Safety device and procedure for checking the absence of voltage in a motor vehicle's high-voltage network

Abstract

Safety device (100) for checking a high-voltage network (20) of a motor vehicle (10) for absence of voltage, comprising: - an interface device (110) which can be connected to the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10); - a sensor device (120) which is coupled to the interface device (110) and which is designed to detect at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) via the interface device (110); and - a computer device (130) designed to determine a prevailing voltage value of the high-voltage network (20) based on at least one recorded operating state and to check the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) for absence of voltage by comparing the determined voltage value with a reference value; characterized by the fact that the sensor device (120) is further configured to check an interlock loop (40) of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) and to record a result of the check as at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for absence of voltage and a method for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for absence of voltage. State of the art

[0002] DE 10 2010 036 379 A1 describes a battery of a motor vehicle, with at least two battery modules which are connected by at least one electrical connection, and a safety mechanism which has at least one separating means which is arranged outside the electrical connection during normal operation of the battery modules and which separates the electrical connection between the two battery modules in the event of an accident, thereby preventing a high voltage within the battery.

[0003] DE 10 2007 047 713 A1 describes a method and a corresponding device for discharging a high-voltage network of a hybrid vehicle, in particular a DC intermediate circuit of a hybrid vehicle. Switching means are used to discharge the capacitances of the high-voltage network. These switching means are located between the capacitances and at least one precharging resistor and a high-voltage battery. The switching means are switches with a predeterminable arrangement of switching contacts, or switching devices, or relays, or contactors that can be switched by means of a control device. The switching devices are operated such that the at least one precharging resistor is used simultaneously for charging and discharging the DC intermediate circuit.

[0004] US 2009 / 0159311 A1 describes a vehicle battery system comprising multiple vehicle battery cells. The individual vehicle battery cells are connected to each other via electrical conductors, with the electrical conductors being designed to be detachable to ensure a disconnection in the event of an accident.

[0005] US 2009 / 1039781 A1 describes a motor vehicle with a battery to ensure a supply of electrical energy, with an electric motor to drive the motor vehicle, and with a first control circuit connected between the battery and the motor to control the flow of electrical energy provided to the motor vehicle.

[0006] In the motor vehicle described therein, the battery is embedded in a battery installation device, wherein several battery cells of the battery are connected to the battery installation device via fragile connecting wires, so that when acceleration forces occur and act on the battery installation device and the battery cells, the fragile connecting wires, which are formed from a thin wire, are interrupted.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2010 056 235 A1 and DE 10 2011 122 420 A1 each disclose a vehicle-external device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle, which device can be coupled to the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle and is designed to detect at least one operating state of the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle and to check the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle for voltage-free status based on the at least one detected operating state. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The present invention provides a safety device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for absence of voltage having the features of patent claim 1 and a method for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for absence of voltage according to patent claim 12. Advantages of the invention

[0009] The idea of ​​the present invention is to detect the state of a high-voltage network or a high-voltage on-board network of a motor vehicle and to represent it by a component external to the vehicle in the form of the safety device.

[0010] The essence of the invention is that the check of the condition of the high-voltage network is not carried out by the on-board diagnostic options, which could be impaired in their function by an emergency situation of the motor vehicle, such as a malfunction or an accident or in the course of bridging when carrying out repairs to the motor vehicle, but that the diagnosis of the high-voltage network or the high-voltage on-board network of the motor vehicle can be carried out with an external, reliably functioning device in the form of the safety device.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the subclaims and from the description with reference to the figures.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety device further comprises a switching device configured to discharge the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle if the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle is not de-energized. This advantageously ensures safe electrical discharge of the high-voltage network by the safety device.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the switching device is designed to discharge the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle via load resistors of the safety device. This allows for a safe way to ensure that the system is de-energized.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the switching device is designed to discharge the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle via the vehicle's load circuits. This allows the high-voltage network to be discharged safely and easily by using the vehicle's existing load circuits.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety device further comprises a warning device configured to emit a warning signal if the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle is not de-energized. This allows people in the vicinity of the motor vehicle to be reliably warned of the lack of de-energization of the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the warning device is designed as an optical warning device. This allows for a simple and clearly visible warning of a lack of voltage in the motor vehicle's high-voltage network.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the warning device is designed as an acoustic warning device. This allows for a simple and easily perceptible warning of a lack of voltage in the motor vehicle's high-voltage network.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the interface device comprises electrical contacts for a positive pole of the high-voltage network, for a negative pole of the high-voltage network, for a ground of the motor vehicle, and for the interlock loop of the high-voltage network. This allows the operating states of the motor vehicle's high-voltage network to be reliably and completely recorded.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the computer device is further designed to determine via the electrical contacts whether an electrical voltage is present at the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle, or whether the high-voltage network of the motor vehicle is short-circuited with the ground of the motor vehicle, or whether the ground of the motor vehicle is live with respect to earth, or whether a line of the high-voltage network secured with the interlock loop of the high-voltage network is damaged.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety device is designed to short-circuit the positive pole of the high-voltage network and the negative pole of the high-voltage network. This ensures that the high-voltage network is voltage-free and safely protects rescue workers or workshop personnel from live components of the high-voltage network.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety device is designed to short-circuit the high-voltage network and the vehicle's ground. This ensures that the high-voltage network of the vehicle remains voltage-free from the vehicle's ground even during further repair work or other operations on the vehicle's high-voltage network.

[0022] The described designs and further training courses can be combined as desired.

[0023] Further possible embodiments, further developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described previously or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. Short description of the drawings

[0024] The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention.

[0025] Other embodiments and many of the aforementioned advantages will become apparent upon review of the drawings. The elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0026] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a safety device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for voltage-free status according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a safety device for checking the absence of voltage in a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle according to a further embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 a schematic representation of a flow diagram of a method for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for voltage-free operation according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0027] In the figures of the drawing, the same reference symbols designate the same or functionally equivalent elements, parts, components or process steps, unless otherwise stated.

[0028] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a safety device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for voltage-free operation according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] A security device 100 comprises, for example, an interface device 110, a sensor device 120 and a computer device 130.

[0030] The interface device 110 can be coupled to a high-voltage network 20 of a motor vehicle 10.

[0031] The high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 can have electrical supply lines to individual electrical components of the motor vehicle 10 and the electrical supply lines are secured via one or more interlock loops 40.

[0032] The interface device 110 further comprises electrical connections for checking the interlock loop 40. The interlock loop 40 is configured, for example, as continuous electrical lines arranged next to the electrical supply lines of an electrical load component installed in the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10. In the event of a break in the electrical supply lines, the lines also experience an interruption, thereby enabling detection of a malfunction in the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0033] The sensor device 120 is designed, for example, to detect at least one operating state of the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 via the interface device 110. The sensor device 120 can be designed as a voltage measuring device or a current measuring device.

[0034] The computer device 130 is designed, for example, to determine a prevailing voltage value of the high-voltage network 20 based on the at least one detected operating state and to check the absence of voltage in the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 by comparing the determined voltage value with a reference value.

[0035] The reference values ​​are stored, for example, in a memory device integrated in the computer device 130. The memory device is designed, for example, as a semiconductor memory constructed from a semiconductor, with microelectronic memory structures being implemented in and on a semiconductor crystal.

[0036] For example, a voltage of less than 40 volts, or less than 9 volts, or less than 1 volt is stored as a reference value. The reference value can be adapted to the characteristics of the high-voltage network 20 or to prevailing environmental conditions such as humidity, which are detected by the sensor device 120.

[0037] For example, a current intensity, an open-circuit voltage of a high-voltage storage device of the high-voltage network 20 or another current or voltage value of the high-voltage network 20 can be used as the detected operating state of the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0038] The computer device 130 and the sensor device 120 are embodied, for example, as a processor unit or as another electronic data processing unit. The computer device 130 is embodied, for example, as a microcontroller, also known as a μcontroller, which combines a processor and units for peripheral functions on a single chip.

[0039] The Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a safety device for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for voltage-free operation according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0040] Deviating from the Fig. 1 shown embodiment of the safety device 100 has in the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the safety device 100 further comprises a switching device 140 and a warning device 150.

[0041] The switching device 140 and the warning device 150 can be coupled to the computer device 130. The warning device 140 is designed, for example, as a buzzer or other electrically controlled acoustic signal generator that generates a buzzing or beeping sound.

[0042] Furthermore, the warning device 150 can be designed as a warning light or as another optical warning device 150 in the form of a light-emitting diode or a light bulb or another light source, which serves to draw attention to a dangerous situation or also a dangerous condition or a dangerous state or the lack of a voltage-free state of the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0043] The switching device 140 is designed, for example, to discharge the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 if the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 is not de-energized.

[0044] The switching device 140 is designed, for example, as a power transistor, such as a transistor for switching or controlling large voltages, currents or powers.

[0045] The switching device 140 is designed, for example, to discharge the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 via load resistors 145 of the safety device 100.

[0046] Furthermore, the switching device 140 can be designed to discharge the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 via the load circuits 30 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0047] The warning device 150 can be designed to emit a warning signal if the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 is not de-energized.

[0048] The others in the Fig. 2 are already included in the Fig. 1 corresponding figure description and are therefore not explained further.

[0049] The Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a flow chart of a method for checking a high-voltage network of a motor vehicle for voltage-free operation according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0050] As a first method step, a safety device 100 is coupled S1 to a motor vehicle 10.

[0051] As a second method step, at least one operating state of the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 is detected S2 by a sensor device 120 of the safety device 100 coupled to the motor vehicle.

[0052] As a third method step, a determination S3 of a prevailing voltage value of the high-voltage network 20 is carried out on the basis of the at least one detected operating state and a check of the absence of voltage in the high-voltage network 20 of the motor vehicle 10 is carried out by comparing the determined voltage value with a reference value.

[0053] The process steps can be repeated iteratively or recursively in any order.

[0054] Although the present invention has been described above using preferred embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but can be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, the invention can be changed or modified in a variety of ways without deviating from the essence of the invention.

Claims

[1] Safety device (100) for checking a high-voltage network (20) of a motor vehicle (10) for voltage-free operation, comprising: - an interface device (110) which can be coupled to the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10); - a sensor device (120) which is coupled to the interface device (110) and which is designed to detect at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) via the interface device (110); and - a computer device (130) which is designed to determine a prevailing voltage value of the high-voltage network (20) on the basis of the at least one detected operating state and to check the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) for absence of voltage by comparing the determined voltage value with a reference value; characterized by , that the sensor device (120) is further designed to check an interlock loop (40) of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) and to detect a result of the check as the at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10). [2] Safety device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the safety device (100) further comprises a switching device (140) which is designed to discharge the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) if the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) is not free of voltage. [3] Safety device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the switching device (140) is designed to discharge the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) via load resistors (145) of the switching device (140). [4] Safety device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the switching device (140) is designed to discharge the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) via load circuits of the motor vehicle (10). [5] Safety device (100) according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the safety device (100) further comprises a warning device (150) which is designed to emit a warning signal if the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) is not de-energized. [6] Safety device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the warning device (150) is designed as an optical warning device (150). [7] Safety device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the warning device (150) is designed as an acoustic warning device (150). [8] Safety device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface device (110) has electrical contacts for a positive pole of the high-voltage network (20), for a negative pole of the high-voltage network (20), for a ground of the motor vehicle (10) and for the interlock loop (40) of the high-voltage network (20). [9] Safety device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the computer device (130) is further designed to determine via the electrical contacts whether an electrical voltage is present at the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10), or whether the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) is short-circuited to the ground of the motor vehicle (10), or whether the ground of the motor vehicle (10) is live with respect to ground, or whether a line of the high-voltage network (20) secured with the interlock loop (40) of the high-voltage network (20) is damaged. [10] Safety device (100) according to one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the safety device (100) is designed to short-circuit the positive pole of the high-voltage network (20) and the negative pole of the high-voltage network (20). [11] Safety device (100) according to one of claims 8 and 9, wherein the safety device (100) is designed to short-circuit the high-voltage network (20) and the ground of the motor vehicle (10). [12] Method for checking a high-voltage network (20) of a motor vehicle (10) for absence of voltage, comprising the following method steps: - coupling (S1) a safety device (100) to a motor vehicle (10); - detecting (S2) at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) by a sensor device (120) of the safety device (100) coupled to the motor vehicle; and - determining (S3) a prevailing voltage value of the high-voltage network (20) based on the at least one detected operating state and checking the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) for absence of voltage by comparing the determined voltage value with a reference value; characterized by that an interlock loop (40) of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10) is checked by the sensor device (120) and a result of the check is recorded as the at least one operating state of the high-voltage network (20) of the motor vehicle (10).

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