METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONICS MOUNTED ON A VEHICLE

摘要

A vehicle power supply management system includes a load absorbing device that absorbs an excess voltage from the vehicle battery. Under circumstances, such as at vehicle shutdown when an excess voltage spike occurs at the battery, the load absorbing device is selectively coupled to the battery to absorb the excess voltage and protect other electronic components on the vehicle. In one example, a comparator compares the voltage on the battery to a preselected threshold value. Whenever the battery voltage exceeds the threshold, the inventive arrangement selectively couples a load absorbing device, such as a plurality of glow plugs, heating elements within a vehicle seat or a window defrost unit, for example, to the vehicle battery to absorb the excess voltage.