Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

John Anthony DeMarco

David Celinske

Allan Roy Gale

Alex O'Connor Gibson

Farouq Mozip

Andrew Hudson

Robert Michael Grant

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Joseph Norman Ulrey

Stuart C Salter

Thomas George Leone

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Todd Ansbacher

Vincent John Boscheratto

John Eric Rollinger

Kirk Pebley

Zeljko Deljevic

Kevin Thomas Hille

Eric Michael Rademacher

David Jeffeory Berels

Anthony Gerald King

Filip Tomik

Chad Everette Griffin

John Curtis Hickey

Hamed Babazadehrokni

Robert G Oestreich

A motor vehicle electrical distribution system includes an upfitter power supply subsystem with overcurrent protection for tripping (opening) a solid-state relay when current drawn from a main electrical source by the upfitter subsystem impacts other priority electrical loads of the vehicle. Warnings/alerts are generated to inform the user (e.g., driver) of the tripping events, which may include real-time graphing of a recent history of events. In order to restore power to the upfitter subsystem, a voltage supplied by a supplemental battery (i.e., vehicle start-up battery) to the upfitter subsystem is monitored. If the voltage stabilizes then a voltage from the main electrical source is intentionally dropped to the stabilized value and the solid-state relay is re-closed. Then the main voltage is ramped back up to its nominal value. An automatic reset time may be added to delay the reclosing if the solid-state relay has been operated excessively.

Vehicular electrical system sharing primary power with upfit equipment

Responsive to a magnitude of current associated with power from a vehicle being supplied to upfitter loads approaching a predefined threshold, a controller discontinues supply of power to vehicle loads according to a user defined priority order of the vehicle loads such that the vehicle loads of lowest priority among the priority order of the vehicle loads are sequentially shed to maintain the magnitude less than the predefined threshold.

Automotive power supply, upfitter module architectures, and user defined load shedding related to same

A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a high voltage battery pack comprised of a least a first module comprised of a plurality of first battery cells, a second module comprised of a plurality of second battery cells, and a third module comprised of a plurality of third battery cells. A first passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of first battery cells, a second passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of second battery cells, and a third passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of third battery cells. A pack manager measures a voltage of each of the first, second, and third modules, compares measured voltages of the first, second, and third modules, and actively balances a lower charged module from the first, second, and third modules with energy from a higher charged module of the first, second, and third modules.

Hybrid cell balancing for high voltage battery packs

Method and apparatus are disclosed for energy-consumption detection of vehicles in an off state. An example vehicle includes a controller area network (CAN) including CAN buses, a gateway module, and electronic control units (ECUs) that are each connected to one of the CAN buses. Upon activating while the vehicle is in an off state, a first of the ECUs sends a message via a corresponding one of the CAN buses to activate the gateway module. The message includes activation data and the gateway module stores the activation data.

Energy-consumption detection of vehicles in an off state

An automotive electrical system provides power from two DC sources each connected to a separate group of integrity-protected (ASIL) loads. A third group of non-ASIL loads are connected to both power sources through a controllable isolator with first and second transistor arrays. The connection through the isolator also connects each ASIL group to the other DC source. A control circuit includes a plurality of drivers for driving the first and second transistor arrays into conduction. The control circuit is configured to cease driving at least a respective one of the first and second transistor arrays when a fault condition is detected in which current flow in at least one of the transistor arrays exceeds a threshold.

Dual-supply automotive electrical system with protection of motion control components

Vehicles and vehicle power circuits are disclosed for providing multiple different voltages from the same power source. An example vehicle includes a power source, a plurality of electrical loads, and a power circuit. The power circuit is electrically connected to the power source and the plurality of electrical loads. The power circuit includes a plurality of power segments connected in parallel to the power source, each power segment comprising a DC to DC converter and an ultra capacitor in series with the DC to DC converter, wherein the ultra capacitors of the plurality of power segments are connected in series.

Vehicle power control systems

A vehicle power system includes loads, a battery coupled to the loads, an ultra-capacitor coupled to the battery, and a bypass circuit. The loads, the ultra-capacitor, and the battery are electrically coupled in series. The bypass circuit monitors the ultra-capacitor and prevents the ultra-capacitor from over-discharging and reversing in polarity.

Vehicle power system including ultra-capacitor for mitigating transient current events

A power distribution system for a vehicle includes a switching circuit configured to selectively enable power flow between a first bus and a second bus operable within a common voltage range. The power distribution system further includes a controller programmed to, in response to power flow being inactive and a current flowing through the first bus exceeding a current threshold, operate the switching circuit to enable power flow from the second bus to the first bus.

Control of redundant power architecture for a vehicle

A vehicle includes an electric power converter, a power source, a detection circuit, at least one processor, and at least one memory. The electric power converter filters voltage ripple generated by the electric power converter. The detection circuit determines an unfiltered measurement of the power source and a filtered measurement of the power source and generates a differential signal by comparing the unfiltered measurement and the filtered measurement. Said memory stores instructions executable by said processor. The instructions causes said processor to determine a state of health of the power source based at least in part on the differential signal.

System and method for detecting degradation of power source in vehicles

A power distribution system for a vehicle includes a plurality of switching devices arranged in a circuit to selectively control power flow between a plurality of buses operating within a same voltage range. The power distribution system further includes a controller programmed to, in response to the switching devices being in a state to transfer power between the buses and a current flowing through one of the buses exceeding a predetermined current, operate the switching devices to isolate the buses.

Short-circuit protection for vehicle redundant power architecture

An automotive vehicle includes an engine, an alternator or integrated starter generator, and at least one controller. The at least one controller reduces voltage output of the alternator or integrated starter generator prior to initiating an auto stop of the engine.

System and method for controlling alternator or integrated starter generator output voltage

Systems and methods for supplying electrical power to two electrical buses that operate at different voltages are disclosed. In one example, two or more switches are selectively opened and closed to electrically couple and decouple a first alternator and a second alternator from the respective buses. The switches may be operated in response to state of battery charge or electrical load demand on the two electrical buses.

Electrical system and methods for a vehicle

A computer that includes at least one processor and memory. The processor of the computer can be programmed to execute instructions stored on the memory that include controlling, based on a temperature, which of a plurality of power sources of a vehicle battery are coupled to a starter circuit during a vehicle ignition event.

Vehicle energy management

A vehicle may include a vehicle charging system having an alternator operatively coupled to an engine and a controller. The controller may be programmed to output a warning indicative of a vehicle charging system fault in response to a quotient of a voltage drop associated with the alternator and an output current of the alternator exceeding a threshold value while the alternator is operating in a steady state condition.

Methods and systems for detecting vehicle charging system faults

A method for supplying power to an electrically assisted steering system is described. In one example, the method adjusts alternator field current to increase energy supplied to the electrically assisted steering system in response to an automatic engine stop request. The method may improve operation of the electrically assisted steering system.

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Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

John Anthony DeMarco