A123 Systems LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

John Harry Floros

Paul W Firehammer

David John Rutkowski

Imad Sharaa

Paul Thomas Jordan

Nick Sarafopoulos

Systems and methods for assessing voltage threshold detection circuitry of individual battery cells within a battery pack supplying power to a vehicle are disclosed. One example system comprises, a plurality of battery cells within a battery pack, a plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits detecting voltage of the plurality of battery cells, a voltage of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells coupled to a first voltage threshold detecting circuit of the plurality of voltage threshold detecting circuits, and a network that selectively couples a second battery cell to the first voltage detecting circuit while the first battery cell is coupled to the first voltage detecting circuit.

System and method for assessing voltage threshold detecting circuitry within a battery pack

Systems and methods for balancing charge of battery cells of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, battery cell balancing may be improved by balancing battery cells of a battery cell stack simultaneously. The system and method may be particularly useful battery packs that may be constructed with battery cell stacks that vary in a number of series battery cells.

System and method for balancing charge between battery cells

Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage.

System and method for verifying a reference voltage for battery cell monitoring

A system and method for compensating the output of an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor used to monitor an output shaft of an actuator. The actuator includes an output shaft, a magnet coupled to the output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position and an electronic control module having a controller, a diode and an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor.

Hall Effect sensor temperature compensator

An actuator having an output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position, and an electronic control module having a controller and a sensor. The sensor is configured to output a signal to the controller indicative of the position of the output shaft, and the controller is configured to determine whether the output shaft is in the first position or the second position.

Calibration of a hall effect sensor

A method for detecting an absolute rotational position of an electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof comprising determining a first absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on a commutation index signal, obtaining a Z-index signal, and determining a second absolute position of the electromechanical device or the at least one component thereof based on the Z-index signal. The method initially determines a coarse rotational position of the electromechanical device such as a rotor or steering wheel based on the commutation index signal. When a device's position is first initialized by a commutation index signal before the Z-index pulse is detected, the device's position is re-initialized upon detection of the Z-Index pulse to provide a more accurate absolute device rotational position.

Method for initializing position with an encoder

A method for detecting failure of a relay operating in a vehicle having an ignition switch, a power supply, a capacitor, and a pre-charge circuit to pre-charge the capacitor with the relay switching power from the power supply to the pre-charged capacitor, the method comprising the steps of: performing a capacitor pre-charge test; and performing a capacitor discharge test. Preferably, the capacitor pre-charge test is performed when the ignition is switched ON and the capacitor discharge test is performed when the ignition is switched OFF.

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Novi, MI, United States of America

John Harry Floros