ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM AND ENERGY SUPPLY METHOD FOR VEHICLE SUBSYSTEMS

• US 20090134846A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Company KG (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reicht, Helmut, Harkam, Robert, Hipp, Friedrich, Reisinger, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/28
• 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

An energy supply system for electrical actuator of a motor vehicle having a engine and battery includes a generator adapted to be driven by the vehicle engine to provide electrical energy to the electric actuator and vehicle battery. A control unit sets an input power provided to the generator by the vehicle engine and is configured to set the output voltage of the generator based on a power request associated with the electric actuator. A method for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle subsystem may be performed using an energy supply system as disclosed.

Claims

1. An energy supply system for an electric actuator of a motor vehicle having an engine and a battery, the energy supply system comprising:

a generator adapted to be driven by the vehicle engine to provide electrical energy to the electric actuator and the vehicle battery; and

a control unit for setting an input power provided to the generator by the vehicle engine, the control unit being configured to set the output voltage of the generator based on a power request associated with the electric actuator.

2. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 1, further including a voltage measuring device operable to output a signal indicative of a voltage available at the electric actuator.

3. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the control unit is in receipt of a power request signal based on a comparison of a then current voltage at the voltage measuring device and a threshold value.

4. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the electric actuator is operable to control a friction clutch of a transmission.

5. An energy supply system for an electrically operated vehicle subsystem of a motor vehicle having an engine and a battery, the energy supply system comprising:

a generator adapted to be driven by the vehicle engine to provide electrical energy to the vehicle subsystem and for charging the vehicle battery;

a control unit for setting an input power provided to the generator by the vehicle engine; and

at least one interface for connecting the vehicle subsystem to the control unit and for the transfer of power request signals of the vehicle subsystem to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is configured to set the output voltage of the generator based on a power request of the vehicle subsystem.

6. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, further including a voltage measuring device on the vehicle subsystem.

7. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the vehicle subsystem is operable to transmit a power request signal based on a comparison of a then current voltage at the voltage measuring device and a threshold value.

8. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to set the input power provided to the generator to set the output voltage of the generator.

9. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to set the input power provided to the generator to set the output voltage of the generator.

10. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the vehicle subsystem includes a transmission configured to send a power request signal to the control unit via the interface when a transmission switching procedure is requested and a then current onboard voltage of the vehicle is insufficient to provide a sufficient voltage to the transmission to carry out the switching procedure.

11. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the transmission comprises a transfer case of an all-wheel drive vehicle.

12. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the transfer case includes an actuator for selectively applying a friction clutch, the actuator being activated during the switching procedure.

13. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, further including a comparator device on the vehicle subsystem configured to compare a value of a then current onboard voltage of the vehicle received via a data interface with at least one threshold value, wherein the vehicle subsystem is operable to transmit a power request signal to the control unit based on the comparison.

14. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the interface comprises a CAN bus interface.

15. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether a power request signal is to be expected from the vehicle subsystem based on a vehicle state, the output voltage of the generator being set to meet the expected power request based on the determination.

16. An energy supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to set the input power provided to the generator based on a then currently required power for driving the vehicle, in the absence of a request from the vehicle subsystem.

17. A method for supplying electrical energy to a vehicle subsystem, comprising:

sending a power request signal from a vehicle subsystem to a control unit of a generator when a then currently prevailing onboard voltage of the vehicle is not sufficient for a desired action of the vehicle subsystem; and

setting an output voltage of the generator to meet the power request.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further including setting an input power provided to the generator by the vehicle engine to set the output voltage of the generator.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the vehicle subsystem includes a transmission, the method further including sending a power request signal from the transmission to the control unit when a transmission switching procedure is requested and a then current output voltage of the generator is insufficient to carry out the switching procedure.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the vehicle subsystem includes a transfer case, the method further including determining whether a then currently applied voltage to an actuator of the transfer case of an all-wheel drive vehicle is below a threshold and providing a power request signal based on the determination.

21. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the control unit determines a vehicle state and whether a power request signal is to be expected based on the vehicle state and sets the output voltage of the generator to meet the expected power request of the vehicle subsystem.

22. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the control unit sets the input power provided to the generator based on a then currently required engine power for driving the vehicle.