Continental Automotive France

Continental Automotive Gmbh

Vitesco Technologies Gmbh

Angelo Pasqualetto

Jean-Marie Quintin

Thierry Bavois

Marie-Nathalie Larue

Jean-Pierre Delcol

Florence Capy

A method for supplying power to an inductive load () using an H-bridge () power supply structure, comprising a first block Bof steps for detecting an anomaly using a 'DIAG ON' diagnostic method, a second block Bof steps for detecting an anomaly using a “DIAG OFF” diagnostic method, and finally a third block Bof steps for discriminating the detected anomaly and for confirming a short circuit at the inductive load () anomaly.

Method for supplying power to an inductive load

Disclosed is a method for at least partially removing the oscillations occurring at the end of a current discharge through the structural diodes for a switching structure supplying power to an inductive load in the form of an H-bridge and including two controlled high or low power switches forming part of a high circuit or a low circuit, respectively, between a respective output and a power source or a ground, the switching structure having one of its outputs below the ground potential and the other above the potential of the power source during the current discharge through the structural diodes. A detection or anticipation of the end of discharge and a forced preservation of a freewheel after the detection of the end of discharge are carried out, the forced preservation of the freewheel after the detection of the end of discharge taking place for a predetermined preservation time.

Method for at least partially removing oscillations occurring at the end of a current discharge for an H-bridge

A method for counting a service duration of time measurement on a clock signal including periodic transitions and for determining an actual duration (tmr) of measurement as a function of the service duration, the signal having undergone spectrum spreading according to a periodic variation algorithm causing a frequency modulation of the clock transitions of the signal and creating a difference between actual duration (tmr) and service duration. There are counted during successive time increments at least service times for starting (t_d_s) and stopping (t_a_s) and, on the basis of these times, there are determined actual times for starting and for stopping (t_d, t_a) serving for the calculation of the actual duration of measurement (tmr) as a function of the parameters of the variation algorithm. A method of continuous compensation of the error between actual and service durations is also disclosed.

Methods and devices for counting a service duration for a spread clock signal and determining or generating an actual time duration

A method for counting a service duration of time measurement on a clock signal including periodic transitions and for determining an actual duration (tmr) of measurement as a function of the service duration, the signal having undergone spectrum spreading according to a periodic variation algorithm causing a frequency modulation of the clock transitions of the signal and creating a difference between actual duration (tmr) and service duration. There are counted during successive time increments at least service times for starting (t_d_s) and stopping (t_a_s) and, on the basis of these times, there are determined actual times for starting and for stopping (t_d, t_a) serving for the calculation of the actual duration of measurement (tmr) as a function of the parameters of the variation algorithm. The invention also relates to a method of continuous compensation of the error between actual and service durations.

A method for managing an electronic circuit () including a thermal protection device () interrupting the operation of the electronic circuit when a measured temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold, includes counting the electronic circuit operation interruptions and interrupting the operation of the electronic circuit when the number of counted interruptions reaches a predetermined value and when no reset has taken place. The corresponding circuit includes: a counter (); linking elements between the counter and the thermal protection device such that the counter can indicate the number of operation interruptions caused by the thermal protection device; and elements for resetting the counter.

Method of managing an electronic circuit including a thermal protection device and corresponding electronic circuit

A method for detecting a reverse current in a switching structure supplying power to an inductive load, having at least one switch and linked to an electric power source and to a ground for a control phase in which the current from the source supplies power to the load in accordance with a given duty cycle and a freewheeling phase in which the induced current from the load is decreasing, the reverse current being liable to be created during a freewheeling phase following a high duty cycle in a previous control phase creating a counter-electromotive force (cemf). The cemf is approximated proportionally to the integration of the duty cycle (integ[Dut cycl]) as a function of time (t), the reverse current either being calculated as a function of the estimated cemf or a reversal of the current criterion being established.

Method for detecting a reverse current in a switching structure supplying an inductive load

A method for supplying power to an inductive load including an H-bridge switching structure coupled to a power supply and including a first, a second, a third and a fourth switch and current measurement means designed to measure a current through each switch, the power supply method including: a) supplying power to the inductive load, b) reducing an accumulated current in the inductive load. Upon detection of an anomaly: c) identifying the switch that caused a circuit break, d) identifying whether the anomaly was detected during step a) or step b). If an anomaly is detected in step a): e) performing step b) for a third duration, f) identifying the origin of the anomaly, g) if an anomaly is detected in step b): h) identifying the origin of the anomaly.

Method for supplying an inductive load

Disclosed is a method for synchronising at least one slave control circuit, controlled by a slave control signal having pulse width modulation, with a master control circuit, controlled by a master control signal having pulse width modulation, including the following steps: the master control circuit emitting a synchronisation signal indicating a master edge of an electrical quantity; the slave control circuit receiving the synchronisation signal; measuring a delay between a slave edge of the same electrical quantity and the master edge of the electrical quantity; time-shifting the slave control signal so as to reduce the delay; and repeating the measurement step until the delay is eliminated.

Method for synchronizing commutated control circuits controlled by PWM control signals

Method and device for controlling an inductive load by pulse width modulation, on the basis of a periodic set point control signal having a given set point duty cycle. The set point control signal is, in each period of the set point control signal, in a first logic state determined from the high and low logic states for at least a first duration, and is in the other logic state during the rest of the period. Control signals are generated for activating the inductive load, on the basis of the set point control signal. With the aid of a first counter, the first duration (t0) is determined on the basis of the set point control signal. Via a second counter, a second duration (t0&#x2212;td2) is determined, for which a logic signal corresponding to an effective control signal observed in the load is in the first determined logic state.

Control of an inductive load by pulse width modulation

Disclosed is a method for determining a contact resistance of an H bridge including four transistors, each transistor having a point of connection to two neighboring transistors, a bond being produced in each case between a connection point lying between two transistors and an access terminal. The method includes: acting on the open/closed state of the transistors of the bridge so that the transistors on either side of the connection point corresponding to the access terminal are open; applying a determined voltage to an access terminal; determining the current flowing through the bond corresponding to the access terminal; grounding an access terminal neighboring the access terminal if this neighboring access terminal is not already connected to ground; and measuring the voltage at the other neighboring access terminal.

Measurement of bonding resistances

A power supply device, including: a switching structure for controlling a continuous current in an inductive load on the basis of at least one control signal of a power switch; and anomaly detection elements, generating at least one item of information about the detection of an anomaly of the open circuit type in the wiring from the load to the switching structure. The anomaly detection elements include: elements for measuring the current flowing in the inductive load; elements for comparing the measured current continuously with a threshold value; and elements for counting a time interval during which the measured current remains continuously below the threshold value, delivering the anomaly detection information if the counted time interval&#x3e;a reference time interval, which is k times greater than a period of the control signal, where k&#x3e;1, and if the duty cycle of the control signal&#x3e;a threshold value.

Open-circuit detection in a switching structure

Disclosed is a control and monitoring method via H bridge of an electromagnet including a solenoid through which a current can be passed in one direction and in the opposite direction. The solenoid delivers a signal corresponding to a mechanical locking movement. Once a current flows in the solenoid, the bridge switches automatically into high impedance with all transistors thereof blocked. A measurement is then taken at the terminals of the solenoid to verify the locked state of the electromechanical system.

Method for controlling and monitoring an electromagnet, in particular in a variable valve lift control device

A device for supplying power to an inductive load includes a switching structure designed to control a current in the load, and elements for detecting anomalies designed to generate information on detection or information on non-detection of an anomaly of the short-circuit type able to occur in the cabling toward the load, in combination with information on validity of the information on non-detection of anomalies. The information on anomaly non-detection is delivered without setting the validity information if the measured current at the end of an appropriate time window is less than a given value of current.

Detection of a short-circuit in a switching structure

The control of an inductive load is implemented by a control strategy to generate a control signal for a switching element on the basis of a setpoint datum, with a mechanism defining a maximum permitted value (Imax) of the current in the load as a function of the temperature at the level of the switching element. The mechanism exhibits a temperature threshold (Tshd). The maximum permitted value (Imax) of the current is held constant, equal to an upper limit value (Isup), during a temperature climb phase for all the temperatures which are lower than the threshold. The maximum permitted value of the current is abruptly rendered equal to a lower limit value (Iinf) as soon as the temperature reaches the threshold. Finally, during a temperature descent phase, the maximum permitted value of the current gradually climbs back to the upper limit value as the temperature decreases.

Control of an inductive load with temperature-sensitive current reduction mechanism

A device for filtering a signal delivered as output from a sensor installed in a motor vehicle includes a comparator (A) offering as output a first logic signal (S) representative of the positive and negative transitions of the output signal (S) from the sensor, a clock (G) delivering a signal (S) serving as time base for the whole device, elements (E, D, F) making it possible to fix a filtering time (T) of the output signal (S) from the sensor, a suppression block (B) receiving as input the first logic signal (S) and delivering as output a second logic signal (S) whose duration of holding (tn) in a logic state depends on the filtering time (T), and a control block (C) managing the set of the signals of the device, and having as input signals the first and second logic signals (S, S).

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Toulouse, France

Angelo Pasqualetto