Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Leonard B Cantrell

Yue Fan

John J Lee

A sensing circuit, a vehicular battery pack using a sensing circuit, a method of protecting a circuit with a fuse and a method of providing battery power to a vehicle. The sensing circuit includes the fuse, which is made up of a main element and a sensing element such that the sensing element defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of a dissimilar geometric profile or a different material choice from that of the main element. The sensing circuit also includes an electrical connector between one or more battery cells and an electronic control module so that the circuit provides indicia of the fusing event. In this way, a fuse opening event takes place in the sensing element prior to the main element in such a way as to give the operator of a battery-powered vehicle advance warning of an impending opening of the main element and consequent electrical circuit shutdown, thereby allowing the operator of the vehicle to take corrective measures as a way to avoid fuse opening and a related loss of vehicular propulsive power.

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Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Leonard B Cantrell