Device and method for supplying power to a vehicle, semi-conductor circuit device for use in the same and collective wiring device for a vehicle or an automobile

• US 20030098211A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Saito, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Shinichi, Yoshida, Tatsuya, Horibe, Kiyoshi, Koni, Mitsuru
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2016/0322 Temporary code for documents to be reclassified to G08C, H04L or H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0104 Communication circuits for data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01061 between the airbag system and other vehicle electronic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01115 specific data frames
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/02 Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems F16F15/005 takes precedence ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06

Abstract

A power supply line is wired in a loop from a battery power supply, and a power supply relay circuit is installed intermediately of the power supply line such that power is supplied from the power supply relay circuit to an electric load connected to a terminal unit of an intensive wiring line. By this arrangement, not only wires for control signals but also wires for power supply can be reduced. The terminal unit may serve also as the power supply relay circuit.

DESCRIPTION

Claims

1. A power supplying apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

A. two transmission lines extending from one of poles of a power supply carried on said vehicle;

B. a relay circuit having two input terminals individually connected to said transmission lines and having at least one output terminal; and

C. a connection circuit provided in said relay circuit for electrically connecting said two input terminals and said one output terminal to each other.

2. A power supplying apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

A. two transmission lines extending from one of poles of a power supply carried on said vehicle;

B. a relay circuit having two input terminals individually connected to said two transmission lines and having at least one output terminal;

C. a connection circuit provided in said relay circuit for electrically connecting said two input terminals and said one output terminal to each other;

D. a switching element interposed between said output terminal and said connection circuit in said relay circuit for rendering an electric connection state between said output terminal and said connection circuit conducting or non-conducting; and

E. a control circuit provided in said relay circuit for applying a control instruction signal to said switching element.

3. A power supplying method in a vehicle for supplying power from a power supply carried on said vehicle to an electric load carried on said vehicle, characterized in that wiring lines are laid in said vehicle such that a power supply line extending from one of poles of said power supply makes a closed loop and may return to the same pole of said power supply and said electric load is electrically connected to said power supply line.

4. A power supplying method in a vehicle for supplying power from a power supply carried on said vehicle to an electric load carried on said vehicle, characterized in that power is supplied to a same electric load from both of two power supply lines of a same polarity.

5. A power supplying apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

A. a power supply line extending from one of poles of a power supply carried on said vehicle and returning to the same pole of said power supply while making a closed loop; and

B. an electric load electrically connected to said power supply line.

6. A power supplying apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

A. a power supply line extending from one of poles of a power supply carried on said vehicle and returning to the same pole of said power supply while making a closed loop;

B. a relay circuit having an input terminal electrically connected to said power supply line and having an output terminal connected to an electric load of said vehicle;

C. a switching element provided in said relay circuit for rendering an electric connection between said input terminal and said output terminal conducting or non-conducting; and

D. a control circuit for applying a conducting/non-conducting control signal to said switching element.

7. An intensive wiring apparatus in a vehicle, comprising:

A. two or more control units for controlling an electric load carried on said vehicle;

B. a communication line for transmitting information between said control units;

C. a power supply line for distributing power from a power supply carried on said vehicle to said control units;

D. a power supply relay circuit for connecting or disconnecting said electric load to or from said power supply line; and

E. a power supply control apparatus for controlling said power supply relay circuit via said communication line to supply or stop to supply power to said electric load.

8. An intensive wiring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that said communication line and said power supply line are bundled into a single wire.

9. An intensive wiring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises:

a braided wire which covers over an outer periphery of said wire into which said communication line and said power supply line are bundled;

a voltage power supply circuit for supplying a predetermined voltage to said braided wire;

a potential detection apparatus for detecting a potential of said braided wire; and

an abnormal state detection apparatus for detecting an abnormal state of said wire from the detected potential.

10. A power supplying apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a communication control unit including a computer having a communication controlling program;

a power supply line for connecting said communication control unit and a power supply of said power supply to each other; and

a navigation power supply circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said communication control unit to or from a navigation unit.

11. A power supplying apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

a communication terminal equipment installed in the proximity of a window of said automobile;

a power supply line for connecting said communication terminal equipment and a power supply of said automobile to each other; and

a window opening or closing motor power supply circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said communication terminal equipment to or from an opening or closing motor for said window.

12. A power supplying apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

an anti-lock braking control unit including a control circuit for controlling a solenoid for a hydraulically controlled valve of an anti-lock braking apparatus of said automobile;

a power supply line for connecting said control unit and a power supply of said vehicle to each other; and

an anti-lock braking apparatus power supply circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said anti-lock braking control unit to or from said solenoid.

13. A power supplying apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

a communication terminal equipment installed in the neighborhood of an instrument panel of said automobile;

a power supply line for connecting said communication terminal equipment and a power supply of said automobile to each other; and

a display lamp power supply circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said communication terminal equipment to or from a display lamp on said instrument panel which is controlled via said terminal equipment.

14. A power supplying circuit for an automobile, comprising:

a communication terminal equipment installed at a rear portion of said automobile;

a power supply line for connecting said terminal equipment and a power supply of said automobile to each other; and

a rear defogger power supply control circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said communication equipment to or from a rear defogger.

15. A power supplying circuit for an automobile, comprising:

a beacon control unit including a microcomputer for controlling a beacon of said automobile;

a power supply line for connecting said beacon control unit and a power supply of said automobile to each other; and

a beacon control unit power supply circuit for connecting or disconnecting said power supply line connected to said beacon control unit to or from a display or a control panel.

16. A semiconductor circuit apparatus, comprising:

a power supply input terminal to which a wire connected to one of poles of a power supply is connected;

a communication terminal to which a communication line for information transmission is connected;

a communication IC for receiving a signal inputted from said communication terminal;

a power supply output terminal to which an electric load is connected; and

a switching circuit interposed between said power supply input terminal and said power supply output terminal for connecting or disconnecting a connection state between the two terminals.

17. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

A. an air bag controller for driving an air bag inflator in response to an output of a collision sensor;

B. a display controller for displaying a working state of said air bag system on an instrument panel;

C. a communication line for connecting said air bag controller and said display controller to each other; and

D. a communication control apparatus for transmitting an air bag operation signal from said air bag controller to said display controller via said communication line.

18. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

A. an air bag controller for driving an air bag inflator in response to an output of a collision sensor;

B. a display controller for displaying a working state of said air bag system on an instrument panel;

C. a communication line for connecting said air bag controller and said display controller to each other; and

D. a communication control apparatus for transmitting an air bag operation signal from said air bag controller to said display controller via said communication line; and

that

E. said air bag controller receives supply of power from said communication control apparatus.

19. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

A. a communication control apparatus for detecting an operation of an ignition switch and transmitting the operation to another control unit via a communication line;

B. an air bag controller for driving an air bag inflator in response to an output of a collision sensor and for receiving an ignition switch operation signal from said communication control apparatus and rendering an air bag into an operable stand-by state; and

C. a data protection apparatus for transferring data necessary for backing up when power supply to said air bag controller is cut-off to said communication control apparatus.

20. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

A. said intensive wiring apparatus being adapted to detect lighting of a headerlamp and light a display panel of an air conditioner control unit;

B. a headerlamp lighting detection unit for detecting lighting of said headerlamp;

C. a panel control unit for controlling a display panel of an air conditioner; and

D. a communication control apparatus for connecting said headerlamp lighting detection unit and said panel controller unit to each other by means of a communication line and transmitting the headerlamp lighting information to said display panel control unit via said communication line.

21. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

A. said intensive wiring apparatus being adapted to drive or stop a compressor of a refrigerating cycle in response to on or off of an air conditioner switch;

B. an air conditioner control unit for detecting an on or off state of said air conditioner switch;

C. a compressor control unit for driving or stopping said compressor;

D. a communication line for connecting said air conditioner control unit and said compressor control unit for communication to each other; and

E. a communication control apparatus for transmitting control information of said air conditioner switch from said air conditioner control unit to said compressor control unit via said communication line.

22. An intensive wiring apparatus for an automobile, characterized in that it comprises:

A. a first power supply apparatus connected to a battery;

B. a second power supply apparatus connected in series to said first power supply apparatus;

C. an air conditioner display panel control unit for detecting on or off of an air conditioner switch and displaying the same on a display panel;

D. a compressor control unit for receiving the on or off information of said air conditioner switch and controlling driving or stopping of an air conditioner compressor; and

E. a communication control apparatus for connecting said air conditioner display panel control unit and said compressor control unit to each other by means of a communication line to transmit air conditioner switch information;

that

F. said air conditioner display panel control unit receives supply of power from said first power supply apparatus; and

that

G. said compressor control unit receives supply of power from said second power supply apparatus.