Safety switch for preventing an unintentional vehicle battery discharge
AssigneeBayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsArmin Wagner, Oliver Froelich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle electric supply system includes a semiconductor safety switch that interruptibly couples the vehicle battery to electric consuming devices that are supplied by an electric socket on board the vehicle. A programmable control unit controls opening and closing of the switch, as a function of a monitored vehicle parameter, such as elapsed time, battery charge state or current consumption via the vehicle socket.
Claims13
A safety switch for preventing unintentional discharge of a vehicle battery, said safety switch comprising a semiconductor switch.
A method for monitoring defects for the detection of excessive current consumption in a vehicle electric system said method comprising using a semiconductor safety switch to monitor current consumption through a vehicle socket.
A method for monitoring quiescent current flowing in a motor vehicle, said method comprising using a semiconductor safety switch to monitor said current.
A method for controlling the charge of a vehicle battery, said method comprising using a semiconductor safety switch to connect and disconnect said battery to and from electric consuming devices on said vehicle.
Apparatus for preventing unintentional discharge of a vehicle battery, said apparatus comprising:
- a semiconductor safety switch interruptibly coupling said battery to electric consuming devices on said vehicle;
- and
- a programmable control unit for opening and closing said semiconductor safety switch as a function of a monitored parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.