Description:Description
[1] The present invention relates in particular to an electrical architecture comprising an inverter supplying power to a rotating electric machine of a vehicle.
[2] The vehicle may be a land vehicle, marine vehicle or air vehicle.
[3] In automotive applications, rotating electric machines are associated with inverters. An inverter is a power electronics device for generating AC voltages and currents from a DC electrical energy source such as a battery, for example with a nominal voltage equal to 48 V (volts).
[4] US2016311326A1 discloses a wake-up module and circuits associated with a high-voltage battery for operation in single-voltage mode. The wake-up module has two DC/DC converters that generate energy for external loads of 12 V. The power-on and power-off sequence concerns the high-voltage battery.
[5] The inverter is provided with control components that traditionally require a 12-V power supply from an additional battery, in addition to the 48-V battery.
[6] The invention aims in particular to propose a novel electrical architecture that is less expensive.
[7] One subject of the invention is thus an electrical architecture, in particular for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a high-voltage network, in particular with a nominal voltage equal to 48 volts,
- a low-voltage network, in particular with a nominal voltage equal to 12 volts,
- a high-voltage battery designed to supply a high voltage suitable for the high-voltage network via at least one power line,
- an inverter comprising switching elements that are interconnected so as to convert a voltage supplied by the high-voltage battery, based on switching signals commanding switching elements, into an AC current so as to operate an electric machine, this inverter forming part both of the high-voltage network and of the low-voltage network,
- an electrical contactor placed on the power line and configured to disconnect, in the open state, the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage network and, in this open state of the contactor, the architecture is configured to be able to wake up the inverter previously in sleep mode, using a voltage from the high-voltage battery.
[8] By virtue of the invention, it is possible, using the high-voltage battery to command the inverter, to dispense with a specific battery dedicated to the low-voltage network, and thus to make the architecture less expensive. In addition, the inverter is not permanently connected to the high-voltage battery (by virtue of the commandable contactor), thereby limiting risks of losses through passive discharge of capacitors and thermal risks.
[9] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the contactor is commanded by a control system (or BMS) of the high-voltage battery.
[10] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the control system (or BMS) is configured to command the closure of the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines, and use the control system (or BMS) to send the status of the one or more contactors to the inverter via a communication, in particular a CAN communication.
[11] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises an, in particular a single, DC/DC converter (converter for converting DC current into DC current of a different voltage level) that is supplied with power by the voltage of the high-voltage battery and that is configured to supply at output a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network.
[12] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises an internal electric power supply for a microcontroller (or MCU) in the inverter, this microcontroller being configured to control components of the inverter.
[13] According to one of the aspects of the invention, this internal electric power supply is itself supplied with power by the high-voltage battery.
[14] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises a wake-up circuit connected to the high-voltage battery by an electric line.
[15] According to one of the aspects of the invention, this electric line is opened or closed by the action of an ignition key of the vehicle.
[16] According to one of the aspects of the invention, a DC/DC converter external to the inverter is configured to convert the voltage of the high-voltage battery into a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network, which comprises in particular loads such as on-board equipment (for example a touch screen) or an electric charging socket available in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The external DC/DC converter and the inverter may be housed in one and the same housing.
[17] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the converter is isolated from the power lines. The wake-up circuit is associated with the internal electric power supply for the microcontroller within one and the same assembly.
[18] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises a wake-up circuit and an isolated DC/DC converter that are integrated within one and the same assembly. A non-isolated DC/DC converter may be connected to one of the power lines. The non-isolated DC/DC converter acts as a redundant power supply for the microcontroller. The non-isolated DC/DC converter supplies power to the power line. According to one of the aspects of the invention, the internal electric power supply for the microcontroller is separate from the wake-up circuit and from the converter.
[19] According to one of the aspects of the invention, a capacitor is placed between the positive and negative power lines that run from the high-voltage battery to the power switches of the inverter. The capacitor enables filtering in order to avoid voltage oscillations. Without a capacitor, a voltage of 48 V with oscillations of +/- 4% may for example result from a request for a 48-V voltage.
[20] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises a precharge and discharge control circuit connected to the power lines going to the power switches.
[21] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the precharge and discharge control circuit controls, upon command of the microcontroller, charging of the capacitor in the presence of power on the power lines. The microcontroller may command charging of the capacitor before and/or during the closure of the electrical contactor. This prevents a current shock.
[22] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the precharge and discharge control circuit controls, upon command of the microcontroller, discharging of the capacitor in the absence of power on the power lines. The microcontroller may command discharging of the capacitor during and/or after the opening of the electrical contactor. This makes it possible to reduce the voltage of the capacitor below a safe limit.
[23] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the inverter comprises a wake-up output line for waking up electronic controllers of the vehicle.
[24] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the electrical architecture is configured such that the ignition by an ignition key triggers the wake-up of the inverter and the self-diagnosis thereof.
[25] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the electrical architecture is configured such that, once the self-diagnosis has been carried out, the inverter is designed to wake up various controllers of the vehicle.
[26] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the electrical architecture is configured to carry out the following steps with a view to starting up the inverter:
- following closure of a switch with an ignition key by the driver, waking up the inverter and triggering the self-diagnosis thereof,
- using the inverter to activate the wake-up output line in order to wake up one or more electronic controllers (or ECU) of the vehicle,
- using the inverter to command precharging of the capacitor of the power line via the precharge and discharge control circuit,
- using the inverter to command the control system (or BMS) with a view to closing the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- starting up the DC/DC converter,
- using the inverter to manage the low-voltage network,
- starting the nominal operating state for the inverter.
[27] According to one of the aspects of the invention, the electrical architecture is configured to carry out the following steps with a view to shutting down the inverter:
- following opening of a switch with an ignition key by the driver, using the inverter to stop the supply of torque and using the inverter to monitor the rotational speed of the electric machine until this rotational speed falls below a predetermined threshold, in particular so as to be equal to 0,
- using the inverter to disconnect the wake-up output line and stop the supply of power to the low-voltage network,
- using the inverter to command the control system (or BMS) with a view to opening the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- using the inverter to command the discharging of the capacitor on the power line,
- using the inverter to monitor the voltage on the power lines until this voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold,
- shutting down the inverter.
[28] Another subject of the invention is a method for managing an electrical architecture as mentioned above, comprising the following steps, with a view to starting up the inverter:
- following closure of a switch with an ignition key by the driver, waking up the inverter and triggering the self-diagnosis thereof,
- using the inverter to activate the wake-up output line in order to wake up one or more electronic controllers (or ECU) of the vehicle,
- using the inverter to command precharging of the capacitor of the power line via the precharge and discharge control circuit,
- using the inverter to command the control system (or BMS) with a view to closing the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- starting up the DC/DC converter,
- using the inverter to manage the low-voltage network,
- starting the nominal operating state for the inverter.
[29] Another subject of the invention is a method for managing an electrical architecture as mentioned above, comprising the following steps, with a view to shutting down the inverter:
- following opening of a switch with an ignition key by the driver, using the inverter to stop the supply of torque and using the inverter to monitor the rotational speed of the electric machine until this rotational speed falls below a predetermined threshold, in particular so as to be equal to 0,
- using the inverter to disconnect the wake-up output line and stop the supply of power to the low-voltage network,
- using the inverter to command the control system (or BMS) with a view to opening the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- using the inverter to command the discharging of the capacitor on the power line,
- using the inverter to monitor the voltage on the power lines until this voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold,
- shutting down the inverter.
[30] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the following description, which is given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, in which:
[31] – [Figure 1] schematically illustrates the electrical architecture according to one exemplary implementation of the invention;
[32] – [Figure 2] schematically illustrates the electrical architecture according to another exemplary implementation of the invention;
[33] – [Figure 3] schematically and partially illustrates a precharge and discharge control circuit;
[34] – [Figure 4] shows a block diagram illustrating the operating steps of the architecture of Figure 1, for starting up the inverter;
[35] – [Figure 5] shows a block diagram illustrating the operating steps of the architecture of Figure 1, for shutting down the inverter.
[36] Figure 1 shows an electrical architecture 1 of an electric vehicle equipped with an electric propulsion motor 2.
[37] The electrical architecture 1 comprises:
- a 48-volt high-voltage network 3,
- a 12-volt low-voltage network 4,
- a high-voltage battery 5 designed to supply a high voltage suitable for the high-voltage network 3 via at least one power line 7,
- an inverter 10 comprising switching elements 11 that are interconnected so as to convert a 48-V voltage supplied by the high-voltage battery 5, based on switching signals commanding the switching elements 11, into an AC current so as to operate an electric machine 2, this inverter 10 forming part both of the high-voltage network 3 and of the low-voltage network 4.
[38] The electrical architecture 1 furthermore comprises an electrical contactor 12 placed on the power line 7 and configured to disconnect, in the open state, the high-voltage battery 5 from the high-voltage network 3 and, in this open state of the contactor 12, the architecture 1 is configured to be able to wake up the inverter 10 previously in sleep mode, using a voltage from the high-voltage battery.
[39] The contactor 12 is commanded by a control system 14 (or BMS) of the high-voltage battery 5.
[40] This control system BMS 14 is also configured to send the status (open or closed) of the contactor 12 to the inverter 10 via a CAN communication.
[41] The inverter comprises a DC/DC converter 15 (converter for converting DC current into DC current of a different voltage level) that is supplied with power by the voltage of the high-voltage battery 5 and that is configured to supply at output a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network 4.
[42] The inverter 10 comprises an internal electric power supply 16 for a microcontroller 17 or MCU of the inverter 10, this microcontroller 17 being configured to control components of the inverter 10 such as the DC/DC converter 15.
[43] This internal electric power supply 16 is itself supplied with power by the high-voltage battery. The internal electric power supply furthermore supplies power to the components of the inverter 10 at the required voltage and power levels.
[44] The inverter 10 furthermore comprises a wake-up circuit 18 connected to the high-voltage battery 5 by an electric line 19, which electric line may be opened or closed by the action of an ignition key on a switch 20.
[45] In the example in Figure 1, the converter 15 in the inverter 10 (NB: Isolated DC/DC) is isolated from the power line 7. In addition, the wake-up circuit 18 and the internal electric power supply 16 are integrated within one and the same assembly.
[46] In one example illustrated in Figure 2, the inverter 10 comprises a wake-up circuit 18 and an isolated DC/DC converter that are integrated within one and the same assembly 25. A non-isolated DC/DC converter 26 is connected to the power line 7. The non-isolated DC/DC converter 26 supplies power to the internal load of the inverter as soon as the contactor 12 is closed. In this example, the internal electric power supply 16 for the microcontroller is separate from the assembly 25. This internal electric power supply 16 is connected to the microcontroller 17.
[47] In the example under consideration in Figure 2, the electric line 19 is isolated from the power line 7. The non-isolated DC/DC converter 26 provides a redundant power supply for the microcontroller 10.
[48] In the two examples described, a DC/DC converter 21 external to the inverter 10 is configured to convert the voltage of the high-voltage battery 5 into a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network 4, which comprises 12-V loads such as on-board equipment (for example a touch screen 22) or an electric charging socket 23 available in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
[49] A 12-V management system 28 is provided for managing the loads 27 connected to the 12-V output of the external DC/DC converter 21.
[50] A capacitor 30 is placed between the positive and negative power lines that run from the high-voltage battery 5 to the power switches 11 of the inverter.
[51] The inverter 10 comprises a precharge and discharge control circuit 31 connected to the power lines going to the power switches 11.
[52] This precharge and discharge control circuit 31, upon command of the microcontroller 17, controls charging of the capacitor 30 in the presence of power on the power lines, and discharging of the capacitor 30 in the absence of power on the power lines.
[53] The inverter 10 comprises a wake-up output line 33 for waking up electronic controllers of the vehicle.
[54] The electrical architecture 1 is configured such that the ignition by an ignition key triggers the wake-up of the inverter 10 and the self-diagnosis thereof.
[55] Furthermore, the electrical architecture 1 is configured such that, once the self-diagnosis has been carried out, the inverter 10 is designed to wake up various controllers of the vehicle.
[56] A detail of the precharge and discharge control circuit 31 has been described with reference to Figure 3, which circuit comprises two switches 35 and 36 in parallel, controlled by the microcontroller 17 and connected to a resistor 37.
[57] The switch 35 is connected to the battery 5, and the switch 36 is connected to the power line 7.
[58] When the switch 35 is closed and the switch 36 is open, the capacitor 30 is charged.
[59] When the switch 35 is open and the switch 36 is closed, the capacitor 30 is actively discharged.
[60] A description will now be given of the operation of the electrical architecture 1, respectively for starting up the inverter 10 and for shutting down the inverter 10.
[61] The electrical architecture 1 is configured to carry out the following steps (illustrated in Figure 4) with a view to starting up the inverter:
- following closure of the switch 20 with an ignition key by the driver (step 41), waking up the inverter 10 and triggering the self-diagnosis thereof (step 42), and using the inverter 10 to activate the wake-up output line 33 in order to wake up electronic controllers (or ECU) of the vehicle,
- using the inverter 10 to command precharging of the capacitor 30 of the power line 7 via the precharge and discharge control circuit 31 (step 43),
- using the inverter 10 to command the control system 14, or BMS, with a view to closing the contactor 12 on the power line 7 (step 44),
- starting up the DC/DC converter 15 (step 45),
- using the inverter 10 to manage the low-voltage network 4 (step 46),
- starting the nominal operating state for the inverter 10, which state may be termed the run/ready state (step 47).
[62] The electrical architecture 1 is configured to carry out the following steps with a view to shutting down the inverter:
- following opening of the switch 20 with an ignition key by the driver (step 51), using the inverter 10 to stop the supply of torque and using the inverter 10 to monitor the rotational speed of the electric machine 2 until this rotational speed falls below a predetermined threshold, in particular so as to be equal to 0 (step 52),
- using the inverter 10 to disconnect the wake-up output line 33 and stop the supply of power to the low-voltage network 4 (step 53),
- using the inverter 10 to command the control system 14, or BMS, with a view to opening the contactor 12 on the power line 7 (step 54),
- using the inverter 10 to command the discharging of the capacitor 30 on the power line 7 (step 55), and using the inverter 10 to monitor the voltage on the power line 7 until this voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold,
- shutting down the inverter 10 (step 56).
, C , C , Claims:We Claim:
[Claim 1] Electrical architecture (1), in particular for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a high-voltage network (3), in particular with a nominal voltage equal to 48 volts,
- a low-voltage network (4), in particular with a nominal voltage equal to 12 volts,
- a high-voltage battery (5) designed to supply a high voltage suitable for the high-voltage network via at least one power line (7),
- an inverter (10) comprising switching elements (11) that are interconnected so as to convert a voltage supplied by the high-voltage battery, based on switching signals commanding the switching elements, into an AC current so as to operate an electric machine (2), this inverter forming part both of the high-voltage network and of the low-voltage network,
- an electrical contactor (12) placed on the power line and configured to disconnect, in the open state, the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage network and, in this open state of the contactor, the architecture is configured to be able to wake up the inverter (10) previously in sleep mode, using a voltage from the high-voltage battery.
[Claim 2] Electrical architecture according to the preceding claim, wherein the inverter (10) comprises a DC/DC converter (15) that is supplied with power by the voltage of the high-voltage battery (5) and that is configured to supply at output a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network (4).
[Claim 3] Electrical architecture according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the inverter (10) comprises an internal electric power supply (16) for a microcontroller (17) in the inverter, this microcontroller being configured to control components of the inverter.
[Claim 4] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inverter (10) comprises a wake-up circuit (18) connected to the high-voltage battery by an electric line.
[Claim 5] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a DC/DC converter (21) external to the inverter (10) is configured to convert the voltage of the high-voltage battery into a voltage suitable for the low-voltage network, which comprises in particular loads such as on-board equipment or an electric charging socket available in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
[Claim 6] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a capacitor (30) is placed between the positive and negative power lines that run from the high-voltage battery to the power switches of the inverter.
[Claim 7] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inverter comprises a precharge and discharge control circuit (31) connected to the power line going to the power switches (11).
[Claim 8] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical architecture (1) is configured such that the ignition by an ignition key triggers the wake-up of the inverter (10) and the self-diagnosis thereof.
[Claim 9] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, configured to carry out the following steps with a view to starting up the inverter:
- following closure of a switch (20) with an ignition key by the driver, waking up the inverter and triggering the self-diagnosis thereof,
- using the inverter (10) to activate the wake-up output line in order to wake up one or more electronic controllers of the vehicle,
- using the inverter to command precharging of the capacitor of the power line via the precharge and discharge control circuit,
- using the inverter to command a control system (14) with a view to closing the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- starting up the DC/DC converter,
- using the inverter to manage the low-voltage network,
- starting the nominal operating state for the inverter.
[Claim 10] Electrical architecture according to one of the preceding claims, configured to carry out the following steps with a view to shutting down the inverter:
- following opening of a switch (12) with an ignition key by the driver, using the inverter to stop the supply of torque and using the inverter to monitor the rotational speed of the electric machine (2) until this rotational speed falls below a predetermined threshold, in particular so as to be equal to 0,
- using the inverter (10) to disconnect the wake-up output line and stop the supply of power to the low-voltage network,
- using the inverter to command the control system (14) with a view to opening the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- using the inverter to command the discharging of the capacitor on the power line,
- using the inverter to monitor the voltage on the power lines until this voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold,
- shutting down the inverter.
[Claim 11] Method for managing an electrical architecture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps with a view to starting up the inverter:
- following closure of a switch with an ignition key by the driver, waking up the inverter and triggering the self-diagnosis thereof,
- using the inverter to activate the wake-up output line in order to wake up one or more electronic controllers of the vehicle,
- using the inverter to command precharging of the capacitor of the power line via the precharge and discharge control circuit,
- using the inverter to command the control system (14) with a view to closing the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- starting up the DC/DC converter,
- using the inverter to manage the low-voltage network,
- starting the nominal operating state for the inverter.
[Claim 12] Method for managing an electrical architecture (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps with a view to shutting down the inverter:
- following opening of a switch (12) with an ignition key by the driver, using the inverter to stop the supply of torque and using the inverter to monitor the rotational speed of the electric machine until this rotational speed falls below a predetermined threshold, in particular so as to be equal to 0,
- using the inverter (10) to disconnect the wake-up output line and stop the supply of power to the low-voltage network,
- using the inverter to command the control system (14) with a view to opening the one or more contactors on the one or more power lines,
- using the inverter to command the discharging of the capacitor on the power line,
- using the inverter to monitor the voltage on the power lines until this voltage falls below a predetermined voltage threshold,
- shutting down the inverter.

Dated 15th day of December 2023
Digitally Signed
S.Thulasidharan
IN/PA - 3172
Of Valeo India Private Limited
Agent for the applicant