Protective device against corrosion for an onboard electrical system and method for the control thereof

• US 9,071,059 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Leibfried, Oliver, Gerstner, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/736,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,262 Days
• Field of Search: 701 291- 292
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2829 Testing of circuits in sensor or actuator systems testing of apparatus for measuring electric or magnetic variables G01R35/00; testing of indicating or recording apparatus G01D; in airbag systems B60R21/0173; checking gas analysers G01N33/007; monitoring or fail-safe circuits for electromagnets H01F7/1844
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A protective device against corrosion for an onboard electrical system, in particular thermal corrosion. The protective device includes at least one sensor for detecting a shunt and a switching device which is controllable by the sensor and outputs a switching pulse for the activation of a control unit upon control by the sensor. Also described is a method for the control of the onboard electrical system.

Claims

1. A protective device to protect against corrosion of an onboard electrical system, comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting a shunt; and

a switching device, adapted to be controlled by the sensor and to output a switching pulse to activate a control unit in the event of a detection of a shunt;

wherein after detection of the shunt in a parked vehicle, the control unit, which monitors the onboard electrical system, is activated, and wherein the activated control unit checks the onboard electrical system for proper functioning.

2. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a voltage drop which arises as a result of a fault current induced by the shunt.

3. The protective device of claim 1, wherein, in the event of detection of the shunt, a corresponding fault code is stored in a storage device of a control unit.

4. The protective device of claim 3, wherein a warning signal is output in the event of detection of the shunt.

5. The protective device of claim 3, wherein, in the event of a false alarm, the initially activated control unit is returned to an idle state.

6. The protective device of claim 3, wherein, in the event of verification of an existing fault, the control unit, which was initially activated for the performance of a test routine, is kept in its active state, and wherein the activated control unit alerts further control units, which control high power consumers of the onboard electrical system.

7. The protective device of claim 3, wherein high current consumers remain turned on until the battery of the vehicle is essentially discharged.

8. The protective device of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor, which reacts to an elevated temperature induced by the shunt.

9. The protective device of claim 1, wherein corrosion is thermal corrosion.

10. The protective device of claim 3, wherein, after detection of the shunt in a parked vehicle, a control unit, which monitors the onboard electrical system, is activated, and wherein the activated control unit repeatedly checks the onboard electrical system for proper functioning.