A Power Supply and a Method for Supplying Power

Abstract

A power supply for an energy management and monitoring unit includes a line arrangement with multiple lines representing inputs or outputs, each of which has at least one power line for supplying power. A merging unit combines the power lines of the line arrangement to a total voltage, and a splitting unit is configured to split the total voltage into at least two redundant voltages provided for the energy management and monitoring unit.

Claims

1.-8. (canceled)

9. A power supply for an energy management and monitoring unit, comprising: a line arrangement with multiple lines representing inputs or outputs, each of which comprises at least one power line for supplying power; a merging unit to combine the power lines of the line arrangement to a total voltage; and a splitting unit configured to split the total voltage into at least two redundant voltages provided for the energy management and monitoring unit.

10. The power supply of claim 9, further comprising: a single common voltage line arranged between the merging unit and the splitting unit to provide the total voltage to the splitting unit so that a non-zero total voltage is supplied to the splitting unit as long as at least one power line provides supplying power.

11. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the line arrangement comprises at least one fuse or switch to prevent an adverse effect of a possible short on at least one of the multiples lines.

12. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the at least one fuse or switch comprises at least one diode for preventing a voltage drop when the short occurs.

13. The power supply according to claim 9, wherein the splitting unit comprises at least two voltage converters for providing a voltage conversion of the total voltage on the common voltage line into the redundant voltages supplied on separate voltage lines.

14. The power supply according to claim 13, wherein the at least two voltage converters include one or more DC/DC converters.

15. The power supply according to claim 9, wherein the merging unit and/or the splitting unit are integrated into one or distributed in more units.

16. A commercial vehicle comprising a power supply according to claim 9.

17. A method for supplying power to an energy management and monitoring unit, the method comprising the steps of: feeding power on a line arrangement with multiple lines representing inputs or outputs into a merging unit; merging power on the multiple lines of the line arrangement to a total voltage on a common voltage line; splitting the total voltage into at least two redundant voltages; and providing the at least two redundant voltages for the energy management and monitoring unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a power supply architecture for an energy management and monitoring unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts a power supply architecture suitable for an energy management and monitoring unit 4. The power supply comprises a line arrangement 5 with multiple lines representing inputs or outputs, each of which comprising at least one power line for supplying power. These multiple lines 5 provide the power to a merging unit 1, where the power lines are combined to a total (or common) voltage which is fed via a common line 15 to a splitting unit 2. The splitting unit 2 is configured to split the total voltage on the common line 15 into at least two redundant voltages provided for the energy management and monitoring unit 4 on two separate lines 21, 22.

[0024] Therefore, the depicted embodiment provides a power supply by two redundant voltage lines 21, 22 for the electric energy management and monitoring system 4 which receive power as long as at least one of the power lines 5 feeds power to the merging unit 1. The common line 15 is only powerless if no power arrives the merging unit 1, since it combines (e.g. adds up) the power of the different input and/or output lines of the system to provide power for the common voltage line.

[0025] These input and/or output lines 5 are, for example, connected to one or more batteries or battery cells or the vehicle network. The invention shall not be limited onto a particular architecture for providing power to the line arrangement 5. The lines 5 or the connection to the merging unit 1 may include one or more fuses or switches (not shown in FIG. 1) to prevent an adverse effect of a possible short on at least one of the multiples lines 5. The at least one fuse or switch may comprise at least one protective diode allowing a current flow only in one direction, thereby preventing a voltage drop when the short occurs (e.g. downstream of the merging unit 1).

[0026] Optionally, the splitting unit comprises at least two voltage converters (e.g. DC/DC converters) that are adapted to provide a voltage conversion of the total voltage on the common line 15 to the redundant voltages on the voltage lines 21, 22. These redundant voltages may have a same or a different value(s). Optionally, the merging unit 1 and/or the splitting unit 2 are integrated into one or more units (e.g. within different housings). For example, each of the exemplary DC/DC converter may be formed in separate units that are electrically isolated from one another. Thus, the splitting unit 2 provides at least two isolated power lines for exemplary microcontrollers of the energy management and monitoring units 4.

[0027] The at least two isolated power lines 21, 22 may be separated and independent from each other so that a malfunctioning (e.g. an interruption or a short) on one of these lines 21, 22 will not adversely affect the other line. As a result, the exemplary safety relevant management unit 4 will have a power supply through any of the two lines 21, 22 and the control and communication of the energy management and monitor unit 4 can be ensured with a high degree of reliability.

[0028] Thus, advantages of embodiments relate in particular to the capability of providing a redundant power supply for microcontrollers of the management and monitoring unit 4 to be able to perform electric energy storage management and monitoring tasks—in particular for safety relevant electrical consumers. Moreover, information regarding the condition of the energy storage units is reliably provided for the vehicle system. Thus, as long as at least one of the lines in the line arrangement is available, the power supply is ensured. The disclosed system is able to replace known redundant compressed air-based energy supply. Finally, due to the reliable power supply the system can be in standby modus and can be woken up whenever a signal is present on at least one of the lines of the line arrangement.

[0029] The description and drawing merely illustrate the principles of the disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are included within its scope.

[0030] Furthermore, while each embodiment may stand on its own as a separate example, it is to be noted that in other embodiments the defined features can be combined differently, i.e. a particular feature descripted in one embodiment may also be realized in other embodiments. Such combinations are covered by the disclosure herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0031] 1 merging unit [0032] 2 splitting unit [0033] 3 voltage converter [0034] 4 energy management and monitoring unit [0035] 5 line arrangement/multiple power lines [0036] 15 common voltage line [0037] 21, 22 redundant voltage supply lines