Power supplying apparatus for vehicle and intensive wiring apparatus

• US 20040257732A1
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Car Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsaka, Ichiro, Okamoto, Kaneyuki, Kon-i, Mitsuru, Saito, Hiroyuki, Sakamoto, Shinichi, Yoshida, Tatsuya, Kuramochi, Yuichi, Horibe, Kiyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,282,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/62
• 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: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models

Abstract

An electric power supply system for a vehicle has an electric power line wired in a loop configuration. From the electric power line power is supplied to a load, and to another system which supplies control system power supply. One shutdown circuit is provided in a module connected to the loop configured power supply line. When the electric power line and the load are short circuited, the shutdown can isolate and shut down only the failure point. Further, when the car is not in use, by stopping the power supply to the load, current consumption can be restrained. In response to detection of a ground short and a failure of a connection of a connector, an over-current prevention of an electric power line, a simple construction can be provided and a low current consumption can be realized.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an electric power line comprising a plurality of sequentially connected segments wired in an interior of a vehicle from a battery, for supplying power to various kinds of loads of said vehicle via a plurality of modules which are connected to receive electric power via respective segments of said electric power line;

a semiconductor switching element connected between each respective segment and a load supplied by said segment for controlling electric power to said load;

a plurality of short sensors for detecting a short circuit in at least one of said plurality of segments of said electric power line, said at least one segment connecting respective modules;

a power supply shutdown means connected in series with each segment of said electric power line connecting respective modules, said power supply shutdown means being connected in series with said semiconductor switching element to supply electric power to said semiconductor switching means;

a control circuit for specifying a short circuited segment of said electric power line in accordance with a short detection condition of said plurality of short sensors; and

means responsive to signals from said control circuit for cutting off the power supply cutoff means, and removing the short circuited segment from said electric power line for supplying power to said loads;

wherein,

the electric power line includes a plurality of sensor electric lines which form outer layer portions of the respective segments of the electric power line, and are provided with a short detecting potential;

the sensor lines are divided into connecting portions for the respective control modules of the electric power line, or in connecting portions at a midpoint of the electric power line; and

a short circuit in a particular segment is predicted based on a change of the potential of the plurality of sensor lines.