Intelligent fuse box for the power distribution system of a vehicle

• US 20040052024A1
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IWS International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IWS International Incorporated
• Inventors: Juntunen, Asko, Lamberg, Lauri
• Granted Patent: US 7,161,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/087 for dc applications
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/025 Current limitation using field effect transistors

Abstract

The present invention relates to intelligent fuse box (1) for a vehicle'"'"'s multiplex power distribution system, the fuse box including outputs (3) for driving the vehicle'"'"'s functional components/actuators and/or cable buses (11-13) equipped with intelligent_nodes (14), the latter in turn having outputs for driving functional components/actuators (15), and further including means serving fuse functions between the outputs (3; 11-13) and the vehicle'"'"'s power supply bus (12). The fuse-function means are controlled solid-state switches (4). The fuse box (1) includes inputs (5) for receiving messages controlling the ON/OFF state of solid-state switches (4) and a microprocessor (6), the latter controlling the solid-state switches (4) based on a program stored in the microprocessor memory (7) and on current limits predetermined in configuration data (8). In addition to the actual fuse functions, the controlled operation of the solid-state switches offer a plurality of auxiliary functions such as rush current limiting, programmable reconfiguration of current limits, dynamic fuse functions (e.g., to implement a low-current Asleep mode in a parked vehicle) and measurement of system overall load current.

Claims

1. An intelligent fuse box (1) for a vehicle'"'"'s multiplex power distribution system, the fuse box including outputs (3) for the vehicle'"'"'s functional components/actuators and/or cable buses (11-13) equipped with intelligent nodes (14), the latter in turn having outputs for driving functional components/actuators (15), and further including means serving fuse functions between the outputs (3;

11-13) and the vehicle'"'"'s power supply bus (2), characterized in that said fuse-function means are controlled solid-state switches (4) and that said fuse box (1) further includes inputs (5) for receiving messages controlling the ON/OFF state of solid-state switches (4), configuration data (8) including the limits of a normal current window for the outputs (3, 11-13), and a microprocessor (6), the latter controlling the solid-state switches (4) based on a program stored in the microprocessor memory (7) and on the current limits predetermined in the configuration data (8), the configuration data (8) contributing under external control for altering the current limits.

2. The fuse box of claim 1, characterized in that the current-limiting function of the same is made controllable based on comparing the voltage measured over said solid-state switch (4) and/or the load with a respective voltage value of the configuration data which are stored in the memory (8) and corresponds to the desired current limit.

3. The fuse box of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the turn-on control of said solid-state switches (4) is complemented with a current-limiting function known as “

soft connection”

that is capable of inhibiting a transient overcurrent peak or, alternatively, allowing a short-duration overcurrent peak at a current-limited level without tripping the drive to the load at the instant the solid-state switch (4) is controlled from the OFF state to the ON state.

4. The fus box of any one of claims 1-3, charact rized in that the configuration data (8) are reprogrammable via a service interface (10) for altering the predetermined current limits.

5. The fuse box of any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the current limits include the limits of a normal current window with an lower limit and an upper limit, whereby violation of the lower limit triggers a fault message while violation of the upper limit causes the load current drive to be temporarily cut off for a time interval predetermined in the configuration data, and that in the configuration data is also stored a trip current limit which is substantially higher than the upper limit of the normal current window and at which the load current drive is permanently cut off.

6. The fuse box of any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that said solid-state switches (4) are controlled to drive given functional components/actuators and/or cable buses at a reduced current when the vehicle is parked stationary.

7. The fuse box of any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the overall load current measurement of the vehicle'"'"'s multiplex power distribution system is arranged to take place based on voltage drops over the solid-state switches that are sensed to control the switches in their fuse function.