Apparatus to provide reverse polarity protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10320187-B2
Application number	US-201515318701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus configured to protect one or more system components from damage due to reverse polarity connection of a power supply comprising a relay located between said power supply and said components, and configured to detect when a power supply is provided with reverse polarity and to consequently switch the relay to an open state to isolate said power supply from said components.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to protect one or more system components from damage due to reversed polarity connection of a power supply, said apparatus comprising:
a relay located between said power supply and said one or more system components, and configured to detect the reversed polarity connection to the power supply and configured to consequently open the relay to isolate said power supply from said one or more system components, wherein said relay includes a SET coil and a RESET coil each connected to the power supply; and
a first switch connecting the power supply to the SET and RESET coils, said first switch being connected to a detection device for detecting the reversed polarity connection, said first switch configured to be switched on to drive current through the SET and RESET coils to open the relay on detection of the reversed polarity connection; and
wherein the SET and RESET coils are arranged in parallel and connected to said first switch such that the current is driven through the SET and RESET coils in opposite directions so that said SET and RESET coils both act in synergy to open the relay when said reversed polarity connection is detected.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detection device is configured to detect a correct polarity connection with the power supply and consequently close the relay.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a second switch configured to be switched on when the correct polarity connection is detected, thereby sending the current through the SET and RESET coils to close the relay.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said SET and RESET coils are connected to the second switch such that, the current is driven through the SET and RESET coils in opposite directions when correct polarity is detected so that said SET and RESET coils both act in synergy to close the relay.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said relay includes the SET and RESET coils connected to the power supply via the first switch, said first switch being connected to the detection device, configured to be switched on to drive the current through the SET and RESET coils to open the relay on detection of the reversed polarity connection.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said detection device includes a capacitor connected to said power supply between the relay and the one or more system components and configured to be charged as a consequence of reverse polarity to provide a voltage level, which when achieved, is configured to activate said first switch.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said first switch is a power FET and said apparatus further comprises a first intermediate switch intermediate said first switch and said capacitor, said first intermediate switch configured to turn said first switch ON when said voltage level is achieved.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a second intermediate switch located between the power supply and a second switch and having connection to the both sides of the power supply with respect to contacts of the relay, and configured to switch on said second switch on detection of correct polarity.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said first and second intermediate switches comprise transistors and said second switch comprises a power transistor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a diode arranged in parallel with the SET and RESET coils configured to absorb coil energy when said first switch is OFF.

Assignees

• Aptiv Tech Ltd

Inventors

• Voigt Wolfgang
• Parras Karl-Heinz

Classifications

• H02J7/68 Primary

  using circuits for correcting or protecting against reverse-polarity · CPC title

• H02J7/0034

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02J9/002

  in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine · CPC title

• H02H11/003 Primary

  using a field effect transistor as protecting element in one of the supply lines · CPC title

• H02H11/002 Primary

  in case of inverted polarity or connection; with switching for obtaining correct connection · CPC title