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.
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).
As shown in
As shown in
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'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.
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'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.
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:
Hereinafter, such embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
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 13a. Fixed contacts 13a are connected with the loads of the vehicle. Switching part 12 is selectively moved based on the position of fixed contacts 13a by an electromagnetic force generated in the operational part 11. When power is not supplied to activated coils 11b and 11c 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 12a of switching part 12.
The selective switching principle between movable contact 12b formed in switching part 12 of multi-contact relay 10 and fixed contact 13a formed in fixed contact part 13 will now be described. As shown in
As shown in
In addition, when power is supplied to first activated coil 11b and second activated coil 11c of operational part 11, and current is applied to the ground 15 through first activated coil 11b and second activated coil 11c, respectively. The magnetic field is formed in the directions of the first and third vertical terminals 11a-1 and 11a-3. Therefore, the first and third vertical terminals 11a-1 and 11a-3 have the N-pole, and the second vertical terminal 11a-2 has the S-pole. The N-pole of permanent magnet 12a 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 12b of switching part 12 can also be switched to second fixed contact 13a-2 of fixed contact part 13. The direction of the current flowing through first and second activated coils 11b and 11c is changed to the opposite direction so that the N-pole is formed at second vertical terminal 11a-2. The switching operation is performed with respect to the remaining fixed contacts 13a-4, 13a-5 and 13a-6 in the same method as the above method.
So, switching part 12 may be switched to six positions based on the power applied to two activated coils 11b and 11c. When fixed contact 13a is installed based on each position of movable contact 12b, it is possible to independently switch to one of six contacts. Here, as shown in
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 11a-1 through 11a-3 formed in operational part 11, and the shapes and magnetization characteristics of permanent magnet 12a. When the structures of vertical terminals 11a-1 through 11a-3 or permanent magnet 12a are changed, switching part 12 should be designed to return to the original position when the power is not supplied to the activated coils 11b and 11c.
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,
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.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2003-0070141 | Oct 2003 | KR | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4068202 | Lyons, III | Jan 1978 | A |
4841205 | Bekkema | Jun 1989 | A |
4881054 | Polgar | Nov 1989 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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2001-185015 | Jul 2001 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050078429 A1 | Apr 2005 | US |