Method and device for suppressing over-voltages

• US 6,411,481 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Seubert, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/445,493
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 361/91.1, 361/91.3, 361/91.5, 361/56, 361/111, 361/18, 361/60, 361/75, 307/10.1, 307/139, 307/141, 307/113, 307/115
• US Class Current: 361/91.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/041 using a short-circuiting device

Abstract

A method and a device for reducing overvoltages is described. A switch and a load are connected in series between a first and a second terminal of a voltage source. The switch is triggered in such a way that the current flow through the load is released if the voltage exceeds a threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for reducing overvoltages in an arrangement including a first switch and a load connected in series between a first terminal and a second terminal of a voltage source, comprising the steps of:

triggering the first switch so that a current flow through the load is released if a voltage present at the voltage source exceeds a threshold value; and

eliminating the current flow through the load after a first wait time has elapsed;

wherein a duration of the first wait time is selected so that the load is unresponsive.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the first wait time does not begin to elapse until a second wait time has elapsed.

3. A device for reducing overvoltages, comprising:

a first switch;

a load connected in series with the first switch between a first terminal and a second terminal of a voltage source;

a triggering device, the triggering device triggering the first switch so that a current flow through the load is released if a voltage present at the voltage source exceeds a threshold value; and

a first time element, the first time element eliminating the current flow through the load after a first wait time has elapsed;

wherein a duration of the first wait time is selected so that the load is unresponsive.

4. The device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second time element, the second time element starting the first wait time after a second wait time has elapsed.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the load includes a pump.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the pump includes a hydraulic pump of a system that influences a braking action of a motor vehicle.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the triggering device includes at least a second switch, the second switch assuming a second state if the voltage exceeds the threshold value and triggering the first switch to assume a conductive state.

8. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a locking device, the locking device triggering the second switch so that the second switch remains in the second state.