Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert A De Stefano

Jonathan O Conell

Dave G Rich

Saad Hasan

Benjamin G Wroblewski

Lyall Kenneth Winger

Mohamed Ahmed Kamel Ahmed

Jun-Mo Kang

Xinyu Du

Muhammad Hussain Alvi

Wen-Chiao Lin

Varsha K Sadekar

James Morrison

Xiaofeng Mao

Gary W Gantt, Jr

Alexander M Allan

Robert F Kirchhoff

Michael L Mullin

Juan M Quezada

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 Multiple Output Dynamically Adjustable Capacity (MODACS) and a method of operation of the MODACS. The MODACS includes a cell, a load in thermal communication with the cell, and a processor. A voltage is applied to a load to generate heat at a cell of the MODACS, wherein the heat affects a temperature of the cell. The processor measures a parameter of the cell in response to the heat and controls an operation of the MODACS based on the parameter of the cell.

Use of heating elements as a diagnostic and optimal setting tool for multiple output dynamically adjustable capacity system

Examples described herein provide a method that includes providing a first electric power pathway from a battery to a first auxiliary low voltage bus via a direct-current (DC)/DC converter and a first switch. The method further includes providing a second electric power pathway from the battery to a second auxiliary low voltage bus via the DC/DC converter and a second switch. The method further includes selectively controlling at least one of the first switch or the second switch to manage a load in one of the first auxiliary low voltage bus or the second auxiliary low voltage bus based at least in part on the battery or the load.

Load sharing for multiple auxiliary low voltage buses of vehicles

Examples provide a method that includes providing electric power at a first voltage level for a first auxiliary low voltage bus. The method further includes providing electric power at a second voltage level for a second auxiliary low voltage bus, the first voltage level differing from the second voltage level. The method further includes sensing, by a controller, a first power consumption at the first auxiliary low voltage bus. The method further includes sensing, by the controller, a second power consumption at the second auxiliary low voltage bus. The method further includes calculating, by the controller, a difference between the first power consumption and the second power consumption. The method further includes managing a load in one of the first auxiliary low voltage bus or the second auxiliary low voltage bus based at least in part on the difference between the first power consumption and the second power consumption.

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

A power circuit includes a power source and a plurality components that connect the power source to a subsystem of a vehicle. A fault detection module receives voltages at an output of the power source and at an input of the subsystem and current drawn by the subsystem, and distinguishes between a power source failure, a permanent and an intermittent disconnection of one of the components from the power source, and a loose connection between the power circuit and the subsystem or corrosion of one of the components, based on analyses of the voltages and the current. A fault mitigation module mitigates the first two faults by switching to a different power source in the vehicle to supply power to the subsystem, and mitigates the third and fourth faults by reducing the power consumed by the subsystem and by generating a warning regarding the intermittent disconnection or loose connection.

Fault isolation, prognosis, and mitigation for vehicle component electrical power circuit

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.

In an example, a battery control system is disclosed. The battery control system can include a plurality of batteries, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The battery control system also includes a plurality of switches configured to connect a first battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the first terminal and the third terminal and to connect a second battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the second terminal and the third terminal. The battery control system also discloses a switch resistance modulation module configured to modulate a resistance of at least one switch of the plurality of switches between zero ohms and infinity ohms based on a battery parameter and a control signal.

System to modulate switch resistances within a battery system

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 simulation tool includes a printed circuit board assembly or PCBA having a built-in USB communication port and a microcontroller. A host computer transmits user-selected configuration data to the microcontroller, which transforms the data into solid-state signals. These are provided to a power master module in an electrical bench or a test vehicle. A method of simulating a low-current ignition switch that is usable with the PMM includes transmitting user-selectable configuration data from a host computer to a PCBA having a microcontroller, transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals simulating a desired set of power mode parameters, and transmitting the solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate an operation of the low-current ignition switch.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

Robert A De Stefano