POWER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A LOAD IN A VEHICLE
The electric energy provided to some loads in a vehicle is limited or controlled by a power controller that receives a signal specifying how much power should be provided to the load. When the link providing the power-specifying signal is lost, the controller adjusts the power to the load according to an internal temperature of the controller instead of simply providing full power to the load.
1 . A power control apparatus configured to vary electrical power delivered to a load, the power control apparatus comprising:
a control unit, configured to:
receive a power specification from a power specification unit; and
detect an interruption of a connection between the power control apparatus a power specification unit;
a temperature acquisition unit configured to detect a temperature of the power control apparatus;
wherein, the control unit is configured to change the amount of electrical power delivered to the load responsive to a temperature detected by the temperature acquisition unit, when a connection between the power control apparatus and the power specification unit is interrupted.
2 . The power control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to reduce the electrical power delivered to the load when a predetermined temperature threshold value is detected.
3 . The power control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the temperature threshold value is variable.
4 . The power control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the amount of electrical power delivered is determined using a thermal time constant of the power control apparatus.
5 . The power control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch off the power control apparatus when a maximum temperature is reached detected.
6 . A fluid pump assembly comprising:
a fluid pump, configured to vary a fluid pumping capacity as a function of electrical power provided to the fluid pump; and
a power control apparatus coupled to the fluid pump and configured to provide electrical power to the fluid pump.
7 . The fluid pump assembly of claim 6 , wherein the fluid pump assembly is a fuel pump assembly for a motor vehicle.
8 . A motor vehicle comprising a fluid pump assembly as claimed in claim 6 , the motor vehicle additionally comprising:
a fuel reservoir holding fuel for the motor vehicle;
an internal combustion engine, controlled by an internal combustion engine controller;
wherein the fluid pump is arranged such that it supplies fuel from the fuel reservoir to the combustion engine; and
wherein the combustion engine controller is configured to provide a fuel pump power specification to the power control apparatus.
9 . The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the internal combustion engine controller sends a signal to the power control apparatus and receives a response signal therefrom, the internal combustion engine controller can being configured to detect when a response signal is not received.
10 . The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the internal combustion engine controller is configured to calculate a power behavior of the power control apparatus when the connection to the power control apparatus is interrupted.
11 . A method for adjusting the electrical power delivered by a power control apparatus to a load, the method comprising:
monitoring the status of a connection between the power control apparatus and the load;
operating the power control apparatus in an emergency mode when a connection between the power control apparatus and load is interrupted, the emergency mode comprising:
determining a temperature of the power control apparatus;
changing the amount of electrical power delivered by the power control apparatus to the load responsive to the temperature of the power control apparatus.
12 . The method as claimed of claim 11 , wherein the electrical power delivered by the power control apparatus to the load is reduced when the temperature of the power control apparatus has reached a predetermined limit value.