Patent Application
20220169089
The present subject matter relates generally to power circuits, and more particularly, to power circuits for providing power to multiple electronic devices, such as air conditioning units, in a recreational vehicle.
Generally, recreational vehicles include various electronic devices, such as a recreational vehicle air conditioner (RVAC), that require direct current (DC) power for operation. As such, the RVAC is configured to maintain a comfortable temperature within the passenger compartment of the recreational vehicle. Typically, the air conditioning unit is mounted on the roof or another exterior location of the recreational vehicle and utilizes a sealed system for circulation refrigerant between an indoor and outdoor heat exchanger to facilitate heat transfer. For example, the indoor heat exchanger may be positioned within an indoor portion of the RVAC and may be in fluid communication with the passenger compartment through an opening in the roof. The outdoor heat exchanger may be positioned within the outdoor portion and separated from the indoor heat exchanger by a partition or divider.
Conventional recreational vehicles typically include multiple AC units and their controls. As such, the power is commonly provided to the AC units and their controls through multiple, separate electrical connections. However, this type of circuit necessitates multiple power sources so that there can be a power source for each electrical connection and therefore a power source for each AC unit and control. Thus, known RVAC systems can be cumbersome for the manufacturer.
Accordingly, an improved RVAC system that addresses the aforementioned issues would be welcomed in the art. Thus, the present disclosure is directed to an improved power circuit for providing power to multiple electronic units in a recreational vehicle that includes a single DC power source.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one aspect, a power circuit for a recreational vehicle is provided. The power circuit includes a plurality of electronic devices of the recreational vehicle that require direct current (DC) power for operation. The plurality of electronic devices each include a circuit board and a single DC power supply. The power circuit includes the single DC power supply electrically coupled directly to a first circuit board of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices. The power circuit includes the single DC power supply electrically coupled to the first circuit board via a first wired connection so as to supply the DC power to the first electronic device. The power circuit also includes electrically coupling the remaining circuit board of the plurality of electronic devices. Further, the power circuit includes electrically coupling the remaining circuit boards to the first circuit board via a daisy chain sequence. The daisy chain sequence is separate from the first wired connection. Moreover, remaining circuit boards of the plurality of the electronic devices receive the DC power from the single DC power supply via the daisy chain sequence.
In another aspect, a method for supplying power to a plurality of electronic devices in a recreational vehicle is provided. The method includes electrically coupling a single DC power supply directly to a first circuit board of a first electronic device of a plurality of electronic devices. Further, the method includes coupling the single DC power supply directly to a first circuit board via a first wired connection so as to supply DC power to the first electronic device. Moreover, the method includes electrically coupling remaining circuit boards of the plurality of electronic devices to the first circuit board. In addition, the method includes electrically coupling the remaining circuit boards to the first circuit board via a daisy chain sequence. The daisy chain sequence is separate from the first wired connection. As such, the method includes providing the DC power to the remaining circuit boards of the plurality of electronic devices from the single DC power supply. In addition, the method includes providing the DC power to the remaining circuit boards via the daisy chain sequence.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In order to aid understanding of this disclosure, several terms are defined below. The defined terms are understood to have meanings commonly recognized by persons of ordinary skill in the arts relevant to the present invention. The terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. In addition, as used herein, terms of approximation, such as “approximately,” “substantially,” or “about,” refer to being within a ten percent margin of error.
Referring now to the figures,
In addition, the passenger compartment 102 of recreational vehicle 100 also includes climate control to maintain a comfortable temperature during use of the vehicle 100. Accordingly, as shown, the recreational vehicle 100 also includes an air conditioning unit 104 for controlling the temperature within the passenger compartment 102. In particular, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, the passenger compartment 102 may be mounted to an exterior surface 106, such as the top surface, of the recreational vehicle 100 to provide cooled air to the passenger compartment 102. It should be further understood that the air conditioning system 104 may also be mounted to any other exterior surface 106 of the recreational vehicle 100 in addition to the top surface. Accordingly, in an embodiment, this arrangement is desirable because a byproduct of operation of the air conditioning system 104 is heated air, which has been passed over a heat exchanger to remove heat from the air circulating within the passenger compartment 102. More particularly, during certain operations, this heated air may be exhausted to the ambient air.
In addition, as shown in
Referring now specifically to
Referring particularly to
In particular, for example, the air conditioning unit 104 includes refrigerant circulating between an evaporator 120, a compressor 122, a condenser 124, and an expansion device 126, as shown in the refrigeration loop 128 of air conditioning unit 104 in
Accordingly, during operation, the refrigerant begins by passing through the evaporator 120 in liquid form. Ambient air or air from the passenger compartment 102 may pass over the evaporator 120, e.g., as motivated by an evaporator air handler. More specifically, as illustrated, the air conditioning unit system 104 may include an indoor fan 130 configured for urging a flow of indoor air. Because the liquid refrigerant is cold in this low-pressure state, it absorbs heat from the air passed over it, cooling the air for delivery to the passenger compartment 102. As the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat, the refrigerant evaporates into a vapor. Subsequently, the gaseous refrigerant is delivered to the compressor 122, which increases the pressure of the refrigerant, thus raising the temperature of the refrigerant above the ambient temperature outside of the recreational vehicle 100. From the compressor 122, the heated refrigerant is delivered to the condenser 124. Air may pass over the condenser 124, e.g., as motivated from a condenser air handler. More specifically, as illustrated, the air conditioning unit 104 may include an outdoor fan 132 configured for urging a flow of outdoor air, thereby facilitating heat transfer from the heated refrigerant to the ambient air. In releasing this heat energy, the refrigerant condenses back into liquid form. The refrigerant is then delivered to the expansion device 126, where the pressure of the refrigerant is reduced, thus decreasing its temperature. The cooled, liquid refrigerant is then delivered back to the evaporator 120 to repeat the process.
Referring now to
For example, as shown, the first circuit board 508 can be coupled to a single DC power supply 514 (e.g., a 12-volt DC power supply). More specifically, as shown, the single DC power supply 514 can be electrically coupled to the first circuit board 508 via a first wired connection 518 so as to supply the DC power to the first electronic device (e.g., the first AC unit 502). Thus, as shown, the remaining circuit boards of the power circuit 500 (e.g. circuit boards 510 and 512) may be electrically coupled to the first circuit board 508 via a daisy chain sequence 526. As used herein, a daisy chain sequence 526 generally refers to a wiring scheme in which multiple devices are wired together in a sequence, similar to a garland of daisy flowers. In particular, as shown in
Referring now in particular to the wired connections 518, 520, 522 of the power circuit 500, the wired connections may include power wiring components 528 and/or communication wiring components 530. Specifically, as shown, each of the wired connections 518, 520522 include both power 528 and communication 530 wiring components. Moreover, any of the wired connections 518, 520, and 522 can be an RV-C connection. For example, in an embodiment, the first wire connection 518 may be an RV-C connection, whereas the second wired connection 520 and third wired connection 522 may be an RV-X connection.
In some implementations, the power circuit 500 may have more than one DC power supply. For instance, more than one DC power supply may be coupled to the first circuit board 508 via a first wired connection 518 so as to supply the DC power to the first electronic device (e.g., the first AC unit 502). In some implementations, the power circuit 500 may also utilize any other suitable power supply in addition to DC power supplies.
In some implementations, the power circuit 500 may be communicatively coupled to a user interface of the recreational vehicle. For instance, the user interface may be a display commander 516 communicatively coupled via a fourth wired connection 524.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
