Dual battery vehicle electrical systems
First Claim
1. An electrical system for a vehicle having an engine operable in a stop/start mode wherein the vehicle enters a PAUSE state in which the engine stops running in response at least in part to the vehicle becoming stationary and leaves the PAUSE state to resume running in response at least in part to a driver indicating a desire for the vehicle to move again, the system comprising:
- at least one primary load requiring power to start the engine;
at least one secondary load not requiring power to start the engine;
a first battery powering the at least one primary load;
a second battery powering the at least one secondary load;
a battery switch having a closed condition to connect the first battery to the second battery such that both batteries can provide power to the at least one primary load and the at least one secondary load, and further having an open condition to electrically isolate the first and second batteries from one another;
an ignition switch actuatable by a vehicle operator to switch a vehicle ignition system between an OFF state in which the engine is not running, a START state in which the primary load is powered to start the engine, an ON state in which the engine is running; and
a controller controlling the condition of the battery switch based upon at least;
1) whether the vehicle ignition system is in the OFF, the ON, or the START state; and
2) whether or not the vehicle is in the PAUSE state.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual battery electrical system for a vehicle having an engine comprises a primary load and a secondary load and is switchable between an ON state in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running, a START state in which the primary load requires power to start the engine, and a PAUSE state in which the engine is not running. A first battery powers the primary load, a second battery powers the secondary load, a battery switch is closable to connect the first battery to the second battery such that both batteries can provide power to both loads. The transition to and from the OFF state is via a user activated mechanism and transition to and from the PAUSE state is via a user-independent mechanism. A controller controls operation of the battery switch when the system enters and/or leaves the PAUSE state.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical system for a vehicle having an engine operable in a stop/start mode wherein the vehicle enters a PAUSE state in which the engine stops running in response at least in part to the vehicle becoming stationary and leaves the PAUSE state to resume running in response at least in part to a driver indicating a desire for the vehicle to move again, the system comprising:
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at least one primary load requiring power to start the engine; at least one secondary load not requiring power to start the engine; a first battery powering the at least one primary load; a second battery powering the at least one secondary load; a battery switch having a closed condition to connect the first battery to the second battery such that both batteries can provide power to the at least one primary load and the at least one secondary load, and further having an open condition to electrically isolate the first and second batteries from one another; an ignition switch actuatable by a vehicle operator to switch a vehicle ignition system between an OFF state in which the engine is not running, a START state in which the primary load is powered to start the engine, an ON state in which the engine is running; and a controller controlling the condition of the battery switch based upon at least;
1) whether the vehicle ignition system is in the OFF, the ON, or the START state; and
2) whether or not the vehicle is in the PAUSE state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating an electrical system of a vehicle having an engine operable in a start/stop mode wherein the vehicle enters a PAUSE state in which the engine stops running in response at least in part to the vehicle becoming stationary and leaves the PAUSE state to resume running in response at least in part to a driver indicating a desire for the vehicle to move again, the system comprising at least one primary load requiring power to start the engine, at least one secondary load not requiring power to start the engine, a first battery powering the at least one primary load, a second battery powering the at least one secondary load, a battery switch operable between a closed state wherein both batteries can provide power to both loads and an open state wherein the batteries are isolated from one another, and a controller arranged to control operation of the battery switch, the method comprising the steps of:
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a driver using a user activated mechanism to select between an ON state of the electrical system in which the engine is running, an OFF state in which the engine is not running, and a START state in which the primary load receives power to start the engine; the controller controlling the battery switch to select between the closed state and the open state according to;
1) the state of the electrical system; and
2) whether the vehicle is in the PAUSE state. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification