Method for operating an on-board electrical network of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), having a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) having at least one main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have essentially the same capacity, and wherein components of the motor vehicle (2) are supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and/or the second main battery (12b) by means of a switch assembly (14).

Claims

1. A method for operating an on-board electrical network (4) of a motor vehicle (2), the method comprising: wherein the on-board electrical network (4) comprises a first voltage circuit (I) and a second voltage circuit (II), the first voltage circuit (I) having a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II) via a DC/DC converter (8), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) includes a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) includes a first main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), and wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have substantially the same capacity, and energy from the first main battery (12a) and/or the second main battery (12b) by activating a switch assembly (14) to place the on-board electrical network (4) in a selected one of a standby mode (State L), a start-up mode (State M), or a fail-safe operating mode (State R), wherein in each of the standby mode (State L) and the start-up mode (State M), at least one component of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b), and wherein in the fail-safe operating mode (State R) the first main battery (12a) is disconnected and the at least one component of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the second main battery (12b).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the switch assembly (14) has a 3-way changeover switch (16).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the switch assembly (14) has a 2-way changeover switch (18) and an isolating switch (58).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one component is one of a transmission control unit (20), an integrated hybrid controller (22), and/or or a gear-selection control unit (24).

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the standby mode (State L), the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) together supply the at least one component with electrical operating energy via a fuse (50).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in the start-up mode (State M), the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) together supply the at least one component with electrical operating energy, bypassing the fuse (50), and are disconnected from the rest of the on-board electrical network (4).

7. A computer program product designed to execute the method according to claim 1.

8. An on-board electrical network (4) for a motor vehicle (2), the on-board electrical network (4) comprising: a first voltage circuit (I); and a second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) includes a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II) via a DC/DC converter (8), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) includes a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) includes a first main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), and wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have substantially the same capacity.

9. A motor vehicle (2) having an on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 8.

10. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 8, further comprising: a switch assembly (14) that is operable to place the on-board electrical network (4) in a selected one of a standby mode (State L), a start-up mode (State M), or a fail-safe operating mode (State R), wherein in each of the standby mode (State L) and the start-up mode (State M), at least one of the components of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b), and wherein in the fail-safe operating mode (State R) the first main battery (12a) is disconnected and the at least one of the components of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the second main battery (12b).

11. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 10, wherein the switch assembly (14) has a 3-way changeover switch (16).

12. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 10, wherein the switch assembly (14) has a 2-way changeover switch (18) and an isolating switch (58).

13. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the components is one of a transmission control unit (20), an integrated hybrid controller (22), and/or or a gear-selection control unit (24).

14. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 10, wherein in the standby mode (State L), the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) together supply the at least one of the components with electrical operating energy via a fuse (50).

15. The on-board electrical network (4) according to claim 14, wherein in the start-up mode (State M), the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) together supply the at least one of the components electrical operating energy, bypassing the fuse (50), and are disconnected from the rest of the on-board network (4).

16. A vehicle, comprising: an on-board electrical network (4) comprising a first voltage circuit (I), and a second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) includes a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit (II), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) is connected to the second voltage circuit (II) via a DC/DC converter (8), wherein the first voltage circuit (I) includes a battery (10) and the second voltage circuit (II) includes a first main battery (12a) and a second main battery (12b), wherein the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b) have substantially the same capacity. energy from the first main battery (12a) and/or the second main battery (12b).

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising: a switch assembly (14) that is operable to place the on-board electrical network (4) in a selected one of a standby mode (State L), a start-up mode (State M), or a fail-safe operating mode (State R), wherein in each of the standby mode (State L) and the start-up mode (State M), at least one of the components of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the first main battery (12a) and the second main battery (12b), and wherein in the fail-safe operating mode (State R) the first main battery (12a) is disconnected and the at least one of the components of the on-board electrical network (4) is provided electrical operating energy from the second main battery (12b).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be explained with reference to a drawing. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an on-board electrical network of a motor vehicle according to a first exemplary embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an on-board electrical network of a motor vehicle according to a second exemplary embodiment.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an on-board electrical network of a motor vehicle according to a third exemplary embodiment.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an on-board electrical network of a motor vehicle according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) Reference will first be made to FIG. 1 to explain a first exemplary embodiment.

(7) FIG. 1 shows an on-board electrical network 4 of a motor vehicle 2, such as a car.

(8) The motor vehicle 2 in the present exemplary embodiment has a powertrain 6. This powertrain 6 comprises all the components of the motor vehicle 2 that generate the power to drive the motor vehicle 2 and transfer it onto the road.

(9) In the present exemplary embodiment the powertrain 6 is designed as a mild hybrid powertrain. In other words, the motor vehicle 2 has a hybrid drive and is implemented as a hybrid electric vehicle. A hybrid drive is understood to mean a combination of an internal combustion engine (not shown) and an electric motor 28 for the motor vehicle drive.

(10) The internal combustion engine in the present exemplary embodiment is a petrol engine. In normal operation the petrol engine is operated with an oxygen excess (λ>1). By way of deviation from this, the internal combustion engine can also be designed as a Diesel engine in lean-burn mode to increase the engine efficiency.

(11) The electric motor 28 is an electrical rotary motor with a rotor and a stator, which can be operated both as a motor, i.e. as a partial traction motor, and as a generator for energy recuperation. The electric motor 28 can be designed, for example, as a DC motor, an AC motor, a synchronous motor, an asynchronous motor, a brushless electric motor or as a combination of these motor types.

(12) The electric motor 28 of the powertrain 6 implemented as a mild hybrid powertrain delivers up to 15 kW per tonne of vehicle weight. In operation the electric motor 28 only assists the internal combustion engine to increase power. A purely electric driving is only possible to a limited extent, if at all.

(13) The internal combustion engine and the electric motor 28 can work together in different ways: in parallel (the internal combustion engine and the electric motor 28 act on the moving part at the same time), serially (only one of the motors acts directly on the moving part, while the other motor provides power which is converted and fed to the directly acting motor), or as a power-split hybrid.

(14) The powertrain 6 implemented as a mild hybrid powertrain in the present exemplary embodiment is implemented as a parallel hybrid powertrain.

(15) The on-board electrical network 4 has a first voltage circuit I and a second voltage circuit II. In operation, the first voltage circuit operates at a first operating voltage which is higher than a second operating voltage in the second voltage circuit II. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first operating voltage is 48 volts and the second operating voltage is 12 volts.

(16) The first voltage circuit I is connected to the second voltage circuit II via a DC/DC converter 8. The DC/DC converter 8 in the present exemplary embodiment is designed for bidirectional voltage conversion, so for both stepping up and stepping down an electrical voltage.

(17) The first voltage circuit I in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a battery 10 and an inverter 26.

(18) The battery 10 in this exemplary embodiment is a lithium-ion battery which is electrically conductively connected to the DC/DC converter 8.

(19) The inverter 26 is a bi-directional inverter. In the generator mode of the electric motor 28 the inverter 26 converts an electrical AC voltage into an electrical DC voltage, and vice versa in the case of an application as an electric motor, converting an electrical DC voltage into an electrical alternating voltage. For this purpose the inverter 26 is electrically conductively connected on the input side to the electric motor 28. The inverter 26 is additionally electrically conductively connected on the output side to the DC/DC converter 8.

(20) The second voltage circuit II in the present exemplary embodiment comprises as an essential component a first main battery 12a and a second main battery 12b of essentially the same capacity, a switch assembly 14 with a 3-way changeover switch 16 in the present exemplary embodiment, a transmission control unit (TCM) 20, an integrated hybrid controller (HFM) 22, e.g. integrated in a transmission control unit, and a gear-selection control unit (GSM) 24 for gear selection between Drive/Neutral/Reverse and Park, which allows the electrically actuated parking lock/immobilizer to be engaged in the transmission and thereby secure the vehicle, and a starter 30. The starter 30 in this exemplary embodiment is a conventional 12V starter.

(21) The gear-selection control unit 24 is actuated by the driver who thus expresses a desire to engage Drive/Neutral/Reverse or Park. The gear-selection control unit 24 then sends an equivalent signal to the transmission control unit 20, which executes this command.

(22) Other components are an ABS/EPB system 32, a powertrain control unit (PCM) 34, an EPAS system 36, a gateway module (GWM) 38, an on-board network control unit (BCM) 40, an infotainment system (IPC) 42, a fuse assembly 44, a first fuse 46, a second fuse 48, a third fuse 50, a fourth fuse 52, an EPB/ABS fuse 54, a first battery management system 56a assigned to the first main battery 12a and a second battery management system 56b assigned to the second main battery 12b, as well as a third battery management system 56c assigned to the battery 10.

(23) The components listed may have hardware and/or software components for their tasks and functions described below.

(24) In this exemplary embodiment, the 3-way changeover switch 16 has an input-side connection E and three output-side connections L, M, R.

(25) During operation, the 3-way changeover switch 16 can be activated in such a way that the 3-way changeover switch 16 electrically connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection L or the output-side connection M or the output-side connection R.

(26) If the 3-way changeover switch 16 connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection R in an electrically conducting manner, the on-board network 4 is in a fail-safe operating mode (State R). In this exemplary embodiment, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 are now supplied with electrical operating energy from the second main battery 12b only and the first main battery 12a is disconnected from the on-board network 4. This means that the ABS/EPB system 32 is connected to the first main battery 12a and the transmission control unit (TCM) 20, an integrated hybrid controller (HFM) 22, e.g. integrated in a transmission control unit, and a gear selection control unit (GSM) 24 for gear selection between Drive/Neutral/Reverse and Park are connected independently of each other to the second main battery 12b, thus providing a system redundancy for vehicle safety when stationary.

(27) On the other hand, if the 3-way changeover switch 16 connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection L in an electrically conducting manner, the on-board network 4 is in a standby mode (State L). In this exemplary embodiment, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the gear-selection control unit 24 are now supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b via the fuse 50 and via the fuse 46 or fuse 48 respectively. In addition, further components of the on-board network 4 can be supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b.

(28) However, if the 3-way changeover switch 16 connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection M in an electrically conducting manner, the on-board network 4 is in a starting mode (State M). An electrically conductive bypass is now formed, which allows the fuse 50 to be bypassed. Thus in this exemplary embodiment, while the internal combustion engine is starting, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 and the gear-selection control unit 24 can be supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b together in a parallel connection, bypassing the fuse 50, and simultaneously disconnected from the rest of the on-board network 4.

(29) In the present exemplary embodiment, when a fault is detected in the first main battery 12a, upon being activated by the on-board network control unit 40 by providing appropriate activation signals, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 causes the 3-way changeover switch 16 to connect the input-side connection E to the output-side connection R in an electrically conducting manner, so that the on-board network 4 is in the fail-safe operating mode (State R).

(30) In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the powertrain control unit 34, by providing appropriate control signals, causes the 3-way changeover switch 16 to connect the input-side connection E to the output-side connection L in an electrically conducting manner, so that the on-board network 4 is in a standby mode (State L), and the 3-way changeover switch 16 to connect the input-side connection E to the output-side connection M in an electrically conducting manner, so that the on-board network 4 is in the starting mode (State M).

(31) The control signals can be transmitted, for example, via a CAN bus of the motor vehicle 2.

(32) Reference will now additionally be made to FIG. 2 to explain a second exemplary embodiment.

(33) The on-board network 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment differs from the on-board network 4 according to the first exemplary embodiment in that instead of the 3-way changeover switch 16, the switch assembly 14 has a 2-way changeover switch 18 and an isolating switch 58, and that the fuse 48 and the fuse 50 are now assigned to the fuse assembly 44. Here, the isolating switch 58, activated by the transmission control unit 20, disconnects the second main battery 12b connected to the fuse 46 and the transmission control unit 20, and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22, from the rest of the on-board network 4. In the event of overload, the fuse 50 opens.

(34) The 2-way changeover switch 18 can be activated in such a way that the 2-way changeover switch 18 electrically connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection L or the output-side connection M.

(35) The function of the output-side connection R, or switching to the fail-safe operating mode (State R), is effected by opening the isolating switch 58. A system redundancy then exists between the transmission control unit 20 connected to the second main battery 12b, and the ABS/EPB system 32 connected to the first main battery 12a.

(36) Otherwise, the comments made above with regard to the structure and function of the on-board network 4 also apply analogously to the on-board network 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment.

(37) Reference will now additionally be made to FIG. 3 to explain a third exemplary embodiment.

(38) The on-board network 4 according to the third exemplary embodiment differs from the on-board network 4 according to the second exemplary embodiment in that the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the ABS/EPB system 32 and their corresponding fuses 54 and fuse 46 have now swapped positions in the on-board network 4. The same system redundancy is achieved here as in the second exemplary embodiment. In this case, the isolation switch 58 is controlled by the ABS/EPB system. In the event of overload, the fuse 50 opens.

(39) Otherwise, the comments made above with regard to the structure and function of the on-board network 4 also apply analogously to the on-board network 4 according to the third exemplary embodiment.

(40) Reference will now additionally be made to FIG. 4 to explain a fourth exemplary embodiment.

(41) The on-board network 4 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment differs from the on-board network 4 according to the third exemplary embodiment in that the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the ABS/EPB system 32 and its corresponding fuses 54 and fuse 46 are now electrically connected to the second main battery 12b and can be disconnected from the rest of the on-board network 4 via the isolating switch 58. In the event of overload, the fuse 50 opens. This exemplary embodiment implements a redundancy of the operating energy from either the first main battery 12a or the second main battery 12b for the ABS/EPB system 32 and for the transmission control unit 20. The isolation switch 58 can be activated by both components.

(42) Otherwise, the comments made above with regard to the structure and function of the on-board network 4 also apply analogously to the on-board network 4 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

(43) In summary, the second, third and fourth exemplary embodiment each have the same function, but differ in terms of the positions of the ABS/EPB system 34, the transmission control unit 20 and the gear-selection control unit 24 with their corresponding fuse systems.

(44) A method for operating the on-board electrical network 4 will now be explained.

(45) To operate the on-board electrical network 4 of the motor vehicle 2 with the first voltage circuit I and the second voltage circuit II, by means of the switch assembly 14 components of the motor vehicle 2 are supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and/or the second main battery 12b.

(46) The on-board network 4 is then in the standby mode (State L) or in the starting mode (State M). For this purpose, in the present exemplary embodiment, by providing appropriate control signals the powertrain control unit 34 has caused the input-side connection E to be electrically connected to the output-side connection L or to the output-side connection M.

(47) In the standby mode (State L), the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b together supply the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 via the fuse 50 and the fuse 46, and supply the gear-selection control unit 24 via the fuse 50 and the fuse 48.

(48) In the starting mode (State M) on the other hand, the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b together supply the transmission control unit 20 and an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the gear-selection control unit 24 with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b together in a parallel connection, bypassing the fuse 50, while the engine is starting.

(49) Upon detecting a fault in a first step, e.g. by the on-board network control unit 40, in a further step, for example, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 provides appropriate activation signals which cause a changeover into the fail-safe operating mode (State R), in which, for example, the transmission control unit 20 and an integrated hybrid controller 22 and a gear-selection control unit 24 are only supplied with electrical operating energy from the second main battery 12b and the first main battery 12a is disconnected from the on-board network 4.

(50) If the fuse 50 fails, the transmission control unit 20 and/or a hybrid controller 22 integrated in a transmission control unit are supplied with electrical operating energy from the second main battery 12b via the respective fuse 46 or fuse 48. All other components of the on-board network 4, which are electrically connected exclusively to the first main battery 12a, then no longer receive any electrical operating energy from the second main battery 12b.

(51) If the first main battery 12a does not provide any electrical operating energy and the 3-way changeover switch 16 electrically connects the input-side connection E to the output-side connection L (standby mode or State L), the second main battery 12b supplies all components with electrical operating energy.

(52) The ABS/EPB system 32 is also supplied with electrical operating energy by the second main battery 12b.

(53) In the event of a major battery failure, a changeover into the fail-safe operating mode (State R) can be made. The defective first main battery 12a is disconnected from the second main battery 12b.

(54) In the event of a power loss due to a short circuit, the on-board network is in the standby mode (State L). If the fuse 50 has also failed, the second main battery 12b supplies the transmission control unit 20 and/or a hybrid controller 22 integrated in a transmission control unit, in addition to the gear-selection control unit 24. However, the ABS/EPB system 32 is not now supplied with electrical operating energy.

(55) The transmission control unit 20 and/or a hybrid controller 22 integrated in a transmission control unit can cause a changeover into the fail-safe operating mode (State R) in order to disconnect the second 12b main battery from the first main battery 12a.

(56) However, if the second main battery 12b provides too little power, the system can be changed over to the standby mode (State L) or to the starting mode (State M). Then both the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the gear-selection control unit 24 and the ABS/EPB system 32 are supplied with electrical operating energy from both main batteries 12a, 12b.

(57) If it is not possible to switch over to the fail-safe operating mode (State R), the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 and the gear-selection control unit 24 are still supplied with electrical operating energy from the second main battery 12b and the ABS/EPB system 32 is supplied from the first main battery 12a.

(58) If it is not possible to switch over to the starting mode (State M) and/or to the standby mode (State L), the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 as well as the gear-selection control unit 24 and the ABS/EPB system 32 are still supplied with electrical operating energy from the first main battery 12a and from the second main battery 12b.

(59) If both the first main battery 12a and the second main battery 12b fail, this is detected by the on-board network control unit 40, for example.

(60) Then, for example, the transmission control unit 20 and/or an integrated hybrid controller 22 is/are supplied with electrical operating energy from the 12-Volt side of the DC/DC converter 8.

(61) If it is not possible to provide such an electrical energy supply, an electric parking brake of the vehicle is activated by the on-board network control unit 40:

(62) the operational safety of such an on-board network 4 can thus be increased.