HOUSEKEEPING CIRCUIT HAVING TRICKLE CHARGE CAPABILITIES

• US 20130119755A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Klesyk, Krzysztof
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A housekeeping circuit configured to facilitate powering multiple loads is contemplated. The housekeeping circuit may include a transformer to regulate voltage output for using in powering the loads. A trickle circuit may be included to facilitate setting a minimum loading on the transformer. The minimum loading may be beneficial in insuring proper regulation of the transformer.

Claims

1. A housekeeping circuit for use within a vehicle comprising:

a multi-tapped transformer configured to step-down a high voltage input to at least a first low voltage output and a second low voltage output, the first low voltage output being used to power a first load within the vehicle and the second low voltage output being used to power a second load within the vehicle;

a first circuit configured for converting a low voltage output of a battery of the vehicle to the high voltage input of the multi-tapped transformer; and

a trickle circuit configured to direct a trickle current from the first low voltage output to the battery.

2. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 wherein the trickle current is provided by a constant current circuit connected to the first low voltage output.

3. The housekeeping circuit of claim 2 wherein the constant current circuit provides the trickle current at a fixed amount, thereby setting a minimum load on the first voltage output.

4. The housekeeping circuit of claim 3 wherein the trickle circuit is configured to provide a first current from the battery to the first load when the multi-tapped transformer is off.

5. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 wherein the trickle circuit is configured as a constant load on the first low voltage output, the low constant load being in addition to the first load.

6. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 wherein the multi-tapped transformer is cross-regulated.

7. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 wherein the multi-tapped transformer regulates both of the first low voltage output and the second low voltage output based on feedback from no more than one of the first load and the second load.

8. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 further comprising a rectifier configured to convert an AC high voltage input to the high-voltage input of the multi-tapped transformer.

9. The housekeeping circuit of claim 6 wherein the multi-tapped transformer is configured to step-down the high-voltage input from the first circuit when the high-voltage input from the rectifier is less than a setpoint and to step-down the high-voltage input from the rectifier when the high-voltage input from the rectifier is greater than the setpoint.

10. The housekeeping circuit of claim 1 wherein the multi-tapped transformer is configured to step-down the high-voltage input to at least a third low voltage output for powering a third load within the vehicle.

11. The housekeeping circuit of claim 10 wherein the first load is a controller configured for use in low voltage control operations, the second load is a controller configured for use in primary control operations, and the third load is a controller configured for use in high voltage control operations.

12. A housekeeping circuit for use within a vehicle to provide a regulated voltage to a plurality of voltage sensitive controllers, the housekeeping circuit comprising:

a transformer configured to regulate a single voltage input into a plurality of voltage outputs, each one of the plurality of voltage outputs providing regulated voltage to a corresponding one or more of the plurality of voltage sensitive controllers; and

a trickle circuit powered by a first one of the plurality of voltage outputs, the trickle circuit being configured to provide a trickle current to a battery within the vehicle, the trickle circuit setting a first load on the one of the plurality of voltage outputs, the first load being in addition to loading associated with the corresponding one or more one of the plurality of voltage sensitive controllers, thereby establishing a minimum load on the one of the plurality of voltage outputs to be at least equal to the first load.

13. The housekeeping circuit of claim 12 wherein the transformer is multi-tapped and each of the plurality of voltage outputs is connected to a separate transformer tap.

14. The housekeeping circuit of claim 13 wherein the transformer is cross-regulated to one of the plurality of voltage outputs.

15. The housekeeping circuit of claim 14 wherein the transformer is cross-regulated to no more than the one of the plurality of voltage outputs.

16. The housekeeping circuit of claim 12 wherein the transformer is configured to receive the single voltage input from a rectifying circuit when an AC power supply is connected and to receive the single voltage input from a first circuit when the AC power supply is disconnected, wherein the rectifying circuit is configured to rectify an AC input of the AC power supply to the single voltage input of the transformer and wherein the first circuit is configured to step-up a low voltage output of the battery to the single voltage input of the transformer.

17. A method for use within a vehicle to provide a regulated voltage to a plurality of loads, the method comprising:

cross-regulating a transformer configured to regulate a single voltage input into a plurality of voltage outputs, each one of the plurality of voltage outputs providing regulated voltage to a corresponding one or more of the plurality of loads, the cross-regulated transformer being regulated based on loading of the plurality of voltage outputs; and

wherein a trickle circuit provides a trickle current to a battery within the vehicle, the trickle circuit setting a first load on a first one of the plurality of voltage outputs, thereby establishing a minimum load on the one of the plurality of voltage outputs to be at least equal to the first load.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein an amount of the trickle current is fixed regardless of additional loading on the first one of the plurality of voltage outputs.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the trickle circuit is configured to provide current from the battery to the corresponding one or more of the plurality of loads connected to the first one of the plurality of voltage outputs when the transformer is inactive.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the cross-regulated transformer is configured to receive the single voltage input from a rectifying circuit when an AC power supply is connected and to receive the single voltage input from a first circuit when the AC power supply is disconnected, wherein the rectifying circuit is configured to rectify an AC input of the AC power supply to the single voltage input of the cross-regulated transformer and wherein the first circuit is configured to step-up a low voltage output of the battery to the single voltage input of the cross-regulated transformer.