Device for compensation of voltage drop at light sources of a vehicle with electrical auxiliary charging device

• US 6,191,544 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: DʼAlfonso, Nun̅zio
• Primary Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/363,240
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 318/430-450, 318/139, 318/140-150, 320/132, 320/135.35, 320/136, 320/19, 324/427, 307/46, 307/10.8, 315/147, 315/83, 315/77, 315/82, 315/137, 361/190, 361/170, 340/468, 340/469, 340/472
• US Class Current: 318/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00

Abstract

A device for compensation of voltage drop at light sources of a vehicle has light sources having a resistance R₀ and connected to a vehicle battery. An auxiliary charging device with electric motor is provided. The electric motor has an on/off switch and is connected to the vehicle battery. The electric motor is connected parallel to the light sources. A resistor is serially connected upstream of the light sources and is selected, based on the resistance R₀, such that a nominal current I flowing through the light sources causes a voltage drop ΔE=I×R in the resistor that matches a voltage drop occurring when the electric motor is switched on. A first switch is connected parallel to the resistor for short-circuiting the resistor when the electric motor is switched on by the on/off switch.

Claims

1. A device for compensation of voltage drop at light sources of a vehicle, said device comprising:

light sources (4a-4n) having a resistance R₀ and connected to a vehicle battery (3);

an auxiliary charge device (1) comprising an electric motor (2);

said electric motor (2) having an on/off switch (6);

said electric motor (2) connected to the vehicle battery (3) and connected parallel to said light sources (4a-4n);

a resistor (5) serially connected upstream of said light sources (4a-4n), wherein said resistor (5) is selected, based on said resistance R₀ such that a nominal current I flowing through said light sources (4a-4n) causes a voltage drop Δ

E=I×

R in said resistor (5) that matches a voltage drop occurring when said electric motor (2) is switched on;

a first switch (7) connected parallel to said resistor (5) for short-circuiting said resistor (5) when said electric motor (2) is switched on by said on/off switch (6).

2. A device according to claim 1, comprising a main switch (8) for actuating said light sources (4a-4n) and a second switch (9), wherein said first and said second switches are solenoids, wherein said solenoid of said first switch (7) has a first coil (7a) connected parallel to said electric motor (2) and wherein said solenoid of said second switch (9) has a second coil (9a), wherein said second switch (9) is connected serially to said first coil (7a), wherein said second coil (9a) is connected parallel to said light sources (4a-4n), wherein said second switch (9) is closed when said main switch (8) switches on said light sources (4a-4n).