Electric power supply system for a vehicle

• US 6,900,555 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• 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: Saito, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Shinichi, Yoshida, Tatsuya, Horibe, Kiyoshi, Koni, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US10/118,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20020113492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.8, 307/38, 307/40, 340/825
• 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: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles

Abstract

An electrical power supply system for a vehicle is provided, which can eliminate proliferation of adverse effect on other control modules caused within one of a plurality of control modules. This is accomplished by provision of the power supply system comprising: battery 10 for supplying power; power line PL in a loop lay-out; a plurality of control modules BCM 100, VCM 110, FIM 120, DDM 130, RIM 140, CCM 150 and PDM 160 for a plurality of accessory systems, which are connected via said power line PL in loop lay-out, wherein a power control module (PCM) 20 for controlling the engine is connected to the power supply source via another power line 22 different from the power line PL.

Claims

1. A load control module for a vehicle comprising:

a power circuit portion connected to a power line;

a communication circuit portion connected to a communication line;

a microcomputer connected to said communication portion and said power circuit portion;

a driver circuit, which is connected to an output interface portion of said microcomputer, for controlling power supply to a load, said driver circuit including plural output terminals to which said load is connected, and plural semiconductor power control elements, which are provided with a self-protection function;

wherein,

a control signal is provided from an output terminal of said microcomputer to a gate terminal of said semiconductor power control elements;

electric power is supplied from said power circuit portion to a source terminal of said semiconductor power control elements;

a drain terminal of said semiconductor power control elements is connected to said plural output terminals to which said load is connected;

when an over-current flows into said semiconductor power control element or when said semiconductor power control element has an abnormally high temperature, said semiconductor power control element self-shields;

said plural output terminals to which said load is connected include plural terminals to which a lamp of an indicator is connected, an accessory power supply terminal and a power supply terminal for outputting a battery power supply.

2. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said communication circuit portion is installed into said microcomputer.

3. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

an input control circuit portion is connected to an input interface portion of said microcomputer, for inputting signals from a switch or a sensor to said microcomputer;

said power circuit portion is connected to said communication circuit portion, said microcomputer, said driver circuit, and said input control circuit portion; and

said input control circuit portion passes a signal from a receiving portion of a remote controller to said microcomputer.

4. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

an input control circuit portion is connected to an input interface portion of said microcomputer, for inputting signals from a switch or a sensor to said microcomputer;

said power circuit portion is connected to said communication IC, said microcomputer, said driver circuit, and said input control circuit portion; and

said input control circuit portion passes a signal from a receiving portion of a remote controller to said microcomputer.

5. A load control module for a vehicle comprising:

a power circuit portion connected to a power line;

a communication terminal connected to a communication line;

a signal processing portion for outputting control signals to an output interface portion, based on signals passed from said communication line to said signal processing portion via said communication terminal; and

a driver circuit, which is connected to said output interface portion of said signal processing portion and comprises a semiconductor power element having a self-protection function, which driver circuit constitutes a motor driving circuit for controlling a motor for driving a rear wiper, wherein

said power circuit portion is connected to said signal processing portion and to said semiconductor power element of said driver circuit.

6. A load control module for a vehicle comprising:

a power circuit portion connected to a power line;

a communication terminal connected to a communication line;

a signal processing portion for outputting control signals to an output interface portion, based on signals passed from said communication line to said signal processing portion, via said communication use terminal; and

a driver circuit portion, which is connected to said output interface portion of said signal processing portion and comprises at least one semiconductor power element having a self-protection function;

wherein,

said driver circuit portion comprises an H bridge circuit for controlling a passenger side door lock motor, an H bridge circuit for controlling a passenger side power window motor, and an H circuit for controlling a passenger side door mirror motor; and

said power circuit portion is connected to said signal processing portion, and to said semiconductor power element of said driver circuit.

7. A load control module for a vehicle comprising:

a power circuit portion connected to a power line;

a communication circuit portion connected to a communication line;

a microcomputer connected to said communication portion and said power circuit portion; and

a driver circuit, which is connected to an output interface portion of said microcomputer, for controlling power supply to a load;

wherein,

said driver circuit comprises a plurality of semiconductor power control elements, which have a self-protection function;

said driver circuit is connected to said power circuit portion by a plurality of branch lines that extend from said driver circuit and are connected to at least a line extending from said power circuit;

said driver circuit has a plurality of power output lines that are connected to a plurality of output terminals of said load control module;

said output interface portion of said microcomputer is connected to said driver circuit by a plurality of control signal lines;

said plurality of output terminals of said load control module includes plural terminals which are connected to a lamp of an indicator;

said plurality of output terminals of said load control module includes an accessory power supply terminal; and

said plurality of output terminals of said load control module includes a power supply terminal for outputting a battery power supply.

8. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

said communication circuit portion is installed into said microcomputer.

9. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

an input control circuit portion is connected to an input interface portion of said microcomputer, for inputting signals from a switch or a sensor to said microcomputer;

said power circuit portion is connected to said communication circuit portion, said microcomputer, said driver circuit, and said input control circuit portion; and

said input control circuit portion passes a signal from a receiving portion of a remote controller to said microcomputer.

10. A load control module for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein:

an input control circuit portion is connected to an input interface portion of said microcomputer, for inputting signals from a switch or a sensor to said microcomputer;

said power circuit portion is connected to said communication IC, said microcomputer, said driver circuit, and said input control circuit portion; and

said input control circuit portion passes a signal from a receiving portion of a remote controller to said microcomputer.