Switch module for a power supply network and power supply network comprising at least one switch module

• US 20110095601A1
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Johansson, Eilert
• Application Number:
  US12/988,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/002 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles

Abstract

A switch module includes at least one switch exhibiting at least two states of operation, provided for connecting at least two conductor segments of an electrical power supply network, the electrical power supply network including one or more power sources and one or more electrical loads. One control unit is provided per switch and is operatively coupled to the switch for controlling the states of operation of the switch. Each control unit includes a selection unit for selecting a state of operation of the switch coupled to the respective control unit. A method for operating such switch modules and an electric power supply network are also provided.

Claims

1. A switch module comprising at least one switch exhibiting at least two states of operation,provided for connecting at least two conductor segments of an electrical power supply network, the electrical power supply network comprising one or more power sources and one or more electrical loads, wherein one control unit is provided per switch and is operatively coupled to the switch for controlling the states of operation of the switch, wherein each control unit comprises a selection unit for selecting a state of operation of the switch coupled to the respective control unit.

2. The switch module according to claim 1 wherein the state of operation of the switch is selectable depending on one or more operating parameters of the electrical power supply network.

3. The switch module according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a state machine.

4. The switch module according to claim 1, characterized by comprising at least one communication unit for communicating at least with one or more switch modules and/or a power management system.

5. The switch module according to claim 1, characterized by comprising at least one programmable unit for setting operating parameters of each switch.

6. The switch module according to claim 1, wherein at least one current sensor and/or at least one voltage sensor (16, 18) is/are coupled to each switch.

7. A method for operating a switch module according to claim 1, which switch module comprising at least one switch exhibiting two or more different states of operation and connecting at least two conductor segments of an electrical power supply network, the electrical power supply network being powered by one or more power sources and supplying one or more electrical loads wherein one control unit is provided per switch and is operatively coupled to the switch, wherein the control unit controls the states of operation of the switch, wherein the state of operation of the at least one switch is selected depending on operating parameters of the switch and/or operating parameters of the electrical power supply network.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one switch is operated depending on an electrical current through the switch and/or an electrical voltage on both sides of the switch.

9. An electrical power supply network comprising one or more power sources and one or more electrical loads, and comprising at least one switch module according to claim 1, provided for electrically connecting and disconnecting at least two conductor segments.

10. The electrical power supply network according to claim 9, wherein at least one part of the network is configured in form of one of a star configuration of power distribution or a double star configuration of power distribution or a ring configuration of power distribution.

11. The electrical power supply network according to claim 10, characterized by a combination of different configurations of power distribution.

12. The electrical power supply network according to claim 9, characterized by that a first and a second switch module is provided for each load.

13. The electrical power supply network according to claim 9, wherein the switch module is coupled to the circuit separate from a load or that the switch module is integrated into an electric load.

14. A vehicle comprising an electrical power supply network according to claim 9.

15. A working machine comprising an electrical power supply network according to claim 9.

16. A power supply facility comprising an electrical power supply network according to claim 9.