Method and device for supplying energy to an electric consumer of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12046944-B2
Application number	US-202017594033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2020
Priority date	May 15, 2019
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A device includes a first supply unit, which is connectable via a first switch element to a first consumer, a second supply unit, which is connectable via a second switch element and via one or more electric delimitation elements to the first consumer, and a third switch element, which is configured to bridge the one or more electric delimitation elements. A control unit is configured to cause the first switch element to close, and the second and third switch elements to open, in normal operation. The control unit is further configured to detect that a first supply voltage at the first supply unit has reached or fallen below a voltage threshold value, and in response causes first the second switch element to close, then the first switch element to open, and then the third switch element to close, such that the first consumer is coupled to the second supply unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric power supply network comprising:
an overall load comprising a first load and a second load; and
an energy supply device for supplying energy to the overall load, the energy supply device comprising:
a first switch element;
a first supply unit, which is connectable to the first load via the first switch element;
a second switch element;
one or more electric delimitation elements;
a second supply unit, which is connectable to the first load via the second switch element and via the one or more electric delimitation elements; and
a third switch element which is configured to bridge the one or more electric delimitation elements; and
a control unit which is configured:
such that, in normal operation, the first switch element is caused to close, and the second and third switch elements are caused to open;
to detect that a first supply voltage on the first supply unit has reached or fallen below a voltage threshold value; and
in response to the detection, firstly to cause the second switch element to close, thereafter to cause the first switch element to open, and thereafter to cause the third switch element to close, such that the first load is connected to the second supply unit, wherein:

the voltage threshold value is set such that a logic circuit of the first load functions correctly when the first supply voltage exceeds the voltage threshold value,
the voltage threshold value is less than a rated value of the first supply voltage,
the second load is connected to the second supply unit,
the overall load has an asymmetrical redundancy,
the first load is configured for delivery of a first function,
the second load is configured for delivery a second function that is different from the first function, and
at least one of a functional performance capability or a power take-up of the first load is greater than at least one of a functional performance capability or a power take-up of the second load.

2. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured:
to check whether a second supply voltage on the second supply unit exceeds a second voltage threshold value; and
to cause the first load to be connected to the second supply unit, if it has been determined that the second supply voltage exceeds the second voltage threshold value.

3. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first supply unit is an element of a first subnetwork, and the second supply unit is an element of a second subnetwork in an overall power supply network;
the first subnetwork and the second subnetwork are connectable by way of a coupling circuit element; and
the control unit is further configured:
to check whether the coupling circuit element is open; and
to cause the first load to be connected to the second supply unit, if it has been determined that the coupling circuit element is open.

4. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more electric delimitation elements comprise an electrical resistor, which is configured to limit electric current from the second supply unit to the first supply unit.

5. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more electric delimitation elements comprise an electric filter circuit, which is configured to at least partially damp any transmission of conducted interference from the first supply unit to the second supply unit, and/or from the second supply unit to the first supply unit.

6. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second switch element comprises a first node point, which is connected to the second supply unit, and a second node point, which is connected to the one or more electric delimitation elements;
the first load is connected to a supply point;
the third switch element is configured to connect the second node point of the second switch element to the supply point; or
the third switch element is configured to connect the first node point of the second switch element to the supply point.

7. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the overall load comprises a redundant third load which is connected to the first supply unit.

8. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first switch element, the second switch element, or the third switch element comprises at least one semiconductor-based switch.

9. The energy supply device according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one semiconductor-based switch comprises at least one of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor or a relay.

10. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the first load is configured, prior to an achievement of the voltage threshold value, to execute a power downrating.

11. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the control unit is an element of the first load; or
the control unit is an element of a control device of the first load.

12. The energy supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one measuring unit, which is designed to detect sensor data with respect to the first supply voltage,
wherein the control unit is further configured based on the sensor data, to detect that the first supply voltage on the first supply unit has reached or fallen below the voltage threshold value.

13. A method for supplying energy to an overall load, which comprises a first load and a second load, the method comprising:
in normal operation, causing a first switch element to close such that the first load is connected, via the closed first switch element, to a first supply unit;
detecting that a first supply voltage on the first supply unit has reached or fallen below a voltage threshold value;
in response to the detecting, causing a second switch element to close such that the first load, via one or more electric delimitation elements, and via the closed second switch element, is connected to a second supply unit;
subsequently causing the first switch element to open in order to disconnect the first load from the first supply unit; and
subsequently causing a third switch element to close in order to bridge the one or more electric delimitation elements, wherein:
the voltage threshold value is set such that a logic circuit of the first load functions correctly when the first supply voltage exceeds the voltage threshold value,
the voltage threshold value is less than a rated value of the first supply voltage,
the overall load further comprises a second load that is connected to the second supply unit,
the overall load has an asymmetrical redundancy,
the first load is configured for delivery of a first function,
the second load is configured for delivery of a second function that is different from the first function, and
at least one of a functional performance capability or a power take-up of the first load is greater than at least one of a functional performance capability or a power take-up of the second load.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Schaefer Martin

Classifications

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/96

  in response to battery voltage · CPC title

• H02J2105/33

  exchanging power with road vehicles · CPC title

• B60R16/033

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• H02J9/06 Primary

  with automatic change-over {, e.g. UPS systems} · CPC title