Power supplies for electrical devices operating in vehicles

• US 20040183374A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Krishnaswamy Ponmalai
• Original Assignee: Krishnaswamy Ponmalai
• Inventors: Ponmalai, Krishnaswamy
• Application Number:
  US10/394,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• 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: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters

Abstract

A power supply provides power to an electrical device such as a motherboard operating in a vehicle. The motherboard may include a soft power switch input and a power source input and follow a power-up mode and a power-down mode. The power supply may include a power input for connecting to a battery of the vehicle and a switch input for connecting to an ignition of the vehicle. The power supply may also include a power output for connecting to the power source input of the motherboard and a switch output for connecting to the soft power switch input of the motherboard. A converter is connected between the power input and the power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the motherboard. A controller is connected to the switch input and the switch output. The controller is programmed to cause the motherboard to initiate the power-up mode when the ignition of the vehicle is turned on and to initiate the power-down mode when the ignition of the vehicle is turned off.

Claims

1. A power supply for a motherboard operating in a vehicle including a motor, a battery, and an ignition, the motherboard including a soft power switch input and a power source input and having a power-up mode and a power-down mode, the power supply comprising:

a power input for connecting to the battery of the vehicle;

a switch input for connecting to the ignition of the vehicle;

a power output for connecting to the power source input of the motherboard;

a switch output for connecting to the soft power switch input of the motherboard;

a converter connected between the power input and the power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the motherboard; and

a controller connected to the switch input and the switch output for causing;

the motherboard to initiate the power-up mode when the ignition of the vehicle is turned on; and

the motherboard to initiate the power-down mode when the ignition of the vehicle is turned off.

2. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of power outputs and a plurality of converters;

each of the converters being connected between the power input and a respective one of the power outputs; and

each of the converters for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power and for providing the DC output power to the respective one of the power outputs.

3. The power supply of claim 2 wherein at least one of the converters provides DC output power at a value that is different from the DC output power provided by the other converters.

4. The power supply of claim 2 wherein:

one of the converters provides DC output power at about +3.3 volts;

one of the converters provides DC output power at about +5 volts;

one of the converters provides DC output power at about +12 volts;

one of the converters provides DC output power at about −

12 volts; and

one of the converters provides DC output power at about +5 volts stand-by.

5. The power supply of claim 2 wherein at least one of the power outputs is for connecting to a disk drive.

6. The power supply of claim 5 further comprising a temperature probe connected to the controller and for operatively connecting to the disk drive.

7. The power supply of claim 6 wherein the disk drive has a heater, the power supply further comprising:

a heater control output connected to the controller and for connecting to the heater of the disk drive;

the controller for monitoring the temperature of the disk drive.

8. The power supply of claim 7 wherein the controller activates the heater when the temperature of the disk drive falls below a threshold.

9. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising a signal output connected to the controller for indicating a status of the power supply.

10. The power supply of claim 8 wherein the signal output is a visual indicator.

11. The power supply of claim 1 further comprising a stand-by power switch connected between the converter and the power output.

12. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the controller enables the converter to provide DC output power.

13. A power supply for an electrical device operating in a vehicle including an electrical system with a battery, the electrical device including a power switch input and a power source input and following a power-up mode when turned on and a power-down mode when turned off, the power supply comprising:

a power input for connecting to the battery of the vehicle;

a switch input for connecting to the electrical system of the vehicle;

a power output for connecting to the power source input of the electrical device;

a switch output for connecting to the power switch input of the electrical device;

a converter connected between the power input and the power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the electrical device; and

a controller connected between the switch input and the switch output for causing;

the electrical device to follow the power-up mode when the electrical system of the vehicle is activated; and

the electrical device to follow the power-down mode when the electrical system of the vehicle is deactivated.

14. The power supply of claim 13 wherein the electrical device is a computer, the controller for causing:

the computer to initiate the power-up mode when the electrical system of the vehicle is activated; and

the computer to initiate the power-down mode when the electrical system of the vehicle is deactivated.

15. The power supply of claim 13 wherein the vehicle is fuel-powered motorized vehicle wherein the electrical system includes an ignition system, the controller for causing:

the electrical device to follow the power-up mode when the ignition system of the vehicle is activated; and

the electrical device to follow the power-down mode when the ignition system of the vehicle is deactivated.

16. The power supply of claim 15 wherein the ignition system of the vehicle includes a switch, the controller for causing:

the electrical device to follow the power-up mode when the ignition switch is turned on; and

the electrical device to follow the power-down mode when the ignition switch is turned off.

17. A computer for operating in a vehicle having a battery and an ignition switch, the computer comprising:

a motherboard including a soft power switch input and a power source input and following a power-up mode when turned on and a power-down mode when turned off; and

a power supply including;

a power input for connecting to the battery of the vehicle;

a switch input for connecting to the ignition switch of the vehicle;

a power output connected to the power source input of the motherboard;

a switch output connected to the power switch input of the motherboard;

a converter connected between the power input and the power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the motherboard; and

a controller connected between the switch input and the switch output for causing;

the motherboard to follow the power-up mode when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on; and

the motherboard to follow the power-down mode when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off.

18. The computer of claim 17 wherein the motherboard is an ATX-compatible motherboard.

19. The computer of claim 17 further comprising a disk drive connected to the motherboard.

20. The computer of claim 19 wherein the disk drive has a power input, the power supply further including:

a drive power output connected to the power input of the disk drive; and

a drive converter connected between the power input and the drive power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the motherboard.

21. The computer of claim 19 wherein the power supply further includes a temperature probe connected between the controller and the disk drive.

22. The computer of claim 21 wherein the disk drive has a heater, the power supply further comprising:

a heater control output connected between the controller and the heater of the disk drive;

the controller for monitoring the temperature of the disk drive.

23. The computer of claim 22 wherein the controller activates the heater when the temperature of the disk drive exceeds a threshold.

24. The computer of claim 17 wherein:

the motherboard further includes a power supply-on output and a power-good input; and

the power supply further includes a power supply-on input connected to power supply-on output of the motherboard and a power good output connected to the power-good input of the motherboard.

25. In combination, a vehicle and a computer, the combination comprising:

a vehicle including a motor, a battery, and an ignition switch; and

a computer having an operating system that follows a power-up mode when turned on and a power-down mode when turned off, the computer including;

a switch input connected to the ignition switch of the vehicle;

a converter connected to the battery of the vehicle for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the computer; and

a controller connected to the switch input for initiating;

the power-up mode of the computer when the ignition switch of the vehicle turned on; and

the power-down mode of the computer when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

converting DC power from the battery to DC power for the computer.

26. A method for controlling a computer installed in a vehicle, the computer following a power-up mode when turned on and a power-down mode when turned off, the vehicle having a battery and an ignition system, the method comprising:

automatically initiating the power-up mode when the ignition system is activated; and

automatically initiating the power-down mode when the ignition system is deactivated.

28. A method for installing a motherboard in a vehicle having a battery and an ignition system, the motherboard including a soft power switch input and a power source input and following a power-up mode when turned on and a power-down mode when turned off, the method comprising:

providing a power supply including a power input, a switch input, a power output, a switch output connected, a converter connected between the power input and the power output for converting DC input power from the battery to DC output power for the motherboard, and a controller connected between the switch input and the switch output for causing;

the motherboard to follow the power-up mode when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on; and

the motherboard to follow the power-down mode when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned off;

connecting the power input of the power supply to the battery of the vehicle;

connecting the switch input of the power supply to the ignition switch of the vehicle;

connecting the power output of the power supply to the power source input of the motherboard; and

connecting the switch output of the power supply to the power switch input of the motherboard.