Abstract:
The present invention relates to a multi-contact type relay in which power is supplied to a load through a BCM (Body Control Module) in accordance with a switching signal from an integration switch, and two coils provided in a relay are selectively activated in accordance with a switching signal from the BCM, so that a fixed contact unit operates based on various contact types in accordance with a movement of a switching part. Therefore, it is possible to fabricate a product as a module, thus resulting in cost reduction and a lightness of a product fabricated thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority of Korean Application No. 10-2003-0070141, filed on Oct. 9, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated fully herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to relays in electric and electronic apparatuses. In particular, the present invention relates to a multi-contact type relay in which power is supplied to a load through a BCM (Body Control Module). 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , a plurality of wire harnesses are used in a vehicle for connecting many electric and electronic apparatuses. Among the wire harnesses, a wire harness positioned in a vertical direction of the vehicle has a divided intermediate part for easier assembly. Relay  200  is connected to the divided parts. Load  300  is operated in accordance with a switching signal of switch  400  by a controller. In a switching operation by a low current of the controller, power is stably supplied to load  300  operating by AC through relay  200 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of relays are combined, including a common relay system, to implement combined contact types in a relay. One such relay is a multi-contact electromagnetic relay combined with a double make-type relay and a one make-type relay in a base terminal. 
   However, as the functions of electric and electronic apparatuses in a vehicle become more complicated, a circuit is generally constructed based on a BCM (Body Control Module). The BCM is capable of receiving a plurality of switching signals, and then controlling a plurality of relays based on an on and off operation by interpreting the switching signals. In the past, a turn signal switch, an emergency light signal, and a robbery alarming function were connected to a turn signal lamp relay so that switches and wire connections were very mechanically and electronically complicated. Nowadays, the signals of all switches are inputted into the BCM, and the BCM interprets the sequences of the signals and controls two turn signal relays. 
   This makes the BCM is becomes a convenient apparatus for vehicles. The BCM is designed to perform various functions such as power window control, wiper motor control, door lock actuator control, robbery prevention control, and room lamp control. The BCM includes a microcomputer having a specific program and a communication electronic device for communication with a LCU (Local Control Unit). There are, however, limits to the BCM&#39;s applications. Development of a relay construction in which one relay forms a plurality of load circuits in the vehicle using the BCM is urgently needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a multi-contact type relay in which power is supplied to a load through a BCM (Body Control Module) in accordance with a switching signal from an integration switch. Two coils in the relay are selectively activated in accordance with a switching signal from the BCM so that a fixed contact unit operates based on various contact types in accordance with a movement of a switching part. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the product as a module, and a manufacturing cost and the product&#39;s weight are thus decreased. 
   To achieve the above objectives, the present invention includes a relay designed in such a manner that power is supplied to loads through a BCM (Body Control Module) in accordance with a switching signal from an integration type switch. Coils are then activated in accordance with each switching signal from the BCM, thereby forming contacts. The multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet comprises an operational part having three vertical terminals, an E-shaped steel core having a horizontal part horizontally connecting the vertical terminals, and first and second activating coils connected with a power voltage source and wound onto the horizontal part of the steel core; a switching part that is positioned in an upper side of the operational part, and has a permanent magnet and a movable contact that are moved in the left and right directions based on a repulsive force and an attractive force generated by an electromagnetic force of the first and second coils when the coils are activated; and a fixed contact part in an upper side of the switching part and has a plurality of fixed contacts selectively switched with the movable contact of the switching part that is movable in the left and right directions. 
   Additionally, the first and second activated coils are wound on the horizontal part of the operation unit in the same direction, and the position of the movable contact of the switching part is changed by changing the direction of the current. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned aspects and other features of the present invention will be explained in the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the construction of a multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an operation state when a current is applied to a first activated coil; 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an operation state when a current is applied to a second activated coil; 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed view of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an operation state when a current is applied to first and second activated coils; 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed view of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIGS. 8A through 8C  illustrate positions of a switching part when a second vertical terminal is an N-pole; 
       FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram of an internal circuit construction of BCM; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an operation of the circuit of  FIG. 10 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a circuit diagram of a circuit construction of a conventional relay. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, such embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , relay  10  includes E-shaped steel core  11   a  having three vertical terminal parts  11   a - 1  through  11   a - 3  and a horizontal part  13 a horizontally connecting three vertical terminal parts  11   a -I through  11   a - 3 . Relay  10  also includes an operational part  11  having two activated coils  11   b  and  11   c  wound on horizontal part  13   a - 4  of steel core  11 . In addition, switching part  12  has a permanent magnet  12   a  and a movable contact  12   b  is positioned in an upper end near operational part  11 . Switching part  12  is slidable in horizontally based on the repulsive and attractive forces generated by electromagnetic forces of the activated coils  11   b  and  11   c  wound on operational part  11 . 
   Fixed contact part  13  connected with a load (not shown) is positioned above switching part  12 , and fixed contact part  13  includes six fixed contacts  13   a . Fixed contacts  13   a  are connected with the loads of the vehicle. Switching part  12  is selectively moved based on the position of fixed contacts  13   a  by an electromagnetic force generated in the operational part  11 . When power is not supplied to activated coils  11   b  and  11   c  of operational part  11 , the center of switching part  12  is aligned with the center of operational part  11  by a magnetic force emanating only from permanent magnet  12   a  of switching part  12 . 
   The selective switching principle between movable contact  12   b  formed in switching part  12  of multi-contact relay  10  and fixed contact  13   a  formed in fixed contact part  13  will now be described. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when power is supplied only to first activated coil  11   b  of operational part  11 , and the current of the power voltage  14  is applied to a ground GND  15  along the first activated coil  11   b , a magnetic field is generated in the direction of the first vertical terminal  11   a - 1  based on Ampére&#39;s law, which states that the direction of the force is determined by a current and a magnetic field. First vertical terminal  11   a - 1  has the N-pole, and the remaining two vertical terminals  11   a - 2  and  11   a - 3  have the S-pole. Therefore, the N-pole of permanent magnet  12   a  of switching part  12  repels first vertical terminal  11   a - 1  because they both have the N-pole. This causes switching part  12  to move toward the right. Switching part  12 &#39;s movement toward the right is subsequently stopped by the attractive force it senses from the second and third vertical terminals  11   a - 2  and  11   a - 3 , which have the S-pole. When switching part  12  is in such a position, movable contact  12   b  is aligned with first fixed contact  13   a - 1  of fixed contact part  13 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the power is supplied to only second activated coil  11   c  of operational part  11 , and the current of the power voltage  14  is grounded through the ground source  15  through second activating coil  11   c , the magnetic field is formed in the direction of third vertical terminal  11   a - 3  based on Ampére&#39;s law. Therefore, third vertical terminal  11   a - 3  now has the N-pole, and the remaining two vertical terminals  11   a - 1  and  11   a - 2  have the S-pole. At this time, the current direction of second activating coil  11   c  is opposite to the direction of first exciting coil  11   b . The direction of the magnetic field by the second exciting coil  11   c  is preferably opposite to the direction of  FIG. 2 . The switching part  12  operates differently from the above described first method. Attractive and repulsive forces are generated between the N-pole and S-pole formed in permanent magnet  12   a  of switching part  12  in accordance with an operation of the S-pole of second vertical terminal  11   a - 2  of operational part  11 . Therefore, switching part  12  is slightly moved in the right direction, and movable contact  12   b  of switching part  12  is switched to third fixing contact  13   a - 3  of fixing contact part  13 . 
   In addition, when power is supplied to first activated coil  11   b  and second activated coil  11   c  of operational part  11 , and current is applied to the ground  15  through first activated coil  11   b  and second activated coil  11   c , respectively. The magnetic field is formed in the directions of the first and third vertical terminals  11   a - 1  and  11   a - 3 . Therefore, the first and third vertical terminals  11   a - 1  and  11   a - 3  have the N-pole, and the second vertical terminal  11   a - 2  has the S-pole. The N-pole of permanent magnet  12   a  of switching part  12  repels the N-pole of the operational part  11  and is attracted to the S-pole. Therefore, switching part  12  stops at the intermediate position as shown in the drawings. 
   Movable contact  12   b  of switching part  12  can also be switched to second fixed contact  13   a - 2  of fixed contact part  13 . The direction of the current flowing through first and second activated coils  11   b  and  11   c  is changed to the opposite direction so that the N-pole is formed at second vertical terminal  11   a - 2 . The switching operation is performed with respect to the remaining fixed contacts  13   a - 4 ,  13   a - 5  and  13   a - 6  in the same method as the above method.  FIGS. 8A through 8C  shows the remaining operations.  FIG. 8A  shows switching to fourth fixed contact  13   a - 4 ,  FIG. 8B  shows switching to fifth fixed contact  13   a - 5 , and  FIG. 8C  shows switching to sixth fixed contact  13   a - 6 . 
   So, switching part  12  may be switched to six positions based on the power applied to two activated coils  11   b  and  11   c . When fixed contact  13   a  is installed based on each position of movable contact  12   b , it is possible to independently switch to one of six contacts. Here, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the power supplied to first and second activating coils  11   b  and  11   c  is supplied to the internal circuit of BCM  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , in a state that transistor  21  is off, an output of OUTPUT  22  is 0V (GND), and when the transistor is on, OUTPUT  22  has a value of Vcc-Vce. Here, Vcc represents a power voltage, and Vce represents a voltage at a collector and an emitter of the transistor. 
   The internal circuit construction of BCM  20  may be implemented in various forms. BCM  20  interprets a signal from each switch  30  and supplies power to four OUTPUT lines  22  based on the on and off operation of transistor  21 . The line may be connected with the ground GND, thereby controlling a relay  10 . Switching to the six contacts may be controlled by changing the on and off of the transistor  21 . 
   Additionally, the position of switching part  12  of relay  10  may be changed based on the cross section areas and types of vertical terminals  11   a - 1  through  11   a - 3  formed in operational part  11 , and the shapes and magnetization characteristics of permanent magnet  12   a . When the structures of vertical terminals  11   a - 1  through  11   a - 3  or permanent magnet  12   a  are changed, switching part  12  should be designed to return to the original position when the power is not supplied to the activated coils  11   b  and  11   c.    
   In the multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet according to the present invention, when the values of the currents from the BCM  20  are changed to different values (except for the values of on and off), it is possible to control switching part  12  to many different positions including the above-described six contact positions. 
   Further,  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating an example of the multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet according to the present invention. As shown therein, fixed contacts  13   a - 1 ′,  13   a - 2 ′, and  13   a - 3 ′ of fixed contact part  13  are arranged in the vertical direction. The positions and shapes of the contacts are changed based on the functions for implementing an electrical circuit. A plurality of different fixed contacts  13   a - 1 ′,  13   a - 2 ′, and  13   a - 3 ′ are installed in parallel in the vertical direction. As shown in  FIG. 11 , when movable contact  12   b  of switching part  12  is slid horizontally, the first switching is performed at first fixed contact  13   a - 1 ′ having a longer length, and then second fixed contact  13   a - 2 ′ is switched. Finally, first, second, and third fixed contacts  13   a - 1 ′,  13   a - 2 ′, and  13   a - 3 ′ are concurrently switched. Three loads connected with them are operated step-by-step or are operated in series. 
   The above construction is designed to achieve a series operation of the loads. This construction may be adapted to various elements. As described above, in the multi-contact type relay controlled by an electromagnet according to the present invention, six relays are combined in maximum. The relays may be formed modularly. The manufacturing cost is decreased, and, since many elements are shared, and the numbers of the electromagnetic cores and exciting coils are decreased, the lightness of the product is achieved.