Electrical components

Abstract

The present invention discloses an electrical component (100) comprising: a first ground terminal (145); a second ground terminal (155); and a power supply terminal (135); and the component is configured to be connected to a voltage between at least one of the power supply terminal (135) and the ground terminals (145, 155). Furthermore, the component (100) includes: a first power consumer (110) connected to the power supply terminal (135) and the first ground terminal (145); and a device (120) for connecting the second ground terminal (155) to the first power consumer (110). Here, the device (120) is configured to generate a predetermined voltage drop.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an electrical component, particularly an electrical component used in vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] The vehicle includes electrical components that can be configured to control safety-related functions. These components, for example, can control elements that are parts of the vehicle's powertrain. The powertrain may include a drive motor, clutch, transmission, differential, and drive wheels, and the components may be configured to control, for example, the clutch, transmission, or differential.

[0003] The components typically operate at a predetermined voltage that can be obtained from the vehicle's onboard electrical network. To ensure component functionality even under adverse conditions, the terminals for supplying voltage to the components can be redundantly implemented. In particular, two independent grounding terminals can be provided. In the event of a defect in one of these grounding terminals, the component's supply current can flow through the second grounding terminal.

[0004] Grounding terminals on the vehicle side are typically electrically connected to each other at the center point. These connections are often implemented differently (e.g., in terms of their length or conductor cross-section), so the voltage actually applied to the component may vary depending on the grounding terminal used. In this case, the ground potential of one component may differ from that of another component; this is what is being discussed here as ground offset. Ground offset can cause problems in the operation of a component, such as communication disruptions when the component is configured to communicate electrically with another component. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide an improved technique for redundantly supplying electrical components. This objective is achieved by means of the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims provide preferred embodiments.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, an electrical component includes: a first ground terminal; a second ground terminal; and a power supply terminal. The component is configured to be connected to a voltage between at least one of the power supply terminal and the ground terminal. Furthermore, the component includes: a first power consumer connected to the power supply terminal and the first ground terminal; and a device for connecting the second ground terminal to the first power consumer. The device is configured to generate a predetermined voltage drop.

[0007] In normal operation, typically, the two grounding terminals are connected to a common potential externally to the component via dedicated grounding conductors. Due to a predetermined voltage drop, the first grounding terminal is more "attractive" than the second grounding terminal, and the supply current primarily flows from the supply terminal through the first consumer and further through the first grounding terminal. In this case, the current flowing through the second grounding terminal can be very small. If the first grounding terminal may no longer be connected to the common external potential (e.g., due to a broken conductor), the current flows from the supply terminal through the first consumer and further through the second grounding terminal. The first consumer can be redundantly connected to the external ground potential in this way. Another second consumer can also be connected to the first grounding terminal, thus preventing ground offset between the consumers during normal operation.

[0008] The device can be configured to generate the voltage drop substantially independent of the current flowing through it. The voltage drop can be, for example, about 0.3 volts, about 0.5 volts, or about 0.7 volts. The device may, in particular, include a semiconductor. A semiconductor or a device having a semiconductor can be configured to keep a predetermined voltage drop constant.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a diode. The diode may also be comprised of another semiconductor, such as a transistor, particularly a bipolar transistor or a field-effect transistor. The diode preferably operates in forward conduction, thereby allowing current to flow in the direction toward the second ground terminal. In another embodiment, the transistor may be controlled by means of additional circuitry to generate a voltage drop. This additional circuitry may, in particular, include an operational amplifier.

[0010] The component may further include: means for determining the current flowing through the second grounding terminal; and a control device for controlling the current consumed by the component based on the determined current. The current flowing through the component can be reduced, especially when the determined current exceeds a predetermined threshold. The threshold can be selected based on the load-bearing capacity of the grounding conductor connected to the second grounding terminal. The flowing current can also be reduced by ensuring that the voltage applied to the first consumer is not lower than a predetermined value. This ensures that the first consumer always operates at a sufficiently high voltage, which is necessary for the function of the first consumer.

[0011] In another embodiment, a second consumer is provided, which is connected to both the power supply terminal and the first ground terminal. The control device is configured to reduce the current flowing through the second consumer based on a determined current. Preferably, the current flowing through the first consumer is reduced without the aid of a control device.

[0012] The first and second consumers can be interconnected via a special electrical communication wire. No grounding offset will occur between the consumers regardless of whether the grounding wire is faulty. Communication between the two consumers can be ensured in an improved manner.

[0013] The first consumer is configured to control safety-related functions. Components can be installed on a vehicle, and the first consumer can be specifically configured to control the vehicle's driving functions. The vehicle includes a motor vehicle that may have a powertrain. The first consumer can be configured to control elements of the powertrain, such as a transmission or clutch. By means of the techniques proposed herein, powertrain runaway or erroneous control can be prevented in an improved manner, for example.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the vehicle includes the components described herein. The vehicle may, for example, include a passenger vehicle, a truck vehicle, or a bus. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate electrical components in a vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Figure 1 An electrical assembly 100 is shown on a vehicle 105. The vehicle 105 preferably includes a motor vehicle with a powertrain, and the assembly 100 is preferably configured to control components of the powertrain, such as a transmission. In this embodiment, the assembly 100 includes: a first consumer 110; an optional second consumer 115, which may also be disposed separately from the assembly 100; and a device 120, which is described in more detail below. In particular, the first consumer 115 may be configured to control the aforementioned components. The safety of the vehicle 105 may be compromised due to erroneous control of the components.

[0017] Component 100 can be connected to a voltage, which can be provided, for example, by the vehicle's electrical grid or battery 125. The high potential of battery 125, for example, terminal 30 of vehicle 105, can be connected to power supply terminals 135 via power supply leads 130. In another embodiment, two power supply leads 130 are provided, which are led to and connected to the two power supply terminals 135 of component 100 (not shown).

[0018] The low potential of battery 125 (which can be connected to the equipment grounding of vehicle 105), in particular the terminal 31 of vehicle 105 is connected to the first grounding terminal 145 of component 100 by means of the first grounding wire 140 and to the second grounding terminal 155 of the component by means of the second grounding wire 150.

[0019] The first consumer 110 preferably includes safety-related components (e.g., an electric actuator for a mechanical actuator), while the second consumer 115 in this example includes non-safety-related components. Both consumers 110 and 115 are connected to a first ground terminal 145. Both consumers 110 and 115 are also connected to a second ground terminal 155 via device 120. The first consumer 110 is redundantly connected to a low potential in normal operation in the manner described, and more preferably, is also redundantly connected to the high potential of the battery 125. The corresponding provisions apply to the second consumer 115.

[0020] Device 120 (as shown) is disposed between the first ground terminal 145 and the second ground terminal 150 and is configured to generate a predetermined voltage drop at its end. The voltage drop is preferably less than about 1 volt, however, it can be selected differently depending on the requirements of the invention. With device 120, the potential difference between the second ground terminal 155 and the first ground terminal 145 in the direction away from the high potential is a predetermined voltage drop.

[0021] Device 120 may include, for example, a diode, a Zener diode, an avalanche diode, or a transistor. In another embodiment, device 120 may also include a resistor, which is preferably selected such that a predetermined voltage drop is achieved across the resistor when component 100 typically consumes current.

[0022] During normal operation with both grounding wires 140 and 150 fully functional, the majority of the current flowing through component 100 flows through the first grounding terminal 145, with only a smaller current flowing through the second grounding terminal 155. If the first grounding wire 140 is damaged (e.g., due to reduced cross-section, heating, or breakage), causing its resistance to become large enough to produce a voltage drop greater than that across device 120, then the majority of the current flows through the second grounding terminal 155. In both cases, the consumers 110 and 115 are connected to the same ground potential, so there is no ground bias between them. Communication between the consumers (e.g., via optional communication wire 160) is therefore problem-free in terms of potential transmission in any case.

[0023] The dimensions of the first grounding conductor 140 are typically determined to be sufficient to supply current to the two consumers 110, 115. However, the second grounding conductor 150 is not configured in some cases to carry the full current of the two consumers 110, 115; instead, its dimensions are primarily determined to supply power to the first consumer 110. To protect the second grounding conductor 150 from overload, a device 165 for determining the current flowing through the second grounding terminal 155 and a control device 170 may be provided.

[0024] Device 165 may be designed, for example, as a series resistor (“shunt”) between the second ground terminal 155 and the power consumers 110, 115. Control device 170 is further preferably configured to reduce the current consumption of component 100 if a determined current exceeds a predetermined threshold. For this purpose, control device 170 may include, for example, an operational amplifier or comparator, and is also configured to partially or completely disconnect the second power consumer 115, which is generally not related to safety, to protect the second ground conductor 150 from overload. The first power consumer 110, which may be related to safety, should preferably not be throttled in terms of its current consumption. The disconnection of the second power consumer 115 can be controlled by means of a corresponding signal (which may be transmitted in analog, digital, or as an encoded message). The signal can be analyzed directly by the second power consumer 115 or by a separate disconnection device.

[0025] exist Figure 1 The illustration also includes an optional diagnostic device 175, which can be directly connected to the second ground terminal 155. The diagnostic device 175 can be used to determine the current flowing through the second ground terminal 155 and / or the potential applied to it.

[0026] List of reference numerals

[0027] 100 components

[0028] 105 vehicles

[0029] 110 First Consumable

[0030] 115 Second Consumable

[0031] 120 devices

[0032] 125 battery

[0033] 130 power supply wire

[0034] 135 power supply terminal

[0035] 140 First grounding conductor

[0036] 145 First grounding terminal

[0037] 150 Second grounding conductor

[0038] 155 Second grounding terminal

[0039] 160 Communication wire

[0040] 165 Devices for measuring current

[0041] 170 Control Equipment

[0042] 175 Diagnostic Device

Claims

1. An electrical component (100), comprising: First grounding terminal (145); Second grounding terminal (155); Power supply terminal (135); The component (100) is configured to be connected to a voltage between the power supply terminal (135) and at least one of the ground terminals (145, 155); A first power consumer (110) is connected to the power supply terminal (135) and the first ground terminal (145); Device (120) for connecting the second ground terminal (155) to the first power consumer (110), wherein the device (120) is configured to generate a predetermined voltage drop; A means (165) for determining the current flowing through the second grounding terminal (155); and A control device (170) for controlling the current consumed by the component (100) based on a determined current. The control device (170) is characterized in that it is configured to reduce the current consumed by the component (100) when the determined current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The component (100) according to claim 1, wherein the device (120) is configured to generate the voltage drop independently of the current flowing through the device (120).

3. The component (100) according to claim 1, wherein the device (120) comprises a semiconductor.

4. The component (100) according to claim 3, wherein the device (120) comprises a diode.

5. The component (100) of claim 1 further includes a second consumer (115) connected to the power supply terminal (135) and the first ground terminal (145); wherein the control device (170) is configured to reduce the current flowing through the second consumer (115) depending on the determined current.

6. The component (100) according to claim 5, wherein the consumers (110, 115) are interconnected by means of communication wires (160).

7. The component (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first power consumer (110) is configured to control safety-related functions.

8. A vehicle (105) comprising a component (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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