System and method for providing surge, short, and reverse polarity connection protection

• US 6,437,957 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated, Westmont Venture Partners, LLC, CNF Ventures, LLC (XPO, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intra International AB (Midtronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomsen, Jes, Karuppana, Samy V., Jetha, Aly Amirali
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/658,348
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 361/78, 361/84, 361/88, 361/86, 361/54, 361/93.1, 361/93.2, 361/89, 361/91.1, 700/292, 700/294, 307/112, 307/131, 307/125, 307/127
• US Class Current: 361/78
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/087 for dc applications

Abstract

A method and system for controlling power to a cranking subsystem in a device having a power source is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing at least one switch and providing at least one controller. The switch is coupled with the power source and a portion of the device. The at least one controller is coupled with the switch. The at least one controller is for controlling the switch based detection of at least one failure in the portion of the device and to account for the at least one failure in a portion of the device. In one aspect, the method and system comprise monitoring a portion of the device and determining whether at least one failure exists in the portion of the device. In this aspect, the method and system also comprise utilizing the at least one controller to operate at least one switch in order to account for the at least one failure.

Claims

1. A system for managing power in a device having a power source, the system comprising:

at least one switch coupled with the power source and with a portion of the device;

at least one controller, coupled with the switch, for controlling the switch based on detection of at least one failure in the portion of the device and to account for the at least one failure in the portion of the device; and

at least one internal sensor for monitoring at least one status of the at least one switch, the controller also controlling the at least one switch based on the at least one status;

wherein the at least one switch, the at least one internal sensor and the at least one controller are integrated into a single module coupled between the power source and the portion of the device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one failure is a short in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the short.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one failure is an open circuit in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the open circuit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller grounds the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one failure is a reverse polarity connection to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the reverse polarity connection.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is a truck tractor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is a boat.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is a satellite.

10. A method for managing power in a device having a power source, the system comprising the steps of:

providing at least one switch coupled with the power source and with a portion of the device;

providing at least one controller, coupled with the switch, for controlling the switch based on detection of at least one failure in the portion of the device and to account for the at least one failure in a portion of the device; and

providing at least one internal sensor for monitoring at least one status of the at least one switch, the controller also controlling the at least one switch based on the at least one status;

wherein the at least one switch, the at least one internal sensor and the at least one controller are integrated into a single module coupled between the power source and the portion of the device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one failure is a short in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the short.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one failure is an open circuit in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the open circuit.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller grounds the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one failure is a reverse polarity connection to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the reverse polarity connection.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is a truck tractor.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is a boat.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is a satellite.

19. A method for managing power in a device having a power source, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring a portion of the device;

(b) determining whether at last one failure in the portion of the device exists; and

(c) utilizing at least one controller to operate at least one switch in order to account for the at least one failure, the at least one switch being coupled with the power source, the at least one controller and the portion of the device, the step of utilizing the controller further including the step of monitoring at least one status the at least one switch using at least one internal sensor, the controller also controlling the at least one switch based on the at least one status;

wherein the at least one switch, the at least one sensor and the at least one controller are integrated into a single module coupled between the power source and the portion of the device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one failure is a short in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the short.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one failure is an open circuit in the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the open circuit.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller grounds the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one failure is a reverse polarity connection to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the reverse polarity connection.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least one failure is a spike to the portion of the device and wherein the at least one controller opens the at least one switch in response to detection of the spike.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the device is a truck tractor.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the device is a boat.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the device is a satellite.