Patent ID: 7307358

Claim:
A system of active equalization between power supply systems sharing a rechargeable electrical power storage device, applicable to an automotive vehicle, comprising the combination of: at least a first ( 1 ) and a second ( 2 ) electrical system, including first ( 1 a ) and second ( 2 a ) electrical power sources, respectively, for feeding at least one electrical device ( 3 ) of said automotive vehicle, at least one rechargeable electrical power storage device ( 4 ) shared by said electrical systems ( 1 , 2 ), detection means for detecting at least the current circulating between said first ( 1 ) and second ( 2 ) electrical systems, said electrical systems ( 1 , 2 ) and said rechargeable electrical power storage device ( 4 ), which is at least one in number, and said electrical systems ( 1 , 2 ) and said electrical device ( 3 ) which is at least one in number, and the voltage in said electrical power sources ( 1 a, 2 a ) of said first ( 1 ) and second ( 2 ) electrical systems and in said rechargeable storage device. at least one switching assembly ( 5 , 6 ) associated to each of said first ( 1 ) and second ( 2 ) electrical systems, allowing the rechargeable electrical power storage device ( 4 ) to electrically connect with either of said electrical systems ( 1 , 2 ), or with both, or allowing said electrical systems ( 1 , 2 ) to connect with each other, and an electronic system ( 7 ) associated to at least said detection means and to said switching assemblies ( 5 , 6 ), which are at least two in number, and which it controls, wherein each of said switching assemblies ( 5 , 6 ) comprises a switching device of a first type ( 5 a , 6 a ), which is actuated by said electronic system ( 7 ) when only one transient electrical connection not exceeding a predetermined time period is required, and a switching device of a second type ( 5 b , 6 b ), which is actuated by said electronic system ( 7 ) when an electrical connection of a duration exceeding that of said predetermined time is required, the electronic system ( 7 ) being adapted for determining which elements of the system, namely the rechargeable electrical power storage device ( 4 ), first ( 1 ) or second ( 2 ) electrical system, need to be connected with each other and for how long; further characterized in that said switching devices of said first ( 5 a , 6 a ) and second ( 5 b , 6 b ) types are connected in parallel, in that the switching device of the first type ( 5 a , 6 a ) is one-way and is arranged such that it can conduct only from the rechargeable electrical power storage device ( 4 ) but not towards it, and in that the switching device of the second type ( 5 b , 6 b ) is two-way.