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US 7,064,658 B2Granted
Integrated vehicle power distribution and gateway system
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsGary Burlak, Rod S Fraser, Michael A Cox, Marian Mirowski, Michael C Long, Bradley S Chupp, Frank Trovato, John M Gaynier, Luis J Morenilla, Peter J Narbus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal vehicle electric power distribution module employs reconfigurable inputs and outputs enabling use of the same hardware across vehicle lines. The module is scalable for ease of expansion and is capable of handling both low current and high current load management on the same module.
Claims15
A universal vehicle electric power distribution module comprising:
- a plurality of reconfigurable module inputs;
- a microcontroller coupled for receipt of signals appearing at the reconfigurable module inputs;
- and
- a plurality of reconfigurable module outputs operative, under control of the microcontroller, to selectively couple electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads in the vehicle corresponding to the plurality of reconfigurable module outputs, wherein the plurality of module outlets includes first and second outputs each controlling delivery of electrical power to its respective load via respective first and second programmable power management switches, the first power management switch programmed for switching electrical power at a first level, and the second power management switch programmed for switching electrical power at a second level.
1 more element
A universal vehicle electric power distribution module comprising:
- a plurality of reconfigurable module inputs;
- a microcontroller coupled for receipt of signals appearing at the reconfigurable inputs;
- and
- a plurality of reconfigurable module outputs operative, under control of the microcontroller, to selectively couple electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads in the vehicle corresponding to the plurality of reconfigurable module outputs, wherein a first portion of the module outputs deliver power at a first range of current levels and a second portion of the module outputs deliver power at a second range of current levels, and wherein the first portion of module outlets are placed on a first circuit board rated for the first range and the second portion of module outlets are placed on a second circuit board rated for the second range.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.