Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Li-Pen J Ho

Galen E Ressler

Calvin Goodman

Veronica M Yahkind

David T Proefke

David P Tasky

John R Dolan

Konking Wang

Emil Francu

Julie A Kleinert

Rajesh Nagappala

Karen E Morley

Kevin J Robinet

An emergency disconnect circuit for use with a high-voltage (HV) bus of a battery electric system, e.g., aboard a mobile system, includes a pyrotechnic switch and a manual switch. The pyrotechnic switch configured irreversibly opens in response to an electronic triggering signal to disconnect an HV battery pack from the HV bus in a first manner. The manual switch is arranged on a low-voltage (LV) bus in series with and between the pyrotechnic switch and an LV power supply. Transition of the manual switch from an open position to a closed position connects the LV power supply to the pyrotechnic switch. This causes the LV power supply to discharge the triggering signal to the pyrotechnic switch. When used aboard a mobile system, an electronic monitoring unit generates the triggering signal in a second manner in response to a threshold impact event.

Emergency disconnect circuit for high-voltage battery electric system and motor vehicle having the same

A rechargeable energy storage includes a battery pack having a plurality of battery modules between a negative terminal and a positive terminal. A backup network is electrically connected between the negative terminal and the positive terminal. The backup network includes a first diode and a second diode. A bypass junction located between a first portion of the battery pack and a second portion of the battery pack. The bypass junction electrically connects the battery pack and the backup network. The backup network is configured such that current flow is directed along a first pathway when open circuit state occurs in the first portion of the battery pack, and the current flow is directed along a second pathway when the open circuit state occurs in the second portion of the battery pack. The backup network enables powering of a designated load and/or a designated function during the open circuit state.

Rechargeable energy storage system with backup network

A protection system for a high-voltage component includes a switching circuit and a protection controller. The switching circuit changes a variable arrangement of multiple battery packs between a parallel arrangement and a series arrangement. The protection controller commands the switching circuit into the series arrangement in response to a recharging session, commands a current flow in the recharging session, measures a measured voltage between an input node and a floating chassis ground of the high-voltage component, advances a timer while the measured voltage indicates a presence of an improper voltage, and cancels the recharging session in response to the presence of the improper voltage for greater than an exposure time. The recharging session provides a direct-current fast-charging voltage to battery packs in the series arrangement, and is greater than the battery voltage.

High-voltage component protection during vehicle recharging

A control system for implementing a vehicle-integrated child presence and reminder system includes a computer processor. The control system is integral with a vehicle. Logic is executable by the control system and is configured to monitor an occupancy sensor activated in a vehicle. The occupancy sensor, when activated, is indicative of a presence of a child in a car seat disposed in the vehicle. The logic is also configured to collect data from at least one vehicle sensor and, using the data collected from the vehicle sensor along with results of the monitoring of the occupancy sensor, the logic determines if a triggering event has occurred. In response to determining the triggering event has occurred, the logic is configured to generate an alert and transmit the alert to an alert component.

Vehicle-integrated child presence and reminder system

A high-voltage discharge circuit diagnostic system includes a high voltage DC link with a positive DC link and a negative DC link, a first resistor selectably connectable between the positive DC link and the negative DC link, and a second resistor connected between the positive DC link and the negative DC link. A control module connects the first resistor between the positive DC link and the negative DC link until the high voltage DC link discharges to a first voltage after which the control module disconnects the first resistor from between the positive DC link and the negative DC link to permit continued discharge of the high voltage DC link through the second resistor to a second voltage through an elapsed time period. The control module diagnoses a fault in the second resistor based upon the first voltage, the second voltage, and the elapsed time period.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a high-voltage electrical circuit including a discharge circuit

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle. The method comprises determining whether an occupant is in a vehicle, based on a capacitance measured within the vehicle; sensing whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position; detecting whether a first door coupled to the vehicle has been opened and closed, if the vehicle ignition is in an off position; if the first door has been opened and closed and an occupant is sensed in the vehicle, measuring a first time (T) beginning from the instant the first door is closed; and activating the alert, if Tis greater than a predetermined threshold time.

Vehicle-based vehicle occupant reminder using capacitive field-based sensor

Methods and apparatus are provided for providing an indication to a person external to a vehicle, of an occupant inside the vehicle. The method comprises determining whether a first object in the vehicle is an occupant, based, in part, on a weight of the first object; sensing whether an ignition of the vehicle is in an off position; detecting whether a first door coupled to the vehicle has been opened and closed, if the vehicle ignition is in an off position; if the first door has been opened and closed and an occupant is in the vehicle, measuring a first time (T) from an instant the first door is closed to an instant after the first door is closed; and activating the alert, if Tis greater than a predetermined threshold time (T).

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Li-Pen J Ho