POWER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A LOAD IN A VEHICLE

Abstract

The electric energy provided to some loads in a vehicle is limited or controlled by a power controller that receives a signal specifying how much power should be provided to the load. When the link providing the power-specifying signal is lost, the controller adjusts the power to the load according to an internal temperature of the controller instead of simply providing full power to the load.

Claims

1. A power control apparatus configured to vary electrical power delivered to a load, the power control apparatus comprising: a control unit, configured to: receive a power specification from a power specification unit; and detect an interruption of a connection between the power control apparatus a power specification unit; a temperature acquisition unit configured to detect a temperature of the power control apparatus; wherein, the control unit is configured to change the amount of electrical power delivered to the load responsive to a temperature detected by the temperature acquisition unit, when a connection between the power control apparatus and the power specification unit is interrupted.

2. The power control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the electrical power delivered to the load when a predetermined temperature threshold value is detected.

3. The power control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the temperature threshold value is variable.

4. The power control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amount of electrical power delivered is determined using a thermal time constant of the power control apparatus.

5. The power control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to switch off the power control apparatus when a maximum temperature is reached detected.

6. A fluid pump assembly comprising: a fluid pump, configured to vary a fluid pumping capacity as a function of electrical power provided to the fluid pump; and a power control apparatus coupled to the fluid pump and configured to provide electrical power to the fluid pump.

7. The fluid pump assembly of claim 6, wherein the fluid pump assembly is a fuel pump assembly for a motor vehicle.

8. A motor vehicle comprising a fluid pump assembly as claimed in claim 6, the motor vehicle additionally comprising: a fuel reservoir holding fuel for the motor vehicle; an internal combustion engine, controlled by an internal combustion engine controller; wherein the fluid pump is arranged such that it supplies fuel from the fuel reservoir to the combustion engine; and wherein the combustion engine controller is configured to provide a fuel pump power specification to the power control apparatus.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the internal combustion engine controller sends a signal to the power control apparatus and receives a response signal therefrom, the internal combustion engine controller can being configured to detect when a response signal is not received.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the internal combustion engine controller is configured to calculate a power behavior of the power control apparatus when the connection to the power control apparatus is interrupted.

11. A method for adjusting the electrical power delivered by a power control apparatus to a load, the method comprising: monitoring the status of a connection between the power control apparatus and the load; operating the power control apparatus in an emergency mode when a connection between the power control apparatus and load is interrupted, the emergency mode comprising: determining a temperature of the power control apparatus; changing the amount of electrical power delivered by the power control apparatus to the load responsive to the temperature of the power control apparatus.

12. The method as claimed of claim 11, wherein the electrical power delivered by the power control apparatus to the load is reduced when the temperature of the power control apparatus has reached a predetermined limit value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a power control apparatus which is coupled to a power specification unit and a load.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a fluid pump assembly.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the steps of a method for adjusting the power that is delivered by a power control apparatus.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an automobile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The representations in the figures are schematic and not shown to scale. Where the same reference signs are used, they refer to identical or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a power control apparatus 10 which is coupled to a power specification unit 30 and a load 20. Power specification unit 30 is designed to transmit control signals to power control apparatus 10 for the purpose of specifying the functioning and the operating point, particularly the power delivered by power control apparatus 10 to load 20. Power control apparatus 10 is coupled to the load via a connection that is configured to transmit electrical energy for operation of the load.

[0051] Power control apparatus 10 includes a control unit 12 and a temperature acquisition unit 14, e.g., a temperature sensor.

[0052] Control unit 12 of power control apparatus 10 is designed to monitor the status of the connection with the power control apparatus, and in the event that said connection is interrupted to control the energy that is delivered to load 20 as described above, that is to say particularly taking into account the temperature of power control apparatus 10 detected by temperature acquisition unit 14.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a fluid pump assembly 100 which includes a power control apparatus. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the power control apparatus is a fuel pump control device or a fuel pump regulator 103. The temperature acquisition unit is designed as a temperature sensor 104. The load is a fluid pump in the form of a fuel pump 106, which is arranged in or on a fluid reservoir 101, e.g., a fuel tank in an automobile. The power specification unit is an engine controller 107.

[0054] Fluid pump 102 transports fuel from fluid reservoir 101 via a fuel line 132 to a second fuel pump 106, which increases the pressure on the fuel and supplies it to an engine 108 via fuel line 134.

[0055] Engine controller 107 controls the engine 108 via signal connection 120 and the fuel pump regulator 103 via signal connection 122 on the basis of the engine's operating point. Fuel pump regulator 103 transmits the required power to fuel pump 102 via electrical connection 124 in order to vary the quantity of fuel supplied.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a fluid pump assembly 100 which particularly forms part of an automobile fluid supply system, for example part of a fuel supply system for diesel or gasoline for an internal combustion engine in the automobile. Fluid pump assembly 100 includes a tank 101 for storing the fuel. A fluid pump 102 is provided. In the exemplary embodiment, fluid pump 102 is a fuel pump. Fuel pump 102 is provided in order to transport the fuel from tank 101. In particular, fuel pump 102 is a “pre-feed” pump which is able to generate pressures of up to 8 bar at an outlet side 105 of fuel pump 102. Fuel pump 102 transports the fuel to another fuel pump 106, for example, which subjects the fuel to higher pressure, for example up to 500 bar in the case of gasoline and up to 3000 bar for diesel. Fuel pump 102 is electrically connected to a device 103. Device 103 is configured to control and/or regulate fuel pump 102. In particular, fuel pump 102 is a speed-controlled pump. Device 103 is for example part of a pump control device. Fuel pump 102 is thus regulated locally, thereby making it possible to relieve the engine controller of the pressure limitation function. Device 103 may be part of the engine controller or it may be a separate electronic regulator connected to engine controller 107 via a CAN bus for example, or it may be divided among several control devices. Device 103 is equipped with a temperature sensor 104 for determining ambient temperature and the temperature of device 103. Temperature sensor 104 may be provided on the printed circuit board of device 103, for example. In this way, the temperature may be evaluated easily and without additional costs due to a further sensor.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the steps of a method for adjusting the electrical power delivered by a power control apparatus 10, 103. The method includes the following steps:

[0058] Monitoring S1 of the status of a connection to a power control apparatus 30, 107. Operating S2 the power control apparatus in an emergency mode if the connection to the power control apparatus has been interrupted. In emergency mode, determining S3 a temperature of the power control apparatus and adapting S4 an electrical power delivered by the power control apparatus based on the temperature of the power control apparatus.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows an automobile 1 equipped with a fluid pump assembly 100 as described in FIG. 2. The actual arrangement of the elements of fluid pump assembly 100 in the automobile may vary and is therefore only represented schematically in FIG. 4.