Electronic safety shutdown system for motor vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016177907-A1
Application number	US-201414902925-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Electronic switch in motor vehicles comprising a switch network having an input, a first output and a second output and a first switch element arranged between the first output and the second output, a second switch element arranged between the input and the first output, and a third switch element arranged between the input and the second output. Starting switch-on current limitation is enabled if the input can be electrically connected to a battery pole, the first output can be connected to a generator-battery line, and the second output can be connected to a starter-battery line.

First claim

1 . Electronic switch in motor vehicles, comprising:
a switch network having
an input, a first output and a second output and
a first switch element arranged between the first output and the second output,
a second switch element arranged between the input and the first output and
a third switch element arranged between the input and the second output, wherein the input can be electrically connected to a battery pole, the first output can be connected to a generator-battery line, and the second output can be connected to a starter-battery line.

2 . Electronic switch according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the input can be substantially short-circuited to a positive battery pole.

3 . Electronic switch according to claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that a resistance between the input and at least one of the outputs is less than 10 mOhm, preferably less than 1 mOhm, in particular less than 0.1 mOhm.

4 . Electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switch network is encapsulated in a housing.

5 . Electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switch elements in the switch network can each be actuated separately.

6 . Electronic switch according to one of claim 4 or 5 , characterised in that a multi-core control line is routed into the housing to switch the switch elements.

7 . Electronic switch according to one of claims 4 to 6 , characterised in that the housing fits a pole recess of a vehicle battery.

8 . Electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a switch element has at least one electronic switch, in particular a semiconductor switch, a transistor switch, a MOSFET switch, an IGBT switch or an electrical switch, in particular a relay, or an anti-serial switch.

9 . Electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a switch element is formed from a parallel circuit of at least two switches that can be switched separately.

10 . Electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a switch element can be switched in a pulsed manner.

11 . System having an electronic switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a battery line that is connected to a battery pole is connected to the input, the first output is connected to a generator-battery line, and the second output is connected to a starter-battery line.

12 . System according to claim 11 , characterised in that the switch network is arranged in the spatial vicinity of a battery, in particular at a distance of less than 50 cm, in particular that a line length between a battery pole and the input is less than 50 cm.

13 . System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switch network is arranged in a battery tray or bias current distributor.

14 . System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the switch network is arranged in a pole recess of the battery.

15 . System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a control circuit is connected to the switch elements and the control circuit switches the switch elements depending on vehicle states.

16 . System according to claim 15 , characterised in that the control circuit opens at least the second switch, preferably the second switch and the third switch when the vehicle is at a standstill.

17 . System according to claim 15 or 16 , characterised in that during a warm start of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the control circuit initially closes only the second switch and the third switch for a starting period of less than 2 seconds and additionally closes the first switch after the starting period has elapsed.

18 . System according to one of claims 15 to 17 , characterised in that the control circuit monitors the state of the switch elements, and if a switch element is in a fault state electrically bypasses the defective switch element by switching at least one other switch element.

19 . System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the generator-battery line is connected to a first portion of electrical consumers.

20 . System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the battery is connected to a second portion of electrical consumers parallel to the switch network.

21 . Method for actuating an electronic switch according to one of claims 1 or 10 , in which
at least the second and/or the third switch is/are opened when the vehicle is at a standstill, and/or
during a warm start of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, only the second switch and the third switch are initially closed for a starting period of preferably less than 2 seconds and the first switch is additionally closed after the starting period has elapsed.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , characterised in that if the second switch malfunctions, the input is connected to the first output by closing the first switch and the third switch, and if the third switch malfunctions, the input is connected to the second output by closing the first switch and the second switch.

Assignees

• Auto Kabel Man Gmbh

Inventors

• Betscher Simon
• Tazarine Wacim
• Kampmann Robert

Classifications

• F02N11/087 Primary

  Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches · CPC title

• F02N2250/02

  Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• F02N2011/0874

  characterised by said switch being an electronic switch · CPC title