Vehicle power supply control apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle power supply control apparatus that (i) controls storage of electricity generated by an alternator that is powered by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and (ii) controls a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply that supply the electricity stored therein to a load, the vehicle power supply control apparatus comprising:
- a first switch that is provided between the main power supply and the alternator;
a second switch that is provided between the auxiliary power supply and the alternator;
a microcomputer that controls a connection state of the first switch and a connection state of the second switch based on a state of the vehicle; and
a switching circuit that turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed based on a determination that a first voltage of the main power supply is smaller than a second voltage of the auxiliary power supply by a difference value that is equal to or greater than a threshold value, whereinthe switching circuit turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed regardless of control of the first and second switches by the microcomputer, by use of a switching signal control path that connects the switching circuit to the first and second switches without passing through the microcomputer, the switching signal control path being different from a control signal control path by which the microcomputer is connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle power supply control apparatus controls (i) storage of electricity generated by an alternator powered by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and (ii) main and auxiliary power supplies that supply stored electricity to a load. The apparatus includes a first switch, a second switch, a controller and a switching circuit. The first switch is provided between the main power supply and the alternator. The second switch is provided between the auxiliary power supply and the alternator. The controller controls a connection state of the first switch and a connection state of the second switch based on a state of the vehicle. The switching circuit turns on the first switch and/or the second switch in a case where a first voltage of the main power supply is smaller than a second voltage of the auxiliary power supply by a threshold value or greater.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A vehicle power supply control apparatus that (i) controls storage of electricity generated by an alternator that is powered by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and (ii) controls a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply that supply the electricity stored therein to a load, the vehicle power supply control apparatus comprising:
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a first switch that is provided between the main power supply and the alternator; a second switch that is provided between the auxiliary power supply and the alternator; a microcomputer that controls a connection state of the first switch and a connection state of the second switch based on a state of the vehicle; and a switching circuit that turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed based on a determination that a first voltage of the main power supply is smaller than a second voltage of the auxiliary power supply by a difference value that is equal to or greater than a threshold value, wherein the switching circuit turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed regardless of control of the first and second switches by the microcomputer, by use of a switching signal control path that connects the switching circuit to the first and second switches without passing through the microcomputer, the switching signal control path being different from a control signal control path by which the microcomputer is connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
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6. A vehicle power supply system comprising:
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an alternator that generates electricity and is powered by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle; a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply that;
(i) store the electricity generated by the alternator and (ii) supply the stored electricity to a load;a first switch that is provided between the main power supply and the alternator; a second switch that is provided between the auxiliary power supply and the alternator a microcomputer that controls a connection state of the first switch and a connection state of the second switch based on a state of the vehicle; and a switching circuit that turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed based on a determination that a first voltage of the main power supply is smaller than a second voltage of the auxiliary power supply by a difference value that is equal to or greater than a threshold value, wherein the switching circuit turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed regardless of control of the first and second switches by the microcomputer, by use of a switching signal control path that connects the switching circuit to the first and second switches without passing through the microcomputer, the switching signal control path being different from a control signal control path by which the microcomputer is connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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7. A power supply control method of (i) controlling storage of electricity generated by an alternator that is powered by an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and (ii) controlling a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply that supply the electricity stored therein to a load, the power supply control method comprising:
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a microcomputer controlling a connection state of a first switch and a connection state of a second switch based on a state of the vehicle, the first switch being provided between the main power supply and the alternator, the second switch being provided between the auxiliary power supply and the alternator; and a switching circuit turning on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed based on a determination that a first voltage of the main power supply is smaller than a second voltage of the auxiliary power supply by a difference value that is equal to or greater than a threshold value, wherein the switching circuit turns on the first switch and/or the second switch so that both the first and second switches are closed regardless of control of the first and second switches by the microcomputer, by use of a switching signal control path that connects the switching circuit to the first and second switches without passing through the microcomputer, the switching signal control path being different from a control signal control path by which the microcomputer is connected to the first and second switches to control the first and second switches. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification