Stabilization of a vehicle network by generating short-term available power

• US 7,034,502 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Suelzle, Helmut, Bischof, Hubert, Knapp, Marc, Nasswetter, Guenter
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/399,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/103, 700/28, 701/29, 701/115
• US Class Current: 320/104
• 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: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method for stabilizing the voltage in an energy-supply system, particularly in a motor-vehicle electrical system, that is fed by a battery and a generator. If the battery is weak or has completely failed, switching in a new consumer may lead to a voltage dip in the system. To prevent this, it is proposed as a precaution to switch in a consumer not needed at the moment. If, at this point, a new consumer is to be switched in, the consumer switched in as a precaution is automatically disconnected, and the excess energy therefrom is switched over to the new consumer.

Claims

1. A method for stabilizing a supply voltage in an energy-supply system that is fed by a battery to which a plurality of consumers are connected and by a generator, the plurality of consumers including a first electrical consumer, the method comprising:

switching on the first electrical consumer as a precautionary measure in order to increase a power supplied by the generator, wherein operation of the first electrical consumer is not needed except for the precautionary measure; and

switching off the first electrical consumer when one of;

a) the supply voltage falls below a predefined value by switching on a new consumer; and

b) the supply voltage is expected to fall below the predefined value by switching on a new consumer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the energy-supply system includes a motor-vehicle electrical system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

checking a working capacity of the battery in accordance with a battery-condition detection;

wherein the step of switching on the first electrical consumer as a precautionary measure is performed when the battery is determined to be one of weak and failed.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical consumer is switched off by an automatic disconnection.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical consumer is switched off by a control unit.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

switching on a further one of the plurality of consumers as a precaution when the first electrical consumer is switched on by a user.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical consumer includes a switching device that automatically disconnects the electrical consumer in response to a drop below a voltage limit.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical consumer is a heater.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the heater includes one of a rear-window heater and a seat heater.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

in addition to the first electrical consumer being switched on as a precaution, further ones of the plurality of consumers are disconnected.

11. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the control unit disconnects the first electrical consumer and subsequently switches in a further one of the plurality of consumers.