Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC

Chrysler Corporation

Vitesco Technologies Gmbh

Chrysler Group LLC

Mikhail Zarkhin

Timothy P Philippart

Alfons Fisch

Vasil Germanski

Mark J Stachew

Mark J Duty

Timothy A Coatesworth

Gregory L Ohl

Robert G Rudzewicz

Chris D Kapolnek

Andreas Wunderlich

Thomas Gregory Dunn

Michael S Boggess

Amit K Sanyal

Dino Bortolin

Michael J Cari

Michael J Li

Peter A Hatch

Aurore Desgeorge

Roger A Moon

Daniel B Ciesinski

Rajiv Saxena

A charging system includes an AC-DC converter for connecting to AC mains; a DC-link connected to the AC-DC converter output; and a DC-DC converter having an input coupled to the AC-DC converter output, a control input, and an output. The DC-DC converter includes drive circuitry for controlling the DC-DC converter. A controller has a feedforward input for receiving a signal corresponding to a voltage across the DC-link, a feedback input for receiving a signal corresponding to an output current provided by the DC-DC converter, and an output coupled to the control input of the DC-DC converter. The controller generates a control signal which controls the drive circuitry based upon a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle of ripple voltage at the DC-link, and a ripple current amplitude at the DC-DC converter output during at least one of the positive half cycle or the negative half cycle.

Method and apparatus for adaptive feedforward correction of output current ripple in an on-board charging system

A circuit arrangement for providing a plurality of supply voltages at output terminals respectively assigned to said supply voltages from an input voltage applied to an input terminal. A digital interface receives of a serial digital control signal that contains the information as to which of the supply voltages is/are to be applied to the output terminals respectively assigned to them. A hard-wired delay circuit is configured, under control by the serial digital control signal, to relay the supply voltages to be applied to the respectively assigned output terminals to the output terminals one after another with a respectively predetermined delay.

Circuit arrangement for providing a plurality of supply voltages

A method and apparatus for a power converter assembly detects an over-current, latches off a low-side switch if an over-current is detected, holds the low-side switch latched off until a PWM controller provides a predetermined minimum pulse to the latch (for the duration of the over-current), and unlatches the low-side switch if a PWM controller provides a predetermined minimum pulse to the latch. A power converter assembly includes a PWM controller coupled to the main switch, the PWM controller configured to control the main switch according to a duty cycle. A latch is coupled with a secondary switch and configured to selectively turn off the secondary switch. The PWM controller is configured to provide a PWM control signal to the latch, and the control signal is configured to reset the latch to allow the secondary switch to turn on only when the PWM begins operating with a minimum pulse width.

Synchronous buck regulator with short circuit to voltage source protection

The maximum time that external components of a switch mode power supply over-conduct is determined by an actual ambient temperature at which the devices are operating before they are turned on. Their operation time is thus extended when temperatures are low and decreased when temperatures are high.

Timer-based thermal protection for power components of a switch mode power supply

A conventional single-ended, primary-inductance converter (SEPIC) has its switching frequency determined by a controller, which determines the duty cycle at which the switch operates by measuring differences between the SEPIC output voltage and a reference voltage. A controller is coupled to a switch of the SEPIC and provides a pulse train which determines the duty cycle and frequency at which the switch operates. The duty cycle is selectable between first and second percentages, the frequency is selectable between first and second frequencies, and the duty cycle and frequency are selected by the controller responsive to a voltage at an input voltage terminal of the SEPIC. Output voltage overshoot and undershoot are reduced.

Pulse width modulator for DC/DC converters

A method and apparatus for controlling a micro power supply in a vehicle includes a processor on the micro power supply communicating with a processor on a microcontroller via a communication link. The communication includes a desired output voltage of the programmable micro power supply. In response to the communicated desired output voltage, the programmable micro power supply adjusts an output voltage of a power converter to be the desired output voltage.

Programmable standby voltage power supply

A method and apparatus for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal generates a sawtooth ramp signal at a first frequency under standard operating conditions using a ramp generator, and generates a sawtooth ramp at a second frequency under alternative operating conditions. The sawtooth ramp is combined with an error threshold by a PWM controller to generate a square wave PWM control signal. The error threshold is adjusted simultaneous with adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp, thereby preventing either a voltage overshoot and a voltage undershoot.

PWM generation for DC/DC converters with frequency switching

A method for generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal includes generating a sawtooth ramp signal at a first frequency under standard operating conditions using a ramp generator, generating a PWM square wave having a rising edge at a falling edge of the sawtooth ramp signal and a falling edge when the sawtooth ramp signal exceeds an error threshold, adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp in response to a changed operating parameter of the ramp generator, and adjusting a peak input voltage of the ramp generator simultaneous with adjusting the frequency of the sawtooth ramp, thereby preventing one of a voltage overshoot and a voltage undershoot.

A two-wire active sensor interface circuit includes a constant current circuit adapted to be coupled to a two-wire active sensor for receipt of a sensor current signal indicating one of two sensor states. The constant current circuit provides a preselected constant current amount positioned between the two sensor states that vary the sensor current signal thereby generating a current level indicator signal. Additionally, the two-wire active sensor interface circuit includes a digital interface circuit operably coupled to the constant current circuit for receipt of the current level indicator signal and produces an interface output indicating which of the two sensor states is present.

Two-wire active sensor interface circuit

An improved system for determining the value of a resistive load is provided. The system includes: a reference voltage source; a reference resistor of known value having a first and second terminal, the first terminal connected to the reference voltage source and the second terminal connected to the resistive load; and a software program stored in a control unit connected to the first and second terminal, the control unit operative to read a value of the reference voltage source and a voltage at the second terminal of the predetermined reference resistor and to calculate the value of the resistive load as a function of the readings of the reference voltage source and the second terminal voltages.

Resistive load measurement system

An ignition coil assembly for providing ignition energy to a spark plug in accordance with a dwell pulse and transmitting diagnostic data related to an ignition event occurring after the dwell pulse. The assembly has an ignition coil with a spark plug terminal adapted to mate with the spark plug, and a transistor for conducting current flow through the primary winding of the ignition coil. The current flow is in accordance with the dwell pulse, which arrives over a signal line. A diagnostic block receives at least one electrical signal from the ignition coil and derives diagnostic data therefrom for transmitting over the same signal line in the absence of the dwell pulse.

Multiplexed single wire control and diagnosis of an electrical object

A monitoring circuit interfacing an open collector output circuit with a voltage offset, wherein the voltage offset exhibited between the monitoring circuit and the open collector output circuit prevents direct interfacing with a digital input of an adjacent digital circuit. The monitoring circuit of the present invention includes, a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) connected to an open collector output circuit having a first ground. The first bipolar junction has a second ground that is different from the first ground. The first and second ground creates an appreciable voltage offset therebetween when the first BJT interfaces with the open collector output circuit. The monitoring circuit also includes a second BJT connected to the first BJT in a loop configuration so that at least one of the first and second BJTs increases base current drive to its respective BJT. The monitoring circuit of the present invention therefore maximizes a turn-on rate of its adjacent digital circuit.

Circuit for monitoring an open collector output circuit with a significant offset

A switch monitoring system for measuring closure time of a switch in a vehicle when the vehicle ignition switch is off. The switch monitoring system includes an application specific integrated circuit, a low powered stand-by voltage source, and external interface circuitry connected to the switch, The switch monitoring system uses very little current to operate the time base and switches off completely after switch closure has been captured, thus preventing excessive battery drain. The microprocessor software can obtain the time to closure at the next vehicle power-up sequence.

Switch monitoring system

An adjustment circuit and method for reading a measurement output of an automotive oxygen sensor provide correction for outgassing of the sensor and inversion of the measurement output. The adjustment circuit includes a biasing stage connected to a sensor return of the oxygen sensor, where the biasing stage applies a predetermined bias voltage to the sensor return. An input stage is connected to an output of the sensor for retrieving the measurement output from the sensor. The adjustment circuit further includes an A/D conversion system connected to the input stage for adjusting the measurement output based on the bias voltage. The A/D conversion system may further be connected to the biasing stage for retrieving a sensor return output from the sensor. In such cases, a differential module calculates a difference between the sensor return output and the measurement output. The sensor return output defines an actual bias voltage applied to the sensor return.

Method of reading an oxygen sensor input

It is an object of the present invention to provide an assist circuit for a vehicle controller power supply which requires multiple voltage outputs. The assist circuit allows for the supply of a higher voltage which aids the supply of a lower voltage during transient power up. Once both voltages have achieved a specified level, during transient power up, and other power supply components, such as a linear voltage regulator, have stabilized, the assist circuit effectively switches off, allowing the higher voltage to be supplied by a switching power supply and the lower voltage to be supplied by the linear regulator. The assist circuit is most useful in vehicle controllers which have a current foldback feature, by assisting to supply peak current demands before a current foldback can occur during a transient power up stage.

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Mikhail Zarkhin