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Apparatus for bi-directional power switching in low voltage vehicle power distribution systems

  • US 20120319483A1
  • Filed: 06/20/2011
  • Published: 12/20/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In a low voltage high current DC power distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

  • connecting an output of a primary battery to a drain electrode of a first power MOSFET switch;

    connecting a source electrode of said first power MOSFET switch to a source electrode of a second power MOSFET switch;

    connecting a drain electrode of said second power MOSFET switch to an output of a secondary battery;

    comparing the voltage level of said primary battery to that of said secondary battery; and

    operating a controller in a first mode to sense when the voltage level of the primary battery is greater than that of the secondary battery, for applying a control signal to a gate electrode of said first power MOSFET switch for turning it on to connect said primary battery through the relatively high resistance of a body diode of said second power MOSFET switch to said secondary battery, and after a predetermined period of time applying a control signal to a gate electrode of said second power MOSFET switch to turn it on to shunt its body diode with its relatively low resistance channel, for substantially reducing the resistance in the current path between said primary and secondary batteries.

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