Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Jonathan O Conell

Robert A De Stefano

Dave G Rich

Saad Hasan

Benjamin G Wroblewski

Lyall Kenneth Winger

Chandra S Namuduri

Brian James Koch

Xinyu Du

Infane Lowe

A method of detecting ground loss of an electrical component includes monitoring a ground circuit including a first ground line connected to the electrical component and a second ground line connected to the electrical component, where the monitoring includes measuring a current through each of the first ground line and the second ground line, and measuring a voltage through each of the first ground line and the second ground line. The method also includes calculating a first resistance of the first ground line and a second resistance of the second ground line based on the measured current and the measured voltage, estimating a difference between the first resistance and the second resistance, and comparing the estimated difference to a threshold difference, and based on the estimated difference being greater than the threshold difference, detecting a ground fault, and outputting an indication of the ground fault.

Detection of faults in redundant grounding systems

A method is provided that includes determining whether to perform a load shed operation for a vehicle. The method further includes responsive to determining to perform the load shed operation, issuing a command to a device to perform the load shed operation. The method further includes determining whether the device performed the load shed operation. The method further includes responsive to determining that the device failed to perform the load shed operation, opening a relay associated with the device to prevent power from being delivered to the device.

Load shedding for a vehicle

A battery control system includes T contactor paths connected in parallel between a battery and a load, where T is an integer greater than one. Each of the T contactor paths includes a first contactor and a second contactor connected in series with the first contactor. Each of the T contactor paths includes at least one of a first voltage sensor configured to sense a first voltage between the first contactor and the second contactor; and a current sensor configured to sense current flowing through the first contactor and the second contactor. A second voltage sensor is configured to sense a second voltage at one end of the T contactor paths. A third voltage sensor is configured to sense a third voltage at an opposite end of the T contactor paths.

Verifying operation of battery contactors during vehicle operation without loss of power

A battery switch testing system that includes a memory configured to may include one or more executable instructions and a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the controller to: (a) monitor current discharge from a first battery; after (a), (b) when the current discharge from the first battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated first battery switch of the first battery; after (b), (c) close the first battery switch; after (c), (d) monitor current discharge from a second battery; after (d), (e) when the current discharge from the second battery falls below a threshold value, open an internally integrated second battery switch of the second battery; and after (e), (f) close the second battery switch.

Battery switch testing system and method

One general aspect includes a battery switch testing method, the method implemented in a system including first and second batteries and a controller, the method including: (a) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the first battery; (b) when the electrical properties of the first battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the first battery; (c) closing, via the controller, the first battery switch; (d) monitoring, via the controller, electrical properties of the second battery; (e) when the electrical properties of the second battery falls below a threshold value, via the controller, opening a switch of the second battery; and (f) closing, via the controller, the second battery switch.

A circuit for regulating power between a first power source, a second power source, and a load is disclosed. The circuit includes a first switch electrically coupled to a second switch, where the first switch and the second switch are arranged relative to one another to block current in opposing directions when opened. The first switch is electrically coupled to the first power source and the second switch is electrically coupled to the load. The circuit also includes third switch electrically coupled to a fourth switch, where the third switch and the fourth switch are arranged relative to one another to block current in opposing directions when opened. The third switch is electrically coupled to the second power source and the fourth switch is electrically coupled to the load and the second switch. The circuit also includes a first voltage sensor, a second voltage sensor, a first current flow sensor, and a second current flow sensor.

Circuit for identifying the source of a power fault in a dual power source electrical system

In an example, a vehicle diagnostic system is disclosed. The vehicle diagnostic system includes a first DC-DC converter having an input and an output and a second DC-DC converter having an input and an output. The output of the first DC-DC converter is connected to the input of the second DC-DC converter at a first node, and the output of the second DC-DC converter is connected to the input of the first DC-DC converter at a second node. The vehicle diagnostic system includes a battery connected to a vehicle load and the first node and a redundant power source connected to the second node. The vehicle diagnostic system includes a control module that is configured to initiate operation of the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter to cause current re-circulation between the first DC-DC converter and the second DC-DC converter.

System and method for performing diagnostics on a DC-DC converter

A magnetic sensor for measuring the magnetic properties of a battery cell, and converting the magnetic properties to a battery cell SOC. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic core formed of laminated high permeability plates provided in a C-shape. An extended portion of the battery cell extends through a transverse opening in the core so that it is positioned within the core. A driving coil is wrapped around one end of the magnetic core and generates a magnetic field in the core that extends across the transverse opening and through the battery cell. A receiving coil is wrapped around an opposite end of the core that receives the magnetic field, and converts the magnetic field to a representative current. A detection circuit converts the receiving coil current to the battery cell SOC.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Jonathan O Conell