Stabilisation of a vehicle network by generating short-term available power

• US 20040036356A1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Suelzle, Helmut, Bischof, Hubert, Knapp, Marc, Nasswetter, Guenter
• Granted Patent: US 7,034,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The present invention a method for stabilizing the voltage in an energy-supply system, particularly in a motor-vehicle electrical system, that is fed by a battery (1) and a generator (2). If the battery is weak or has completely failed, switching in a new consumer (3, 4, 5) may lead to a voltage dip in the system. To prevent this, it is proposed as a precaution to switch in a consumer (3) not needed at the moment. If, at this point, a new consumer (4) is to be switched in, the consumer (3) switched in as a precaution is automatically disconnected, and the excess energy therefrom is switched over to the new consumer (4).

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing the supply voltage in an energy-supply system, particularly a motor-vehicle electrical system, which is fed by a battery (1), to which a plurality of consumers (3, 4, 5) are connected, and a generator (2), characterized by the following steps:

switching on an electrical consumer (3) as a precaution, in order to increase the power supplied by generator (2), and

switching off the consumer (3), switched in as a precaution, when a supply voltage falls below a predefined value or would fall below a predefined value by switching on a new consumer (4, 5).

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further characterized by the following steps:

checking the working capacity of the battery (1) with the aid of a battery-condition detection (6), and

switching on the unneeded consumer (3) as a precaution when a weak or failed battery is determined.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the consumer (3), switched in as a precaution, is switched off by automatic disconnection.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the consumer (3), switched in as a precaution, is switched off by a control unit (6).

5. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2,

further characterized by the following steps:

switching on a further unneeded consumer (5) as a precaution when the first consumer (3), switched on as a precaution, is switched on by a user.

6. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the consumer (3), switched in as a precaution, has a switching device (S) that automatically disconnects the consumer (3) in response to a drop below a voltage limit.

7. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims,

wherein the consumer (3), switched in as a precaution, is a heater, particularly a rear-window heater or seat heater.

8. The method as recited in the preceding claims,

wherein in addition to the consumer (3) switched in as a precaution, further consumers (5) are disconnected.

9. The method as recited in claim 4,

wherein the control unit (6) disconnects the consumer (3) switched in as a precaution, and subsequently switches in a further consumer (4, 5).