US 6,486,571 B1 · Power delivery and connection circuit for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

A circuit (10) for connecting a power distribution bus (14) to a battery (12) has a connector circuit (20) and a switch (40). The battery has a positive battery terminal (16) and a negative battery terminal (18). The switch (40) has a control terminal (46), a first terminal (42), and a second terminal (44). A contactor circuit (48) is coupled between the battery (12) and the power distribution bus (14). The contactor circuit (48) has a solenoid (50) and a plunger switch (52) that is operably coupled by solenoid (50). In one embodiment of the invention the connector circuit has a switch (38) used to allow the connector terminals to be coupled at different times to the circuit. In the second embodiment, different length terminals may be used to enable coupling of the battery terminals at different times.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A circuit comprising:

a power distribution bus;
a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
a contactor circuit having a solenoid operably coupled to a plunger switch, said solenoid having a first solenoid terminal and a second solenoid terminal, said plunger switch selectably coupling said power distribution bus to said positive battery terminal;
a switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, said first terminal coupled to said second solenoid terminal;
a connector circuit matingly engaging said positive battery terminal and said first solenoid terminal before said negative battery terminal is coupled to said second terminal of said switch;
and
a controller coupled to said control terminal of said switch, said controller controlling said switch.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power delivery and connection circuit for an automotive vehicle

Life of this patent

Power delivery and connection circuit for an automotive vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12