DC converters are widely used in the field of automotive electronics, mainly in the following areas:
1. Providing power for the vehicle's auxiliary systems: an important role of DC converters in automobiles is to provide the required power for the power steering system, air conditioning system, and other auxiliary equipment [1]. These systems usually require a stable DC power supply for their normal operation.
2. Power supply for on-board low-voltage power system: DC converters are also used to convert the high-voltage DC output from the power pack into the voltage required by the on-board low-voltage battery system (typical terminal voltage is 12V) for equipment such as audio, wiper, lighting, instrumentation, window movement and defroster heaters under the system [2].
3. Used in series with a supercapacitor: In a composite power system, the DC converter is connected in series with a supercapacitor to regulate the power output and stabilize the bus voltage [1]. This configuration helps to improve the stability and efficiency of the power system.
4. Voltage Conversion in Electric Vehicles: In electric vehicles (EVs), DC converters are responsible for converting the DC output from large, high-voltage lithium-ion batteries to the DC required by low-voltage electronic systems [9]. This is critical for the vehicle's running motors as well as a large number of on-board devices (e.g., ECUs, cameras, lights, etc.).
5. Battery charging: DC converters can also charge the vehicle's battery, when the battery is too low, the DC converter will get power from the high-voltage battery pack to charge the battery, playing the role of "generator" [3].
6. Electromagnetic compatibility and thermal performance: In the automotive environment, the design of the DC converter also needs to consider electromagnetic compatibility (EMI) and thermal performance to ensure that there will be no interference with other electronic equipment, and maintain good heat dissipation [7] [8].
7. Compliance with automotive standards: DC converters for automotive applications need to meet stringent automotive standards, such as AEC-Q100, as well as possible specific manufacturer requirements to ensure reliability and performance in harsh environments [8].
Through the above applications, DC converters play a vital role in automotive electronic systems, not only ensuring the stable operation of the vehicle's various electronic devices, but also improving the energy efficiency and performance of the entire vehicle [9] [1] [2].
