Onboard power supply system

Abstract

A vehicle onboard power supply system, supplying a consumer with electrical energy, includes a first voltage detection device (55) detecting a voltage level in a line area (51) between an input terminal (34) of a first circuit breaker (26) and a first battery (16), a second voltage detection device (57) detecting the voltage level in a line area (53) between an input terminal (42) of a third circuit breaker (30) and a second battery (18), a third voltage detection device (58) detecting the voltage level in the area of a consumer connection line (12). An overvoltage detection device (62) detects an overvoltage in the area of the consumer connection line based on the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device and switches the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states when overvoltage is detected in the area of the consumer connection line.

Claims

1. A vehicle onboard power supply system for supplying at least one consumer with electrical energy in a vehicle, the onboard power supply comprising: a first battery; a second battery; a circuit breaker device connecting the first battery and the second battery in parallel to one another to a consumer connection line area, the circuit breaker device comprising: a first circuit breaker group between the first battery and the consumer connection line area, wherein the first circuit breaker group comprises a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker connected in series to the first circuit breaker, wherein each of the first circuit breaker and the second circuit breaker has an input terminal and an output terminal and has a line connection between the input terminal and the output terminal in a closed state and acts as a diode blocking a direction from the output terminal to the input terminal in an open state, wherein the output terminal of the first circuit breaker is connected to the output terminal of the second circuit breaker and wherein the input terminal of the first circuit breaker is connected to the first battery and the input terminal of the second circuit breaker is connected to the consumer connection line area; and a second circuit breaker group between the second battery and the consumer connection line area, wherein the second circuit breaker group comprises a third circuit breaker and a fourth circuit breaker connected in series to the third circuit breaker, wherein each of the third circuit breaker and fourth circuit breaker has an input terminal and an output terminal and has a line connection between the input terminal and the output terminal in a closed state and acts as a diode blocking in a direction from the output terminal to the input terminal in an open state, wherein the output terminal of the third circuit breaker is connected to the output terminal of the fourth circuit breaker and wherein the input terminal of the third circuit breaker is connected to the second battery and the input terminal of the fourth circuit breaker is connected to the consumer connection line area; a first voltage detection device configured to detect a voltage level in a line area between the input terminal of the first circuit breaker and the first battery, a second voltage detection device configured to detect a voltage level in a line area between the input terminal of the third circuit breaker and the second battery, a third voltage detection device configured to detect a voltage level in an area of the consumer connection line area; and an overvoltage detection device configured to detect an overvoltage in the area of the consumer connection line area based on the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device and configured to switch the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states when overvoltage is detected in the area of the consumer connection line area.

2. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the overvoltage detection device is configured as an electrical circuit for comparing the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device with a first reference voltage level and for generating a circuit breaker switching signal switching the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into the open states in case of a voltage level above the first reference voltage level in the consumer connection line area.

3. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a circuit breaker actuating unit configured to switch each of the circuit breakers between the open state and the closed state, and configured to compare the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device and by the second voltage detection device with a second reference voltage level.

4. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the circuit breaker actuating unit comprises a microprocessor device generating switching commands for the circuit breakers.

5. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a circuit breaker actuating unit configured to switch each of the circuit breakers between the open state and the closed state, and configured to compare the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device and by the second voltage detection device with a second reference voltage level, wherein: the overvoltage detection device is configured to output an overvoltage signal to the circuit breaker actuating unit when overvoltage is detected in the consumer connection line area; the circuit breaker actuating unit is configured to compare the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device and the voltage level detected by the second voltage detection device with the second reference voltage level upon receipt of the overvoltage signal, and to switch the second circuit breaker into the open state when the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device is above the second reference voltage level, and to switch the fourth circuit breaker into the open state when the voltage level detected by the second voltage detection device is above the second reference voltage level.

6. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the circuit breaker actuating device is configured to switch the third circuit breaker into the closed state when the second circuit breaker is switched into the open state, and to switch the first circuit breaker into the closed state when the fourth circuit breaker is switched into its open state.

7. A vehicle onboard power supply system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each circuit breaker comprises at least one MOSFET switch; and the input terminal is provided in each circuit breaker by a source terminal of the at least one MOSFET switch and the output terminal is provided by the drain terminal of the at least one MOSFET switch.

8. A process for operating an onboard power supply system for supplying at least one consumer with electrical energy in a vehicle, said onboard power supply system comprising: a first battery; a second battery; a circuit breaker device connecting the first battery and the second battery in parallel to one another to a consumer connection line area, wherein the circuit breaker device comprises: a first circuit breaker group between the first battery and the consumer connection line area, wherein the first circuit breaker group comprises a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker connected in series to the first circuit breaker, wherein each of the first circuit breaker and second circuit breaker has an input terminal and an output terminal and has a line connection between the input terminal and the output terminal in a closed state and acts as a diode blocking in a direction from the output terminal to the input terminal in an open state, wherein the output terminal of the first circuit breaker is connected to the output terminal of the second circuit breaker, and wherein the input terminal of the first circuit breaker is connected to the first battery and the input terminal of the second circuit breaker is connected to the consumer connection line area; and a second circuit breaker group between the second battery and the consumer connection line area, wherein the second circuit breaker group comprises a third circuit breaker and a fourth circuit breaker connected in series to the third circuit breaker, wherein each of the third circuit breaker and fourth circuit breaker has an input terminal and an output terminal and has a line connection between the input terminal and the output terminal in a closed state and acts as a diode blocking in a direction from the output terminal to the input terminal in an open state, wherein the output terminal of the third circuit breaker is connected to the output terminal of the fourth circuit breaker, and wherein the input terminal of the third circuit breaker is connected to the second battery and the input terminal of the fourth circuit breaker is connected to the consumer connection line area; a first voltage detection device configured to detecting a voltage level in a line area between the input terminal of the first circuit breaker and the first battery; a second voltage detection device configured to detect a voltage level in a line area between the input terminal of the third circuit breaker and the second battery; and a third voltage detection device configured to detect a voltage level in the area of the consumer connection line area, the process comprising the steps of: comparing the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device with a first reference voltage level; and if the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device is above the first reference voltage level, switching the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states.

9. A process in accordance with claim 8, wherein after switching the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states, the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device and the voltage level detected by the second voltage detection device are compared to a second reference voltage level and if the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device is above the second reference voltage level, the second circuit breaker is switched into the open state, and if the voltage level detected by the second voltage detection device is above the second reference voltage level, the fourth circuit breaker is switched into the open state.

10. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein if the second circuit breaker is switched into the open state, the third circuit breaker is switched into the closed state in the step of switching the second circuit breaker into the open state and if the fourth circuit breaker is switched into the open state, the first circuit breaker is switched into the closed state.

11. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the second reference voltage level corresponds to the first reference voltage level.

12. A process in accordance with claim 8, wherein the steps of comparing the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device with a first reference voltage level and switching the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states are carried out by an overvoltage detection device configured as an electrical circuit.

13. A process in accordance with claim 9, wherein the switching of the first circuit breaker and the third circuit breaker into open states and the switching of the second circuit breaker into the open state if the voltage level detected by the first voltage detection device is above the second reference voltage level with the comparing of the voltage detected by first voltage detection device and the voltage level detected by the second voltage detection device, are carried out by a circuit breaker actuating unit comprising a microprocessor device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an onboard power supply system for a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) Referring to the drawings, an onboard power supply system for a vehicle is generally designated by 10 in FIG. 1. One or more consumers 14 connected to a consumer connection line area 12 are supplied with electrical energy from two batteries 16, 18 in the onboard power supply system 10.

(4) In order to make it possible to connect the batteries 16, 18 to the consumer or consumers 14 and to the consumer connection area 12 and to decouple them from same, a circuit breaker device generally designated by 20 is provided. The circuit breaker device 20 comprises a respective circuit breaker group 22, 24, in association with each of the two batteries 16, 18 supplying the consumer or consumers 14, for example, in parallel.

(5) The first circuit breaker group 22 associated with the first battery 16 comprises a first circuit breaker 26 and, connected in series to it, a second circuit breaker 28. The second circuit breaker group 24 provided in association with the second battery 18 likewise comprises a third circuit breaker 30 and, arranged in series to it, a fourth circuit breaker 32.

(6) Each of these circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 preferably comprises at least one MOSFET switch, especially a normally blocking n-channel MOSFET switch. It should be noted that one or more of these circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 may also comprise a plurality of MOSFET switches operating in parallel with one another.

(7) The first circuit breaker 26 has an input terminal 34 connected to the battery 16. The second circuit breaker 28 likewise has an input terminal 36 connected to the consumer connection line area 12. An output terminal 38 of the first circuit breaker 26 is connected to an output terminal 40 of the second circuit breaker 28.

(8) An input terminal 42 of the third circuit breaker 30 is connected to the second battery 18. An input terminal 44 of the fourth circuit breaker 32 is connected to the consumer connection line area 12 and hence also to the input area 36 of the second circuit breaker 28. An output terminal 46 of the third circuit breaker 30 is connected to an output terminal 48 of the fourth circuit breaker 32.

(9) Especially if the circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 are configured as MOSFET switches, the input terminals 34, 36, 42, 44 thereof may be provided each by the source terminal, while the output terminals 38, 40, 46, 48 may be provided each by the drain terminals. Further, each of these circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 has in this case an actuating terminal 50, 52, 54, 56, which is provided by a respective gate terminal and to which a circuit breaker switching signal, i.e., a respective gate voltage, can be applied in the manner described below to switch the circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 between a basically non-conducting open state and a closed state in which there is conduction in both directions. As is illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 acts as a diode in its open state, and the circuit breakers 26, 28 of the first circuit breaker group 22, which are each associated with one another in pairs, as well as the circuit breakers 30, 32 of the second circuit breaker group 24, which are associated with one another in pairs, are switched opposite to one another in respect to this diode function by connecting their respective output terminals 38, 40 as well as 46, 48, i.e., their respective drain terminals to one another. The consequence of this is that, for example, when the circuit breakers 26, 28 are maintained in the open state in the first circuit breaker group 22, the first circuit breaker 26 would basically allow a flow of current in the open state from the first battery 16 to the consumer connection line area 12 and hence to the consumer or consumers 14 based on its diode function, while the second circuit breaker 28 connected in the opposite sense in respect to its diode function has a blocking action in this state and therefore decouples the consumer connection line area 12 from the first battery 16. If only the second circuit breaker 28 is switched into its closed state, the consumer connection line area 12 is coupled to the first battery 16 based on the diode function of the first circuit breaker 26, so that the consumer or consumers 14 can be supplied with electrical energy from the first battery 16. A corresponding functionality is also present in the area of the second battery 18 or of the second circuit breaker group 24 associated with this battery. This means that each of the circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32 has a blocking action in the open state from its respective output terminal 38, 40, 46, 48 to the respective input terminal 34, 36, 42, 44, i.e., it does not allow a current flow in this direction, but it is conductive in the other direction based on the diode function.

(10) A first voltage detection device 55 is provided in association with the first battery 16 in a line area 51 between the first battery 16 and the first circuit breaker 26. A second voltage detection device 57 is likewise provided in association with the second battery 18 in a line area 53 between the second battery 18 and the third circuit breaker 30. A third voltage detection device 58 is provided in association with the consumer connection line area 12, i.e., between the input terminals 36, 44 of the second circuit breaker 28 and of the fourth circuit breaker 32 and the consumer or consumers 14. Each of these voltage detection devices 52, 56, 58 is configured to detect the voltage level or the potential in the respective line area 51, 53, 12, for example, in relation to a ground potential, and to output a voltage signal representing this voltage level. The first voltage detection device 55 and the second voltage detection device 57 output the respective voltage signal generated in them to a circuit breaker actuating unit 60. The third voltage detection device 58 outputs the voltage signal generated in it to an overvoltage detection device 62.

(11) The circuit breaker actuating unit 60 comprises one or more microprocessors and is programmed with control programs, which actuate all circuit breakers 26, 28, 30, 32, taking different input signals into consideration. These input signals may also comprise, for example, current signals, which represent the current flowing through a first current detection device 64 in a line area 66 between the first circuit breaker 26 and the second circuit breaker 28 or the electrical current between the third circuit breaker 30 and the fourth circuit breaker 32, which is detected by a second current detection device 68 in a line area 70. It can consequently be ensured by the circuit breaker actuating unit 60 during the normal operation of a vehicle that the consumer or consumers 14 are supplied in a suitable manner from at least one of the two batteries 16, 18 and that a flow of current from one of the two batteries to the other one is prevented. A mutual charging of the batteries shall be avoided. Each of the batteries can be supplied and charged by one or more generators provided in a vehicle.

(12) The overvoltage detection device 62 is configured as an electrical circuit, i.e., it has no microprocessor running one or more control programs. The voltage signal fed into the overvoltage detection device 62 by the third voltage detection device 58 is compared with a first reference voltage level in the overvoltage detection device 62. If the voltage level represented by this voltage signal and detected by the third voltage detection device 58 in the consumer connection line area 12 or in the area of the input terminals 36, 44 of the second circuit breaker 28 or of the fourth circuit breaker 32 is below the first reference voltage level, it can be assumed that the system is operating correctly and the consumer or consumers 14 can be supplied in the generally intended manner from at least one of the two batteries 16, 18.

(13) If the voltage level detected by the third voltage detection device 58 is above the first reference voltage level, this means that an overvoltage, which may lead to damage to the consumer or consumers 14 at least if it is present at said consumer or consumers over a prolonged time, is present in the area of the consumer connection line area 12. The overvoltage detection device 62 generates in this case circuit breaker switching signals for the first circuit breaker 26 and for the third circuit breaker 30, so that these are switched into their open states. If the circuit breakers, especially the first circuit breaker 26 and the third circuit breaker 30, are configured as normally blocking MOSFET switches, the application of the gate voltage to these circuit breakers 26, 30 is prevented or ended by the circuit breaker switching signal, so that these are switched into their open states if they were in the closed state before. At the same time, the voltage detection device 62 outputs an overvoltage signal into the circuit breaker actuating unit 60, so that information indicating that an overvoltage is present in the consumer connection line area 12 is present in this circuit breaker actuating unit 60 as well.

(14) The switching of the first circuit breaker 26 and of the third circuit breaker 30 into their respective open states causes the two line areas 51, 53 to become decoupled from one another in terms of voltage, because while the second circuit breaker 28 and the fourth circuit breaker 32 are at first still maintained in the closed state, the first circuit breaker 26 and the third circuit breaker 30 are connected in opposite directions in terms of their respective diode functions. Unaffected by the voltage level prevailing in the respective other line area, the voltage level prevailing in each of the two line areas, i.e., for example, the potential present relative to the ground potential, can then be detected in each of the two line areas 51, 53 by the respective associated voltage detection device 55 and 57 and analyzed in the circuit breaker actuating unit 60.

(15) Consequently, if the two circuit breakers 26, 30 are switched into their open states, which means that the consumer or consumers 14 can continue to be supplied by the batteries 16,18 based on their diode function, the circuit breaker actuating unit 60 compares the voltage signals sent by the two voltage detection devices 55, 57 with a second reference voltage level, which may correspond, for example, to the first reference voltage level provided in the overvoltage detection device 62. If the presence of an overvoltage is detected in the area of one of the two line areas 51, 53, which is shown by the fact that the voltage level prevailing in such a line area 51 or 53 is above the second reference voltage level, this indicates that an effect leading to the overvoltage is present in connection with this line area or the respective battery connected in that case. In response to this, the circuit breaker actuating unit 60 actuates the second circuit breaker 28 or the fourth circuit breaker 32, which is associated with this line area and is still being held at first in the closed state, such that this is switched over into its open state, which can again be brought about, for example, by ending the application of the gate voltage to this circuit breaker. The battery 16 or 18 or the line area 51 or 53 in which the development of an overvoltage was detected is thus decoupled from the consumer connection line area 12. The consumer or consumers 14 can then continue to be supplied with electrical energy by the respective other battery. At the same time, the third circuit breaker 30 can be switched into its closed state when the second circuit breaker 28 is switched into its open state. If the fourth circuit breaker 32 is switched into its open state based on a detected overvoltage, the first circuit breaker 26 can be switched into its closed state as an accompanying step.

(16) Since a state in which the area in which the overvoltage has indeed developed can be localized very rapidly by means of the circuit breaker actuating unit 60 in the onboard power supply configured according to the present invention by detecting an overvoltage in the consumer connection line area 12 by means of the overvoltage detection device configured as an electrical circuit based on the very short response time, a very short response time of less than 50 ?sec is guaranteed, with which the supply branch in which this problem has developed can be decoupled after the detection of the presence of an overvoltage. Since this response time is very short, there is no risk of damage to the consumer or consumers even during this time of continued supply of said consumer or consumers 14.

(17) At the same time, a warning, by which it can be detected in a vehicle that such a fault condition is present can be generated with the decoupling of the incorrectly operating supply branch. Further safety measures can then be taken in order to guarantee that this fault condition is ended or, for example, a vehicle can be safely brought to a stop.

(18) It should finally be pointed out that the principles of the present invention can also be applied when more than two batteries are used in parallel to one another to supply consumers. Such a group of circuit breakers, which circuit breakers can be operated and analyzed as well as switched as described above, can then be provided in each of these supply branches.

(19) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.