The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 06, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 24, 2010
Norihiko Kato, Kariya, JP;
Takehiro Kubotani, Kariya, JP;
Yukikazu Koide, Kariya, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A power supply control apparatus for controlling a power supply unit including a battery and a load is provided. The power supply control apparatus includes a main relay and a ground relay, a pre-charge relay, an inrush current limiting resistor, a first relay control section, and a time measurement section. The main relay and the ground relay are connected between the battery and the load. The pre-charge relay is connected in parallel with one of the main relay and the ground relay. The inrush current limiting resistor is connected in series with the pre-charge relay, and limits an inrush current from the battery to the load. The first relay control section temporarily turns ON the pre-charge relay and turns ON the main relay and the ground relay upon receiving a power supply connection request from the outside, and turns OFF the main relay and the ground relay upon receiving a power supply interruption request from the outside. The time measurement section chooses a time point in the period from when the pre-charge relay is turned ON to when it is turned OFF, and measures the elapsed time from the chosen time point. Before the elapsed time measured by the time measurement section reaches a predetermined reference period, the first relay control section does not turn OFF the main relay and the ground relay, but maintains the relays ON, even when receiving the power supply interruption request.