Undervoltage protection system for power supply management
AssigneeAptiv Technologies AG
InventorsSebastian Yousef, Manfred Ditze, Thorsten Rosenthal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus controls the supply of power to multiple loads. The apparatus includes a first voltage monitor for monitoring a supply voltage. The apparatus includes a second voltage monitor for monitoring the supply voltage. The apparatus includes a control circuit for controlling a load driver to selectively drive the loads. The control circuit is configured to control the load driver to disconnect one or more predetermined ones of the loads from the supply voltage, in response to either of the first voltage monitor or the second voltage monitor determining an undervoltage condition. The first voltage monitor and the second voltage monitor are connected to the supply voltage in parallel.
Claims15
An apparatus for controlling a supply of power to a plurality of loads, the apparatus comprising:
- a control circuit configured to control a load driver to selectively drive the plurality of loads;
- a first voltage monitor configured to monitor a supply voltage and, in response to detection of an undervoltage condition, output a first undervoltage signal to the control circuit;
- and
- a second voltage monitor configured to monitor the supply voltage and, in response to detection of an undervoltage condition, output a second undervoltage signal to the control circuit,
- wherein the control circuit is configured to, in response to receipt of at least one of the first undervoltage signal and the second undervoltage signal, control the load driver to disconnect one or more predetermined loads of the plurality of loads from the supply voltage, and
- wherein the first voltage monitor and the second voltage monitor are connected to the supply voltage in parallel.
A vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of automotive system components defining a respective plurality of loads;
- an electronic control unit for controlling the plurality of automotive system components;
- a power supply for providing a supply voltage to the electronic control unit;
- a load driver, controlled by the electronic control unit, for driving the plurality of loads;
- and
- a control circuit configured to control the load driver to disconnect a predetermined set of loads of the plurality of loads from the supply voltage in response to receipt of at least one of a first undervoltage signal and a second undervoltage signal,
- wherein a first voltage monitor is configured to monitor the supply voltage and, in response to an undervoltage condition being detected, output a first undervoltage signal to the control circuit,
- wherein a second voltage monitor is configured to monitor the supply voltage and, in response to an undervoltage condition being detected, output a second undervoltage signal to the control circuit,
- wherein the control circuit includes the first voltage monitor and the second voltage monitor, and
- wherein the first voltage monitor and the second voltage monitor are connected to the supply voltage in parallel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.