# US 12,179,613 B2 · Vehicle, method, device and steering system for a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,613 B2 - Document ID: US12179613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/570,792 - Filed: 2022-01-07 - Published: 2022-07-14 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-08 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Holger Schmitz; Alexander Gaschka; Thorsten Wilhelm Hestermeyer; Jochen Scherbart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179613B2 ## CPC - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60L 1/00: Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) - B60L 3/0046: {relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors} - B60L 3/0084: {relating to control modules} - B60L 58/21: having the same nominal voltage - H02J 7/575: {Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit} - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 7/1423: {with multiple batteries} - H02J 2105/30: the load networks being external to vehicles, i.e. exchanging power with vehicles - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to a vehicle, a method, a device and a steering system for a vehicle. In particular, the disclosure relates to a device for a vehicle with a first direct voltage source and at least one second direct voltage source, which are connected in series, for operating a consumer in the vehicle. The device comprises a potential tap which is designed to tap a potential between the first and the second direct voltage source. The device further comprises a circuit which is designed to provide the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source for operating the consumer in the event of a fault in the first or second direct voltage source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for a vehicle with a first direct voltage source and a second direct voltage source for operating a consumer in the vehicle, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are connected in series, the device comprising: a potential tap which is designed to tap a potential between the first and the second direct voltage source; and a circuit which is designed to provide the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source for operating the consumer in the event of a fault in the first or second direct voltage source; wherein the circuit is designed, in the event of a fault in the first direct voltage source, to provide the potential for a voltage of the tapped potential with respect to a pole of the second direct voltage source for operating the consumer by the voltage with respect to the pole of the second direct voltage source and, in the event of a fault in the second direct voltage source, to provide a voltage of the tapped potential with respect to a pole of the first direct voltage source for operating the consumer by the voltage with respect to the first direct voltage source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is designed to provide the potential for a voltage of the tapped potential with respect to a pole of the first or the second direct voltage source for operating the consumer by the voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the circuit is further designed to determined whether the first or the second direct voltage source has a fault. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to either claim 1, wherein the circuit is further designed to determine whether the first or the second direct voltage source has a fault. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the potential tap is designed to tap the potential between a positive pole of the first direct voltage source and a negative pole of the second direct voltage source, wherein a negative pole of the first direct voltage source has a reference potential of the vehicle, and wherein the circuit is designed, in the event of a fault in the second direct voltage source, to provide the potential for a voltage of the tapped potential with respect to the reference potential of the vehicle for operating the consumer by the voltage with respect to the reference potential. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is further designed to provide the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source for operating an electric power steering system of the vehicle in the event of a fault in the first or second direct voltage source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A steering system for a vehicle with a first direct voltage source and at least one second direct voltage source, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are connected in series, and with a device according to claim 1 for providing a potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source connected in series to the first direct voltage source, the steering system comprising a drive which is designed to power the steering system with the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle with a first direct voltage source and at least one second direct voltage source, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are connected in series, as well as with a device according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source each comprise at least one lead-acid battery or a lithium-ion battery for providing a direct voltage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are designed to provide the same direct voltage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are designed to provide the same direct voltage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first and/or the second direct voltage source are each designed to provide a direct voltage between 10 volts and 14 volts, separately. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the first and/or the second direct voltage source are each designed to provide a direct voltage between 10 volts and 14 volts, separately. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a steering system comprising a drive which is designed to power the steering system with the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for a steering system of a vehicle with a first and at least one second direct voltage source, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are connected in series, and a device according to claim 1 for providing a potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source connected in series to the first direct voltage source, the method comprising powering the steering system with the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source. ### Claim 16 A method for a vehicle with a first and at least one second direct voltage source for operating a consumer in the vehicle, wherein the first and the second direct voltage source are connected in series, comprising: tapping a potential between the first and the second direct voltage source; and providing the potential tapped between the first and the second direct voltage source for operating the consumer in the event of a fault in the first or second direct voltage source; wherein in the event the fault is in the first direct voltage source, providing the potential for a voltage res of the tapped potential with respect to a pole of the second direct voltage source for operating a consumer by the voltage with respect to the pole of the second direct voltage source and, in the event the fault is in the second direct voltage source, providing a voltage of the tapped potential with respect to a pole of the first direct voltage source for operating the consumer by the voltage with respect to the first direct voltage source.