IP Library Granted Patent US 12679212
Granted Patent B2
US 12679212 · App. 18/277,625 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Switching device for a multi-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply of an electrically operable motor vehicle, electronic control unit, and motor vehicle

Inventors: Florian Pritscher (Landshut, DE); Christian Schardax (Garsten Nord, AT); Bjoern Wahl (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60L3/04H02H7/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679212
App. No.
18/277,625
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switching device for a multi-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply of an electrically operable motor vehicle is provided. The switching device includes at least one first electromechanical switch assigned to a first pole of at least one high-voltage accumulator, and having at least one second electromechanical switch assigned to a second pole of at least one high-voltage accumulator, wherein a first switch and a second switch have a different design and are designed to meet a first defined requirement together, and wherein at least one of the two switch types—here referred to as the first switch—is designed so as meet at least a second defined requirement on its own.

Claims (17)

1 . A switching device for a multi-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply system of an electrically operable motor vehicle, the switching device comprising:

at least one first electromechanical switch which is assigned to a first pole of a first high-voltage store;

at least one second electromechanical switch which is assigned to a second pole of a second high-voltage store;

a third electromechanical switch disposed between the first high-voltage store and the at least one second electromechanical switch;

a fourth electromechanical switch disposed between the second high-voltage store and the at least one first electromechanical switch; and

a changeover matrix disposed between the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch, the changeover matrix including a plurality of switches arranged to provide for a series connection between the first and second high-voltage stores and a parallel connection between the first and second high-voltage stores based on which of the plurality of switches are open and closed;

wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch are configured with a two-pole breaking capability;

wherein only the at least one first electromechanical switch is configured with an on-load breaking capability up to an operating voltage limit;

wherein only the at least one second electromechanical switch is configured with a bounce-free switch-in capability; and

wherein the third electromechanical switch and the fourth electromechanical switch have a breaking capability up to a full short-circuit current of 15 kA and a contact resistance of 30μΩ.

2 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch are respectively provided with an actuator which is actuatable by a low-voltage supply, in order to connect or interrupt the power supply lines of the high-voltage vehicle power supply system.

3 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one first electromechanical switch opens automatically.

4 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one second electromechanical switch remains closed.

5 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch comprises a return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes a solenoid, is de-energized, and thus does not counteract the return spring.

6 . The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch comprises no return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes an electric motor including a self-locking spindle, being de-energized, remains in its current position.

7 . An electronic control unit for a motor vehicle, for actuating at least two different electromechanical switches of a switching device according to claim 1 .

8 . An electrically operable motor vehicle comprising a switching device according to claim 1 .