Method and device for disconnecting loads from a motor vehicle body

• US 5,693,986 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Long, Richard L., Caramagno, Norman T., Dean, Patrick, Vettraino, Frank Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganjian, Peter
• Application Number:
  US08/823,093
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 307/38, 307/39, 307/40, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131, 307/132 E, 307/140, 307/141, 307/141.4 , 307/11, 307/157, 320/13, 320/30, 320/32, 320/33, 320/39, 320/40, 340/455, 340/636, 340/660, 340/644, 340/458, 340/457.2, 340/457, 315/82, 315/83, 315/77, 364/707, 364/424.045, 364/423.098, 364/424.059, 364/492
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/36 Distribution system, e.g. railroad lighting

Abstract

A battery protection device disconnects vehicle electronic components from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof including a plurality of switches switchable between ON and OFF positions, and a control unit electrically connected to each of the switches and capable of switching each of the switches between the ON and OFF positions individually.

Claims

1. A device for disconnecting loads from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof, said device comprising:

a plurality of switches switchable between an ON position and OFF position, each of said switches being electrically connected to one of the loads; and

a control unit electrically connected to each of said switches, said control unit producing signals to individually switch each of said switches from said ON position to said OFF position based on predetermined times each of said switches had been in said ON position;

an ignition sensor electrically connected to said control unit to sense the presence or absence of an ignition key; and

said control unit including a monitor to measure the predetermined times when said ignition sensor senses the absence of the ignition key.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said monitor includes a timer to measure an amount of time each of said switches is in said ON position.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said monitor further includes a plurality of position sensors each associated with one of said switches, each movable between at least two positions and associated with one of the loads.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said control unit further includes a reset subcircuit to reset said timer.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said switches includes a transistor.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of a portion of said switches further includes a relay electrically connected to one of said transistors, the battery, and one of the loads.

10. A battery protection device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said switches includes a transistor.

7. A battery protection device for disconnecting vehicle electronic components from a motor vehicle battery to prevent a full discharge thereof, said battery protection device comprising:

a plurality of switches switchable between an ON position and OFF position, each of said switches being electrically connected to one of the vehicle electronic components, a portion of said switches including relays, each of said relays associated with each of said portion of said switches;

a control unit electrically connected to said switches, an ignition sensor electrically connected to said control unit to sense the presence or absence of an ignition key, said control unit including a timer to measure an amount of time each of said switches is in said ON position when said ignition sensor senses the absence of the ignition key, said control unit further including a reset subcircuit for resetting said timer at a predetermined occurrence, said control unit producing signals to individually switch each of said switches from said ON position to said OFF position based on the measured amount of time each of said switches is in said ON position.

8. A battery protection device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said control unit further includes a monitor to monitor said positions of each of said switches.

9. A battery protection device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said monitor further includes a plurality of position sensors each associated with one of a plurality of operator switches each movable between at least two positions and associated with one of the vehicle electronic components.

11. A method for disconnecting vehicle components from a motor vehicle battery wherein the vehicle components are controllable by individual operator switches, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing the absence of an ignition key;

sensing an ON position of the individual operator switches;

timing a length of time the individual operator switches are in the ON position; and

disconnecting one of the vehicle components from the vehicle battery by switching the individual operator switch associated therewith from the ON position to an OFF position when the length of time the individual operator switch associated with the one of the vehicle components is in the ON position a predetermined time period.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of sensing an ignition to determine whether an ignition key is inserted in the ignition.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 further including the step of stopping the step of timing upon receipt of a signal representing the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 further including the step of resetting a timer.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 further including the reconnecting each of the vehicle components after the predetermined condition occurs.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 further including the step of setting a different length of time for each of the vehicle components.