Methods and Circuits for Controlling a Battery Disconnect Switch

• US 20120286568A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Duan, Huihui, Jean-Baptiste, Gregory A., Wang, Zhengming
• Application Number:
  US13/559,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

Redundant power supplies and redundant channels of communication maximize the probability that a controller will trigger a battery disconnect switch to open when commanded to do so.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A motor vehicle comprising:

an electrical system connected through a battery disconnect switch to a bank of one or more DC storage batteries;

a battery disconnect switch controller for opening the battery disconnect switch in response to a command to disconnect the battery bank from the electrical system;

redundant power supplies for the switch and the controller.

12. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the redundant power supplies comprise the battery bank and a power supply and regulator for supplying regulated voltages of different levels, one voltage level being supplied to a microcontroller that processes a command to open the disconnect switch and another voltage level being supplied to the disconnect switch.

13. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 11 wherein the power supply and regulator comprises a DC-to-DC converter that outputs the voltage level supplied to the disconnect switch and including a further regulator that has an input receiving the voltage level output of the DC-to-DC converter and an output that provides the voltage level supplied to the microcontroller.

14. A motor vehicle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the DC-to-DC converter comprises an input that is coupled via a diode with the battery bank and also coupled via another diode with a back-up source of DC voltage that is kept sufficiently charged by a connection to the battery bank to provide enough electrical power to the controller to enable the controller to operate the disconnect switch if battery bank power is lost to the controller.