Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – One cell or battery charges another – Vehicle battery charging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-01-30
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
One cell or battery charges another
Vehicle battery charging
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181101
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intelligent junction box for converting and distributing a power voltage into plural voltages and supplying them to loads.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an ordinary vehicle, as shown in
FIG. 1
, a battery
2
is charged by an alternator
1
. An electric power from this battery
2
is introduced to a junction box (J/B)
4
via a cable (harness)
3
. The junction box
4
distributes an electric power to respective loads (lamp, meter).
In an electric vehicle also, the junction box
4
like the aforementioned one is used. The junction box
4
of the electric vehicle is provided with a control relay circuit or the like for feeding a large current.
That is, because the conventional junction box is used basically for distributing an electric power (voltage), a protective circuit for preventing an over-current due to a short-circuit or the like is absolutely necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been achieved to solve the above problem, and therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an intelligent junction box capable of carrying out stabilized distribution of electric power without provision of any protective circuit or the like on a load side and having a function capable of measuring a remaining capacity of a power supply.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a junction box disposed between a high voltage battery and a load and on which a predetermined high voltage is impressed by the high voltage battery, the box comprising: a high voltage system circuit pattern which receives the predetermined high voltage and supplies it to the load; a high voltage system circuit shut-off relay for shutting off the high voltage system circuit; a high voltage system voltage/current detecting portion for detecting a voltage impressed on the high voltage system circuit pattern and a current flowing therein; a voltage converter which receives a voltage from a post stage of the high voltage system circuit shut-off relay of the high voltage system circuit pattern and generates and outputs at least one predetermined low voltage based on that voltage; a low voltage circuit pattern which receives the at least one predetermined low voltage and supplies it to a low voltage battery and the load; a low voltage system voltage/current detecting portion for detecting a voltage impressed on the low voltage circuit pattern and a current flowing therein; and a controller for, if a current flowing through the high voltage system circuit pattern detected by the high voltage system voltage/current detecting portion is over a first predetermined value or a current flowing through the low voltage system circuit pattern detected by the low voltage system voltage/current detecting portion is over a second predetermined value, controlling the high voltage system shut-off relay to shut off the high voltage system circuit pattern.
According to a preferred embodiment, the junction box of the present invention further comprises an over-voltage countermeasure circuit which is provided at a forefront stage of the high voltage system circuit pattern and even if a voltage over a third predetermined value is inputted, outputs the predetermined high voltage to a post stage.
According to a preferred embodiment, the junction box of the present invention further comprises an over-voltage countermeasure circuit which is provided at a forefront stage of the high voltage system circuit pattern and even if a voltage over a fourth predetermined value is inputted, outputs the at least one predetermined low voltage to a post stage.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller comprises: an estimating means for estimating a remaining capacity of the high voltage battery based on a voltage and a current detected by the high voltage system voltage/current detecting portion; and an estimating means for estimating a remaining capacity of the low voltage battery based on a voltage and a current detected by the low voltage system voltage/current detecting portion.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller, if a remaining capacity of the high voltage battery is estimated to be lower than a predetermined value, supplies a control signal for starting charging to an alternator, which supplies a charging voltage to the high voltage battery.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the voltage converter generates and outputs AC low voltage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4262209 (1981-04-01), Borner
patent: 5406195 (1995-04-01), Schweitzer, Jr.
patent: 5898557 (1999-04-01), Baba et al.
patent: 5-278535 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 6-98477 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 6-255431 (1994-09-01), None
Arai Yoichi
Satake Syuji
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Tso Edward H.
Yazaki -Corporation
LandOfFree
Intelligent junction box does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Intelligent junction box, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Intelligent junction box will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2468521