signal are input to the microcomputer 20. The microcomputer 20 outputs to the switch circuit Gk based on a signal input from the outside, a voltage value across the resistor 33 input from the switch circuit Gk, and environmental temperature information input from the temperature sensor 21. Switch the voltage to high level voltage or low level voltage.

<Structure of switch circuit Gk>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the switch circuit Gk. The switch circuit Gk includes an N-channel type FET 30, a current output unit 31 and a drive unit 32. In the current path of the current flowing through the electric wire Wk, the drain and the source of the FET 30 are arranged on the downstream side of the fusing element Fk. The drain is located upstream of the source. In the current path of the current flowing through the electric wire Wk, the current output unit 31 is arranged on the downstream side of the FET 30.

The gate of the FET 30 is connected to the drive unit 32. The drive unit 32 is further connected to the microcomputer 20. The current output unit 31 is further connected to one end of the resistor 33. The other end of the resistor 33 is grounded. The connection node between the current output unit 31 and the resistor 33 is connected to the microcomputer 20 and the drive unit 32.

FET 30 functions as a switch. When the state of the FET 30 is on, the resistance value between the drain and the source is sufficiently small, and a current can flow through the drain and the source. When the state of the FET 30 is off, the resistance value between the drain and the source is sufficiently large, and no current flows through the drain and the source. When the FET 30 is switched from off to on, the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek are electrically connected, and the DC power supply 11 supplies power to the load Ek. When the FET 30 is switched from on to off, the electrical connection between the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek is cut off, and the power supply to the load Ek is stopped.

Regarding the FET 30, when the voltage of the gate whose reference potential is the ground potential is equal to or higher than a constant on voltage, the state is on. For the FET 30, the state is off when the voltage of the gate whose reference potential is the ground potential is less than a constant off voltage. The on voltage exceeds the off voltage. The off voltage is a positive voltage. The drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 on or off by adjusting the voltage of the gate of the FET 30 whose reference potential is the ground potential.

The current output unit 31 outputs a current to the resistor 33. The current value of the current output by the current output unit 31 to the resistor 33 is represented by (predetermined number) and (current value of the current flowing through the load Ek). "・" Represents a product. The predetermined number is a constant value, for example, 1/1000. The wire current value of the wire Wk corresponds to the current value of the current flowing through the load Ek. The current value output by the current output unit 31 to the resistor 33 increases when the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk increases. The current output unit 31 is realized by using, for example, a current mirror circuit.
Note that "match" does not mean only exact match. It suffices if a substantial match is achieved.

In the switch circuit Gk, the voltage value across the resistor 33 is output to the microcomputer 20 and the drive unit 32. The voltage value across the resistor 33 is represented by (the current value of the current output by the current output unit 31 to the resistor 33) and (the resistance value of the resistor 33). As described above, the current value of the current output to the resistor 33 by the current output unit 31 is represented by (predetermined number) and (current value of the current flowing through the load Ek). It is represented by (predetermined number), (current value of the current flowing through the load Ek), and (resistance value of the resistor 33). As described above, the current value of the current flowing through the load Ek matches the wire current value of the wire Wk, so that the wire current value of the wire Wk is (voltage value across the resistor 33) / ((predetermined number) / (resistance). It matches the resistance value of 33)). Since the predetermined number and the resistance value of the resistor 33 are constant values, the voltage value across the resistor 33 indicates the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk.

The microcomputer 20 outputs a high level voltage or a low level voltage to the drive unit 32. When the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched from the low level voltage to the high level voltage in the drive unit 32 in a state where the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 is less than a constant current value. , FET 30 is switched on. As a result, the DC power supply 11 is electrically connected to the load Ek.

When the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched from the high level voltage to the low level voltage, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 off regardless of the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33. .. As a result, the electrical connection between the DC power supply 11 and the load Ek is cut off. In the drive unit 32, when the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is a high level voltage and the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 becomes a current value equal to or higher than a constant current value, the FET 30 To switch off. After that, the drive unit 32 keeps the FET 30 off until the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched to the low level voltage. When the voltage input from the microcomputer 20 is switched to the low level voltage, the drive unit 32 releases the maintenance of OFF of the FET 30.

<Operation of microcomputer 20>
When the operation signal indicating the load Ek is input, the microcomputer 20 switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the low level voltage to the high level voltage. When the output voltage of the microcomputer 20 is switched to the high level voltage, if the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 is less than a constant current value, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 on. When the stop signal indicating the load Ek is input, the microcomputer 20 switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the high level voltage to the low level voltage. As a result, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 off regardless of the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33.

The microcomputer 20 is based on the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 input from the switch circuit Gk and the environmental temperature indicated by the environmental temperature information input from the temperature sensor 21. The temperature is calculated repeatedly. When the wire temperature reaches a certain temperature threshold value or higher, the microcomputer 20 switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the high level voltage to the low level voltage. As a result, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 off regardless of the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33.

After that, the microcomputer 20 maintains the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk at a low level voltage regardless of the signal input from the outside.
When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the microcomputer 20 may release the maintenance of the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk to the low level voltage. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the temperature difference between the electric wire temperature and the environmental temperature of the electric wire Wk is a value equal to or less than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is zero ° C, 5 ° C, or the like.

The temperature thresholds of the wire temperatures of the wires W1, W2, ..., Wn may be the same. Further, the temperature threshold value of each wire temperature of the wires W1, W2, ..., Wn may be different from at least one of the other constant current values.

<Relationship between the reference temperature of the fusing element and the temperature threshold>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the reference temperature of the fusing element Fk and the temperature threshold value of the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk. FIG. 3 shows the breaking characteristic of the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk, the fusing characteristic of the fusing element Fk, and the smoke emitting characteristic of the electric wire Wk. Regarding these characteristics, the vertical axis shows the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk, and the horizontal axis shows the period, that is, the length of time. Is indicates an arbitrary electric wire current value. T1 indicates the period corresponding to Is in the breaking property. T2 indicates the period corresponding to Is in the fusing characteristics. T3 indicates the period corresponding to Is in the smoke emission characteristics.

The cutoff characteristic indicates the timing at which the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is switched off. When the period in which the current whose wire current value is Is continues to flow through the wire Wk is T1, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 off in the switch circuit Gk. The smaller the wire current value Is, the longer the period from when the current starts flowing through the wire Wk until the FET 30 is switched off.

The fusing characteristic indicates the timing at which the fusing element Fk is fusing. When the period during which the current whose wire current value is Is continues to flow through the wire Wk is T2, the fusing element Fk is fusing. The smaller the wire current value Is, the longer the period from when the current starts to flow through the wire Wk until the fusing element Fk is blown. It is assumed that a fusing element having a rated current value of 20 A is used as the fusing element Fk. The following is an example of the period until the fusing element Fk is fusing. When a current having a wire current value Is of 27 A continues to flow for 60 seconds through the fusing element Fk, the fusing element Fk is fused. When a current having a wire current value Is of 40 A continues to flow for 1.5 seconds through the fusing element Fk, the fusing element Fk is fused.

The smoke emission characteristic indicates the timing at which the electric wire Wk emits smoke. When the period in which the current whose wire current value is Is continues to flow through the wire Wk is T3, the wire Wk emits smoke. The smaller the wire current value Is, the longer it takes for the current to start flowing through the wire Wk until the wire Wk emits smoke.

As shown in FIG. 3, for any wire current value Is, the period T3 is longer than the period T1 and the period T2. This means that the smoke generation temperature at which the electric wire Wk emits smoke is higher than the reference temperature of the fusing element Fk and the temperature threshold value of the electric wire Wk. Therefore, the fusing element Fk is blown or the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is switched off before the wire temperature reaches the smoke generation temperature at which the wire Wk emits smoke. Therefore, the electric wire Wk is protected from smoke generation.

Also, for any wire current value Is, the period T2 is longer than the period T1 and the period T3 is longer than the period T2. The fact that the period T2 is longer than the period T1 means that the reference temperature of the fusing element Fk exceeds the temperature threshold value of the wire temperature of the wire Wk. Therefore, unless a failure has occurred in the power supply control device 10, the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is switched off before the fusing element Fk is blown, and the fusing element Fk is not blown. The phenomenon that the wire temperature of the wire Wk exceeds the temperature threshold occurs, for example, when both ends of the load Ek are short-circuited. The phenomenon that the fusing element Fk is fusing occurs, for example, when both ends of the load Ek are short-circuited and the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is not switched from on to off.

<Arrangement of components of power supply control device 10>
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement of the components of the power supply control device 10. The power supply control device 10 further includes a printed circuit board B. The printed circuit board B is an insulator substrate. FIG. 4 shows the plane and side surfaces of the printed circuit board B. As shown in FIG. 4, on the plate surface of one printed circuit board B, n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn, n switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn and a microcomputer 20 Is placed. A plurality of wirings (not shown) used for connection are provided on the plate surface of the printed circuit board B. One end of each of the n electric wires W1, W2, ... Wk is connected to the n wires provided on the plate surface of the printed circuit board B.

As described above, as long as the FET 30 is properly switched in the switch circuit Gk, the fusing element Fk will not be fusing. Therefore, it is unlikely that the n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn will be fluted. When the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is not switched off even though the wire temperature of the wire Wk is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value, the fusing element Fk is blown.

Therefore, n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn can be arranged on the printed circuit board B in which the n switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn and the microcomputer 20 are arranged. .. It is not necessary to arrange the printed circuit board B in a place where the n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn can be easily replaced in the vehicle. As a result, efficient placement can be realized in the limited space in the vehicle.

When there is a high possibility that the fusing element Fk is fusing, n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn are not arranged on the printed circuit board B, and n fusing elements F1, F2, ... Fn is housed in a storage box. Further, it is necessary to arrange the storage box in a place where n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn can be easily replaced. In this case, the degree of freedom in arranging the storage box, that is, the fusing element Fk is low, and efficient arrangement cannot be realized.

<Configuration of microcomputer 20>
Hereinafter, the microcomputer 20 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the microcomputer 20. The microcomputer 20 includes an A / D conversion unit 40, an input unit 41, a storage unit 42, a control unit 43, n output units J1, J2, ..., Jn and n A / D conversion units M1, M2. ..., Has Mn. These are connected to the internal bus 44. The A / D conversion unit 40 is further connected to the temperature sensor 21. The output unit Jk is further connected to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk. The A / D conversion unit Mk is further connected to the connection node of the switch circuit Gk. The connection node of the switch circuit Gk is a connection node between the current output unit 31 and the resistor 33.

The output unit Jk outputs a high level voltage or a low level voltage to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk. The drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk turns the FET 30 on or off as described above based on the output voltage of the output unit Jk and the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 of the switch circuit Gk. Switch.

The control unit 43 instructs the output unit Jk to switch the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to on and to switch the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to off. The output unit Jk switches the output voltage to the high level voltage when the switching of the FET 30 is instructed to be on, and switches the output voltage to the low level voltage when the switching of the FET 30 is instructed to be turned off.

An analog voltage value across the analog is input from the switch circuit Gk to the A / D conversion unit Mk. The A / D conversion unit Mk converts the analog voltage value across the analog input from the switch circuit Gk into the digital voltage value across the digital circuit. The control unit 43 acquires a digital voltage value across from the A / D conversion unit Mk.

Analog environmental temperature information is input from the temperature sensor 21 to the A / D conversion unit 40. The A / D conversion unit 40 converts the analog environmental temperature information input from the temperature sensor 21 into digital environmental temperature information. The control unit 43 acquires digital environmental temperature information from the A / D conversion unit 40. As described above, the environmental temperature information indicates the environmental temperature of the environment in which the electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wk are arranged.

The operation signal and stop signal are input to the input unit 41. The storage unit 42 is a non-volatile memory. The computer program P is stored in the storage unit 42. The control unit 43 has a processing element that executes processing, and functions as a processing unit. By executing the computer program P, the processing element of the control unit 43 performs n power supply control processing corresponding to each of the loads E1, E2, ..., En, and the electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn, respectively. The n wire protection processes corresponding to the above are executed in parallel. The power supply control process for the load Ek is a process for controlling the power supply to the load Ek. The electric wire protection process of the electric wire Wk is a process of protecting the electric wire Wk from smoke generation.

The computer program P may be stored in the storage medium A so that the processing element of the control unit 43 can be read. In this case, the computer program P read from the storage medium A by a reading device (not shown) is written in the storage unit 42. The storage medium A is an optical disk, a flexible disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic disk disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like. The optical disk is a CD (Compact Disc) -ROM (Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) -ROM, or a BD (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc). The magnetic disk is, for example, a hard disk. Further, the computer program P may be downloaded from a device (not shown) connected to a communication network (not shown), and the downloaded computer program P may be written in the storage unit 42.

The number of processing elements included in the control unit 43 is not limited to 1, and may be 2 or more. In this case, a plurality of processing elements may jointly execute n power supply control processes, n wire protection processes, and the like according to the computer program P.

The storage unit 42 stores the values of n prohibition flags corresponding to each of the electric wires W1, W2, ..., Wn. When the value of the flag of the electric wire Wk is zero, it indicates that the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is allowed to be switched on. When the value of the flag of the electric wire Wk is 1, it means that switching the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to ON is prohibited. The value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is changed to zero or one by the control unit 43.

<Power supply control processing of load Ek>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the power supply control process of the load Ek. The control unit 43 periodically executes the power supply control process of the load Ek. First, the control unit 43 determines whether or not the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is 1 (step S1). The value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is zero or one. Therefore, if the value of the prohibition flag is not 1, the value of the prohibition flag is zero. When the value of the prohibition flag is 1 (S1: YES), the control unit 43 ends the power supply control process of the load Ek. When the next cycle arrives, the control unit 43 again executes the power supply control process of the load Ek. The control unit 43 waits until the value of the prohibition flag is changed to zero.

When the control unit 43 determines that the value of the prohibition flag is not 1 (S1: NO), the control unit 43 determines whether or not an operation signal indicating the load Ek has been input to the input unit 41 (step S2). When the control unit 43 determines that the operation signal indicating the load Ek has not been input (S2: NO), the control unit 43 determines whether or not the stop signal indicating the load Ek has been input to the input unit 41 (step S3).

When the control unit 43 determines that the stop signal indicating the load Ek has not been input (S3: NO), the control unit 43 ends the power supply control process of the load Ek. As described above, when the next cycle arrives, the control unit 43 again executes the power supply control process of the load Ek. When the value of the prohibition flag is zero, the control unit 43 waits until the operation signal or the stop signal indicating the load Ek is input to the input unit 41.

When the control unit 43 determines that the operation signal indicating the load Ek has been input (S2: YES), the control unit 43 instructs the output unit Jk to switch the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to ON (step S4). As a result, the output unit Jk switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the low level voltage to the high level voltage. When the voltage output to the drive unit 32 is switched to the high level voltage, if the wire current value of the wire Wk indicated by the voltage value across the resistor 33 is less than a constant current value, the drive unit 32 is a switch circuit. The FET 30 of Gk is switched on.

When the control unit 43 determines that the stop signal indicating the load Ek has been input (S3: YES), the control unit 43 instructs the output unit Jk to switch the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to off (step S5). As a result, the output unit Jk switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the high level voltage to the low level voltage. As a result, the drive unit 32 switches off the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk.
After executing one of steps S4 and S5, the control unit 43 ends the power supply control process of the load Ek. When the next cycle arrives, the control unit 43 re-executes the power supply control process of the load Ek.

As will be described later, the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is changed to 1 while the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk is off. Therefore, when the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is 1, the FET 30 is not switched on and the FET 30 is kept off. When the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is zero and the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk is less than a constant current value and an operation signal indicating the load Ek is input, the drive unit 32 uses the switch circuit Gk. FET 30 is switched on. In the same case, when the stop signal indicating the load Ek is input, the drive unit 32 switches the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to off.

<Calculation method of wire temperature of wire Wk>
The calculation method for calculating the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk will be described. The control unit 43 of the microcomputer 20 repeatedly calculates the temperature difference between the electric wire temperature and the environmental temperature for the electric wire Wk. Specifically, the control unit 43 calculates the temperature difference based on the preceding temperature difference, the environmental temperature, and the electric wire current value calculated in advance. The control unit 43 calculates the wire temperature of the wire Wk by adding the calculated temperature difference to the environmental temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21.

For the electric wire Wk, the electric wire current value, the temperature difference to be calculated, the preceding temperature difference, and the environmental temperature are described as Iw, ΔTw, ΔTp, and Ta, respectively. The control unit 43 calculates the temperature difference ΔTw by substituting the preceding temperature difference ΔTp, the electric wire current value Iw, and the environmental temperature Ta into the equations [1] and [2] shown below.
ΔTw = ΔTp ・ exp (−Δt / τr) + Rth ・ Rw
・ Iw ²・ (1-exp (−Δt / τr)) ・ ・ ・ [1]
Rw = Ro ・ (1 + κ ・ (Ta + ΔTp-To) ・ ・ ・ [2]

Explain the variables and constants used in equations [1] and [2]. In the description of variables and constants, the units of variables or constants are also shown. The unit of the wire current value Iw is ampere. The units of the temperature difference ΔTw, the preceding temperature difference ΔTp, and the environmental temperature Ta are degrees. Rw is the electric wire resistance value (Ω) of the electric wire Wk. Rth is the electric wire thermal resistance value (° C./W) of the electric wire Wk. Δt is the period (s) for acquiring the voltage value across the switch circuit Gk. τr is the electric wire heat dissipation time constant (s) of the electric wire Wk. To is a predetermined temperature (° C.). Ro is the electric wire resistance value (Ω) at the temperature To. κ is the temperature coefficient of wire resistance (/ ° C) of the wire Wk.

The temperature difference ΔTw, the preceding temperature difference ΔTp, the wire current value Iw, and the environmental temperature Ta are variables, and the period Δt, the wire heat dissipation time constant τr, the wire thermal resistance Rth, the wire resistance Ro, the wire resistance temperature coefficient κ, and the temperature To are It is a preset constant.

The value of the first term of the equation [1] decreases as the period Δt becomes longer, so that the first term of the equation [1] represents the heat dissipation of the electric wire Wk. Further, since the value of the second term of the equation [1] increases as the period Δt becomes longer, the second term of the equation [1] represents the heat generation of the electric wire Wk. The value of the second term increases as the wire current value Iw increases.

The control unit 43 calculates the wire temperature of the wire Wk by adding the environmental temperature Ta detected by the temperature sensor 21 to the calculated temperature difference ΔTw. In the calculation of the temperature difference ΔTw of the electric wire Wk first executed by the control unit 43 after the microcomputer 20 is started, it is assumed that the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk matches the environmental temperature Ta, and the preceding temperature difference ΔTp is regarded as zero.

<Wire protection treatment>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the electric wire protection processing of the electric wire Wk. The control unit 43 periodically executes the wire protection process of the wire Wk. The storage unit 42 stores the preceding temperature difference calculated in advance by the control unit 43. The preceding temperature difference stored in the storage unit 42 is changed by the control unit 43.

In the wire protection process, the control unit 43 first acquires the voltage value across the resistor 33 of the switch circuit Gk from the A / D conversion unit Mk (step S11). Next, the control unit 43 calculates the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk based on the voltage value across the voltage acquired in step S11 (step S12). As described above, the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk is represented by (voltage value across the resistor 33) / ((predetermined number) · (resistance value of the resistor 33)). The predetermined number and the resistance value of the resistor 33 are constant values.

After executing step S12, the control unit 43 reads the preceding temperature difference from the storage unit 42 (step S13) and acquires the environmental temperature information from the A / D conversion unit 40 (step S14). Next, the control unit 43 sets the electric wire current value calculated in step S12, the preceding temperature difference read in step S13, and the environmental temperature indicated by the environmental temperature information acquired in step S14 into the equation [1] and [2]. By substituting into the equation, the temperature difference between the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk and the environmental temperature is calculated (step S15).

Next, the control unit 43 changes the preceding temperature difference stored in the storage unit 42 to the temperature difference calculated in step S15 (step S16). The preceding temperature difference after the change is used in the calculation of the next temperature difference. After executing step S16, the control unit 43 calculates the wire temperature of the wire Wk by adding the temperature difference calculated in step S15 to the environmental temperature indicated by the environmental temperature information acquired in step S14 (step S17). ).

Next, the control unit 43 determines whether or not the wire temperature calculated in step S17 is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value of the wire Wk (step S18). When the control unit 43 determines that the calculated wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value (S18: YES), the control unit 43 instructs the output unit Jk to switch the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk to off (step S19). As a result, the output unit Jk switches the voltage output to the drive unit 32 of the switch circuit Gk from the high level voltage to the low level voltage. As a result, the drive unit 32 switches off the FET 30 of the switch circuit Gk.

After executing step S19, the control unit 43 changes the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk to 1 (step S20). This prohibits switching the FET 30 to on. When the control unit 43 determines that the wire temperature is lower than the temperature threshold value (S18: NO), or after executing step S20, the control unit 43 ends the wire protection process of the wire Wk. When the next cycle arrives, the control unit 43 executes the wire protection process of the wire Wk again.

As described above, the control unit 43 repeatedly calculates the wire temperature of the wire Wk based on the wire current value of the wire Wk, and repeatedly determines whether or not the calculated wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold of the wire Wk. When the control unit 43 determines that the calculated wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value, the control unit 43 instructs the FET 30 to be switched off and prohibits the FET 30 from being switched on. The power supply control device 10 functions as an electric wire protection device.

When the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is changed to 1, the control unit 43 may execute a release process for canceling the prohibition of switching the FET 30 on by the switch circuit Gk. The control unit 43 periodically executes the release process of the switch circuit Gk when the value of the prohibition flag of the electric wire Wk is 1. Even in the release process, the control unit 43 calculates the temperature difference between the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk and the environmental temperature. The control unit 43 determines whether or not the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are satisfied. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the temperature difference is a value equal to or less than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is zero ° C, 5 ° C, or the like. When the control unit 43 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the control unit 43 returns the value of the prohibition flag to zero. When the control unit 43 determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the control unit 43 maintains the value of the prohibition flag at 1.

<Modification example>
The control unit 43 may be configured to repeatedly calculate the wire temperature of the wire Wk. Therefore, the control unit 43 does not have to periodically calculate the wire temperature of the wire Wk. The method of calculating the electric wire temperature of the electric wire Wk based on the electric wire current value of the electric wire Wk is not limited to the method using the equation [1] and the equation [2].

The power supply control device 10 may have n temperature detection units for detecting the wire temperature of each of the wires W1, W2, ..., Wk. In this case, the control unit 43 of the microcomputer 20 does not calculate the wire temperature, and determines whether or not the wire temperature of the wire Wk detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value.

The n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn, n switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn and the microcomputer 20 do not have to be arranged on one printed circuit board B. For example, n fusing elements F1, F2, ..., Fn, n switch circuits G1, G2, ..., Gn and a part of the microcomputer 20 are on a second substrate different from the printed circuit board B. It may be arranged in.

The number of each of the fusing element, the electric wire, the switch circuit and the load, that is, n may be 1. The FET 30 may function as a switch. Therefore, instead of the FET 30, a P-channel type FET, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor), a relay contact, or the like may be used.

The disclosed embodiments should be considered to be exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, not the above-mentioned meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

1 Power supply system 10 Power supply control device (electric wire protection device)
11 DC power supply 20 Microcomputer 21 Temperature sensor 30 FET
31 Current output unit 32 Drive unit 33 Resistance 40, M1, M2, ..., Mn A / D conversion unit 41 Input unit 42 Storage unit 43 Control unit (processing unit)
44 Internal bus A Storage medium B Printed circuit board E1, E2, ..., En load F1, F2, ..., Fn Fusing element G1, G2, ..., Gn switch circuit J1, J2, ..., Jn Output section W1, W2, ..., Wn wire P computer program

Claims (6)

1. A fusing element placed in the current path of the current flowing through the electric wire and fusing according to its own temperature,
   The FET placed in the current path and
   It has a processing unit that executes processing, and has a processing unit.
   The processing unit
   It is repeatedly determined whether or not the wire temperature of the wire is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value.
   An electric wire protection device for instructing switching of the FET to off when it is determined that the electric wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value.
2. The fusing element is fluted when the wire temperature becomes a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.
   The electric wire protection device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature threshold value is a temperature lower than the predetermined temperature.
3. The electric wire protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing unit repeatedly calculates the electric wire temperature based on the electric wire current value of the current flowing through the electric wire.
4. The electric wire protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fusing element, the FET, and the processing unit are arranged on one printed circuit board.
5. The step of repeatedly determining whether or not the wire temperature of the wire is above the temperature threshold, and
   When it is determined that the wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value, the computer executes a step of instructing switching of the FET arranged in the current path of the current flowing through the wire to off.
   An electric wire protection method in which a fusing element that flutes according to its own temperature is arranged in the current path.
6. The step of repeatedly determining whether or not the wire temperature of the wire is above the temperature threshold, and
   When it is determined that the wire temperature is equal to or higher than the temperature threshold value, it is used to cause the computer to perform a step of instructing switching of the FET arranged in the current path of the current flowing through the wire to off. ,
   A computer program in which a fusing element that flutes according to its own temperature is arranged in the current path.

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