Intelligent switch for automotive application

1. An intelligent switch comprising:

a pair of inlets including a first inlet and a second inlet;

a pair of outlets including a first outlet and a second outlet; and

a switch circuit electrically connecting the inlets and the outlets and comprising:

(a) an electromechanical switching submodule connecting the first inlet to the first outlet on a first path, the first inlet is connectable to the first outlet only by the electromechanical switching submodule,

(b) an electrical switching submodule connecting the second inlet to the second outlet on a second path, the second inlet is connectable to the second outlet only by the electrical switching submodule,

(c) a control unit for controlling an operating state of the electromechanical switching submodule and the electrical switching submodule,

(d) a first diagnostic submodule arranged in the first path between the electromechanical switching submodule and the first outlet, and

(e) a second diagnostic submodule arranged in the second path between the electrical switching submodule and the second outlet.

2. An intelligent switch according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical switching submodule is at least one of a monostable switching submodule and a bistable switching submodule.

3. An intelligent switch according to claim 2 , wherein the electric switching submodule is a semi-conductor switch.

4. An intelligent switch according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit comprises at least one control interface for connecting the control unit to a network system located outside the intelligent switch.

5. An intelligent switch according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit is connected to both switching submodules by a driving line.

6. An intelligent switch according to claim 5 , wherein each diagnostic submodule comprises at least one sensor for detecting at least one of the operating state of a switching submodule, a path current, a temperature, and a voltage.

7. An intelligent switch according to claim 6 ,

(a) further comprising a status line, and

(b) wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the control unit by the status line.

8. An intelligent switch according to claim 7 :

(a) further comprising an electrical automotive connector having:

(1) a base assembly having at one side thereof a connector face with the inlets and the outlets, and

(2) an interior side opposite to the connector face, and

(b) wherein the switch circuit is at the interior side.

9. An intelligent switch according to claim 8 , wherein the connector face has at least three terminals.

10. An intelligent switch according to claim 9 :

(a) further comprising a power supply line, and

(b) wherein the control unit further comprises a single control interface connected to or corresponding to one of the terminals and that the control unit is connected to at least one of the inlets by the power supply line.

11. An intelligent switch according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one circuit board having at least one electrical or electromechanical component selected from the group of electromechanical switching submodule, electrical switching submodule, control unit, driving line, power supply line, status line, and sensor.

12. An intelligent switch according to claim 11 , further comprising at least two circuit board sections at the interior side which extend away from the base assembly and face each other and each circuit board section comprises at least one electrical component or electromechanical component.

13. An intelligent switch according to claim 2 , wherein the electric switching submodule is at least one of a field-effect transistor and a smart field-effect transistor.

14. An intelligent switch according to claim 8 , wherein the connector face has a socket or plug having nine terminals.