Electronic safety shutdown system for motor vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9581123-B2
Application number	US-201414902925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Jul 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

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

The invention claimed is:

1. Vehicle electrical system with an electronic switch 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 is electrically connected to a battery pole through a battery line,
the first output is connected to a generator-battery line, and the second output is connected to a starter-battery line; and
a control circuit connected to the switch elements to switch the switch elements depending on vehicle states, wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor 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.

2. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein
the input is substantially short-circuited to a positive battery pole.

3. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein a resistance between the input and at least one of the outputs is less than 10 mOhm.

4. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch elements in the switch network can each be actuated separately.

5. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch network is encapsulated in a housing.

6. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 5 , wherein a multi-core control line is routed into the housing to the switch elements.

7. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 5 , wherein the housing fits a pole recess of a vehicle battery.

8. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the switch elements includes an 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. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the switch elements is formed from a parallel circuit of at least two switches that can be switched separately.

10. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein a switch element can be switched in a pulsed manner.

11. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein 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.

12. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch network is arranged in a battery tray or bias current distributor.

13. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch network is arranged in a pole recess of the battery.

14. Vehicle electrical system with an electronic switch 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 is electrically connected to a battery pole through a battery line,
the first output is connected to a generator-battery line, and
the second output is connected to a starter-battery line, and

a control circuit connected to the switch elements to switch the switch elements depending on vehicle states, the control circuit being configured so that during a warm start of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the control circuit initially closes only the second switch element and the third switch element for a starting period of less than 2 seconds and additionally closes the first switch element after the starting period has elapsed.

15. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 14 , wherein the control circuit opens at least the second switch element when the vehicle is at a standstill.

16. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein during a warm start of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the control circuit initially closes only the second switch element and the third switch element for a starting period of less than 2 seconds and additionally closes the first switch element after the starting period has elapsed.

17. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is configured to monitor the state of the switch elements, and if a switch element is in a fault state electrically to bypass the defective switch element by switching at least one other switch element.

18. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein the generator-battery line is connected to a first portion of electrical consumers.

19. Vehicle electrical system according to claim 1 , wherein a battery is connected to a second portion of electrical consumers parallel to the switch network.

20. Method for actuating a vehicle electrical system wherein the vehicle electrical system includes
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 is electrically connected to a battery pole through a battery line,
the first output is connected to a generator-battery line, and
the second output is connected to a starter-battery line,

wherein the actuating method comprises:
during a warm start of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, initially closing only the second switch element and the third switch element for a starting period of preferably less than 2 seconds and
closing the first switch element after the starting period has elapsed.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein if the second switch element malfunctions, the input is connected to the first output by closing the first switch element and the third switch element, and if the third switch element malfunctions, the input is connected to the second output by closing the first switch element and the second switch element.

22. The method according to claim 20 further comprising opening at least the second or the third switch element when the vehicle is at a standstill.

Assignees

• Auto Kabel Man Gmbh

Inventors

• Betscher Simon
• Tazarine Wacim
• Kampmann Robert

Classifications

• 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

• 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