APPARATUS TO PROVIDE REVERSE POLARITY PROTECTION

• US 20170126004A1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Voigt, Wolfgang, Parras, Karl-Heinz
• Granted Patent: US 10,320,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/597 Protection against reversal of polarity
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/002 in case of inverted polarity or connection; with switching for obtaining correct connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/003 using a field effect transistor as protecting element in one of the supply lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/18 responsive to reversal of direct current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus configured to protect one or more system components from damage due to reverse polarity connection of a power supply comprising a relay located between said power supply and said components, and configured to detect when a power supply is provided with reverse polarity and to consequently switch the relay to an open state to isolate said power supply from said components.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. An apparatus configured to protect one or more system components from damage due to reversed polarity connection of a power supply, said apparatus comprising:

a relay located between said power supply and said one or more system components, and configured to detect the reversed polarity connection to the power supply and configured to consequently open the relay to isolate said power supply from said one or more system components, wherein said relay includes

one or more relay coils connected to the power supply,

a first switch connecting the power supply to the one or more relay coils, said first switch being connected to detection means for detecting the reversed polarity connection, said first switch configured to be switched on to drive current through the one or more relay coils to open the relay on detection of the reversed polarity connection, and

SET and RESET coils arranged in parallel and connected to said first switch such that the current is driven through the SET and RESET coils in opposite directions so that said SET and RESET coils both act in synergy to open the relay when said reversed polarity connection is detected.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the detection means is configured to detect a correct polarity connection with the power supply and consequently close the relay.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said detection means comprises a second switch configured to be switched on when the correct polarity connection is detected, thereby sending the current through the one or more relay coils to close the relay.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said SET and RESET coils are connected to the second switch such that, the current is driven through the SET and RESET coils in opposite directions when correct polarity is detected so that said SET and RESET coils both act in synergy to close the relay.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said relay includes the one or more relay coils connected to the power supply via the first switch, said first switch being connected to means to detect the reversed polarity connection, configured to be switched on to drive the current through the SET and RESET coils to open the relay on detection of the reversed polarity connection.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detection means includes a capacitor connected to said power supply between the relay and the one or more system components and configured to be charged as a consequence of reverse polarity to provide a voltage level, which when achieved, is configured to activate said first switch.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first switch is a power FET and said apparatus further comprises a first intermediate switch intermediate said first switch and said capacitor, said first intermediate switch configured to turn said first switch ON when said voltage level is achieved.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second intermediate switches comprise transistors and said first and second switches comprise power transistors.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a diode arranged in parallel with the one or more relay coils configured to absorb coil energy when said first switch is OFF.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detection means includes a second intermediate switch located between the power supply and second switch and having connection to the both sides of the power supply with respect to contacts of the relay, and configured to switch on said second switch on detection of correct polarity.