On-vehicle distribution box and distribution system

• US 6,340,848 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Maeda, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/537,433
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/11, 307/18-20, 307/24, 307/28, 307/29, 307/31, 307/33, 307/34, 307/38, 307/39
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks

Abstract

An on-vehicle distribution box for distributing an electrical power supplied from a power source to a first voltage load operated on a first voltage and to a second voltage load operated on a second voltage differed from the first voltage. The distribution box includes a primary circuit of which an upstream point is connected to the power source and of which a downstream point is connected to the first load. The primary circuit has also a first fuse means. The distribution box also includes a branch circuit branched at an upstream point of the fuse means from the primary circuit and connected to the second load at a downstream side of the branch circuit. A DC/DC converter is provided in the branch circuit for converting the first voltage to the second voltage, and a second fuse means is provided in the branch circuit downstream from the DC/DC converter. The first voltage is higher than the second voltage. There may be provided a main distribution box and a secondary distribution box, and an upstream side of the secondary distribution box is connected to a downstream side of the primary box.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle distribution box for distributing an electrical power supplied from a power source to a first voltage load operated on a first voltage and a second voltage load operated on a second voltage differed from said first voltage, the distribution box comprising:

a primary circuit of which an upstream point is connected to said power source and of which a downstream point is connected to said first load,

a first fuse means provided in said primary circuit,

a branch circuit branched upstream from said first fuse means from said primary circuit and connected to said second load at a downstream point of said branch circuit,

a DC/DC converter arranged in said branch circuit for converting the first voltage to the second voltage, and

a second fuse means arranged in said branch circuit downstream from said DC/DC converter.

2. The distribution box set forth in claim 1, wherein the first voltage is higher than the second voltage.

3. An on-vehicle distribution system comprising a main distribution box and a secondary distribution box each of which has the constitution of the distribution box set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein an upstream point of said secondary distribution box is electrically connected to a downstream point of said primarily distribution box.

4. An on-vehicle distribution system comprising a main distribution box and at least two secondary distribution boxes, each of said primary and secondary distribution boxes having the constitution of said distribution box set forth in claim 2, said secondary distribution boxes being electrically connected to a downstream point of said primarily distribution box,

wherein the main distribution box is positioned near an assistant seat, and the secondary distribution boxes are positioned near a driver seat and near a rear seat of the vehicle.