IP Library Granted Patent US 10,714,966
Granted Patent B2
US 10,714,966 · App. 15/956,233 · Granted Jul 14, 2020

Isolation switch operation

Inventors: Mark E. Shields (Plymouth, MI); Matthew Thomas Loiselle (LaSalle, MI); Brian Keyse (Farmington Hills, MI); Josephine S. Lee (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
H02J7/1446B60L50/10B60L50/50H02J7/0031H02J9/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,714,966
App. No.
15/956,233
Granted
Jul 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a starter motor having a dedicated power source, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, responsive to a command for the motor to start an engine, open a switch to isolate the motor and source from a network electrically connected with the machine, and responsive to voltages on both sides of the switch falling within a predetermined range, close the switch to charge the source.

Claims (41)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first low-voltage power source being connected to a first low-voltage bus, wherein the first low-voltage power source supplies a first low-voltage to the first low-voltage bus;

a starter motor connected to the first low-voltage bus;

a high-voltage power source connected to a high-voltage bus;

a DC-DC converter connected to the high-voltage bus and a second low-voltage bus, wherein the DC-DC converter is operable to convert a high-voltage provided by the high-voltage power source to a second low-voltage supplied to the second low-voltage bus;

one or more accessory loads connected to the second low-voltage bus;

an isolation switch operable to electrically connect and disconnect the first low-voltage bus from the second low-voltage bus; and

a controller configured to,

open the isolation switch responsive to a starter motor being operated by the first low-voltage to start an engine, wherein the one or more accessory loads may continue to be operable by the second low-voltage supplied by the DC-DC converter, and

close the isolation switch responsive to the first low-voltage measured on the first low-voltage bus being substantially equal the second low-voltage measured on the second low-voltage bus, wherein the second low-voltage supplied by the DC-DC converter is operable to charge the first low-voltage power source.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an electric machine connected to the high-voltage power source, wherein the electric machine and the first low-voltage power source are electrically disconnected when the isolation switch is open.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the electric machine is operable to charge the first low-voltage source when the isolation switch is closed.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first low-voltage power source is a 12-volt battery.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a second low-voltage power source connected to the second low-voltage bus.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more accessory loads are powered by the second low-voltage power source when the isolation switch is open.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the second low-voltage power source is a 12-volt battery.

8. A method for a vehicle comprising:

supplying a first low-voltage to a first low-voltage bus, wherein the first low-voltage is supplied by a first low-voltage power source, and wherein a starter motor is connected to the first low-voltage bus;

supplying a high-voltage to a high-voltage bus, wherein the high-voltage bus is connected to a high-voltage power source;

converting the high-voltage to a second low-voltage and supplying the second low-voltage to a second low-voltage bus;

opening an isolation switch to electrically disconnect the first low-voltage bus from the second low-voltage bus when a starter motor is being operated by the first low-voltage to start an engine; and

closing the isolation switch when the first low-voltage measured on the first low-voltage bus is substantially equal to the second low-voltage measured on the second low-voltage bus.

9. The method of claim 8 , charging the first low-voltage source using an electric machine when the isolation switch is closed.

10. The method of claim 8 , charging the first low-voltage source using the high-voltage power source when the isolation switch is closed.

11. The method of claim 8 , supplying a third low-voltage from a second low-voltage power source connected to the second low-voltage bus.

12. The method of claim 11 , powering one or more accessory loads using the second low-voltage power source when the isolation switch is open.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a first low-voltage power source being connected to a first low-voltage bus, wherein the first low-voltage power source supplies a first low-voltage to the first low-voltage bus;

a starter motor connected to the first low-voltage bus;

a high-voltage power source connected to a high-voltage bus;

a DC-DC converter connected to the high-voltage bus and a second low-voltage bus, wherein the DC-DC converter is operable to convert a high-voltage provided by the high-voltage power source to a second low-voltage supplied to the second low-voltage bus;

one or more accessory loads connected to the second low-voltage bus;

an isolation switch operable to electrically connect and disconnect the first low-voltage bus from the second low-voltage bus; and

a controller configured to,

open the isolation switch responsive to a starter motor being operated by the first low-voltage to start an engine, wherein the one or more accessory loads may continue to be operable by the second low-voltage supplied by the DC-DC converter, and

close the isolation switch responsive to both the first low-voltage measured on the first low-voltage bus and the second low-voltage measured on the second low-voltage bus being within a predetermined voltage range.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising an electric machine connected to the high-voltage power source, wherein the electric machine and the first low-voltage power source are electrically disconnected when the isolation switch is open.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the electric machine and the high-voltage power source are operable to charge the first low-voltage source when the isolation switch is closed.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first low-voltage power source is a 12-volt battery.

17. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a second low-voltage power source connected to the second low-voltage bus.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the one or more accessory loads are powered by the second low-voltage power source when the isolation switch is open.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2018
From: SHIELDS, MARK E.; LOISELLE, MATTHEW THOMAS; KEYSE, BRIAN; LEE, JOSEPHINE S.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045577/0582 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190326772A1 · Oct 24, 2019