Power supply network apparatus

• US 6,528,899 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoshida, Tatsuya, Saito, Hiroyuki, Kuramochi, Yuichi, Koni, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/464,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/38, 307/11, 307/9.1, 307/12, 307/30, 307/10.6, 307/10.8, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• 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: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles

Abstract

A battery is disposed at the portion beneath the rear seat of a vehicle. The positive electrode of the battery is connected through a power bus for power supply to a rear junction block (R-JB). A rear integration module (RIM) can be coupled to the R-JB through a plug-in operation. The positive electrode of the battery is also connected through a power bus to an under dash junction block (UD-JB). A body control module (BCM) can be coupled to the UD-JB through a plug-in operation. The power bus connection terminal of the UD-JB is connected to a fuse relay block (F-JB) through a power bus. A front integration module (FIM) can be coupled to the F-JB through a plug-in operation. The power bus connection terminal of the F-JB is connected to a starter motor through a power supply line and further connected to an alternator through a power supply line from the starter.

Claims

1. A power supply network apparatus in a vehicle having a battery mounted at a position remote from an engine compartment of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of power supply centers disposed at locations dispersed about the vehicle, including, a first power supply center which is disposed near a dashboard of the vehicle, detects conditions of at least a key-switch of the vehicle and provides a power supply for loads situated about a passenger compartment near a center portion of the vehicle, and a second power supply center which is disposed within said engine compartment, controls a power supply to a starter motor of the vehicle, and provides a power supply for loads situated about said engine compartment, at a front portion of the vehicle;

a power bus for supplying electric power from said battery to said first power supply center, supplying electric power from said first power supply center to said second power supply center and supplying electric power from said second power supply center to said starter; and

a communication line connected between said first and second power supply centers for sending and receiving signals between them;

wherein

said second power supply center includes a control circuit module and a fuse relay block portion, said control circuit module comprising a control portion, an input/output connector portion and an output driver portion, and said fuse relay block portion being electrically connected to said input/out connector portion of said control circuit module;

said first power supply center detects when said key-switch is positioned at a starter position, and supplies a starter position detecting signal to said control portion of said control circuit module via said communication line; and

in response to receipt of said starter position detecting signal, said control portion drives said output driver portion to turn on electricity to a starter relay of said fuse relay block portion, whereby said second power supply center supplies electric power to said starter through a relay contact and a fuse.

2. A power supply network apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said power supply centers comprises a control circuit module having a semiconductor switching element serving as a load driving means, and a fuse relay block having a relay serving as a load driving means.

3. A power supply network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in each of said power supply centers, said control circuit module and said fuse relay block are connectable to and separable from each other by means of a connector.

4. A power supply network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fuse relay block includes a protection means for protecting a load at a time of short-circuit of the load and at a time where a power supply line to the load is short-circuited to ground.

5. A power supply network apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a driving signal is sent to said load driving means in a multiplexed communication mode.

6. A power supply network apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

a battery disposed at a rear portion of said vehicle;

a starter motor disposed at a front portion of said vehicle; and

a power supply center which is disposed at a front portion of said vehicle, and controls electric power supply from said battery to said starter motor;

wherein

said power supply center comprises a control circuit having a communication function, and a control relay which electrically energizes said starter motor; and

said control relay is controlled by a driving signal generated from said control circuit in response to receipt via said communication function, of a starter position detection signal indicating that a key switch of said vehicle is placed in a starter position.

7. The power supply network apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control relay which energizes said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission of said vehicle.

8. The power supply network apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a circuit breaker is connected in series with said control relay which energizes said starter motor.

9. The power supply network apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said control circuit controls an output and termination of a driving signal to said control relay which energizes said starter motor, based on a status detecting signal of an ignition switch sent from another controlling element via a communication function.

10. The power supply network apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said control relay which energizes said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission; and

a circuit breaker is connected in series with said control relay.

11. The power supply network apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

said control relay which energizes said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission of said vehicle;

a circuit breaker is connected in series with said control relay; and

said control circuit controls an output and termination of a driving signal to said control relay, based on a status detecting signal of an ignition switch sent from another controlling element via a communication function.

12. A power supply center apparatus in a power supply network, comprising:

a relay block including an input terminal for a battery power supply, an output terminal for a starter motor and a control relay connected between said input terminal and said output terminal for supplying electric power to said starter motor; and

a control circuit having a communication function;

wherein said control circuit controls an output and termination of a driving signal to said control relay for supplying electric power to said starter motor, based on a status detecting signal of an ignition switch sent from another power supply center via said communication function.

13. The power supply center apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control relay of said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission.

14. The power supply center apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a circuit breaker is connected in series to said control relay of said starter motor.

15. The power supply center apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein said control relay of said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission; and

a circuit breaker is connected in series with said control relay of said starter motor.

16. The power supply center apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

said control relay of said starter motor is controlled by said driving signal from said control circuit and a signal generated from a gear position switch disposed at a transmission;

a circuit breaker is connected in series with said control relay of said starter motor;

said control circuit controls an output and termination of a driving signal to said control relay of said starter motor, based on a status detecting signal of an ignition switch sent from another controlling element via a communication function.