GB2395375A - Electrical isolator controller - Google Patents
Electrical isolator controller Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2395375A GB2395375A GB0322028A GB0322028A GB2395375A GB 2395375 A GB2395375 A GB 2395375A GB 0322028 A GB0322028 A GB 0322028A GB 0322028 A GB0322028 A GB 0322028A GB 2395375 A GB2395375 A GB 2395375A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- control unit
- motion
- alternator
- batteries
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/03—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L58/10—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
- B60L58/18—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries of two or more battery modules
- B60L58/20—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries of two or more battery modules having different nominal voltages
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L8/00—Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
- B60L8/003—Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
-
- H02J2105/33—
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J7/14—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
- H02J7/1423—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle with multiple batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
- Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
- Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
Abstract
A control unit is for use with a vehicle having a safety-related electronic system 37 and another electronic and/or electrical system 39. The control unit 6 has an input for receiving a motion signal 20 indicating the vehicle is in motion or has been prepared for motion. The unit is operable to isolate the safety-related system 37 from the other system 39 in response to the said motion signal. The control unit is suitable for a caravan or motor-home.
Description
t -' 2395375 ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
This invention relates to an energy management system. One aspect of the invention relates to an isolator for isolating electrical systems in a vehicle. Another s aspect relates to charging of batteries in vehicles.
Caravans and motor caravans typically incorporate electrical and electronic subsystems "leisure systems" provided for the leisure accommodation area. The leisure systems may include, for example, Ridges, televisions, heating and internal lighting.
Automobiles incorporate "vehicle systems" which may include, for example, engine 10 management systems, airbag controllers and traction control. Motor caravans also include such "vehicle systems" which operate independently of the "leisure system".
Interaction between the leisure systems and the vehicle systems could result in electrical interference of sufficient severity to affect the electronics of the vehicle systems. This is of major concern when considering the safety related nature of many of 15 the vehicle systems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a control unit for use with a vehicle having a safety-related electronic system and another electronic and/or electrical system, the control unit having an input of receiving a motion signal indicating the vehicle is in motion or has been prepared for motion, and being operable to isolate the 20 safety-related system from the said another system in response to the said signal.
Thus the invention provides a control unit, for managing a leisure system and operable to isolate the leisure system from the vehicle system when the control unit receives a motion signal that indicates vehicle is motion or the vehicle has been prepared for motion.
2s In embodiments of the invention, isolation can be achieved using one or more relays or similar devices.
In embodiments of the invention the motion signal can be activated by sensing that the handbrake is disengaged. Other sources of motion signal may be used, for example, the Automatic Braking System (ABS) system or a motion sensitive switch in 30 the vehicle.
l } An embodiment of the invention provides a control unit that allows the leisure system of the vehicle to be used only when the control unit senses that the vehicle is stationary. In an embodiment of the invention the control unit senses the vehicle is stationary 5 from a signal generated when the hand brake is engaged.
In an embodiment of the invention the control unit senses the vehicle is stationary when there is an absence of a signal from the vehicle electronics system.
An embodiment of the invention provides a control unit having a connector for connecting to at least one auxiliary battery for supplying electrical power to the said lo another system, a connector for connecting to a main battery for supplying electrical power to said safety-related electronic system, and a connector for receiving charge for charging the batteries, the unit being operable to both isolate the safety-related system from the said another system and connect, via the said connector, the batteries to receive the said charge.
5 In an example of the embodiment, the leisure system is typically energised by one or more auxiliary batteries.
In an embodiment of the invention the control unit allows the one or more auxiliary batteries to be charged from an alternator of the vehicle engine both when vehicle is stationary and when it is moving.
20 In an embodiment of the invention the control unit allows the auxiliary batteries to be charged from the alternator when it detects that alternator is active.
In an embodiment of the invention the control unit allows the one or more auxiliary batteries to be charged when charge is supplied from a charger unit connected to a mains supply.
25 In embodiments of the invention, when the vehicle has one or more auxiliary batteries and a vehicle battery, the control unit connects all the batteries in parallel with the charger when the batteries are to be charged.
In an embodiment of the invention the control unit detects that the alternator is active and causes all the batteries to be charged when the alternator generates charge 30 whether or not the vehicle is stationary.
For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure I is a schematic illustration of an energy management system for a motor caravan or combination of a caravan and powered vehicle; and 5 Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an energy manager of the system of Figure 1.
The caravan or motor caravan has a leisure system which is an electrical and/or electronic system for the leisure accommodation and a vehicle system for the powered vehicle. 0 The system has a control unit 6 for isolating the "leisure system" from the "vehicle system".
The control unit comprises electronic logic circuitry such as a microprocessor.
The leisure system has one or more auxiliary batteries 2 and one or more other components (not shown) which can be domestic appliances such as a fridge, cooker, 5 heater, or televisions or sockets into which the domestic appliances can be connected.
The auxiliary batteries 2 provide power to the leisure system.
Battery Charging The vehicle system includes a vehicle battery 1, an alternator 3 for charging the battery 3, and an indication light 8 indicating that the engine has been started and that the 20 alternator 3 is functioning.
The control unit 6 has an alternator sensor input 10 which receives a signal from the alternator and a charge input 12 to receive charge from the alternator 3. The control unit 6 connects all the batteries 1 and 2 in parallel with the alternator when the alternator is generating charge, whether or not the vehicle is stationary.
25 Alternatively the auxiliary batteries can be charged, when the vehicle is stationary, by a mains charger connected to the mains unit at a charger input 22. The supply of charge by a mains charger is detected by a mains sensor module 23. The auxiliary batteries may also be the charged from the output of a solar panel 24 connected to a solar panel input 26.
Isolation If the vehicle is being prepared for motion, for example the handbrake is disengaged or the ABS system is initiated then a motion signal is sent to a motion sensor input 20 on the control unit 6. The motion signal could also be generated from the actual 5 movement of the vehicle. On reception of the motion signal the control unit acts to isolate the leisure system from the vehicle system. The isolation can be achieved by use of relays or other isolation devices known by the skilled person.
The control system senses that the vehicle is stationary via the motion sensor input 20 by either a lack of signal at the motion sensor input 20 or by a signal produced 0 by a handbrake being engaged. If a stationary state has been sensed then the control system connects the leisure system to the vehicle system.
Features of the invention provide for the vehicle system to be isolated from non critical electrical functions when the vehicle is moving.
Features of the invention provide for both vehicle and auxiliary batteries to be is charged when the isolation is active and the vehicle is stationary and on the move.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of the energy manager 6 of Figure 1, and also shows the leisure system 39, and the vehicle system 37 which is a safety critical electronic system in Figure 2. Figure 2 also shows a vehicle battery 1, an auxiliary battery 2, an alternator 3, and a mains battery charger 4 as shown in Figure l, an 20 ignition switch 31, and dash board warriing lights 8.
Control logic 61 in the energy manager 6 has an input 22 for sensing that the mains battery charger 4 is active, and an input 20 for sensing whether the vehicle is in motion or prepared for motion. It also has a mains sense input 21 as shown in Figure 1 and an alternator sense input 10.
25 The energy manager 6 further comprises two switches 33 and 35 controlled by the control logic. The switches 33 and 35 may be relays. The switches are connected in series between the vehicle system 33 and the leisure system 39 for isolating one from the other. The alternator 3 and vehicle battery l are connected in parallel with the vehicle 30 system 37 and are also isolated from the leisure system 39 by the switches 33 and 35.
The auxiliary battery 2 is in parallel with the vehicle battery 1 but connected between the two switches 33 and 35.
The battery charger 4 is connected in parallel with the auxiliary battery between the two switches 33 and 35.
5 If the vehicle is prepared for motion, the ignition switch 31 is closed (conductive), the hand brake is released and the hand brake switch 201 is closed. The motion input 20 to control logic 61 is then low (ground). That causes the control logic 61 to open switch 35 isolating the vehicle system 37 from the leisure system 39. Switch 33 is closed allowing the batteries 1 and 2 to be charged by the alternator 3.
lo If the vehicle is not prepared for motion, i.e. the hand brake is on, switch 201 is open (non-conductive). If the ignition switch is turned on and the alternator 3 is active, sense inputs 10 and 20 are high (+12V) and switches 33 and 35 are closed allowing the batteries to be charged and allowing the leisure system 39 to be active. If the hand brake is released, then the control logic 61 opens the switch 35 to isolate the systems 37 and 39.
5 Thus the systems 37 and 39 are isolated from one another when the vehicle is in motion or prepared for motion. The batteries 1 and 2 may be charged by the alternator when the vehicle is stationary, and when the vehicle is in motion.
The control logic 61 has a sense input 21 for sensing the presence of mains voltage and a sense input 22 for sensing that the mains charger 4 is active. The control 20 logic closes switches 33 and 35 connecting the batteries 1, 2 and leisure system 39 in parallel with the battery charger 4. The vehicle is, of course, stationary in this situation.
In so far as the embodiments of the invention described above are implemented, at least in part, using software-controlled data processing apparatus, it will be appreciated that a computer program providing such software control and a transmission, storage or 25 other medium by which such a computer program is provided are envisaged as aspects of the invention.
Claims (13)
1. A control unit for use with a vehicle having a safety-related electronic system and another electronic and/or electrical system, the control unit having an input of receiving a 5 motion signal indicating the vehicle is in motion or has been prepared for motion, and being operable to isolate the safety-related system from the said another system in response to the said signal.
2. A control unit according to claim 1, comprising relays for achieving the isolation.
3. A control unit according to claim 1, having a connector for connecting to at least one auxiliary battery for supplying electrical power to the said another system, a connector for connecting to a main battery for supplying electrical power to said safety-related electronic system, and a connector for receiving charge for charging the batteries, the unit 5 being operable to both isolate the safety-related system from the said another system and connect, via the said connector, the batteries to receive the said charge.
4. A control unit according to claim 3, comprising a connector for connecting to an alternator of a vehicle, the unit being operable to connect the main and auxiliary batteries 20 to receive charge from the alternator whether or not the vehicle is in motion.
5. A control unit according to claim 4, comprising an input for receiving a signal indicating that the alternator is functioning.
25
6. A control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
7. A vehicle in which is installed a control unit according to any preceding claim.
30
8. A vehicle according to claim 7, which is a motor caravan.
9. A vehicle according to claim 7, which is a combination of a caravan and a powered vehicle.
10. A vehicle according to claim 7, 8, or 9 having a source of the said motion signal.
11. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the said source is vehicle electronic system, an Automatic Braking System, a motion sensitive switch, or a sensor for sensing disengagement of a handbrake.
lo
12. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure l of the accompanying drawings.
13. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0221909.5A GB0221909D0 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2002-09-20 | Energy management system |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0322028D0 GB0322028D0 (en) | 2003-10-22 |
| GB2395375A true GB2395375A (en) | 2004-05-19 |
| GB2395375B GB2395375B (en) | 2005-12-14 |
Family
ID=9944494
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0221909.5A Ceased GB0221909D0 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2002-09-20 | Energy management system |
| GB0322028A Expired - Fee Related GB2395375B (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-09-19 | Energy management system |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0221909.5A Ceased GB0221909D0 (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2002-09-20 | Energy management system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB0221909D0 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012001256A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-05 | Renault S.A.S. | Power supply for an on-board electrical network of an automotive vehicle |
| CN110588549A (en) * | 2019-09-19 | 2019-12-20 | 北京三快在线科技有限公司 | Power supply system of vehicle and vehicle |
| FR3104507A1 (en) * | 2019-12-17 | 2021-06-18 | Cats Power Design | DC / DC voltage converter |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5318351A (en) * | 1976-08-04 | 1978-02-20 | Iwatsu Electric Co Ltd | Read circuit of storage tube storage device |
| US5148153A (en) * | 1990-12-20 | 1992-09-15 | Motorola Inc. | Automatic screen blanking in a mobile radio data terminal |
| JPH1013502A (en) * | 1996-06-24 | 1998-01-16 | N Plan:Kk | Mobile phones used in vehicles |
| EP1034980A2 (en) * | 1999-03-12 | 2000-09-13 | John Storey Dr. Talbot | Control system for a vehicle situated device |
-
2002
- 2002-09-20 GB GBGB0221909.5A patent/GB0221909D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-09-19 GB GB0322028A patent/GB2395375B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5318351A (en) * | 1976-08-04 | 1978-02-20 | Iwatsu Electric Co Ltd | Read circuit of storage tube storage device |
| US5148153A (en) * | 1990-12-20 | 1992-09-15 | Motorola Inc. | Automatic screen blanking in a mobile radio data terminal |
| JPH1013502A (en) * | 1996-06-24 | 1998-01-16 | N Plan:Kk | Mobile phones used in vehicles |
| EP1034980A2 (en) * | 1999-03-12 | 2000-09-13 | John Storey Dr. Talbot | Control system for a vehicle situated device |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012001256A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-05 | Renault S.A.S. | Power supply for an on-board electrical network of an automotive vehicle |
| FR2962266A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-06 | Renault Sa | POWER SUPPLY OF A BOOM NETWORK OF A MOTOR VEHICLE |
| CN110588549A (en) * | 2019-09-19 | 2019-12-20 | 北京三快在线科技有限公司 | Power supply system of vehicle and vehicle |
| FR3104507A1 (en) * | 2019-12-17 | 2021-06-18 | Cats Power Design | DC / DC voltage converter |
| EP3838686A1 (en) * | 2019-12-17 | 2021-06-23 | Cats Power Design | Direct current/ direct current voltage converter |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0221909D0 (en) | 2002-10-30 |
| GB2395375B (en) | 2005-12-14 |
| GB0322028D0 (en) | 2003-10-22 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA2690307C (en) | Control system for a battery powered vehicle | |
| US11192457B2 (en) | Charging control device for charging electric vehicle | |
| CN110654361B (en) | Electronic parking system and control method thereof | |
| CN101479132B (en) | Vehicular electric power source controller | |
| CN107813703B (en) | Vehicle power generation human-machine interface | |
| US9037334B1 (en) | Electric vehicle having a dual battery system | |
| US9400543B2 (en) | Communication system and communication node | |
| US20050078423A1 (en) | Controller for electric power supply of electronic device supplied with electric power from battery of vehicle | |
| WO2013111311A1 (en) | On-board charging and communication device and vehicle charging and communication system | |
| CN102407783A (en) | Vehicle Communication System | |
| GB2395375A (en) | Electrical isolator controller | |
| CN111409544A (en) | Automobile rear tail lamp control system with dynamic self-adaption and welcome delay functions | |
| US20120150382A1 (en) | Starter relay structure for auto-starting | |
| US8180463B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for a computerized integrated power bus | |
| SE1850887A1 (en) | Method and arrangement for heating a high voltage battery for a vehicle | |
| JP2544703B2 (en) | Automotive power generation mechanism | |
| JP5900744B2 (en) | Vehicle power supply system | |
| US7915754B2 (en) | Isolating switch system | |
| US7970518B2 (en) | Method and system for keyless machine operation | |
| JP7709845B2 (en) | power equipment | |
| JP3257685B2 (en) | Power distribution system | |
| CN108798964A (en) | A kind of long-range igniter of all-terrain vehicle, system and method | |
| JP5672251B2 (en) | Vehicle power supply control device | |
| KR100440140B1 (en) | Battery power controlling device of vehicle | |
| KR100968135B1 (en) | Engine starting apparatus of vehicle and method for judgment the same |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20090919 |