Electronic Circuit Breaker for an Electrical Load in an On-Board Electrical System of a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure includes an electronic circuit breaker for an electrical load in and on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle. The electronic circuit breaker includes a shunt resistor connected at its input side to an input (E) of the electronic circuit breaker, a controllable switching element coupled at its input side to an output of the shunt resistor and at its output side to an output (A) of the electronic circuit breaker, the output being connectable to the electrical load, and a control input (gate). The electronic circuit breaker also includes a voltage detector and a hold element coupled to the voltage detector and configured to hold the control signal in a switched off (out) state when the controllable switching element has switched off the electrical load.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit breaker for an electrical load in on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle, comprising a shunt resistor connected at its input side to an input (E) of the electronic circuit breaker; a controllable switching element coupled at its input side to an output of the shunt resistor and at its output side to an output (A) of the electronic circuit breaker, the output (A) being connectable to an electrical load, and having a control input (gate); a voltage detector to detect the voltage dropping across the shunt resistor, the voltage detector being configured to make available to the control input (gate) a control signal to switch off the electrical load when a dropping voltage exceeds a threshold value; and a hold element coupled to the voltage detector and configured to keep the control signal in a switched off state (out) when the controllable switching element has switched off the electrical load, the hold element having an npn transistor (npn-1) and including a second npn transistor (npn-2), wherein a collector of the second npn transistor (npn-2) is coupled to a base of the npn transistor (npn-1), an emitter of the second npn transistor (npn-2) being coupled to ground (GND) and a base of the second npn transistor (npn-2) being coupled to a reset output of a control device (C); a control output of the control device (C) being coupled through a third diode (D3) in a forward direction to the base of the npn transistor (npn-1); and a diagnostic input of the control device (C) being coupled to a collector of the npn transistor (npn-1).

2. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the controllable switching element is a semiconductor switching element.

3. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein the controllable switching element is a p-channel MOSFET (p-ch).

4. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the collector of the pnp transistor is coupled via a diode (D1) to the source of the p-channel MOSFET (p-ch) in the forward direction.

5. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein a gate of the p-channel MOSFET is coupled via a resistor (RG) to ground.

6. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1, comprising instead of the second npn transistor (npn-2): a first button, with the input (E) of the electronic circuit breaker being coupled through the button via a third diode (D3) in a forward direction to the base of the npn transistor (npn-1); and a second button, with the base of the npn transistor (npn-1) being coupled through the button to ground (GND).

7. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detector has a pnp transistor (pnp).

8. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 7, wherein the base of the pnp transistor (pnp) is coupled via a first resistor (R1) to the output of the shunt resistor; the emitter of the pnp transistor (pnp) is coupled to the input of the shunt resistor; and the collector of the pnp transistor (pnp) is coupled to the hold element.

9. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 7, wherein the collector of the pnp transistor (pnp), starting from the pnp transistor (pnp) in the forward direction, is coupled via a second diode (D2) to the base of the npn transistor (npn-1); the collector of the npn transistor (npn-1) is coupled via a second resistor (R2) to the base of the pnp transistor (pnp); and the emitter of the npn transistor (npn-1) is coupled to ground (GND).

11. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1 further comprising a melting fuse.

12. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1 further comprising a control unit that is triggered via the output (A) of the electronic circuit breaker in order not to continue supplying the connected load.

13. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 12 further comprising a communication bus.

14. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 13 wherein the communication bus is selected from the group consisting of I.sup.2C, LIN and CAN.

15. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1 further comprising a protective circuit provided before the diagnostic input.

16. A motor vehicle having the electronic circuit breaker according to claim 1.

17. An electronic circuit breaker for an electrical load in on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle, comprising a shunt resistor connected at its input side to an input (E) of the electronic circuit breaker; a controllable switching element coupled at its input side to an output of the shunt resistor and at its output side to an output (A) of the electronic circuit breaker, the output (A) being connectable to an electrical load, and having a control input (gate); a voltage detector to detect the voltage dropping across the shunt resistor, the voltage detector being configured to make available to the control input (gate) a control signal to switch off the electrical load when a dropping voltage exceeds a threshold value; and a hold element coupled to the voltage detector and configured to keep the control signal in a switched off state (out) when the controllable switching element has switched off the electrical load,

18. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 17 further comprising; a control device (C) having a control output and a diagnostic input, the control output and the diagnostic input being coupled to the hold element.

19. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 17, wherein the controllable switching element is a semiconductor switching element.

20. The electronic circuit breaker according to claim 17 further comprising a communication bus.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0036] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a first form of an electronic circuit breaker according to the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a second form of an electronic circuit breaker according to the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a third form of an electronic circuit breaker according to the present disclosure; and

[0040] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a fourth form of an electronic circuit breaker according to the present disclosure.

[0041] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0043] An electronic circuit breaker 1 for loads 2 in an on-board electrical system 11 of a motor vehicle 12 is shown in FIG. 1. In its simplest form, the on-board electrical system 11 includes a load 2 supplied by an energy storage device 4 via an electronic circuit breaker 1. This load stands for additional loads 2 and electronic circuit breakers 4, and also current distributors, etc. The electronic circuit breaker 1 includes a shunt resistor 3, a controllable switching unit 7, a voltage detector 5 and a hold element 6. The electronic circuit breaker 1 also has an input E and an output A. The input E is electrically coupled to the energy storage device 4, and the output A is electrically coupled to the electrical load 2. The common ground GND is represented in FIG. 1 by four ground terminals GND. The input E is electrically coupled to the output A through the shunt resistor 3 and the controllable switching element 7. The voltage detector 5 is arranged parallel to the shunt resistor 3. In addition, a control input GATE of the controllable switching element 7 is electrically coupled to the voltage detector 5 and to ground. The hold element 6 is connected to the voltage detector 5, to the gate of the controllable switching element 7 and to ground.

[0044] In one variant the controllable switching element 7 is a semiconductor switch, particularly in the form of a power transistor.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a second form of the present disclosure, in which the controllable switching element 7 is provided in the form of a MOSFET 7. The MOSFET 7 in this case is also referred to as p-ch, since it is a p-channel MOSFET 7. Here the voltage detector 5 includes a pnp transistor pnp and the hold element 6 includes an npn transistor npn-1.

[0046] The source of the MOSFET p-ch or controllable switching element 7 is electrically coupled to the shunt resistor 3; the drain of the MOSFET p-ch or controllable switching element 7 is electrically coupled to the output A of the electronic circuit breaker 1. The emitter of the pnp transistor pnp is electrically coupled to the input of the electronic circuit breaker 1 and the base of the pnp transistor pnp is electrically coupled via a first resistor R1 to the source of the MOSFET p-ch or the controllable switching element 7. In the form shown with a p-channel MOSFET, a first diode D1 is arranged between the gate and the source of the MOSFET, which has a forward direction toward the source. The collector of the pnp transistor pnp is connected to the gate of the MOSFET or to the control input of the controllable switching element 7.

[0047] In addition, the collector of the pnp transistor pnp is electrically coupled via a second diode D2 to the base of the (first) npn transistor npn-1. The forward direction of the second diode D2 is toward the npn transistor npn-1. The emitter of the npn transistor is connected to ground GND; the collector of the npn transistor npn-1 is connected via a second resistor R2 to the base of the pnp transistor pnp.

[0048] The circuit of the electronic circuit breaker 1 comprises a shunt resistor 3 to detect the flowing current; a p-channel MOSFET p-ch as a switching element 7; a pnp transistor pnp as voltage detector 5; and an npn transistor npn-1 as the hold element 6. A primary feature of the present disclosure is formed by the locking cut-off of the p-channel MOSFET p-ch by the pnp transistor pnp when its base emitter threshold voltage is reached. The base and the emitter of the pnp transistor pnp are directly connected to the shunt resistor 3; therefore, the base emitter voltage and the shunt value are decisive for dimensioning the short-circuit current. The locking cut-off is achieved in that the additional npn transistor npn-1 pulls down the base of the pnp transistor pnp in the event of an overcurrent, and its base terminal and also the gate terminal of the p-channel MOSFET are controlled from the collector of the pnp transistor pnp.

[0049] The third form of an electronic circuit breaker 1 as shown in FIG. 3 differs in particular from the second form by a second npn transistor npn-2 for resetting. The control and diagnosis are provided by a control device C.

[0050] Accordingly, the second form shown in FIG. 2 has been expanded by the second npn transistor npn-2 and the control device C in FIG. 3. The collector of the second npn transistor npn-2 is connected to the base of the first npn transistor npn-1. The emitter of the second npn transistor npn-2 is electrically coupled to the emitter of the first npn transistor npn-1 and to ground GND. The base of the second npn transistor npn-2 is connected to a reset terminal RESET of the control device C.

[0051] A diagnostic input 13 of the control device C is connected to the collector of the (first) npn transistor npn-1; a TEST or OFF output of the control device C is electrically coupled through a third diode D3 to the base of the first transistor npn-1 and/or to the collector of the second npn transistor npn-2.

[0052] The control device is coupled for voltage supply to the energy storage device 4 and also has a communication bus terminal 14 implemented here in the third form as a LIN bus. In variants of the form shown, the communication bus is implemented as I.sup.2C, CAN or any other standard bus type for communication with a higher-level control device.

[0053] An optional protective circuit is provided before the diagnostic input. A flank of 12 V to 0 V is applied here as a standard, so that a voltage divider or current limiter can limit the signal level to protect the diagnostic input.

[0054] The circuit shown in FIG. 3 comprises a shunt resistor 3 (shunt) to detect the flowing current; a p-channel MOSFET p-ch as a switching element 7; a pnp transistor pnp as voltage detector 5; a first npn transistor npn-1 as a hold element 6; and a second npn transistor npn-2 for resetting purposes. When the battery voltage is applied the electronic circuit breaker 1 is immediately put into the conducting state, since the gate of the p-ch MOSFET 7 is suspended over the resistor Rg to ground GND. The signals of the control device C are to be presumed to be logic zero (as in the sleep mode). The diode D1 protects the gate of the power transistor 7 in the event of transient overvoltages. Furthermore, this diode D1 is responsible for the quiescent current consumption conditioned by its leakage current. If the consumer 2 draws an overcurrent, then a voltage drops at the shunt resistor 3. If this voltage reaches the base-emitter voltage of the pnp transistor pnp, the transistor becomes conductive. Thereupon, the gate of the power transistor 7 is pulled up to its source potential and the MOSFET 7 begins to block. Since the pnp transistor pnp also supplies the first npn transistor npn-1 through the diode D2, and the npn transistor in turn is connected through the second resistor R2 to the base of the pnp transistor pnp, this has the effect of positive feedback. The pnp transistor pnp thereby remains activated. This is how the locking cut-off of the p-channel MOSFET p-ch/7 is achieved. This state may be detected via the diagnostic line. The level here changes from high typically 12 V to low typically 0 V. In order to reactivate the circuit, an external RESET signal (high level) must be injected. This signal controls the second npn transistor npn-2, which in turn pulls the base of the first npn transistor npn-1 to ground GND. This causes the first npn transistor npn-1 to lose its triggering and the base of the pnp transistor pnp is pulled over the first resistor R1 to its emitter potential. This causes it to lock and the MOSFET p-ch/7 becomes conductive again. An external signal can also be injected via the third diode D3 to test the circuit. The first npn transistor npn-1 is triggered in this way and pulls the base of the pnp transistor pnp to ground GND. The MOSFET p-ch/7 then switches off. This simulates the occurrence of an overcurrent.

[0055] The circuit shown is designed for signal levels essentially of 12 V. Of course an expert can adapt the circuit for 24 V or 48 V. In that case, however, an additional gate circuit and, as a supplement or alternative, a driver must be included instead of the resistor Rg.

[0056] Both the RESET function and a test function of the manual triggering may be realized as an alternative through a respective button. A corresponding fourth form is shown FIG. 4. A first button 9 between the input E of the electronic circuit breaker and the base of the npn transistor npn-1 enables manual triggering. A second button 10 replaces the second npn transistor of the third form to allow the circuit to be reset.

[0057] Thus, the fourth form corresponds to the second form with the addition of having a first button 9 between the input of the electronic circuit breaker 1 and the base of the npn transistor npn-1. A resistor and a third diode D3 are arranged between the first button and the base of the npn transistor npn-1 The forward direction of the third diode D3 is toward the npn transistor npn-1.

[0058] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.