System and method for electrical energy switching and control in a vehicle

• US 7,202,574 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
• Original Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
• Inventors: Jabaji, Shadi, Jabaji, Issam
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/867,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

This invention discloses a device in a vehicle electrical system which determines the vehicle'"'"'s operating conditions and facilitates the transfer of electrical energy between systems of electrical energy sources and their associated electrical loads based on the vehicle operating conditions. The device further determines the operating conditions of the systems of electrical energy sources and their associated electrical loads and facilitates the transfer of electrical energy between them in accordance with said operating conditions.

Claims

1. A system for controlling electrical energy sources in a vehicle, comprising:

(a) two or more electrical energy sources; and

(b) a control device connected to and in communication with said electrical energy sources and the vehicle electrical system;

said control device determining an operating condition of the vehicle and employing an appropriate number of electrical energy sources to satisfy a requirement prescribed by said vehicle operating condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said control device satisfies said requirement by disconnecting an electrical energy source connected to a vehicle electrical load with the highest priority level.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said appropriate number comprises a single or a combination of said electrical energy sources.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises means for sensing a signal from the vehicle electrical system to determine said operating condition.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for sensing receives a signal from a vehicle ignition switch.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for sensing receives a signal from a generator in the vehicle electrical system.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said means for sensing receives a priority level of the vehicle electrical loads from the vehicle electrical system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises means for sensing an energy level of said electrical energy sources to employ an appropriate number of electrical energy sources.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said control device satisfies said requirement by employing an electrical energy source with the highest energy level.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises means for sensing a rate of energy deliverable by said electrical energy sources to employ an appropriate number of electrical energy sources.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said control device satisfies said requirement by employing an electrical energy source with the highest deliverable rate of energy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said control device satisfies said requirement by disconnecting an electrical energy source during a time period when a vehicle engine is turned off.

13. A system for controlling electrical energy sources in a vehicle, comprising:

(a) two or more electrical energy sources; and

(b) means for controlling said electrical energy sources;

said means for controlling determining an operating condition of the vehicle and employing an appropriate number of electrical energy sources to satisfy a requirement prescribed by said vehicle operating condition.

14. A control device for controlling two or more electrical energy sources in a vehicle, comprising:

means for switching an electrical energy source; and

a processor including a programming code operable on the processor;

said processor determining an operating condition of the vehicle and employing an appropriate number of electrical energy sources via said switching means to satisfy a requirement prescribed by said operating condition.

15. The control device of claim 14, wherein said appropriate number comprises a single or a combination of said electrical energy sources.

16. The control device of claim 14, wherein said processor comprises an input sense line coupled with the vehicle electrical system to determine said operating condition.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein said processor receives a signal from a vehicle ignition switch via said input sense line.

18. The control device of claim 16, wherein said processor receives a signal from a generator in the vehicle electrical system via said input sense line.

19. The control device of claim 16, wherein said processor receives a priority level of the vehicle electrical loads from the vehicle electrical system via said input sense line.

20. The control device of claim 14, wherein said processor comprises an input sense line coupled with the electrical energy sources to employ an appropriate number of electrical energy sources.

21. The control device of claim 20, wherein said processor detects an energy level of said electrical energy sources via said input sense line to employ an appropriate number of electrical energy sources.

22. The control device of claim 21, wherein said energy level comprises a voltage level.

23. The control device of claim 21, wherein said processor satisfies said requirement by employing an electrical energy source with the highest energy level.

24. The control device of claim 20, wherein said processor detects a rate of energy deliverable by said electrical energy sources via said input sense line to employ an appropriate number of electrical energy sources.

25. The control device of claim 24, wherein said processor satisfies said requirement by employing an electrical energy source with the highest deliverable rate of energy.

26. The control device of claim 14, wherein said processor satisfies said requirement by disconnecting an electrical energy source during a time period when the vehicle engine is turned off.

27. The control device of claim 14, wherein said processor satisfies said requirement by disconnecting an electrical energy source connected to a vehicle electrical load with the highest priority level.

28. The control device of claim 14, wherein said switching means comprises a bi-directional semiconductor switch module.

29. A control device for controlling two or more electrical energy sources in a vehicle, comprising:

means for switching an electrical energy source; and

processing means for determining an operating condition of the vehicle;

said processing means employing an appropriate number of electrical energy sources via said switching means to satisfy a requirement prescribed by said operating condition.

30. A method for controlling two or more electrical energy sources in a vehicle, comprising:

(a) determining an operating condition of the vehicle; and

(b) employing an appropriate number of electrical energy sources to satisfy a requirement prescribed by said operating condition.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein (a) comprises sensing a signal from the vehicle electrical system to determine said operating condition.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of sensing comprises receiving a signal from a vehicle ignition switch.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of sensing comprises receiving a signal from a generator in the vehicle electrical system.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of sensing comprises receiving a priority level of the vehicle electrical loads from the vehicle electrical system.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said appropriate number comprises a single or a combination of said electrical energy sources.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein (b) comprises employing an electrical energy source with the highest energy level.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein (b) comprises employing an electrical energy source with the highest rate of deliverable energy.