US 12,485,838 B2
Power distribution unit for autonomous vehicles
Spiros Poulis, Tucson, AZ (US); Holden James Yildirim, Tucson, AZ (US); Jade E. Day, Tucson, AZ (US); and Faez Yahya, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to TUSIMPLE, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by TUSIMPLE, INC., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/358,748.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/369,712, filed on Jul. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0034253 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 16/023 (2006.01); B60R 16/03 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 16/0238 (2013.01) [B60R 16/03 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for power distribution, comprising:
a controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors and a controller area network (CAN) bus of a vehicle;
a plurality of load units coupled to the CAN bus;
a power source; and
a plurality of solid-state semiconductor switches,
wherein each of the plurality of solid-state semiconductor switches is communicatively coupled to the power source, the controller, and an associated load unit of the plurality of load units,
wherein the controller is configured to, in response to a status of the associated load unit, turn a corresponding solid-state semiconductor switch on or off,
wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to monitor the status of the associated load unit,
wherein the plurality of sensors comprising at least one of a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor,
wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a power bridge via the CAN bus, and
wherein the controller is configured to control an associated circuit breaker for each of the plurality of load units based on commands received from the power bridge.