Page 422 - Power Electronics Handbook

Automobile control 4 11

Operating the induction heater from a d.c. link inverter requires that the
a.c. input supply is first rectified and smoothed, to give the d.c. link
voltage. Alternatively, cycloinverter arrangements can be used to provide
the high-frequency output without the need for a d.c. link, as described in
Section 10.6 and shown in Figure 10.20, a centre-tapped heating coil being
used. Generally, d.c. link inverters provide a more efficient and cheaper
drive system and are more frequently used than cycloinverters.

14.5 Automobile control
Electronics is widely used to perform a variety of functions within a modem
automobile, a few of these being shown in Figure 14.60 (Chowanietz, 1995;
Sax, 1995). Although these functions were initially only available in the
more expensive luxury cars, they are now migrating down to smaller and
lower cost models, thanks largely to the use of technology such as smart
power.
One of the areas where automobile electronics has helped to reduce cost,
weight and space is in the wiring harness. Whereas traditionally wiring
harnesses run individual cables between each element being controlled and
its control switches, a modern multiplex wiring system uses very few
wires.

Digital gauges
kr blowers Digital clock
Window Im Alarms
Central locking Fuel consumption

Ignition
Voltage regulation 1 powE2ering 1
Emission control
Diagnostics
Multiex wiring Air bags

Figure 14.60 Some areas using electronics within an automobile