IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,227,580
Granted Patent B2
US 9,227,580 · App. 14/409,180 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Method and system for disabling and enabling an electric motor vehicle control module

Inventor: Bertrand Puzenat (Montigny le Bretonneux, FR)
Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
B60R16/0231B60L3/00B60L3/0069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,227,580
App. No.
14/409,180
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention pertains to an electronic control module ( 3 ) for a motor vehicle electrical circuit ( 1 ), intended to be linked in a galvanically isolated manner to a motor vehicle electrical circuit ( 1 ) comprising at least one functional module ( 5 ) powered at high voltage, the control module comprising: —a connection bus ( 9 ), intended to be linked to an exterior interface ( 7 ), configured so as to conduct low-voltage electrical setpoint signals, emanating from the exterior interface ( 7 ) to the elements of the control module ( 3 ) to which they are addressed, —a microcontroller ( 1 ), configured to control the at least one functional module ( 5 ) as a function of the setpoint signals, characterized in that the microcontroller ( 11 ) and the connection bus ( 9 ) are linked by a non-galvanic coupler ( 13 ), provided with a low-voltage part ( 131 ) and with a high-voltage part ( 133 ), which are able to exchange at least one signal and are galvanically decoupled, and in that the control module furthermore comprises an electrical transformer ( 15 ), linked via outputs ( 153, 155, 157 ) to the high- and low-voltage parts ( 131, 133 ) of the non-galvanic coupler ( 13 ) and to the microcontroller ( 11 ) so as to provide their power supply, the transformer ( 15 ) being linked to a low-voltage source ( 17 ) via a breaker switch ( 19 ), and the connection bus ( 9 ) comprising a switching member ( 91 ) controlling the open or closed state of the breaker switch ( 19 ).

Claims (11)

1. An electronic control module for a motor vehicle electrical circuit, configured to be linked in a galvanically isolated manner to a motor vehicle electrical circuit comprising at least one functional module powered at high voltage, the control module comprising:

a connection bus, configured to be linked to an exterior interface, configured so as to conduct low-voltage electrical setpoint signals emanating from the exterior interface to the elements of the control module to which they are addressed, and

a microcontroller, configured to control the at least one functional module as a function of the setpoint signals,

wherein the microcontroller and the connection bus are linked by a non-galvanic coupler, provided with a low-voltage part and a high-voltage part, which are able to exchange at least one signal and are galvanically decoupled, and in that the control module furthermore comprises an electrical transformer, linked via outputs to the high- and low-voltage parts of the non-galvanic coupler and to the microcontroller so as to provide their power supply, the transformer being linked to a source via a breaker switch, and the connection bus comprising a switching member controlling the open or closed state of the breaker switch.

2. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection bus is a LIN bus.

3. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection bus is a CAN bus.

4. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-galvanic coupler is a photocoupler.

5. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the non-galvanic coupler is a capacitive coupler.

6. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control module further comprises a hold signal line linking the connection bus and the microcontroller via the non-galvanic coupler, in that the switching member is configured to open the breaker switch in the absence of a hold signal on the hold signal line, and in that the switching member is configured to close the breaker switch in the presence of a hold signal on the hold signal line.

7. The control module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transformer comprises an outlet galvanically isolated from the connection bus, providing a low-voltage power supply.

8. The control module as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the outlet providing a low-voltage power supply is linked to the microcontroller, and in that said microcontroller is configured to modulate the low-voltage power supply received on input in order to obtain a control signal on output to trip the high-voltage control transistors of the at least one functional module.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2015
From: PUZENAT, BERTRAND
To: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
Reel/Frame 035191/0783 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 12 01736 · Jun 19, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150175099A1 · Jun 25, 2015