Disconnector assembly for an on-board network of a vehicle

An on-board voltage network for a vehicle, the on-board voltage network comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a load to be supplied with electrical energy by said voltage source;
• and,
• a disconnector assembly for said on-board voltage network of said vehicle including for optionally connecting said voltage source to said load and for isolating said voltage source from the load;
• said disconnector assembly including:
• a voltage source terminal region and a load terminal region;
• a plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches mutually connected in parallel;
• at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches being configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch for delivering a current variable representative for a current flowing between said voltage source terminal region and said load terminal region;
• and, at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches being not configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch;
• and, wherein:
• said voltage source terminal region of said disconnector assembly is connected to said voltage source and said load terminal region is connected to said load;
• wherein each one of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches comprises a voltage source terminal connected to said voltage source terminal region, a load terminal connected to said load terminal region, and a gate terminal connected to a control unit;
• wherein said at least one of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch, in a conducting state thereof connecting said voltage source to said load, has a voltage monitoring disconnecting switch resistance between said voltage source terminal thereof and said load terminal thereof;
• wherein said at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch not configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch, in a conducting state thereof connecting said voltage source to said load, has a MOSFET disconnecting switch resistance between said voltage source terminal thereof and said load terminal thereof;
• and
• wherein said current monitoring disconnecting switch resistance is greater than said MOSFET disconnecting switch resistance.

A method for operating an on-board voltage network including:

• a voltage source;
• a load to be supplied with electrical energy by said voltage source;
• and, a disconnector assembly for said on-board voltage network of a vehicle including for optionally connecting said voltage source to said load and for isolating said voltage source from the load;
• said disconnector assembly including:
• a voltage source terminal region and a load terminal region;
• a plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches mutually connected in parallel;
• at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches being configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch for delivering a current variable representative for a current flowing between said voltage source terminal region and said load terminal region;
• and, at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches being not configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch;
• and, wherein:
• said voltage source terminal region of said disconnector assembly is connected to said voltage source and said load terminal region is connected to said load;
• wherein each one of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches comprises a voltage source terminal connected to said voltage source terminal region, a load terminal connected to said load terminal region, and a gate terminal connected to a control unit;
• wherein said at least one of said plurality of MOSFET disconnecting switches configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch, in a conducting state thereof connecting said voltage source to said load, has a voltage monitoring disconnecting switch resistance between said voltage source terminal thereof and said load terminal thereof;
• wherein said at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch not configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch, in a conducting state thereof connecting said voltage source to said load, has a MOSFET disconnecting switch resistance between said voltage source terminal thereof and said load terminal thereof;
• and wherein said current monitoring disconnecting switch resistance is greater than said MOSFET disconnecting switch resistance;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• in a low-load operating state of said on-board voltage network, switching said at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch to a state for connecting said voltage source to said load;
• and,
• switching at least one MOSFET disconnecting switch not configured as a current monitoring disconnecting switch to a state for isolating said voltage source from said load.