Patent ID: 7615879

Claim:
A method of controlling an onboard power supply system for a motor vehicle having a multi-voltage generator which supplies at least a first and a second partial power supply system each having several electric consuming devices, the first and the second partial power supply system having a first and a second voltage respectively and being mutually coupled by way of a parallel connection consisting of a voltage converter and a longitudinal controller, the method comprising the acts of: assigning a separate priority to each of the several electric consuming devices of the first and second partial power supplies; receiving a signal directing the supply of electrical power to an unsupplied one of the electric consuming devices; and in response to the signal, calculating the total of the power currently supplied to the electric consuming devices from the generator and the power required by the unsupplied one of the consuming devices; determining whether the assigned priority for the unsupplied one of the consuming devices is lower than a defined threshold priority value and upon a determination that the assigned priority of the unsupplied one of the consuming devices is lower than the defined threshold priority value and upon a determination that the calculated total of the power exceeds a defined power value of the generator, ceasing to supply at least one consuming load having an assigned priority lower than the unsupplied one of the consuming devices and supplying power to the unsupplied one of the consuming devices so that the total power supplied to the consuming devices by the generator does not exceed the defined power value of the generator.