# US 11,444,458 B2 · Device for supplying power to an electronic computer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,458 B2 - Document ID: US11444458B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/754,223 - Filed: 2018-10-08 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-09 - Assignees: Continental Automotive France; Continental Automotive GmbH - Applicants: Continental Automotive France; CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GmbH - Inventors: Philippe Boissiere - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444458B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/108: having arrangements for blocking reverse current flow, e.g. using diodes (H02J1/12 takes precedence) - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - G06F 1/30: Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) - H02J 2105/33: exchanging power with road vehicles - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Disclosed is a device for supplying power to an electronic computer having a first connection terminal coupled to a power supply, a second connection terminal coupled to an electrical ground, a microprocessor having a microprocessor supply input coupled, firstly, to a first terminal of first capacitance of a first capacitor and, secondly, coupled to a supply output of the power supply device, the second terminal of first capacitance being coupled to the electrical ground, the power supply device has a first supply input. It has a diode coupled to the supply input, and to the supply output, and a switching device coupled in parallel with the diode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power supply device (30) for supplying power to an electronic computer that includes a microprocessor and connection means (26) the connection means (26) coupled to a power supply and to an electrical ground (32), the microprocessor (22) having a microprocessor supply input (22_1) coupled to a first terminal (C3_1) of a first capacitor (C3), and a second terminal (C3_2) of the first capacitor (C3) being coupled to the electrical ground (32), the power supply device (30) comprising: a supply device output (30_1) coupled to the microprocessor supply input (22_1) and the first terminal (C3_1) of the first capacitor (C3); a supply device input (30_2) coupled to a first connection terminal (26_1) of the connection means (26) and also to a supply input (24_1) of a power module (24); and a diode (36), having an anode (36_1) coupled to the supply device input (30_2), and a cathode (36_2) coupled to the supply device output (30_1), wherein a switching device (38) is coupled to the anode (36_1) of the diode (36) and the cathode (36_2) of the diode (36), so as to be in parallel with the diode (36). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device (38) is adapted to short the diode (36) when the power supply has a voltage value above a reference threshold value (V_ref_1). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device (38) is adapted to be in an off state when the power supply has a voltage value below the reference threshold value (V_ref_1). ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to deliver sufficient electrical energy for the microprocessor (22) to operate when the switching device (38) shorts the diode (36). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to filter a supply voltage provided by the power supply when the switching device (38) is in an off state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diode (36) is an internal diode of a second transistor (T_52). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device (38) has at least one first transistor (T_50) with controlled switching. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electronic computer (2), having at least one microprocessor (22), a power module (24), and a power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the switching device (38) is adapted to be in an off state when the power supply has a voltage value below the reference threshold value (V_ref_1). ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to deliver sufficient electrical energy for the microprocessor (22) to operate when the switching device (38) shorts the diode (36). ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to filter the supply voltage when the switching device (38) is in an off state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to filter the supply voltage when the switching device (38) is in the off state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first capacitor (C3) is adapted to filter the supply voltage when the switching device (38) is in an off state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diode (36) is an internal diode of a second transistor (T_52). ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the diode (36) is an internal diode of a second transistor (T_52). ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the diode (36) is an internal diode of a second transistor (T_52). ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the switching device (38) has at least one first transistor (T_50) with controlled switching. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the switching device (38) has at least one first transistor (T_50) with controlled switching. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The power supply device (30) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first Zener diode (DZ_38); a second Zener diode (DZ_40); a first resistor (R_42); a second resistor (R_44); a third resistor (R_46); a fourth resistor (R_48); a first transistor (T_50); and a second transistor (T_52), wherein the first Zener diode (Dz_38), the first resistor (R_46), the first Zener diode (Dz_40), and a drain of the first transistor (T_50) are coupled to the supply device input (30_2), the second Zener diode (Dz_38) is coupled to a first pin of the first resistor (R_42), a second pin of the first resistor (R_42) is coupled to a base of the second transistor (T_52) and to a first pin of the second resistor (R_44), a second pin of the second resistor (R_44) is coupled to the electrical ground, an emitter of the second transistor (T_52) is coupled to the electrical ground, a collector of the second transistor (T_52) is coupled to a second pin of the fourth resistor (R_48), a first pin of the first resistor (R_48) is coupled to a gate of the first transistor (T_50), to the second Zener diode (Dz_40), and to a pin of the third resistor (R_46), and a source of the first transistor (T_50) is coupled to the supply device output (30_1). ### Claim 20 An electronic engine control computer for controlling an engine, comprising: a microprocessor (22), which includes a microprocessor supply input (22_1); a power module (24) adapted to control injectors of the engine; connection means (26) that couples to a supply of electrical energy and to an electrical ground (32); a first capacitor (C3) with first and second terminals, the first terminal (C3_1) of the first capacitor (C3) coupled to the microprocessor supply input (22_1), and the second terminal (C3_2) of the first capacitor (C3) being coupled to the electrical ground (32); and a power supply device (30), which includes a diode (36), a switching device (38), a supply device output (30_1) coupled to the microprocessor supply input (22_1), and a supply device input (30_2) coupled to both a first connection terminal (26_1) of the connection means (26) and also to a supply input (24_1) of the power module (24), the diode (36) having an anode (36_1) coupled to the supply device input (30_2), and a cathode (36_2) coupled to the supply device output (30_1), and the switching device (38) being coupled to the anode (36_1) and the cathode (36_2) of the diode (36) so as to be in parallel with the diode (36).