WO2012168469A1

WO2012168469A1 - Stabilized dc electric power supply device with multiple outputs

Info

Publication number: WO2012168469A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/060949
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mathieu FROMENT
Original assignee: Narbonne Accessoires
Priority date: 2011-06-10
Filing date: 2012-06-10
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: FR2976417B1; FR2976417A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a stabilized DC current electrical power supply device (100), characterized in that it comprises: a. a DC/DC current converter; b. a first connection (150) able to be plugged into a DC current source and powering the input of the converter; c. a plurality of distinct connections (161, 162), termed plug connections, able to be plugged into consumer devices, or loads, and plugged into the output of said converter; d. means (170) for cutting the power supply to the converter whilst the power supply connection (150) remains connected to the DC current source (250).

Description

STABILIZED CONTINUOUS POWER SUPPLY DEVICE WITH OUTPUTS

MULTIPLE

The invention relates to a stabilized continuous power supply device with multiple outputs. This invention is more particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use in recreational vehicles such as motor homes or pleasure boats.

It is known from the prior art, DC-DC voltage converters adapted for use in motor vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles, or pleasure craft. This type of converter converts a DC voltage into another DC voltage of different value. Thus, it is common to use this type of converter in a truck to power a device with a voltage of 1 2 volts while the battery of said truck delivers a voltage of 24 volts. Another application concerns converters transforming a voltage of 1 2 volts into a voltage of 5 volts to power devices, such as satellite positioning devices or mobile phones, in particular via the serial socket, called USB, of these devices.

The operation of these converters is based on a filtering principle of the DC voltage input, this principle is known from the prior art and is not discussed further.

Similarly, many home appliances, such as televisions, video disc players, hard drives etc. ... are today equipped with a 1 2 volt supply of power, their connection to the 220 volt relay is carried out by a transformer / rectifier. It is therefore natural that vehicle owners, especially recreational vehicles, consider the possibility of connecting these devices in their vehicle by connecting them, by means of a simple adapter, to the standard socket, called "cigarette lighter" of their vehicle, possibly via a converter 24V / 1 2V when said vehicle is equipped with a battery 24 volts. By limiting themselves to the common case of batteries present in motor vehicles, they have a tension nominal of 12 volts or 24 volts. However, this voltage is variable depending on the state of charge of said battery. For a lead-acid battery, it tends to 10 volts when the nominal voltage is 1 2 volts and that said battery is close to its minimum charge, ie. it is discharged, and can reach nearly 30 volts when the nominal voltage is 24 volts and the battery is new and fully charged. Thus, for a given rated voltage, the effective voltage across the battery, can vary in a total proportion aledep rede 40% of the nominal voltage. Conversely, the transformers / rectifiers used for the connection of the appliances to the 220 volts sector, deliver a very stable voltage so that the above-mentioned equipments are not designed to accommodate such large variations in voltage, hence their degradation very fast when used in a vehicle and powered by the battery of said vehicle. In addition, because they usually use dedicated power supplies, these devices are generally not protected against reverse polarity when they are connected. Finally, most of these devices have a standby mode that allows, on the one hand, to save energy when they are not used in a prolonged manner, and on the other hand, to join them. nominal operating state more quickly after such no activity. The power consumption of these devices in standby mode is low and not significant in terms of instantaneous consumption at the individual level. On the other hand, this low consumption can cause the discharge of the battery of the vehicle, if it extends over several hours.

When several devices are to be connected, for example, in a motorhome, a television, a satellite decoder and a video disc player, it is necessary to multiply the number of converters and to connect them to cigarette lighter sockets. However, if this type of veh icu usually includes several takes of this type, they are distributed in said vehicle so that the different power supplies clutter the space and are likely to be subjected to shocks when driving of the vehicle.

US 2008 258677 discloses a rectifier transformer comprising a battery. This device is poorly suited to prolonged use for the power supply of a device having a standby mode. Indeed, as explained above, the consumption, even reduced, said device in standby mode exhausts the power source of said rectifier transformer when it is powered by a non-renewed source.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, the invention relates to a stabilized DC power supply device, comprising: a. a DC-DC converter;

b. a first connection able to be connected to a source of direct current and supplying the input of the converter;

vs. a plurality of separate connection connections, connectable to consumer devices or loads, and connected to the output of said converter; d. means for switching off the converter power supply while the power connection remains connected to the DC power source.

Thus, with a single device object of the invention, it is possible to connect a plurality of devices to feed them by the same cigarette lighter are. The continuous-convertible converter stabilizes the supply voltage so that the receivers connected to the device are protected from variations in supply voltage. Cutting means make it possible to avoid exhaustion of the DC power source when the consumer devices are in standby mode.

The invention can be implemented according to the advantageous embodiments described below which can be considered individually or in any technically operative combination.

Advantageously, the converter of the device according to the invention comprises a voltage stabilizer capable of outputting a constant DC voltage in a range of plus or minus 3% for an input voltage varying between 9 volts and 30 volts. Thus the device is suitable for any type of vehicle battery, in any state of charge. According to a first embodiment, the connections connected to the output of the converter all deliver the same DC voltage, for example, a voltage of 12.5 volts which is suitable for the vast majority of devices.

According to a second embodiment, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises means capable of modifying the DC voltage delivered by each of the output connections. Thus, the device is more versatile and can power various devices, including audio file players, type MP3, at a voltage of 5 volts.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a housing in which the converter is integrated, said housing comprising means for fixing it on a support. Thus, the device can be securely fixed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, to prevent it from being degraded or that it represents a danger during acceleration or deceleration that may undergo said vehicle.

Advantageously, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises an operating indicator remote from the housing and means for electrically connecting said indicator light to said device. Thus, if the housing is installed in places can be accessed, the operation indicator can be installed so as to be in the visibility volume of the user, for example on the dashboard of the vehicle.

To meet the same need for monitoring the proper operation of the device when it is installed in a poorly accessible area, led it ispositif comprises for each connection connection a remote operating indicator light housing.

Advantageously, the device of the invention comprises a fault indicator, remote from the housing, for each connection connection. Such a fault indicator signals to the user a problem of operation, such as a reverse polarity, an overcurrent, etc. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, this fault indicator can be combined with the indicator of operation of the connection connections, for example, by means of light-emitting diodes of different colors. Advantageously, the fixing means comprise fastening tabs connected to the housing. This embodiment is more particularly suitable for permanent attachment of the device object of the invention, in particular by means of fixing screws.

According to another embodiment, the fixing means comprise a stirrup or a shoe in which the housing can be fitted. This embodiment is more particularly adapted to a removable installation of the device object of the invention.

Advantageously, the device according to this last embodiment, comprises means for connecting the stirrup or the shoe to a power source and means for connecting the device to this power source when the casing is fitted into said stirrup. .

Advantageously, the fixing means comprise adhesive means. Said adhesive means may be connected to the housing itself or to its stirrup, or shoe, support. Thus, the attachment is facilitated and it does not attack the support on which the housing is attached. Alternatively or jointly, the fastening means may be magnetic or still with suction cup, to achieve a removable attachment to different types of media.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the means for modifying the output voltage comprise adjustment means accessible on one of the outer faces of the housing. Thus the output voltages at the connection connections can be adjusted according to the receiving device.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device object of the invention, the power connection and the connection connections are placed on the same face of the housing. Thus, the attachment of the housing is facilitated, especially when it is fixed in a shoe or a stirrup.

According to one embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention, the breaking means comprise a switch placed on one face of the housing. This embodiment is simple and inexpensive, but it requires action to isolate the converter from the power supply.

According to an alternative embodiment, the power supply means of the converter are remote from the housing and comprise means of electrical connection to the device. Thus, the cut-off and the putting into operation of the device are facilitated when the latter is in an inaccessible location, by deporting the breaking means in a suitable zone.

According to one embodiment, which is more advantageous and which can be combined with the preceding one, the breaking means comprise automatic breaking means comprising means for measuring the intensity of the current flowing through the load and timing means, so that if said intensity is below a defined threshold, for a time greater than a defined time, the supply circuit is open. Thus, the device according to the invention is able to detect a situation corresponding to a standby operation of the devices connected to it, and to automatically cut power in such a situation.

Advantageously, according to this embodiment, the device of the invention comprises on one of the faces of the housing, a contactor capable of putting out of service the automatic switching means. Thus, in the case where one of the devices con nected to the d ispositif object of the invention, has a particularly low power consumption that could lead to untimely power cuts, or, if the user wants to benefit from the standby mode, the automatic breaking means can be put out of service.

According to a particular embodiment, adapted to the case of a device according to the invention capable of delivering a high electrical power, the housing comprises cooling means.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises means able to open the connection circuit in case of overvoltage exceeding a level in the supply circuit. Thus the protection of connected equipment is further improved. Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises means able to open the connection circuit in the event of polarity reversal at the connection of the connection connection to the load. Thus, the device connected to the ispositif object of the invention is protected against false manipulations of this type. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the device according to the invention comprises an adapter assembly of the connection interface with the load, so the device can be used to connect a large variety of devices that can not be connected. do not have an appropriate connector to connect to a cigarette lighter socket.

Advantageously, the connection connections comprise means for removably connecting said connections with the housing. In this way, the user can remove the user-friendly con n sion to reduce the size of the device.

The invention is explained below according to its preferred embodiments, in no way limiting, and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view from the front and from above of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified electrical diagram of a voltage converter according to an exemplary embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention;

- And Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the device of the invention comprising a stirrup or a shoe for attachment to the support.

Figure 1, according to an exemplary embodiment, the device (1 00) object of the invention comprises a housing (1 1 0) having fastening elements (1 20) to allow to secure said housing with a support. This housing (1 1 0) contains the electronic components of the device, including a DC-DC converter. According to this exemplary embodiment, the casing is made of an aluminum alloy casting and comprises fins (1 15) for cooling. Alternatively the housing can be made of plastic and without wings. It may also include cooling means under the form of gills and / or mechanical means of fan type. Advantageously, the housing can be sealed. The device includes a DC power connection (150), having a cigarette lighter standard 21 mm ISO or DIN connector (155), for connecting the device to a DC power source between 9 volts and 30 volts. The housing comprises two or more output connections (161, 162) delivering a determined DC current, each output (161, 162) having standard connectors (165, 166) for connection to receivers or loads (not shown). ). According to this embodiment, each output (161, 162) further comprises means (168, 169) for adjusting the DC voltage it delivers. Advantageously, the connection means (165, 166) of each output are removable connectors so as to adapt the connector according to the receiving device. A switch (170) on an accessible side of the housing (110) cuts power to the converter without disconnecting the plug (155) from the power source. A light (180) includes power leads (181) for mounting said light remote from the housing (110). Several LEDs of this type can be used to account for the operation of the device or the proper operation of each connection connection. Thanks to the electrical connection means (181) said indicator light (180) can be installed away from the housing, for example on the dashboard of the vehicle. The user can thus control the proper functioning of the device that is the subject of the invention, even if said device is installed in an inaccessible or barely visible place, such as for example inside interior furniture of a building. motorhome.

Figure 2, according to an exemplary embodiment, in no way limiting, the DC-DC converter (210) comprises a switching power supply with a galvanic isolation by a transformer (215) between the input and the output. As an illustrative example it is a converter commonly referred to by the name "fly back" which is suitable for the vast majority loads (260) covered by the device object of the invention, namely video disc players, television screens or generally, electronic audiovisual or computer equipment for large publ ic. Other types of converters may be used, for example, for applications requiring higher power. The input of this converter (21 0) is connected to a DC source (250), generally the battery of the vehicle in which the device of the invention is installed. The converter (21 0) comprises, at its input, a voltage-limiting circuit breaker (275) which protects the converter (210) in the event of an overvoltage to the supply or of switching on a supply of electricity. imation not appropriate. According to an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises amperometric means (270) for measuring the output current consumption, said means being able to drive the supply switch (170), at the input of the device, when the intensity The average over a defined time of the current flowing through the load (260) is less than a determined value. Thus, the object of the invention automatically cuts off the power supply to the receivers (260) when they are in a controlled state so as to prevent this operation in extended mode from discharging the battery (250) of the vehicle into the vehicle. which device is installed. Means (271) make it possible to disable this feature to respond to particular cases.

3, according to an advantageous embodiment, the housing (1 1 0) of the device according to the invention can be placed in a shoe or stirrup (320), which shoe can be fixed on the support by any means including by adhesive means. Thus said shoe or stirrup (320) can remain permanently in the vehicle and maintain the housing (1 10) when the device object of the invention is used in said vehicle. When said vehicle is not in use, the device according to the invention can be removed from its shoe (320) in order to be used, for example, in another vehicle, which other vehicle can be provided with another shoe. or yoke (320) adapted to receive the housing (1 10). Various modes of attachment of the shoe or stirrup (320) to the support can be considered, in particular, by self-drilling screws, magnets, suction cups, by interlocking, the support being able to be constituted by an element of the vehicle, such as the dashboard, a window, a furniture in the case of a recreational vehicle, an interior bodywork element, or be constituted by the receiver itself for example, by interlocking on the edge of a liquid crystal screen. According to this embodiment, the connection (161, 162) and power (150) connections, as well as the switch (170) and the output voltage setting means (168, 169) are all set on the same face (31 0) of the housing (1 10), so that they are easily accessible

The above description and the exemplary embodiments show that the invention achieves the desired objectives, in particular it makes it possible to securely and possibly removably place a stabilized and protected DC power supply in a vehicle. , able to supply several receivers. This power supply can be installed without any difficulty by the user of the said vehicle, without it having any special skills.

Claims

1. Device (100) for stabilized direct current power supply, characterized in that it comprises: a. a DC-DC converter (210);

b. a first connection (150) adapted to be connected to a source (250) of direct current and supplying the input of the converter (210);

vs. a plurality of interconnections (1 61, 1 62) of connectors, connection dies, to be connected to consumer devices (260), or loads, and connected to the output of said converter (210);

d. switching means (170) of the converter power supply while the power connection (150) remains connected to the DC source (250)

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a voltage stabilizer adapted to output a constant DC voltage within a range of plus or minus 3% for an input voltage of between 9 volts and 30 volts.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connections (161, 162) connected to the output of the converter (210) all provide the same DC voltage.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (1 68, 1 69) capable of modifying the DC voltage delivered by each of the output connections (161, 162).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a housing (1 10) in which is integrated converter (21 0) said housing (1 10) having means (120, 320) for fixing it on a support.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a remote control light (180) remote from the housing (1 10) and means (181) for electrically connecting said light indicator to said device.

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises for each connecting connection (161, 162) a remote operation indicator light of the housing (1 10).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a fault indicator remote from the housing (1 1 0) for each connection connection (161, 162).

9. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening means comprise tabs (120) for fixing connected to the housing (1 10).

10. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means comprise a stirrup (320) or a shoe in which the housing (1 10) can be fitted.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises means for connecting it caliper (320) or shoe to a power source and means for connecting said device to the power source when said housing is fitted into said stirrup (320).

12. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means (120, 320) comprise adhesive means.

13. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means (120, 320) comprise a magnet.

14. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing means (120, 320) comprise a suction cup.

15. Device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the means for modifying the output voltage comprise adjustment means (168, 169) accessible on one of the outer faces of the housing (1 10).

16. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the supply connection (150) and the connection connections (161, 162) are placed on the same face of the housing (1 10).

17. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the breaking means comprise a switch (170), placed on one side of the housing (1 10).

18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the switch (170) is placed on the same face (310) as the power supply (150) and connection (161, 162).

19. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the switching means (170) of the converter power supply are remote from the housing (1 10) and comprise means of electrical connection to said device.

20. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means dec oupure comprise automatic breaking means comprise means (270) for measuring the current through the load (260) and timing means, so that if said average intensity is less than a defined threshold, for a time greater than a defined time, the supply circuit is open.

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises on one of the faces of the housing (1 10) a contactor (271) adapted to disable the automatic switching means.

22. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing (1 10) comprises means (1 15) for cooling.

23. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (275) adapted to open the connection circuit in case of overvoltage exceeding a defined level in the supply circuit

24. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means adapted to open the connection circuit in case of polarity reversal at the connection of the connection connection to the load (260).

25. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an adapter assembly of the interface (165, 166) for connection with the load connection interface (260).

26. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the connection connections comprise removable connection means of said connections with the housing (1 10).