Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present subject matter is related, in general to a vehicle, and more particularly, but not exclusively to a circuit for controlling one or more components and method thereof i.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Energy storage systems such as battery packs, in essence, are a source of electrical 5 energy which is supplied to an electrical load for its functioning. The battery pack may comprise of a plurality of battery cells which are electrically connected in parallel connection, series connection or a combination of series and parallel connection based on the required power output and current output to be supplied by the battery pack. Battery packs are used in a broad spectrum of industrial applications and equipment and are also a critical component in 10 electric and hybrid vehicle development.
[0003] Any electrical layout, such as those employed in vehicles, in general comprises energy storage systems such as battery packs connected to one or more loads. The energy storage systems are configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads. Owing to high operational currents and voltages and further supplier based safe thresholds identified, there is 15 a dire need to ensure optimum functioning of the energy storage systems and the one or more loads in the electrical layout.
[0004] In the conventional known arts, the energy storage systems are provided with a battery management system (hereinafter referred to as BMS). The BMS monitors the current, temperature, voltage and other parameters of the energy storage system and thereby diagnoses 20 safe operation of the energy storage system. However, the BMS fails to adopt or execute a mechanism for alleviating raising concerns pertinent to the energy storage system. Further, additional aspects of the electrical layout such as the safe operation of the one or more loads, the BMS fails to address.
[0005] Inconsideration of safety parameters concerning the one or more loads present in the 25 electrical layouts such as in vehicles leads to reduced durability, cycle life and overheating concerns in the one or more loads. The deterioration of aspects of the one or more loads due to over heating adversely impacts the efficiency and effectiveness associated with the one or more loads.
[0006] Even thermal management systems deployed with reference to electrical layouts are 30 limited to curbing heating concerns in the energy storage system. The thermal management
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system fails to consider aspects of ancillary equipment in the electrical layout such as the one or more loads, thereby not proving to effectively curb heating concerns in the electrical layout. [0007] With particular reference to vehicles such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and internal combustion engine-based vehicles, the one or more loads may refer to sensitive electrical and electronic components such as lamps, controllers, microcontrollers, motor 5 control unit, vehicle control unit which are powered by the energy storage system. Due to a higher cost and critical task associated with the one or more loads in the vehicle layout, the requirement of a controlling circuit for optimizing the parameters in the vehicle layout are of more critical concern.
[0008] Thus, there is a requirement for controlling or regulating mechanism in of one or more 10 components disposed in a vehicle via a circuit configured to address anomalies, abnormalities and miscellaneous functioning of all the components of the electrical and vehicle layout. Thereby providing an effective control for optimal functioning of all components in the electrical and vehicle layout.
[0009] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will 15 become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of described systems with some aspects of the present disclosure, as set forth in the remainder of the present application and with reference to the drawings.
SUMMARY
[00010] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way 20 limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
[00011] According to embodiments illustrated herein, the present subject matter provides a circuit for controlling one or more components. The circuit comprises one or more energy 25 storage units, a modifier unit, one or more loads and a control unit. The one or more energy storage units are configured to supply energy to one or more loads in the circuit. The modifier unit is configured to regulate one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units for energy supply to the one or more loads. The control unit is configured to: receive the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units from 30 the one or more energy storage units. The control unit additionally receives load characteristics of the one or more loads from the one or more loads and characteristics of the modifier unit
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from the modifier unit. The control unit further controls one or more switching units based on the received one or energy storage parameters, the load characteristics and the modifier characteristics, where controlling the one or more switching units controls the energy supplied to the one or more loads by the one or more energy storage units. [00012]
According to embodiments illustrated herein, the present subject matter additionally 5 provides a vehicle comprising: one or more energy storage units, a modifier unit and a control unit. The one or more energy storage units comprises one or more primary energy storage units and one or more secondary energy storage units. Each of the one or more primary energy storage units and the one or more secondary energy storage units comprising one or more energy storage parameters. The modifier unit is connected to an output of the one or more 10 primary energy storage units and an input of the one or more secondary energy storage units. The control unit is configured to receive one or more state parameters associated with one or more components of the vehicle from the one or more components, the one or more energy storage parameters from the one or more energy storage units and modifier characteristics of the modifier unit from the modifier unit. The control unit further controls one or more switching 15 units based on the received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and the modifier characteristics, where the one or more switching units are configured to control energy supplied by the one or more secondary energy storage units.
[00013] According to embodiments illustrated herein, the present subject matter additionally provides a method for controlling one or more components of a vehicle via a circuit. The 20 method comprising steps of: receiving, by a control unit, one or more state parameters associated with one or more components employing the controlling circuit. The method additionally comprises receiving, by the control unit, one or more energy storage parameters associated with one or more energy storage units communicatively connected to the control unit. The method additionally comprises receiving, by the control unit, modifier characteristics 25 of a modifier unit from the modifier unit. The modifier unit connects the one or more energy storage units to one or more loads. The method further comprises the step of controlling, by the control unit, one or more switching units disposed between the one or more energy storage units and the one or more loads, where the controlling being based on received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and modifier characteristics. 30
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[00014] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.
[00015] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a circuit for controlling one or more components , in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 5
[00016] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a circuit for controlling one or more components in a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00017] Figure 3 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for a controlling one or more components of a vehicle via a circuit, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 10
[00018] Figure 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a control unit and its process flow, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00019] The present disclosure may be best understood with reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. Various embodiments are discussed below with reference to 15 the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the figures are simply for explanatory purposes as the methods and systems may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings presented and the needs of a particular application may yield multiple alternative and suitable approaches to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, 20 any approach may extend beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown.
[00020] References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or 25 limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
[00021] The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with different embodiments. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should 30 not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather those embodiments are
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provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. [00022]
The present invention is illustrated with a one or more energy storage units. However, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that the present invention is not limited to one or more energy storage units and certain features, aspects and advantages of embodiments of the 5 present invention can be extended to other forms of energy storage devices or systems or battery packs used with various types of vehicles, electric vehicle, hybrid vehicles and other forms of electrical and electronic equipment requiring an energy storage unit.
[00023] In an embodiment, the one or more energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads. The one or more loads refers to, but is not limited to, 10 components of electrical vehicles, hybrid vehicles, internal combustion engine driven vehicles and other electrical and electronic equipment requiring or adapted to consume electrical energy.
[00024] Additionally, the term “vehicle” used in the present disclosure shall not be narrowly construed to relate to two, three or four-wheeler vehicles but shall be extended to multi-axle vehicles and encompasses all forms of mobility and locomotion capable of drawing or utilizing 15 electrical energy from one or more energy storage units for its operation.
[00025] The object of the present subject matter is to provide a circuit for controlling one or more components and a method thereof to ensure optimal functioning of the one or more components.
[00026] A circuit, including the circuit present in vehicles, comprises one or more energy 20 storage units, a modifier unit and one or more loads configured to receive energy from the one or more energy storage units. In accordance with the present configuration, the circuit comprises a control unit. The control unit is configured to monitor operational parameters of the one or more energy storage units, the modifier unit as well as the one or more loads. The control unit is further configured to continuously process the operational parameters against 25 safe operational threshold to ensure that no abnormality or anomaly ingresses the present circuit and further protect the circuit comprising the one or more components against the detected anomaly by controlling one or more switching units present in the circuit.
[00027] To this end, the control unit receives one or more energy storage parameters receives one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units, load 30 characteristics of the one or more loads and modifier characteristics of the modifier unit. Further, in the event an anomaly in the electrical layout is detected, the control unit is
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configured to disable the one or more switching units to cut-off
the energy being supplied to the one or more loads from the one or more energy storage units. The disabling of the one or more switching units ensures that the entire electrical layout comes to a halt to alleviate or control critical concerns of safety. [00028] In conventional electrical architectures, the mechanism for controlling anomalies 5 present in the electrical layout is limited to provision of the BMS coupled to the energy storage unit. However, an inexcusable drawback of the same relates to the BMS being limitative to monitoring and controlling energy storage unit parameters.
[00029] Thereby, the present subject matter addresses the limitation present in the prior art and introduces an active mechanism of controlling operational parameters in the electrical layout 10 and encompassing all major elements of the electrical layout such as the energy storage units, the modifier unit and the one or more loads.
[00030] In an aspect, the configuration of the control unit in receiving operational parameters from the one or more energy storage units, the one or more loads and the modifier unit further addresses concerns of potential thermal runaway persistent in energy storage units. Upon the 15 detection of an anomaly interfaced with the one or more energy storage parameters, the control unit is configured to disable the one or more switching units to isolate the one or more energy storage units in the electrical layout. In an embodiment, the control unit is connected to a coolant circulation system thereby upon potential eruption of thermal runaway, the control unit being configured to enable the coolant circulation system provided in the electrical layout. 20 Thereby, the control unit sermonizes concerns of cell imbalances, thermal runaway, short circuit, overheating and other types of anomalies present in the one or more energy storage units.
[00031] It is an object of the present subject matter to ensure optimal consumption of power in the disclosed electrical layout. 25
[00032] To this end, the control unit is configured to permit supply of energy to the one or more loads from the one or more energy storage units by enabling of the one or more switching units only upon an imperative demand of energy from the one or more loads. In an aspect, the load characteristics of one or more loads comprises at least one of a requisite power, a requisite voltage and a requisite current to be supplied to the one or more loads for operation. Thereby 30 in accordance with the present configuration the supply of energy to the one or more loads is provided only when a demand for the same is accrued. The disclosed configuration facilitates
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optimized power consumption of the one or more loads and further protects the one or more loads from overheating and overcurrent. [00033] It is an object of the present subject matter to ensure optimal functionality of the modifier unit disposed between the one or more energy storage units and the one or more loads.
[00034] In an aspect, the modifier unit is configured to modify the one or more energy storage 5 parameters of the one or more energy storage units to suit the demands or requirements of the one or more loads in terms of at least one of power, current and voltage. In an embodiment, the modifier unit relates to a dc-dc converter configured to modify a voltage of the input received from the one or more energy storage units to adhere to the voltage requirements of the one or more loads. 10
[00035] The control unit receives modifier characteristics of the modifier unit comprising an input of operating current, operating voltage and operating power received by the modifier unit from the one or more energy storage units; and an output of the requisite current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit to the one or more loads. The control unit further ensures that the modifier characteristics are within a pre-set range. The control unit thereby monitors 15 the safe operation of the modifier unit by monitoring its input received from the one or more energy storage units as well as the output provided to the one or more loads.
[00036] It is an object of the present subject matter to provide a circuit and method thereof for a vehicle to ensure safe operational parameters in the vehicle.
[00037] In an aspect, the applicability of the circuit and method in a ‘vehicle’ represents an 20 exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the one or more loads is a prime mover of a powertrain of a vehicle. The term vehicle refers to electric-driven as well as hybrid vehicles with certain aspects of the present disclosure deemed applicable to vehicles comprising an internal combustion engine.
[00038] A vehicle comprises one or more energy storage units, a modifier unit, one or more 25 loads connected to the one or more energy storage units, one or more components of the vehicle and a control unit. The one or more energy storage units comprises one or more primary energy storage units configured to control traction of the vehicle and connected to a prime mover of the vehicle, and one or more secondary energy storage units connected to one or more loads of the vehicle. The one or more secondary energy storage units have a lower voltage value than 30 the one or more primary energy storage units. The one or more loads of the vehicle comprises
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ancillary vehicle operations such as, but not limited to, lighting units, microcontrollers, horn, instrument cluster and locking system. [00039] During vehicle operation, the one or more primary energy storage units is connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units through a modifier unit. The modifier unit is configured to match the voltage value of the one or more primary energy storage units to that 5 of the one or more secondary energy storage units. The vehicle comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to the one or more primary energy storage units, the one or more secondary energy storage units, the one or more loads, a modifier unit and the one or more components of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to monitor the operational parameters against pre-set thresholds to ensure that all the elements of the disclosed circuit of the vehicle 10 system are under safe operational precincts. In the event, an anomaly in any of the elements of the vehicle is detected the control unit is configured to control one or more switching units for disabling to cut-down the flow of energy in the vehicle, thereby alleviating potential catastrophe in the vehicle.
[00040] In an embodiment, the control unit controls the one or more switching units based on 15 one or more state parameters received from one or more components of the vehicle. The one or more components comprises, but is not limited, a battery management system, microcontrollers disposed in the vehicle such as a body control unit, a vehicle control unit, and the like. The one or more state parameters are indicative of whether the one or more components are operational under safe operational threshold or not. The encompassing of 20 multiple elements of the vehicle by the control unit in determination of disabling and enabling of the one or more switching units provides an improved approach in maintenance of the integrity of the vehicle system.
[00041] It is an object of the present subject matter to provide improved vehicle performance.
[00042] To this end, the control unit based on the load characteristics of the one or more loads 25 connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units, controls the one or more switching units connected to the modifier unit. The load characteristics are illustrative of a requisite current, requisite power and requisite voltage of the one or more loads. Thereby, only when the control unit processes a requirement of energy from the one or more loads, the energy to the one or more secondary energy storage units from the one or more primary energy storage 30 units is enabled. Until a requirement of the one or more loads is sensed, the one or more primary energy storage units only support traction or propulsion of the vehicle.
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[00043] The configuration of the control unit to ensure only traction of the vehicle is supported until a requirement arises from the one or more loads, facilitates better vehicle performance from a rider’s perspective with better handling and better vehicle pick-up characteristics.
[00044] Further, since the energy supply to the one or more loads is only initiated based on the load characteristics, power consumption from the one or more primary energy storage units is 5 reduced. The proposed configuration promotes better battery life of the one or more primary energy storage units, prevents overheating and overvoltage on the one or more secondary energy storage units and one or more loads.
[00045] In an aspect, the present subject matter encompasses a fail-safe mode of operation of the vehicle. The disclosed configuration comprises the control unit to disable the one or more 10 switching units to cut-off energy flow to the one or more secondary energy storage units from the one or more primary energy storage units upon the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units. The proposed configuration ensures that in the event of low state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units, the traction function of 15 the vehicle is focused on, while the ancillary functions of the vehicle is supported based on the remanent energy available in the one or more secondary energy storage units. Owing to development of charging infrastructure still being in a nascent phase worldwide, it is deemed essential to ensure that in the event of vulnerable charging circumstances the vehicle is configured to be propelled to the maximum possible extent. 20
[00046] In an embodiment, to confer with automotive standards pertinent to vehicle as well as high power applications in other electrical layouts employing the disclosed circuit, it is imperative to ensure a high-speed processor for the control unit be provided to ensure faster processing speeds and consequently faster execution of the processed data in electrical and vehicle layouts. The constructional features of the control unit are purposed to ensure minimal 25 latency in processing and execution pertaining to the function of the control unit.
[00047] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to one or more energy storage units and one or more loads in a circuit and a vehicle along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiments. It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate 30 principles of the present subject matter. Various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, encompass the principles of the present subject
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matter. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and examples of the present subject matter, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof. [00048] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a circuit for controlling one or more components, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
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[00049] With reference to figure 1, 100 denotes a circuit, 102 denotes one or more energy storage units, 104 denotes one or more loads, 106 denotes a modifier unit, 108 denotes a control unit and 112 denotes one or more switching units.
[00050] In an aspect, the circuit 100 comprises one or more energy storage units 102, a modifier unit 106, control unit 108 operating in conjunction with one or more loads 104 and one or more 10 switching units 112. The circuit 100 is operated by the control unit 108 in conjunction with the one or more components by controlling the one or more switching units 112.
[00051] In an aspect, the term ‘one or more components’ reference in Figure 1 and the present disclosure is a colossal term used to address the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 as well as the one or more loads 104 in aggregation. In plenary terms, the 15 ‘one or more components’ refer to any electrical or electronic components which form a part of the present circuit 100 and which is communicatively connected to the control unit 108. Thereby the circuit 100 in accordance with the disclosed configuration regulates, monitors and ensures the optimum functionality of at least the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 in conjunction with the one or more loads 104 as illustrated in Figure 1. The 20 present configuration thereby provides an integrated mechanism for ensuring safe operation of the one or more components associated with the circuit 100 in various forms of power applications. In another aspect, the one or more components comprises at least one of electrical components or electronic components in the circuit 100.
[00052] In an aspect, the one or more energy storage units 102 comprises one or more primary 25 energy storage units and one or more secondary energy storage units.
[00053] In an aspect, the one or more energy storage units 102 is electrically connected to the one or more loads 104 through a modifier unit 106. Thereby, the energy from the one or more energy storage units 102 is transmitted to the modifier unit 106 and then onto the one or more loads 104. In an embodiment, the one or more switching units 112 are disposed between the 30 one or more energy storage units 102 and the modifier unit 106. The one or more switching
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units 112 is configured to enable and disable electrical connection between the one or more energy storage units 102 and the one or more loads 104 through the modifier unit 106. [00054] The control unit 108 is communicatively connected to the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit and the one or more loads 104 in the electrical layout 100. The one or more switching units 112 is operatively coupled to the control unit 108.
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[00055] The circuit 100 in accordance with the present configuration illustrates the essential elements in a power application interfaced with one or more components, one or more switching units 112, a modifier unit 106, one or more loads 104, one or more energy storage units 102 and the control unit 108 to monitor, diagnose and alleviate any detected anomaly in the circuit 100. The circuit 100 comprises of a reservoir of energy manifested through the one 10 or more energy storage units 102 coupled to one or more loads 104 capable of utilizing the energy stored in the reservoir. The circuit 100 in accordance with the present configuration is interfaced with , but not limited to, a control unit 108 and one or more switching units 112.
[00056] The one or more energy storage units 102 is a reservoir or source of energy configured to supply the stored energy to external indices based on requirement. The term “energy storage 15 units” used in the present disclosure shall be construed to include any electrical equipment configured to store electrical energy and may include a plurality of cells, a plurality of battery modules or other forms of electrical energy storage equipment. In an aspect, the one or more energy storage units 102 may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable dependent on the application for which the one or more energy storage units 102 is used in the designated power 20 application. The one or more energy storage units 102 has a charged and a discharged state. In an aspect, one or more energy storage units 102 comprises a BMS (not shown) and the BMS is communicatively connected to the control unit 108.
[00057] The one or more energy storage units 102 is configured to supply energy to one or more loads 104 in the circuit 100. The one or more energy storage parameters associated with 25 each of the one or more energy storage units comprises at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature, an operating voltage, an operating current and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units 102. The one or more energy storage parameters are indicative of an operating state of the one or more energy storage units 102.
[00058] In an aspect, the state of charge refers to the level of charge of the one or more energy 30 storage units 102 with reference to its capacity as designated by a manufacturer of the one or more energy storage units 102. The state of charge represents the amount of energy available
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in the one or more energy storage units 102. The state of health of the one or more energy storage units 102 refers to the ability of the one or more energy storage units 102 to retain the charge in comparison to its rated value. The state of health indicates the level of degradation of the one or more energy storage units 102.
[00059] The one or more loads 104 refer to entities in the circuit 100 configured to receive
5 energy from the one or more energy storage units 102 and perform some useful work to this regard. In an aspect, the one or more loads 104 are concerned with conversion of the received electrical energy from the one or more energy storage units 102 to some other form of energy manifested as useful work in the electrical layout 100. For instance, the one or more loads 104 may be a buzzer system integrated with the circuit 100, where the energy supplied to the buzzer 10 is perceived as sound. In another illustration, the one or more loads 104 may be a display device integrated with the circuit 100 and configured to display parameters of the one or more components of the circuit 100, thereby the energy supplied to the display device is perceived as light. Thus, while the one or more energy storage units 102 act as reservoirs of energy, the one or more loads 104 act as energy sinks. The one or more loads 104 comprises load 15 characteristics, where the load characteristics comprising at least one of a requisite power, a requisite voltage and a requisite current to be supplied to the one or more loads 104 for operation. The load characteristics are indicative of the operating state of the one or more loads 104.
[00060] The modifier unit 106 is an electro-mechanical device configured to transform the one 20 or more energy storage parameters associated with the one or more energy storage units 102 for suitable utilization by the one or more loads 104. Thereby, the modifier unit 106 is configured to regulate one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102 for supply to the one or more loads 104. For instance, the one or more energy storage units 102 has a voltage of 48V, while the one or more loads 104 have a voltage value of 12V 25 associated with them, then the modifier unit 106 is configured to transform the 48V level of the one or more energy storage units 102 to a 12V level of the one or more loads 104. The modifier unit 106 is essentially a transformer bridging the available parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102 with the requirements of the one or more loads 104.
[00061] In an aspect, the modifier unit 106 comprises power switches, input and output filters, 30 input and output ports, conductor coil, diode, storage capacitor, rectifier, inductors and a pulse wave modulator controller for modifying the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102. It may additionally comprise electromagnetic interference
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(EMI) and/ or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filters to prevent electromagnetic interference from nearby electronic switching circuitry. In an embodiment, the modifier unit 106 is a DC-DC converter configured to step down the direct current (DC) voltage of the one or more energy storage units 102. [00062] In an aspect, the modifier unit 106 comprises modifier characteristics. The modifier
5 characteristics comprising an input Po/p of operating current, operating voltage and operating power received by the modifier unit 106 from the one or more energy storage units 102; and an output Si/p of the requisite current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit 106 to the one or more loads 104. The modifier characteristics are indicative of the operating state of the modifier unit 106. The input Po/p refers to at least one of a current, a voltage and a power 10 received by the modifier unit 106 from the one or more energy storage units 102. The output Si/p of the modifier unit 106 refers to at least one of a current, a voltage and a power leaving the modifier unit 106 and provided to the one or more loads 104 to which the modifier unit 106 is connected.
[00063] In accordance with the present configuration the control unit 108 is configured to 15 receive the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102 from the one or more energy storage units 102, receive load characteristics of the one or more loads 104 from the one or more loads 104, and receive modifier characteristics of the modifier unit 106 from the modifier unit 106. The one or more energy storage parameters, the load characteristics and the modifier characteristics shall be cumulatively referred to as operating 20 parameters for the purposes of illustration. The control unit 108 is additionally configured to control one or more switching units 112 based on the received one or energy storage parameters, the load characteristics and the modifier characteristics, where controlling the one or more switching units 112 controls the energy supplied to the one or more loads 104 by the one or more energy storage units 102. 25
[00064] In an aspect, the control unit 108 communicates with the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106, the one or more loads 104 through a dedicated communication channel. The provision of a dedicated communication channel ensures the sanctity of data transfer prevalent between the one or more components of the circuit 100. The dedicated communication channel comprises at least one of a transmission line, a fibre optic line, CAN, 30 multiplexed channel, computer network virtual channel, simplex communication, duplex communication, half duplex communication, uplink or downlink channel. The dedicated
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communication channel may comprise a wireless communication channel using radio frequency, infrared, satellite, microwave, Wi-Fi, LIN, LAN and Bluetooth.
[00065] The control unit 108 may additionally comprise a processor and a memory. The control unit 108 comprises of suitable logic, circuitry
interfaces, and/or code. In an aspect, the control unit 108 may be configured to include a memory which may be implemented based on a 5 Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), a storage server, and/or a Secure Digital (SD) card for storing operating parameters of the electrical layout 100. In an embodiment, the memory which comprises suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that is configured to store the set of instructions, which may be executed by the control unit 108. 10
[00066] In an embodiment, the circuit 100 may additionally comprise of a plurality of sensing units (not shown) be disposed which are communicatively coupled with the control unit 108. The plurality of sensing units being configured to monitor and detect at least one of a temperature. In an embodiment, the control unit 108 transmits a signal to at least one of the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 and the one or more loads 104 and 15 receives the operating parameters as feedback.
[00067] The one or more switching units 112 comprises at least one of power switches, relays, electronic switches, mechanical switches, transistors, diode, MOSFET, Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor, silicon-controlled rectifier, Triode AC switch, Diode AC switch, Gate turn-off thyristor, float switches or any electro-mechanical device configured to regulate the flow of 20 energy in an existent electrical path.
[00068] In an aspect, the one or more switching units 112 are coupled to the control unit 108 and its operation is configured to either permit the flow of energy from the one or more energy storage units 102 to the one or more loads 104 through the modifier unit 106 or cut-off the energy flow from the one or more energy storage units 102 to the one or more loads 104 through 25 the modifier unit 106. The present configuration of the one or more switching units 112 operate between two levels – 1 and 0, where 1 permits energy flow while 0 cuts-off the energy flow. However, the one or more switching units 112 in a future scope can be extended to offer variable levels of energy flow being permitted between the one or more energy storage units 102 and the one or more loads 104. 30
[00069] In an aspect, the controlling of the one or more switching units 112 comprises: enabling the one or more switching units 112 to permit energy supply to the one or more loads
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104; and
disabling the one or more switching units 112 to cut-off energy supplied to the one or more loads 104 from the one or more energy storage units 102 upon satisfaction of a set of pre-defined conditions. The satisfaction of the set of pre-defined conditions comprising at least one of the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102 received by the control unit 108 being beyond a pre-set threshold. The set of pre-defined 5 conditions further comprises the modifier characteristic being beyond a pre-set range, and an output Si/p of the modifier unit 106 being beyond the pre-set range of the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104. In other words, the enabling of the one or more switching units 112 actuates a closed circuit while the disabling of the one or more switching units 112 actuates an open circuit. 10 [00070]
In operation, the control unit 108 may initially enable the one or more switching units 112. The energy thereby flows from the one or more energy storage units 102 to the one or more loads 104 through the modifier unit 106. The control unit 108 in order to ensure integrity of the circuit 100 receives operating parameters from the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 and the one or more loads 104. Each of the received operating parameters 15 are corroborated against pre-set safety threshold stored in the control unit 108.
[00071] With reference to the one or more energy storage units 102 the control unit 108 receives one or more energy storage parameters. Further, the control unit 108 is configured to cut-off the energy supplied to the one or more loads 104 upon the one or more energy storage parameters being beyond a pre-set threshold. The pre-set threshold is indicative of the 20 maximum permissible operational limits of the one or more energy storage units 102. For instance, the temperature of the one or more energy storage units 102 exceeding the associated value in the pre-set threshold may be indicative of a potential thermal runaway situation. Additionally, the operating current, operating voltage or operating power not adhering to the associated pre-set threshold values would be indicative of an overcurrent leading to overheating 25 or other malfunction in the one or more energy storage units 102. Further, if the state of health of the one or more energy storage units 102 depreciates below the associated pre-set threshold, the one or more energy storage units 102 can be construed to be incompetent of safe operation in the circuit 100. In the event of detection of any anomaly from the one or more energy storage parameters, to maintain the integrity of the circuit 100 the favorable mitigation mechanism is 30 the form of cutting off the energy being circulated in the circuit 100.
[00072] With reference to the one or more loads 104, the control unit receives load characteristics. The load characteristics are illustrative of the power, voltage and current
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requirements of the one or more loads 104. The control unit 108 is configured to modify the modifier unit 106 adaptability based on the received load characteristics. The modifier unit 106 can consequently bridge the gap between the energy availability in the one or more energy storage units 102 and the requirements of the one or more loads 104. In an exemplary embodiment, safe operational threshold associated with each of the one or more loads 104 is 5 indicated by the pre-set range of load characteristics stored in the control unit 108. The load characteristics are compared to the pre-set range to adjudge the operating state or condition of the one or more loads 104.
[00073]
With reference to the modifier unit 106, the control unit 108 receives the input supplied Po/p to the modifier unit 106 from the one or more primary energy storage units 102 and the 10 output Si/p of the modifier unit 106 to the one or more loads 104. In an aspect, the control unit 108 maps the input received by the modifier unit 106 with one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102. Further, the control unit 108 maps the output of the modifier unit 106 with the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104. The disclosed configuration of the control unit 108 with reference to the modifier unit 106 ensures 15 safe operational limits and optimum functionality of the modifier unit 106.
[00074] Thereby, the control unit 108 upon detection of an anomaly in the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 or the one or more loads 104 is configured to disable of the one or more switching units 112. The disabling of the one or more switching units 112 ensures that no energy be circulated in the electrical layout 100 in the existence of an anomalous 20 contingency.
[00075] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a circuit for controlling one or more components in a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[00076] With reference to Figure 2, 200 denotes a vehicle, 202 denotes one or more primary energy storage units, 204 denotes one or more secondary energy storage units, 206 denotes a 25 prime mover and 208 denotes one or more components of the vehicle.
[00077] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the circuit 100 referenced in figure 1 comprising the aspects of the circuit 100 for controlling one or more components applicable to the configuration of the vehicle 200 illustrated in Figure 2. The circuit 100 can be duplicated and applied to concept of the vehicle 200 in terms of embodiments, construction, functionality, 30 operation and scope.
Classification: Confidential
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[00078] The vehicle 200 comprises one or more energy storage units 102, a prime mover 206, one or more loads 104, a modifier unit 106, one or more switching units 112, one or more components 208 and a control unit 108. In an embodiment, the one or more energy storage units 102 comprises one or more primary energy storage units 202 and one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The control unit 108 is communicatively connected to the one or
5 more primary energy storage 202, one or more secondary energy storage units 204, the modifier unit 106, the one or more loads 104 and one or more components 208 of the vehicle 200. The one or more switching units 112 are operatively or functionally connected to the control unit 108. In an aspect, the one or more primary energy storage units 202 is operatively coupled to the prime mover 206 of the vehicle 200. The one or more loads 104 are electrically connected 10 to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 are electrically connected to the one or more primary energy storage units 202 through the modifier unit 106.
[00079] The vehicle 200 in accordance with the present disclosure refers to a means of propulsion comprising a transmission system (not shown) operating in conjunction with a 15 prime mover 206. The term “vehicle” is not limited to a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler or a four-wheeler but is extensible to multi-axle vehicles. Further, the present construction of the “vehicle” shall not be limited to electric-driven vehicles, but also hybrid vehicles and internal combustion engine driven vehicles employing one or more energy storage units 102.
[00080] The one or more energy storage units 102 comprises one or more primary energy 20 storage units 202 and one or more secondary energy storage units 204. Each of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 comprising one or more energy storage parameters. The one or more energy storage parameters comprising at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature, an operating voltage, an operating current and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units 25 102.
[00081] The one or more primary energy storage units 202 may refer to any form of rechargeable or non-rechargeable energy storage devices configured to operate as a reservoir of energy. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more primary energy storage units 202 is a rechargeable electrical energy reservoir such as a battery pack and comprises a charging and 30 discharging state. The one or more primary energy storage units 202 are configured to support critical vehicle operations such as transmission of the vehicle. The one or more primary energy storage units 202 comprises a voltage value higher than the voltage value of the one or more
Classification: Confidential
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secondary energy storage units 204
. To this end, the one or more primary energy storage units 202 is connected to a prime mover 206 of the vehicle 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more primary energy storage units 202 is a 48V battery pack. [00082] The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 refers to a rechargeable energy storage device configured to intermediately store the energy received from the one or more
5 primary energy storage units 202 and provide the stored energy to the one or more loads 104 when required. The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is connected to one or more loads 104 of the vehicle 200. The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 comprises a lower voltage value than the one or more primary energy storage units 202. The one or more loads 104 draws energy from the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 10 upon a requirement arising. The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 supports non-critical vehicle operations associated with the one or more loads 104 such as powering microcontrollers, instrument cluster, locking system, horn and lighting units of the vehicle 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is a 12V battery pack. 15
[00083] In an aspect, the vehicle 200 comprises a modifier unit 106. The modifier unit 106 is connected to an output of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and an input of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. Thereby, the modifier unit 106 is disposed between the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 and is configured to modify the one or more energy storage parameters 20 associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202 to suit the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104 connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The modifier unit 106 is configured to modify the voltage value of the one or more primary energy storage unit 202 to the voltage value of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In an embodiment, the voltage value of the one or more secondary energy storage units 25 204 is associated with the one or more loads 104 connected and drawing energy from the one or more secondary energy storage units 204.
[00084] In an aspect, the modifier unit 106 is associated with modifier characteristics. The modifier characteristics comprises an input (Po/p) of operating current, operating voltage and operating power received by the modifier unit 106 from the one or more primary energy storage 30 units 202; and an output Si/p of the current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit 106 to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204.
Classification: Confidential
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[00085]
The prime mover 206 refers to a machine or device designed to convert the available energy to useful work in to form of power to support propulsion of the vehicle 200. The prime mover 206 through a power transmission assembly (not shown) is coupled to the driving wheels (not shown) of the vehicle 200. Owing to high power and voltage requirements of the prime mover 206, the prime mover is connected to the one or more primary energy storage units 202 5 from where it draws energy. In an embodiment, the prime mover 206 is a traction motor unit coupled to the one or more primary energy storage units 202.
[00086] The one or more components 208 of the vehicle 200 comprises at least one or more battery management system of the one or more energy storage units 102, a motor controller and one or more microcontrollers disposed in the vehicle 200. The aforementioned list of one 10 or more components 208 shall not be construed as limitative but rather illustrative. The one or more components 208 need not necessarily function as one or more loads 104 of the vehicle 200 but do form an integral part of the vehicle layout. The consideration of the one or more components 208 are deemed essential to ensure safe operating parameters exist in the vehicle layout. The one or more components 208 are associated with one or more state parameters. The 15 one or more state parameters comprising at least one of an operating current, operating voltage and operating power of one or more components 208 of the vehicle 200. Aspect of the present disclosure is intended to include the operation of the one or more primary energy storage units 202, the modifier unit 106, the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 and the one or more loads 104 within the precincts of “one or more components”. 20
[00087] In an aspect, the vehicle 200 comprises a control unit 108. The control unit 108 being configured to: receive one or more state parameters associated with one or more components 208 of the vehicle 200, receive the one or more energy storage parameters, receive modifier characteristics of the modifier unit 106, and control one or more switching units 112 based on the received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and the 25 modifier characteristics. The one or more switching units 112 being configured to control energy supplied to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In an embodiment, the control unit 108 is an EMS-ECU.
[00088] In an aspect, the controlling one or more switching units 112 comprising: enabling the one or more switching units 112 to allow energy flow to the one or more secondary energy 30 storage units 204, the one or more switching units 112 being enabled upon a satisfaction of a first set of pre-defined conditions. The controlling one or more switching units 112 further comprises disabling the one or more switching units 112 to cut-off energy flow to the one or
Classification: Confidential
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more secondary energy storage units 204,
the one or more switching units 112 being disabled upon satisfaction of a second set of pre-defined conditions. [00089]
In another aspect, the satisfaction of the first set of pre-defined conditions being when the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. 5
[00090] In another aspect, the satisfaction of the second set of pre-defined conditions comprising at least one of: the one or more state parameters being beyond a pre-defined safe state threshold indicative of an unsafe operation of the one or more components 208; the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202; the one or more 10 energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being beyond a pre-set threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202; and the output (Si/p) of the current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit 106 being beyond the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104.
[00091] In operation, the one or more primary energy storage units 202 is configured to support 15 critical operations of the vehicle 200 while a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 be maintained. For illustration purposes the pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is 50 units. In the event, the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is above 50 units, the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 and the one or 20 more primary energy storage units 202 operate independently. The one or more secondary energy storage units 204 support non-critical or ancillary operations of the vehicle 200, while the one or more primary energy storage units 202 support critical operations such as propulsion of the vehicle 200. The control unit 108 however continues to receive the one or more energy storage parameters associated with each of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 25 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 to securely and effectively monitor the operating states.
[00092] In an aspect, the control unit 108 comprises an internal clock configured to periodically monitor the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In an embodiment, the internal clock is interfaced with the receiving of the one or more energy 30 storage parameters, the modifier characteristics and the load characteristics.
Classification: Confidential
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[00093] The one or more loads 104 is connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 and draw energy from the available state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In an embodiment, the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104 is dependent on the number of loads actually drawing energy from the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The control unit 108 monitors the one or more energy
5 storage parameters associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 to detect the presence of overcurrent, thermal runaway, over voltage, short-circuit, or any other anomaly.
[00094] Upon the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 decreasing below 50 units, the control unit 108 is configured to enable the one or more 10 switching units 112 to allow energy to flow from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The energy capacity of the one or more primary energy storage 202 is larger than the one or more secondary energy storage units 204.
[00095] Since the one or more primary energy storage 202 and the one or more secondary 15 energy storage units 204 are connected via a modifier unit 106 it is deemed essential for the control unit 108 to monitor the operating parameters of the modifier unit 106. The control unit 108 thereby assesses the input to the modifier unit 106 from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and the output from the modifier unit 106 to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In an aspect, the threshold associated with the output of the modifier unit 20 106 is dictated by the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104.
[00096] Further, since the vehicle 200 involves an amalgamation of complex electronics the control unit 108 is communicatively connected to one or more components 208 of the vehicle 200 to receive the associated one or more state parameters. As the disclosed circuit 100 when implemented in the vehicle 200 additionally ensures safety critical operation of the one or more 25 loads 104, the one or more primary energy storage units 202, the modifier unit 106 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204, the same is deemed to be covered under “one or more components” referenced in Figure 2. The one or more state parameters are assessed against pre-defined safe state threshold to adjudge the operation state of the one or more components 208. For instance, in the event a controller linked to the prime mover 206 is 30 malfunctioning and the same is received by the control unit 108, it is deemed imperative that the vehicle 200 curtails the flow of energy by disabling the one or more switching units 112 in the vehicle layout to address the potential catastrophe.
Classification: Confidential
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[00097] In an exemplary embodiment, upon the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202. For illustration purposes, in the event the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 goes below 40 units, the one or more switching units 112 are disabled by the control unit 108 to focus on propulsion of the
5 vehicle 200. While the remaining state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 supports the non-critical vehicle operations.
[00098] In an embodiment, the modules, and sub-modules have been illustrated and explained to serve as examples and should not be considered limiting in any manner. It will be further appreciated that the variants of the above disclosed system elements, modules, and other 10 features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined to create other different systems or applications.
[00099] Figure 3 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling one or more components of a vehicle via a circuit, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At the outset, the terms ‘controlling circuit’ invariably refers to the circuit 100 in 15 accordance with the present disclosure.
[000100] The method 300 starts at step 302 and proceeds to step 304. At step 304, the control unit 108 receives one or more state parameters associated with one or more components 208 in the controlling circuit 100. The one or more components 208 with reference to step 304 may interchangeably be referred to as the one or more loads 104 and the control unit 108 receiving 20 the load characteristics. The method 300 then proceeds to step 306.
[000101] At step 306, the control unit 108 receives one or more energy storage parameters associated with one or more energy storage units 102 communicatively connected to the control unit 108. In an embodiment, the one or more energy storage units 102 comprises one or more primary energy storage units 202 and one or more secondary energy storage units 204, each 25 one or more energy storage units 102 comprises a pre-set threshold of one or more energy storage parameters. The one or more energy storage parameters comprises at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature, an operating current, an operating voltage and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units 102. The method 300 then proceeds to step 308. 30
Classification: Confidential
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[000102]
At step 308, the control unit 108 receives modifier characteristics of a modifier unit 106, the modifier unit 106 connects the one or more energy storage units 102 to one or more loads 104. The method 300 then proceeds to step 310.
In an embodiment, the control unit 108 is configured to simultaneously perform steps 304, step 306 and step 308 and then proceed to step 310, dependent on the permissible processing speed 5 of the control unit 108.
[000103] At step 310, the control unit 108 is configured to control one or more switching units 112 disposed between the one or more energy storage units 102 and the one or more loads 104. The controlling 310 being based on received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and modifier characteristics. The controlling by the control unit 108 10 comprises: enabling the one or more switching units 112 to allow energy supply from the one or more energy storage units 102 to the one or more loads 104; and disabling the one or more switching units 112 to cut-off energy supply to the one or more loads 104 upon satisfaction of a set of pre-defined conditions. In an aspect, the satisfaction of the set of pre-defined conditions being when at least one of: the one or more state parameters being beyond a pre-defined safe 15 state threshold indicative of an unsafe operation of the one or more components 208; the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202; the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being beyond a pre-set threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202; and an 20 output Si/p of current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit 106 being beyond the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104. The load characteristics of the one or more loads 104 comprising at least one of a requisite current, a requisite power and a requisite voltage associated with the one or more loads 104.
[000104] Figure 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a control unit and its process flow, in 25 accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of the present process 400, the one or more energy storage units 102 comprises one or more primary energy storage units 202 and one or more secondary energy storage units 204. However, the same shall not be construed as a limitation of the illustrated process 400, but can be well applicable to a circuit 100 which may not involving the concept of primary and secondary energy storage units, 30 and instead discloses a generic one or more energy storage units.
Classification: Confidential
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The process 400 of the control unit 108 begins at step 402 and proceeds to step 404. At step 404, the control unit 108 is configured to enable the one or more switching units 112 to permit energy flow or a closed circuit in the circuit 100 and/or the vehicle 200. Upon the one or more switching units 112 being enabled in step 404, the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 supplies energy to the one or more loads 104 at step 414. The process 400 then flows to 5 step 406a and 406b, where step 406a and 406b are processed simultaneously by the control unit 108.
[000105] At step 406a, the control unit 108 is configured to receive the load characteristics pertaining to the one or more loads 104. The load characteristics are illustrative of the power, current and voltage requirements for optimal functioning of the one or more loads 104. In an 10 aspect, the load characteristics are dynamically updated or fetched by the control unit 108 based on the number of loads drawing energy from the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. In another aspect, the load characteristics are dynamically updated or fetched by the control unit 108 based on the number of loads drawing energy from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 directly. In an embodiment, the load characteristics are processed or 15 determined by the control unit 108. In another embodiment, the load characteristics are individually fetched from each of the one or more loads 104. The process 400 then proceeds to step 408a.
[000106] At step 408a, based on the received load characteristics the output characteristics of the modifier unit 106 is determined. The output characteristics comprising the current, voltage 20 and power exiting the modifier unit 106 and to be supplied to the one or more loads 104. The modifier unit 106 is disposed between the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and the one or more loads 104 and is configured to modify the current, voltage and power supplied to the one or more loads 104 as per the load characteristics. The process 400 then proceeds to step 410a. 25
[000107] At step 410a, the control unit 108 is configured to monitor the current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit (Si/p) to at least one of the one or more loads 104 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 connected to the modifier unit 106. Step 410a is a monitoring mechanism to establish the efficacy and integrity of the modifier unit 106 by the control unit 108. The process 410a then proceeds to step 412. 30
[000108] At step 412, the output of the modifier unit Si/p which also serves as the input to at least one of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 or the one or more loads 104
Classification: Confidential
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is compared against a pre-set threshold by the control unit 108. The pre-set threshold referenced in step 412 is indicative of a permissible threshold of power required by at least one of the one or more loads 104 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. Further, the pre-set threshold referenced in step 412 can be determined based on at least one of the load characteristics of the one or more loads 104 and the one or more energy storage parameters of
5 the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. The one or more energy storage parameters for pre-set threshold referenced in step 412 may in an embodiment refer to at least one of the maximum permissible power, voltage and current based on constructional and functional configuration of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204. [000109] At step 412, the control unit 108 additionally checks whether the state of charge of
10 the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 against a pre-defined charge threshold. The configuration of the control unit 108 at step 412 to additionally check the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is only applicable in the event a vehicle 200 or electrical layout 100 incorporates the same. In the event, the vehicle 200 or electrical layout 100 only includes one or more primary energy storage units 202 which is connected directly 15 onto the one or more loads 104, the checking of state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is deemed optional.
[000110] In an aspect, the pre-defined charge threshold of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is illustrative of a minimum state of charge requirement of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 to sustain non-critical functions of the vehicle 200 or 20 electrical layout 100 over a pre-set period of time in the event, the supply of energy to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is cut-off.
[000111] In the event, at least one of the output of the modifier unit Si/p is less than or equal to the pre-set threshold of step 412 and the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is less than or equal to the pre-defined charge threshold associated with the 25 one or more secondary energy storage units 204, the process 400 proceeds to step 404. At step 404, the one or more the one or more switching units 112 are enabled to permit energy flow from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 to at least one of the one or more loads 104 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204.
[000112] In the event, at least one of the output of the modifier unit Si/p is greater than the 30 pre-set threshold of step 412 and the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is greater than the pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or
Classification: Confidential
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more secondary energy storage units 204, the process 400 proceeds to step 410b where the one or more switching units 112 are disabled. Upon disabling of the one or more switching units 112 energy from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 to at least one of the one or more loads 104 and the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 is cut-off, which is indicative of presence of an anomaly in the electrical layout 100 or vehicle 200.
5 [000113] At step 406b, the control unit 108 is configured to monitor one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units. In an embodiment, the one or more energy storage parameters comprises an operating current, an operating voltage, an operating power Po/p, temperature, state of charge and state of health. The purpose of step 406b is to ensure that the one or more energy storage parameters associated with the one or
10 more primary energy storage units 202 adhere to the safe operational standards referred to in the pre-set threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units 202. The process 400 then proceeds to step 408b.
[000114] At step 408b, the control unit 108 is configured to compare the operating power Po/p existing the one or more primary energy storage units 202 and to the modifier unit 106 against 15 a pre-defined threshold. At the outset, the pre-defined threshold at step 408b is specifically associated with the constructional and functional features of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 as envisaged in the one or more energy storage parameters. Upon the operating power or output power Po/p of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 being less than the pre-defined threshold, the process 400 returns to step 406b where the control 20 unit 108 continues monitoring of the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units 202.
[000115] In the event, the operating power or output power Po/p of the one or more primary energy storage units 202 exceeds the pre-defined threshold, the process 400 proceeds to step 410b. 25
[000116] At step 410b, the one or more switching units 112 operatively connected to the control unit 108 is configured to be disabled. The disabling of the one or more switching units 112 cuts-off the energy flowing from the one or more primary energy storage units 202 to the modifier unit 106. In the event the modifier unit 106 is connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204, the charging of the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 30 is halted. Thereby the one or more loads 104 connected to the one or more secondary energy storage units 204 perishes on the available state of charge of the one or more secondary energy
Classification: Confidential
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storage units 204. In the event, the modifier unit 106 is directly connected to the one or more loads 104, the power supplied to the one or more loads 104 is ceased. The cut-off of energy supply to the one or more loads 416 is reflected as step 416 in the process 400. [000117] The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and “one
5 embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s)” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
[000118] The disclosed claimed limitations and the disclosure provided herein provides a 10 circuit 100 for controlling one or more components applicable in a vehicle 200 and a method 300 thereof. Thus, the disclosed method 300 and circuit 100 tries to overcome the technical problem of passive monitoring and thermal management systems known in the art. The present subject matter provides an active mechanism of controlling operational parameters in the circuit 100 and encompassing all major elements of the circuit 100 or vehicle 200 such as the 15 energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106 and the one or more loads 104.
[000119] The present subject matter additionally optimizes power consumption in the vehicle 200 and circuit 100. To this end, the control unit 108 is configured to permit supply of energy to the one or more loads 104 from the one or more energy storage units 102 by enabling of the one or more switching units 112 only upon an imperative demand of energy from the one or 20 more loads 104. The disclosed configuration facilitates optimized power consumption of the one or more loads 104 and further protects the one or more loads from overheating and overcurrent.
[000120] Thus, the claimed limitations overcome the aforementioned technical problems by providing a control unit 108. The control unit 108 is configured to monitor operational 25 parameters of the one or more energy storage units 102, the modifier unit 106, one or more components 208 as well as the one or more loads 104. The control unit 108 is further configured to continuously process the operational parameters against safe operational threshold to ensure that no abnormality or anomaly ingresses the circuit 100 or vehicle 200 in accordance with the present disclosure. Further, the control unit 108 protects the circuit 100 and vehicle 200 against 30 the detected anomaly by controlling one or more switching units 112 to permit and cut-off energy supply in the circuit 100 and vehicle 200.
Classification: Confidential
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[000121] The present subject matter additionally addresses concerns of overheating, thermal runaway and short circuit in the one or more energy storage units 102.
[000122] In light of the above-mentioned advantages and the technical advancements provided by the disclosed method and system, the claimed steps as discussed above are not routine, conventional, or well understood in the art, as the claimed steps enable the following 5 solutions to the existing problems in conventional technologies. Further, the claimed steps clearly bring an improvement in the functioning of the vehicle as well as electrical layout itself as the claimed steps provide a technical solution to a technical problem.
A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with a other does not imply that all such components are required, On the contrary, a variety of optional 10 components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention,.
[000123] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter and is therefore intended that the scope of the 15 invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
[000124] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects 20 and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
[000125] The present disclosure may be realized in hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. The present disclosure may be realized in a centralized fashion, in at least one 25 computer system, or in a distributed fashion, where different elements may be spread across several interconnected computer systems, a computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein may be suited. A combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, may control the computer system such that it carries out the methods 30 described herein. The present disclosure may be realized in hardware that comprises a portion of an integrated circuit that also performs other functions.
Classification: Confidential
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[000126] A person with ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that the systems, modules, and sub-modules have been illustrated and explained to serve as examples and should not be considered limiting in any manner. It will be further appreciated that the variants of the above disclosed system elements, modules, and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined to create other different systems or applications.
5
[000127] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the aforementioned steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced, reordered, or removed, and additional steps and/or system modules may be inserted, depending on the needs of a particular application. In addition, the systems of the aforementioned embodiments may be implemented using a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and are not limited to any particular 10 computer hardware, software, middleware, firmware, microcode, and the like. The claims can encompass embodiments for hardware and software, or a combination thereof. While the present disclosure has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many 15 modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. , Claims:We claim: 1. A circuit (100) for controlling one or more components, the circuit (100) comprising:
one or more energy storage units (102), the one or more energy storage units (102) configured to supply energy to one or more loads (104);
a modifier unit (106), the modifier unit (106) being configured to regulate one 5 or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units (102) for energy supply to the one or more loads (104);
a control unit (108), the control unit (108) being configured to
receive the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units (102) from the one or more energy storage units (102); 10
receive load characteristics of the one or more loads (104) from the one or more loads (104);
receive modifier characteristics of the modifier unit (106) from the modifier unit (106); and
control one or more switching units (112) based on the received one or 15 energy storage parameters, the load characteristics and the modifier characteristics,
wherein controlling the one or more switching units (112) controls the energy supplied to the one or more loads (104) by the one or more energy storage units (102). 20
2. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more energy storage parameters comprising at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature, an operating voltage, an operating current and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units (102). 25
3. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load characteristics comprising at least one of a requisite power, a requisite voltage and a requisite current to be supplied to the one or more loads (104) for operation.
30
Classification: Confidential
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4. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modifier characteristics comprising:
an input (Po/p) of the operating current, operating voltage and operating power received by the modifier unit (106) from the one or more energy storage units (102); and 5
an output (Si/p) of the requisite current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit (106) to the one or more loads (104).
5. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components as claimed in claim 1, wherein controlling of the one or more switching units (112) comprises: 10
enabling the one or more switching units (112) to permit energy supply to the one or more loads (104) from the one or more energy storage units (102); and
disabling the one or more switching units (112) to cut-off energy supplied to the one or more loads (104) from the one or more energy storage units (102) upon satisfaction of a set of pre-defined conditions. 15
6. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components as claimed in claim 5, wherein satisfaction of the set of pre-defined conditions comprising at least one of:
the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more energy storage units (102) received by the control unit (108) being beyond a pre-set threshold; and 20
the modifier characteristic being beyond a pre-set range,
wherein the output (Si/p) of the modifier unit (106) being beyond the pre-set range of the load characteristics of the one or more loads (104).
7. The circuit (100) for controlling one or more components as claimed in claim 1, wherein 25 the one or more energy storage units (102) comprises one or more primary energy storage units (202) and one or more secondary energy storage units (204); and wherein the one or more components comprises at least one of electrical components or electronic components.
30
8. A vehicle (200), the vehicle (200) comprising:
one or more energy storage units (102), the one or more energy storage units (102) comprising:
Classification: Confidential
33
one or more primary energy storage units (202), and
one or more secondary energy storage units (204),
wherein each of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) and the one or more secondary energy storage units (204) comprising one or more energy storage parameters; 5
a modifier unit (106), the modifier unit (106) being connected to an output of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) and an input of the one or more secondary energy storage units (204); and
a control unit (108), the control unit (108) being configured to
receive one or more state parameters associated with one or more 10 components (208) of the vehicle (200) from the one or more components (208);
receive the one or more energy storage parameters from the one or more energy storage units (102);
receive modifier characteristics of the modifier unit (106) from the modifier unit (106); and 15
control one or more switching units (112) based on the received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and the modifier characteristics,
wherein the one or more switching units (112) being configured to control energy supplied by the one or more secondary energy storage 20 units (204).
9. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more primary energy storage units (202) comprising a voltage value higher than the voltage value of the one or more secondary energy storage units (204); and
wherein the one or more primary energy storage units (202) being connected to 25 a prime mover (206) of the vehicle (200), and the one or more secondary energy storage units (204) being connected to one or more loads (104) of the vehicle (200).
Classification: Confidential
34
10. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more state parameters comprising at least one of operating current, operating voltage, operating power of one or more components (208) of the vehicle (200),
wherein the one or more components (208) comprising at least one of one or more battery management system of the one or more energy storage units (102), a motor 5 controller and one or more microcontrollers disposed in the vehicle (200).
11. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the modifier unit (106) being configured to modify the voltage value of the one or more primary energy storage unit (202) to the voltage value of the one or more secondary energy storage units (204), 10
wherein the voltage value of the one or more secondary energy storage units (204) being associated with the one or more loads (104) connected and drawing energy from the one or more secondary energy storage units (204).
12. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more energy storage 15 parameters comprising at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature an operating voltage, an operating current and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units (102).
13. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the modifier characteristics comprises: 20
an input (Po/p) of operating current, operating voltage and operating power received by the modifier unit (106) from the one or more primary energy storage units (202); and
an output (Si/p) of the current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit (106) to the one or more secondary energy storage units (204). 25
14. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the controlling one or more switching units (112) comprising:
enabling the one or more switching units (112) to allow energy flow to the one or more secondary energy storage units (204), 30
wherein the one or more switching units (112) being enabled upon a satisfaction of a first set of pre-defined conditions; and
disabling the one or more switching units (112) to cut-off energy flow to the one or more secondary energy storage units (204),
Classification: Confidential
35
wherein the one or more switching units (112) being disabled upon satisfaction of a second set of pre-defined conditions.
15. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the satisfaction of the first set of pre-defined conditions being when the state of charge of the one or more secondary energy 5 storage units (204) being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more secondary energy storage units (204).
16. The vehicle (200) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the satisfaction of the second set of pre-defined conditions comprising at least one of: 10
the one or more state parameters being beyond a pre-defined safe state threshold indicative of an unsafe operation of the one or more components (208);
the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units (202); 15
the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) being beyond a pre-set threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units (202); and
the output (Si/p) of the current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit (106) being beyond the load characteristics of the one or more loads (104). 20
17. A method (300) for controlling one or more components of a vehicle (200) via a circuit (100), the method (300) comprising steps of:
receiving (304), by a control unit (108), one or more state parameters associated with one or more components (208) from the one or more components 25 (208);
receiving (306), by the control unit (108), one or more energy storage parameters associated with one or more energy storage units (102) from the one or more energy storage units (102) communicatively connected to the control unit (108);
receiving (308), by the control unit (108), modifier characteristics of a 30 modifier unit (106) from the modifier unit (106),
wherein the modifier unit (106) being configured to connect the one or more energy storage units (102) to one or more loads (104);
Classification: Confidential
36
controlling (310), by the control unit (108), one or more switching units (112) disposed between the one or more energy storage units (102) and the one or more loads (104),
wherein the controlling being based on received one or more state parameters, one or more energy storage parameters and modifier 5 characteristics.
18. The method (300) for controlling one or more components of the vehicle (200) via the circuit (100) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the one or more energy storage units (102) comprises one or more primary energy storage units (202) and one or more secondary 10 energy storage units (204),
wherein each one or more energy storage units (102) comprises a pre-set threshold of one or more energy storage parameters, and
wherein the one or more energy storage parameters comprises at least one of a state of charge, a state of health, a temperature, an operating current, an operating 15 voltage and an operating power of the one or more energy storage units (102).
19. The method (300) for controlling one or more components of the vehicle (200) via the circuit (100) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the controlling by the control unit (108) comprises: 20
enabling the one or more switching units (112) to allow energy supply from the one or more energy storage units (102) to the one or more loads (104); and
disabling the one or more switching units (112) to cut-off energy supply to the one or more loads (104) upon satisfaction of a set of pre-defined conditions.
25
20. The method (300) for controlling one or more components of the vehicle (200) via the circuit (100) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the satisfaction of the set of pre-defined conditions being when at least one of:
the one or more state parameters being beyond a pre-defined safe state threshold indicative of an unsafe operation of the one or more components (208); 30
the state of charge of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) being below a pre-defined charge threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units (202);
Classification: Confidential
37
the one or more energy storage parameters of the one or more primary energy storage units (202) being beyond a pre-set threshold associated with the one or more primary energy storage units (202); and
an output (Si/p) of current, voltage and power supplied by the modifier unit (106) being beyond the load characteristics of the one or more loads (104), 5
wherein the load characteristics of the one or more loads (104) comprising at least one of a requisite current, a requisite power and a requisite voltage associated with the one or more loads (104).
Dated 7th day of December 2023.