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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 21, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 05, 2008
James E. Tarchinski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
James E. Tarchinski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method includes detecting high-voltage faults, such as welded contactors or disconnected components, in a vehicle by measuring the total electrical impedance between positive and negative rails of a high-voltage bus and a ground or chassis, comparing the impedance before and after opening the contactors, and executing a maintenance response. The response includes setting an error code when the open impedance level is less than a threshold multiple of the closed impedance level. A vehicle includes a chassis, energy storage system (ESS), motor/generator, and a high-voltage bus conducting electrical current from the ESS to the motor/generator. Contactors are positioned along each of the rails of the bus, a device for measuring a total electrical impedance level between the chassis and each of the rails, and a controller for determining a welded contactor condition of at least one of the contactors based on the measured total electrical impedance level.