Auxiliary battery system
First Claim
1. An auxiliary power system for an electrical load in a vehicle electrical system having a primary electrical bus and an electrical load, the auxiliary power system comprising:
- an electrical input adapted to be connected to the primary electrical bus for receiving power from the primary electrical bus;
an electrical output adapted to be coupled in electrical communication with the electrical load of the vehicle electrical system;
an auxiliary battery having first and second terminals for producing a battery voltage that provides auxiliary power to the electrical load through the electrical output;
a thermal transducer in physical contact with the auxiliary battery, the thermal transducer generating an electrical signal representative of the temperature of the auxiliary battery;
a charger circuit electrically connected to the first and second terminals of the auxiliary battery and responsive to the thermal transducer, the charger circuit adapted to receive power from the primary electrical bus through the electrical input, the charger circuit adapted to deliver a controlled charging current to the auxiliary battery via the first and second terminals, and wherein the charger circuit is responsive to at least the temperature of the auxiliary battery to control the charging current delivered to the auxiliary battery; and
an output power delivery circuit comprising first and second unidirectional electrically conductive devices and a controllably conductive device, the first unidirectional electrically conductive device electrically coupled between the electrical input and the electrical output so as to provide power to the electrical load from the electrical input during a normal power condition, the second unidirectional electrically conductive device electrically coupled in series with the controllably conductive device;
wherein the series combination of the second unidirectional electrically conductive device and the controllably conductive device is electrically coupled between the electrical output and at least one of the first and second terminals of the auxiliary battery to provide a path for power delivery from the auxiliary battery to the electrical load during an emergency power condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An auxiliary power system for an electrical load in a vehicle electrical system includes an auxiliary battery, a thermal transducer in physical contact with the auxiliary battery, a charger circuit for controlling the charging of the battery in response to at least a temperature of the auxiliary battery, and an output power delivery circuit for providing power to an electrical load during normal and emergency conditions. The auxiliary power system is housed in a thermally-conductive enclosure that is in thermal communication with the charger circuit and the power delivered circuit. The power delivery circuit selectively delivers power to the electrical output from both an electrical input terminal and from the battery based on the magnitude of a voltage available on the electrical input terminal.
12 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An auxiliary power system for an electrical load in a vehicle electrical system having a primary electrical bus and an electrical load, the auxiliary power system comprising:
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an electrical input adapted to be connected to the primary electrical bus for receiving power from the primary electrical bus; an electrical output adapted to be coupled in electrical communication with the electrical load of the vehicle electrical system; an auxiliary battery having first and second terminals for producing a battery voltage that provides auxiliary power to the electrical load through the electrical output; a thermal transducer in physical contact with the auxiliary battery, the thermal transducer generating an electrical signal representative of the temperature of the auxiliary battery; a charger circuit electrically connected to the first and second terminals of the auxiliary battery and responsive to the thermal transducer, the charger circuit adapted to receive power from the primary electrical bus through the electrical input, the charger circuit adapted to deliver a controlled charging current to the auxiliary battery via the first and second terminals, and wherein the charger circuit is responsive to at least the temperature of the auxiliary battery to control the charging current delivered to the auxiliary battery; and an output power delivery circuit comprising first and second unidirectional electrically conductive devices and a controllably conductive device, the first unidirectional electrically conductive device electrically coupled between the electrical input and the electrical output so as to provide power to the electrical load from the electrical input during a normal power condition, the second unidirectional electrically conductive device electrically coupled in series with the controllably conductive device; wherein the series combination of the second unidirectional electrically conductive device and the controllably conductive device is electrically coupled between the electrical output and at least one of the first and second terminals of the auxiliary battery to provide a path for power delivery from the auxiliary battery to the electrical load during an emergency power condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for providing emergency and normal power to an electrical load in a vehicle electrical system comprising:
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first and second electrical inputs to the apparatus, the first and the second electrical inputs adapted to be electrically connected to a source of DC power available in the vehicle electrical system; an electrical output of the apparatus connectable to the electrical load; a rechargeable battery having first and second main terminals, the rechargeable battery operable to receive and deliver electrical power; a battery charging circuit adapted to receive electrical power from the first electrical input and in electrical communication with the first and second main terminals of the rechargeable battery; a power delivery circuit electrically coupled between the second electrical input and the electrical output, the power delivery circuit further electrically coupled to the rechargeable battery for additionally receiving power from the rechargeable battery, the power delivery circuit adapted to direct the flow of power available to the electrical output of the apparatus from either the second electrical input or the rechargeable battery; and a thermally-conductive enclosure housing the rechargeable battery, the battery charging circuit, the first and second electrical inputs, the electrical output and the power delivery circuit; wherein the power delivery circuit and the battery charging circuit are in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A back-up battery power delivery system comprising:
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an enclosure; a rechargeable battery within the enclosure; a battery management circuit within the enclosure, wherein the battery management, circuit maintains the charge state of the rechargeable battery; a power delivery circuit within the enclosure; an electrical input adapted to receive power to charge the rechargeable battery and to deliver electrical power to the power delivery circuit; and an electrical output adapted to provide electrical power to a load connected to the back-up battery power delivery system; wherein the power delivery circuit is adapted to receive power from both the electrical input and from the rechargeable battery and selectively delivers power to the electrical output based on the magnitude of the voltage available on the electrical input. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification