SMART POWER DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to smart power distribution and management system which provides power output at different voltage levels by the voltage it receives from the charging source, and which charges the accumulators by dividing the voltage it receives in variable ratios and thus preventing the problem of unbalanced charging/discharging between the accumulators, caused by the loads that are at different voltage levels.

Background of the Invention The electrical structures of passenger vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles which are of bigger structures are different from each other. The electrical structure of passenger cars is planned in accordance with a voltage of 12 volts, and this voltage is provided by a single accumulator of 12 volts. In passenger cars, loads such as starter motor, ignition system, headlights, and audio system are fed by the voltage of 12 volts that is supplied by the accumulator. Especially the engine volume, the starter motor that is to ignite the engine and the accumulator system are of greater power and higher capacity. Accordingly, the system of 12 Volts falls short and thus the electrical structure in the heavy commercial vehicles are planned in accordance with 24 Volts. However, some devices such as the audio system and illumination are used as 12 V, and in the heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks and autobuses another power supply system such as 12V is needed besides the 24 V. In order to supply the loads of 12 V and 24 V that are present in the heavy commercial vehicles, different types of accumulator connection and control applications are used. The most widely used application for acquiring the supply voltages of 12 Volts and 24 Volts in the heavy commercial vehicles is using 2 of the 12 Volts accumulators. These accumulators of 12 Volts are connected to each other in series and the voltage of 24 Volts is acquired, and the majority of the loads in the heavy commercial vehicle are supplied by this acquired 24 Volts (Figure 1). The supplying of the loads of 12 Volts in the heavy commercial vehicles is generally provided by a converter. The converter provides the supplying of the loads of 12 Volts in the heavy commercial vehicles by converting the voltage of 24 Volts to 12 Volts. In order to monitor the general status of the accumulators, accumulator monitoring sensor is used. By means of the accumulator monitoring sensor, information such as the charge state of the accumulators, the capacity of the accumulators (health state), functionality state meaning the percental information of if the accumulator is sufficient for the next start or not and temperature information can be monitored. The information measured by the accumulator monitoring sensor are transmitted to the control unit or to the relevant units via the in-vehicle communication line. By this way the two accumulators can be monitored like a single accumulator, the information belonging to the accumulators are continuously tracked, and when the necessity occurs, recharging the accumulators by the alternator is provided. The most important technical problem in this application is that the converter breaks down frequently. When a failure occurs in the converter, the converter cannot convert the voltage of 24 Volts DC to a voltage of 12 Volts DC and the supplying of the loads that are fed by 12 Volts such as audio system, beacon lamp cannot be realized and these devices do not work until the fault in the converter is repaired. The converters that are used in the present application lack the ability to communicate and for this, the algorithms of the power management system are carried out by the units that are used for carrying out different functions such as body control and engine control units. As the converters that are used in the present application lack the ability to communicate, the power management regarding the accumulators is realized via other modules such as body control section instead of the principal power sources section. As on the display panel relating to the accumulator power management there is not any notification light showing the failure of the converter, in the event of any failure, the failures can be noticed as the fed loads will not work. As the converters that are used in the present systems lack a communication line, it cannot warn the driver in case of any failure. When there is a failure in the fed load, the driver could notice it late. Because, as there is no converter communication line, no signal or warning light regarding the failure is transmitted to the driver. The driver notices the failure as late as he/she tries to utilize the faulty device. One of the most important problems of the applications in which the converter is used is that when a fault occurs in the system, the loads fed by the system will not work and there is no alternative present for feeding the loads. And thus, the loads having a regulation article (that can cause life-threatening situations) such as airbag, headlights, and turn signals are used as 24V instead of 12V in order to guarantee the working of the system. In this case, the loads that are used in the vehicle are converted to systems that run on 24 Volts, and as the number of systems that run on 24 Volts increase, the cost of the vehicles also increases.

The accumulators are monitored as a single 24 Volts accumulator using the accumulator monitoring sensor that is used in the present applications having two 12 Volts accumulators. The data of the two accumulators cannot be measured independent from each other. Instead, they are monitored as a single accumulator, assuming they are exactly the same as each other. However, differences in the accumulator parameters arise between the two accumulators, caused by the production and/or usage of the accumulators or over time. Assuming that the two accumulators have the same properties and applying the same processes to the two accumulators, meaning that applying the same charging voltage and charging current to the accumulators cause them to be damaged in a lot of aspects. The small capacity differences between the accumulators when they are produced increase over time and start posing a problem. Because of the internal resistance differences that are formed by the increasing cycle counts of the accumulators, the current accepting values of the two accumulators vary. Because of the asymmetric aging that is encountered in one of the accumulators, difference in capacity between the accumulators is formed and this, in turn, causes overcharging. The aged accumulator might take the healthy accumulator into deep discharge, causing them both to run out. All of the said problems arise from applying the same charging voltage and the same charging current to the both accumulators, assuming the two accumulators have the same properties as each other. If one of the accumulators has a smaller capacity with respect to the other one, charging it with a high current that the high capacity accumulator can accept will damage the accumulator with the smaller capacity. In the charging algorithm that is used while charging the accumulators, the temperature value is also taken into account, and a charging voltage value is assigned to the alternator. Because of the structural differences between the two accumulators, different heating might occur during charging, as the temperatures of the accumulators cannot be sensed individually, it causes the accumulator of higher temperature to be charged by a high voltage, causing the accumulator to heat up even more. The temperature of the accumulator increasing too much causes the chemical inside of it to be damaged and causes loss of capacity. Considering the two accumulators as a single accumulator and not detecting the differences between the two accumulators and not monitoring them affect the life of the accumulator negatively.

In the state of the art, power distribution systems of different types that are designed in order to supply the loads of 12 V and 24 V that are used in the heavy commercial vehicles, are used.

The United States patent document numbered US 20050151509 in the background of the invention discloses an electrical control system for vehicles. In the said patent document, an electrical control system consisting of an alternator, an accumulator group consisting of two 12 Volts accumulators which are connected to each other in series, two battery equalizers, a separate accumulator of 12 Volts and system control unit is disclosed. 24 Volts is acquired via the two accumulators connected in series and this voltage is used for the starter. The accumulator of 12 Volts which is used by itself is used for feeding the loads. The system control unit looks at the fullness ratio of the accumulators and determines the lowest ratio, and the battery equalizer directs the feeding voltage by switching so that the fullness ratios of the accumulators are equalized. However, in the subject matter of the application, in order to charge the accumulators, the voltage and the current from the charging source are divided in different ratios, and the charge levels and the after charge voltages of the accumulators are equalized. By this way, the imbalance between the accumulators caused by the usage and the production are compensated, and the accumulators are prevented from being damaged from excessive charging and discharging. In the patent document numbered US 20050151509, a separate 12 Volts accumulator is used for feeding the loads that are present in the vehicle, and in the system a separate accumulator is present for the loads. In the subject matter of application, the feeding voltage for the starter and for the feeding of the loads is supplied by the same accumulator group. In the said patent document, no technical solution and explanation regarding the feeding of the accumulators proportionally to the voltage and current values they need according to their statuses are present. In the United States patent document, no explanation is present regarding the charging of the accumulators via independent supply voltages.

The United States patent document numbered US 4479083 in the background of the invention discloses a DC power source system comprising a battery voltage equalizer circuit. The said power source system consists of an alternator, two accumulators connected in series and equalizer circuit. The equalizer is connected between the two serial accumulators, it divides the voltage on the poles of the two accumulators directly to two and gives it to the intermediary connection and the batteries are charged like this. In the subject matter of application, the charging voltage is not divided directly to two, instead the statuses of the accumulators are monitored and the necessary charging voltages are determined and the accumulators are charged by these determined voltages. In the subject matter of application, the voltage acquired from the alternator is divided in different ratios and used for charging the accumulators. In the said patent document, no technical solution and explanation regarding the feeding of the accumulators proportionally to the voltage and current values they need according to their statuses are present. In the said patent document, no technical solution and explanation regarding the continuously monitoring the statuses of the accumulators, determining the voltage value needed by the accumulators and distributing the said voltage value by proportionally dividing the voltage or current that is acquired from the charging source are present.

The international patent document numbered WO 2014202102A1 in the background of the invention discloses a control method of energy storing system. In the said patent document, a system for efficiently charging accumulators that are connected in parallel is disclosed. In the said system a charging current is determined in accordance with the accumulator of the least capacity, and the alternator produces the current accordingly. In the said system, a single charging voltage that can be accepted by the accumulator of the least capacity is assigned to the system. However, in the subject matter of application, after determining the necessities of each of the accumulators, the current is supplied according to the necessities of each of the accumulators, at the same time. In the subject system of the application different charging voltages are present at the same time, while the alternator is being controlled, the output voltage is also controlled at the same time and it is aimed to get the accumulators to be at the same level at the same time.

In the power distribution systems that are present in the state of the art, no explanation, suggestion or technical solution is present regarding to monitoring of the statuses of each of the accumulators separately, determining the states of charge separately, tracking the imbalances between the accumulators caused by the production differences and different aging effects, and charging the accumulators using different voltage and current values according to their states.

Objects of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which enables monitoring the statuses of each of the accumulators separately, and feeding each of the accumulators with the voltage value it needs according to its state.

Another object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which applies each of the accumulators the charging voltage and current values it needs according to the imbalances between the accumulators caused by production differences and different aging effects.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which enables feeding of the loads of 12 Volts continuously, even in the cases of failures of control modules or balancers. Another object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which damps the sudden voltage increases when the load is discharged inside the system of 12 Volts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which enables the voltage and current that are applied to the accumulator to be distributed proportionally.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide smart power distribution and management system which meets the requirements of legal regulations and safety regulations, and which, at the same time, enables producing of systems of 12 Volts with a lower cost. Short Description of the Invention

In the smart power distribution and management system defined in the first claim and the dependent claims thereof in order to realize the objects of the present invention, at least one charging source is present and the charging source is used for feeding the accumulators. The energy supplied by the charging source is transferred to the accumulators via the module. The distribution module receives the data regarding the statuses of the accumulators from the accumulator sensors, and determines which accumulator needs which voltage value according to these data. The distribution module aims to keep the charge states of the accumulators at the same level, and ensures it. The distribution unit distributes the energy that the charging source provides proportionally to the accumulators and the feeding of the accumulators with a voltage level needed according to their states is ensured. By this way, the charge levels of the accumulators are kept at the same level, and by these accumulators used, loads having different voltage values from each other are fed.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A smart power distribution and management system in order to fulfill the objects of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figurel. Schematic view of a general application belonging to the prior art.

Figure2. Schematic view of the smart power distribution and management system.

Figure3. Schematic view of the smart power distribution and management system. Elements shown in the figures are individually numbered, and the correspondence of these numbers is given as follows: 1. Smart power distribution and management system

2. Charging source

3. Accumulator group

31. Accumulator 1

32. Accumulator 2

4. Monitoring sensor

5. Load group

51. Load 1

52. Load 2

6. Control and distribution unit

7. Junction

The smart power distribution and management system (1) which enables monitoring the statuses of each of the accumulators separately, and feeding each of the accumulators with the charging voltage and current value it needs according to its state comprises;

- at least one charging source (2) which provides the electrical energy as constant or variable voltage and current values,

- accumulator group (3) which stores the electrical energy supplied by the charging source (2) and which consists of at least one accumulator,

- load group (5) which consists of at least one load that is used in the motor vehicle and that works with the same or different voltage value,

- control and distribution unit (6) which provides power output at different voltage or current levels by the voltage it receives from the charging source (2) and which divides the voltage it receives in varying proportions and distributes it to the accumulator group (3) and/or load group (5). In the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1), preferably a charging source (2) which converts mechanical energy to electrical energy is used. The charging source (2) converts the mechanical energy it acquires from the movement of the engine while the engine is working to electrical energy, and enables the accumulator group (3) to be charged while the engine is working. At the same time, the charging source (2) provides energy to the electrical system that is present on the vehicle while the engine is running. The charging source (2) can provide different voltage and current levels. The charging source (2) can have a constant output voltage, and it may as well be a source which generates different output voltage values. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging source (2) has properties where it can provide variable output voltages and output current, and alternator is used as charging source (2).

In the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1), the energy provided by the charging source (2) is used for charging the accumulator group (3) and thus it is stored in the accumulator group (3). The accumulator group (3) preferably comprises at least one accumulator. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the accumulator group (3) comprises accumulator 1 (31) and accumulator 2 (32) which have output voltage values the same as or different from each other. The output voltage of the accumulator 1 (31) can be the same as or different from the output voltage of the accumulator 2 (32). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the output voltages of the accumulator 1 (31) and the accumulator (2) are 12 Volts. The accumulator 1 (31) and the accumulator 2 (32) are preferably connected in series with each other.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the accumulator group (3) comprises accumulator 1 (31) and accumulator 2 (32) which have the same output voltage values as each other and which are connected in series with each other. In this embodiment, the output voltage levels of the accumulator 1 (31) and the accumulator (2) are 12 Volts. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, one monitoring sensor (4) is present for each of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3). The monitoring sensor (4) measures the state of the accumulator in which it is present, and it transmits the information it measured to the necessary units in a wired or wireless fashion. The monitoring sensor (4) is adapted to measure the parameters of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3) such as the charge state of the accumulators, the capacity of the accumulators (health state), functionality state, percental information of if the accumulator is sufficient for the next start or not and temperature In accordance with the information relating to the accumulators such as temperature and charge state, which are received from the monitoring sensor (4), the voltage and current values for charging the accumulators are determined.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the status of the accumulator 1 (31) and the accumulator 2 (32) which are present in the accumulator group (3) are monitored via one monitoring sensor (4) for each of the accumulators.

In the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1), the load group (5) that is present in the vehicle is fed via the charging source (2) or the accumulator group (3). The load group (5) includes devices that are present in the vehicle such as the airbag, audio system, illumination, headlights, television, and beacon lamp. The load group (5) consists of only the loads of 12 Volts and/or the loads of 24 Volts. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the load group (5) includes the loads of 12 Volts and 24 Volts. In the preferred embodiment, the load group (5) comprises load 1 (51) and load 2 (52) which have different working voltages from each other. In this embodiment, the load 1 (51) comprises loads of 12 Volts and the load 2 (52) comprises loads of 24 Volts. The load 2 (52) is preferably the loads of 24 Volts and it is fed by the voltage or current that is supplied by the whole of the accumulator group (3). The load 1 (51) is preferably the loads of 12 Volts and it is fed by the voltage or current that is supplied by a part of the accumulator group (3). In the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1) the feeding voltages of the accumulator group (3) and the load group (5) are controlled and distributed by the control and distribution unit (6). The control and distribution unit (6) determines the voltage or the current value with which the accumulator group (3) needs to be charged, and enables the accumulator group (3) to be fed with the voltage or current value it needs. The control and distribution unit (6) is electrically connected to the charging source (2), the accumulator group (3) and the load group (5). The control and distribution unit (6) is adapted to receive data such as fault, operation, operation temperature from the charging source (2), the accumulator group (3) and the load group (5), and transfer it to the electronic control unit (ECU) and/or to the display panel to be used in the vehicle system. By this way, when there is a failure in the load group (5) or the accumulator group (3), the control and distribution unit (6) transmits the failure to the vehicle system and to the driver, thus gives warning. The control and distribution unit (6) is directly connected to the charging source (2), and it distributes the energy it receives from the charging source (2) to the accumulator group (2) according to the needs of the accumulators.

If the output voltage of the charging source (2) is constant, meaning that if the charging source (2) is providing a single output voltage value then the control and distribution unit (6) directly takes the output voltage or current of the charging source (2) and distributes them. If the output voltage of the charging source (2) is variable, meaning that if different output voltage values in a preferred range are being provided from charging source (2) then the control and distribution unit (6) determines the output voltage that the charging source (2) should give. The control and distribution unit (6) provides supply to the accumulator group (3) by distributing the output voltage it acquired from the charging source (2) in required ratios. The control and distribution unit (6) is adapted to be able to distribute the voltage or the current it acquired from the charging source (2) by dividing it proportionally. The control and distribution unit (6) is adapted to divide the voltage or the current it receives from the charging source (2) in varying proportions at different voltage or current levels and to distribute it to the accumulator group (3) and/or load group (5).

The control and distribution unit (6) is adapted to determine the charging voltages of the accumulators and at the same time to control the charging durations and charging voltages.

The statuses of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3) are monitored via the monitoring sensor (4), and the monitoring sensor (4) transfers the information it measures to the control and distribution unit (6) in a wired or wireless manner. The monitoring sensor (6) evaluates the parameters regarding the statuses of the accumulators such as the charge state of the accumulators, the capacity of the accumulators, functionality state, percental information of if the accumulator is sufficient for the next start or not and temperature, and then it determines which accumulator is going to be fed with which voltage and current level. After determining the voltage and current values that are needed for the accumulators, the control and distribution unit (6) divides the energy that is emanating from the charging source (2) to the voltage and current values which each of the accumulators need, and thus charges the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3).

The control and distribution unit (6) has a connection with all of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3). The voltage and current output of the control and distribution unit (6) is directly connected to the accumulators and there are one fewer voltage and current outputs than the number of the accumulators. The control and distribution unit (6) divides the current and the voltage that come to itself into different values, and then distributes them to the voltage and current outputs, and from there, to the accumulators. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the control and distribution unit (6) comprises at least two voltage and current outputs and different voltage and current levels are acquired from these two voltage and current outputs.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one junction (7) is present between the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3). This junction (7) provides connection between the accumulators and the preferred loads. By the virtue of the junction (7), a back-up bypass connection for the loads to work when the control and distribution unit (6) breaks down, stops working. Additionally, by the virtue of the junction (7), when there is a sudden overload in the system of 12 Volts, the sudden voltage increase will be damped.

In the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1), the charging source (2) converts the mechanical energy it receives from the engine to electrical energy. The electrical energy is stored in the accumulator group (3). The status of each of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3) is measured by the monitoring sensor (4). The control and distribution unit (6) determines which accumulator needs to be fed with which voltage or current value, according to the measurements it took from the monitoring sensor (4). The electrical energy that the charging source (2) has supplied is proportionally divided according to the necessities of the accumulators by the virtue of the control and distribution unit (6), and the charging voltages or the currents of the accumulators are met according to their needs. By the accumulators that are in the accumulator group (3), the loads that are in the load group (5) and that have different feeding voltages from each other are fed. The loads are fed by driving current from all of the accumulator group (3) or from a part of it.

By the virtue of the inventive smart power distribution and management system (1), the problem of unbalanced charging/discharging between the accumulators is fixed. The voltage or the current acquired from the charging source (2) is divided in variable ratios by the control and distribution unit (6), and then transferred to the load and/or the loads. By using the control and distribution unit (6), feeding of the loads that do not have the same voltage with the charging source (2) of the vehicle is achieved, and it is ensured that the voltages at the end of the charging of the accumulators that are present in the accumulator group (3) are the same. For this, the control and distribution unit (6) calculates the necessities of accumulators and performs the voltage distribution according to these necessities. By the virtue of the accumulator-load connection which is from the control and distribution unit (6) to the accumulator group (3) and which achieved by the junction (7), when there is any malfunction in the control and distribution unit (6), the accumulator steps in, and feeding of the loads is ensured.