The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2018

Filed:

Dec. 29, 2016
Applicant:

Nio Usa, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Inventor:

Robert Herb, Morgan Hill, CA (US);

Assignee:

NIO USA, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 3/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/26 (2014.01); B60L 3/12 (2006.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01); B60L 3/04 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 3/0023 (2013.01); B60L 3/04 (2013.01); B60L 3/12 (2013.01); B60L 15/20 (2013.01); G01R 31/007 (2013.01); G01R 31/2608 (2013.01); G01R 31/2621 (2013.01);
Abstract

Described herein is a method and sanity monitoring system for power modules that detect abnormal conditions with respect to transistors in the power modules. A sanity monitor is added to each transistor. The sanity monitor can include a sensor that detects voltage, current, temperature, magnetic fields or similar parameters that indicate a health of a transistor. A failure handling device receives measurements from the sanity monitors and determines whether the measured parameters are within expected ranges for the transistors. If an abnormality is detected, the failure handling device performs a corrective action. For example, the failure handing device can reduce the overall current in a power stage to prevent remaining transistors from failing. The failure handling device additionally informs the driver, (e.g., via an input/output (I/O device), of the problem, indicating that the driver should bring the car to service.


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