IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,760,284
Granted Patent B2
US 11,760,284 · App. 17/806,913 · Granted Sep 19, 2023

Electronic control unit and power supply system

Inventor: Tomoaki Yoshimi (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
B60R16/03H02K11/33H02M7/48H05K7/1432B62D5/0484
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,760,284
App. No.
17/806,913
Granted
Sep 19, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power relay unit includes a high potential side relay connected so that an anode of a parasitic diode is on a high potential side and a cathode is on a low potential side, and a low potential side relay connected in series with a low potential side of the high potential side relay so that a cathode of a parasitic diode is on a high potential side and an anode is on a low potential side. A relay-to-relay connection line connects an intermediate point between the first high potential side relay and the first low potential side relay and an intermediate point between the second high potential side relay and the second low potential side relay. A control unit controls an on/off operation of the first high potential side relay based on a first supply voltage, a second supply voltage, and a relay intermediate voltage.

Claims (22)

1. An electronic control unit, comprising:

a first power supply relay unit including a first high potential side relay, which is connected so that an anode of a parasitic diode is on a high potential side and a cathode is on a low potential side, and a first low potential side relay, which is connected in series with the low potential side of the first high potential side relay so that a cathode of a parasitic diode is on the high potential side and an anode is on the low potential side, and being connected to a first external power source;

a second power supply relay unit including a second high potential side relay, which is connected so that an anode of a parasitic diode is on a high potential side and a cathode is on a low potential side, and a second low potential side relay, which is connected in series with the low potential side of the second high potential side relay so that a cathode of a parasitic diode is on the high potential side and an anode is on the low potential side, and being connected to a second external power source different from the first external power source;

a relay-to-relay connection line connecting an intermediate point between the first high potential side relay and the first low potential side relay and an intermediate point between the second high potential side relay and the second low potential side relay;

a first relay control circuit includes a first relay driver that drives the first high potential side relay, a first upper monitor circuit that monitors a first supply voltage on the high potential side of the first high potential side relay, and a first lower monitor circuit that monitors a relay intermediate voltage, which is a voltage of the relay-to-relay connection line on the low potential side of the first high potential side relay;

a second relay control circuit including a second relay driver that drives the second high potential side relay, a second upper monitor circuit that monitors a second supply voltage on the high potential side of the second high potential side relay, and a second lower monitor circuit that monitors a relay intermediate voltage on the low potential side of the high potential side of the second high potential side relay; and

a control unit configured to control an on/off operation of the first high potential side relay and the second high potential side relay based on the first supply voltage, the second supply voltage, and the relay intermediate voltage.

2. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the relay-to-relay connection line is connected to a booster circuit capable of supplying a higher voltage than a first external power supply and a second external power supply via a switch and a current limiting circuit.

3. The electronic control unit according to claim 2 , wherein

the control unit determines that an abnormality is present, when a boost voltage from the booster circuit is applied to the relay-to-relay connection line in a state where all relay elements of the first power supply relay unit and the second power supply relay unit are off, and if the relay intermediate voltage and the boost voltage do not match.

4. The electronic control unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the control unit turns off the first high potential side relay when it is determined that the first supply voltage is abnormal based on the first supply voltage and the relay intermediate voltage, and turns off the second high potential side relay when it is determined that a second external power supply is abnormal based on the second supply voltage and the relay intermediate voltage.

5. The electronic control unit according to claim 4 , wherein

when the first high potential side relay or the second high potential side relay that has been turned off due to an abnormality in the supply voltage is referred to as an abnormal system relay,

the control unit turns on the abnormal system relay, when regenerative power is generated and the relay intermediate voltage is larger than a regenerative determination value.

6. A power supply system, comprising:

a plurality of redundant units in which the electronic control unit according to claim 1 is provided for each unit;

a first external power supply; and

a second external power supply;

wherein

the plurality of redundant units are connected in parallel to the first external power supply and the second external power supply.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2022
From: YOSHIMI, TOMOAKI
To: DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060198/0026 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-227129 · Dec 17, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2020046490 · Dec 14, 2020
Related Publication 20220306019A1 · Sep 29, 2022