Method and apparatus for regulating the power supply voltage in motor vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the vehicle circuit supply voltage in a motor vehicle having at least one high-power component and at least one low-power component in a low-power circuit and a main vehicle battery capable of being supplied by a generator comprising providing an auxiliary battery normally connected in parallel with the main vehicle battery and, when a high-power component is being supplied by the main vehicle battery, disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the main vehicle battery so that the voltage in the low-power circuit is drawn from the auxiliary battery to limit the rate of change of at least one of the vehicle current supply voltage and the voltage available in the low-power circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
For fuel economy, it is known that the engine of a motor vehicle may be turned off during vehicle operation while the electrical power for various appliances, such as the lighting circuit or the radio must be maintained. Upon restarting the engine, there may be a voltage drop in the vehicle supply circuit voltage with deteriorating effects in the lighting circuit and possibly failure of the radio. The disclosed circuit prevents such effects by limiting the rate of change of variations in vehicle supply circuit voltage as a function of connecting and disconnecting of a high-power component such as the starter.
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Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method for controlling the vehicle circuit supply voltage in a motor vehicle having at least one high-power component and at least one low-power component in a low-power circuit and a main vehicle battery capable of being supplied by a generator comprising providing an auxiliary battery normally connected in parallel with the main vehicle battery and, when a high-power component is being supplied by the main vehicle battery, disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the main vehicle battery so that the voltage in the low-power circuit is drawn from the auxiliary battery to limit the rate of change of at least one of the vehicle current supply voltage and the voltage available in the low-power circuit.
- 12. Apparatus for controlling the vehicle current supply voltage in a motor vehicle containing an engine, a main battery, a generator, and at least one high-power component and a low-power circuit to supply voltage to at least one low-power component comprising control means for limiting the rate of change of voltage in the vehicle current supply circuit in response to operation of a high-power component, a low-power component, or the vehicle generator, the control means including an auxiliary voltage source arranged to be connectable in parallel with the main battery and switch means for connecting and disconnecting the auxiliary voltage source from the main battery.
Specification