Method and apparatus for a computerized integrated power bus

• US 8,180,463 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevada Automotive Development Center
• Original Assignee: Nevada Automotive Development Center
• Inventors: Capps, Rick W., Diebel, Stephen V., Ridyard, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Norton, Jennifer L
• Application Number:
  US10/382,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,360 Days
• Field of Search: 700/1, 700/22, 700/286, 700/292, 700/293, 701/1, 701/36, 340/531
• US Class Current: 700/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle

Abstract

An electrical management control and monitoring device that easily interfaces with an existing motor vehicle electrical system that includes both “dumb” and “smart” circuits to protect the electrical system during events in which the voltage, current or temperature may change and potentially cause damage or render the vehicle electrically “dead”. The device, which is coupled to the motor vehicle'"'"'s ignition switch, power source and multiplex bus, includes a motherboard, a microcontroller and software program that monitors the vehicle'"'"'s capacitor, battery or combination voltage, current and temperature and automatically disconnects non-critical circuits when their values become extreme or reach a preprogrammed threshold. The motherboard includes output connectors that are coupled to solid-state relays that act as a supplemental power source to provide electrical power to components that require electrical power after the ignition has been turned off. The software program is used to prioritizes electrical power distribution to the components which are critical to engine starting, power train control and general longitudinal and lateral control systems of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a motor vehicle for at least partial integration and control and monitoring the motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical system that utilizes includes an ignition and electrical devices that use either analog or digital electrical signals, said apparatus comprises:

a. a motherboard mounted inside a motor vehicle that uses either analog or digital electrical signals;

b. a microcontroller with memory connected to said motherboard;

c. a control area network connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

d. at least one input connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

e. at least one output electrical connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

f. at least one analog connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

g. an analog signal conditioner connected to said analog connector and connected to said microcontroller;

h. at least one digital connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

i. a power supply input connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

j. a load control logic connected to said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

k. a load control output connected to load control logic;

l. a plurality of solid state switch relays mounted on said motherboard and connected to said load control logic;

m. a power supply connected to said motherboard;

n. a software program used to convert analog and digital signals from said analog and digital connectors, respectively, into digital signals that can be utilized by said microcontroller, said software program monitors signals received from the motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical circuits and electric devices delivered to said analog connector and said digital connectors and automatically disconnects an electrical circuit or device when the value of the signal is received is above or below a predetermined value, said software program also able to monitor and control the motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical circuits and devices after the motor vehicle'"'"'s ignition as been turned off and then prioritize their importance and selectively control said solid state relays to act as a supplemental power source to provide electrical power to selected electrical circuits and devices thereby enabling them to operate;

o. a circuit programming connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller to enable said microcontroller to be selectively programmed;

p. a physical layer interface mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller; and

q. a crystal oscillator.

2. The apparatus for electrical management control and monitoring as recited in claim 1, further including a watchdog circuit that monitors the activity of said software program and sends a reboot signal to said microcontroller when said software program is unresponsive.

3. The apparatus for electrical management control and monitoring as recited in claim 1, wherein said motherboard is located in an outer housing.

4. The apparatus for electrical management control and monitoring as recited in claim 1, wherein said control network controller is a SAE J1939 connector.

5. A method of providing at least partial integration and control over a motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical systems that includes an ignition and electrical and electronic devices which operate on either analog or digital signals, wherein there is a microcontroller whose memory holds at least one software program processing input and output signals from electrical and electronic devices of a vehicle'"'"'s systems is connected to a motherboard with solid state circuitry for converting input and output signals into a format that the microcontroller can process and with relays for controlling power to various systems of the vehicle, said the method comprising the following steps;

a. coupling an electrical management control and monitoring device that connects to a motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical system that includes electrical device that use either analog or digital electrical signals, said device includes;

a motherboard;

a microcontroller with memory connected to said motherboard;

a control area network connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

at least one input connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

at least one output electrical connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

at least one analog connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

an analog signal conditioner connected to said analog connector and connected to said microcontroller;

at least one digital connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

a power supply input connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

a load control logic system connected to said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

a load control output connected to said load control logic system;

a plurality of solid state switch relays mounted on said motherboard and connected to said load control logic system;

a power supply connected to said motherboard;

a software program used to convert analog and digital signals from said analog and digital connectors, respectively into digital signals that can be utilized by said microcontroller, said software program monitors signals from the motor vehicle'"'"'s electrical circuits and electric device connected to said analog and digital input connectors and may automatically disconnect a monitored circuit or device when the value of the delivered signal is above or below a predetermined value, said software program also able to monitor and control electrical circuits and devices after the motor vehicle'"'"'s ignition has been turned off and then prioritizes their importance and selectively control said solid state relays to act as a supplemental power source to provide electrical power to selected electrical circuits and devices thereby enabling said selected electrical circuits and devices to operate;

a circuit programming connector mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller to enable said microcontroller to be selectively programmed;

a physical layer interface mounted on said motherboard and connected to said microcontroller;

a crystal oscillator;

b. connecting said power supply input connector to an electrical circuit in a motor vehicle;

c. connecting said analog connector to a vehicle'"'"'s analog sensors, connecting said digital connector to a vehicle digital sensors, connecting said power supply input connector to a vehicle electrical power system, connecting said control network connector to vehicle network interface and connecting said electrical load connectors to a vehicle electrical load;

d. activation of said device;

e. transmitting serial stream signals from said microcontroller thru said control network connector to serial stream signal-based electrical devices in the vehicle;

f. transmitting non-serial stream signals from said microcontroller thru said analog connector, said digital connector, and said electrical load connectors to non-serial stream signal based electrical devices;

g. receiving serial stream signals from serial stream signal-based said electrical devices and non-serial stream signals from non-serial stream signal based electrical devices in said vehicle;

h. determining the status of both serial stream based electrical devices and non-serial stream-based electrical devices for a default behavior using said microcontroller and said software program; and

j. producing and transmitting serial stream signals to said serial stream signal based electrical devices and producing and transmitting non-serial stream signals to non-serial stream signal electronic devices when a default behavior event is detected, said signals used to de-active or adjust the operating activity of said electrical devices.