Motor vehicle with a high-voltage source

• US 8,823,503 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US13/823,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/455, 903/903, 320/104, 180/65.285, 180/65.29, 180/65.31, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a high-voltage source for supplying consumers of a high-voltage on-board power supply system with electrical energy, an electrical separating device for separating the high-voltage source from the high-voltage on-board power supply system and a signal emission device for indicating the connection state between the high-voltage source and the onboard high-voltage power supply system. The signal emission device is activated for emission of a signal when the high-voltage source is separated from the onboard high-voltage power supply system, and is deactivated when the high-voltage source is connected to the onboard high-voltage power supply system. A non-activated signal emission device indicates a live state of the high-voltage on-board power supply system, thereby ensuring that a safe state of the onboard high-voltage power supply system is not falsely signaled in the event of a failure of the signal emission device, thereby eliminating risk to service personnel.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

an onboard high-voltage power supply system,

a high-voltage source for supplying consumers of the onboard high-voltage power supply system with electrical energy,

an electrical disconnection device configured to electrically disconnect the consumers from the onboard high-voltage power supply system to enable safe maintenance work on the onboard high-voltage power supply system,

a measuring device for inductively measuring a voltage in the onboard high-voltage power supply system,

a plurality of signal emission devices arranged at different positions of the motor vehicle and connected to the inductive measuring device and configured to display a connection state of the high-voltage source with the onboard high-voltage power supply system, and

an onboard low-voltage power supply connected to the signal emission devices,

wherein the signal emission devices are activated for outputting a predetermined signal when the high-voltage source is disconnected from the onboard high-voltage power supply system during maintenance work and the onboard high-voltage power supply system has zero voltage, and wherein the signal emission devices are deactivated and do not output the predetermined signal or are unable to output the predetermined signal, when the high-voltage source is connected to the onboard high-voltage power supply system during maintenance work and the onboard high-voltage power supply system has a non-zero voltage.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is configured to transmit signals to a control unit, which controls the signal emission devices depending on the received signals.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the signal emission devices comprise at least one of a signal lamp and a signal light emitting diode.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the signal emission devices are arranged on the high-voltage source.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a service plug for interrupting the high-voltage power supply system, wherein the signal emission devices are arranged in the region of the onboard high-voltage power supply system.