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:
Dec. 23, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 17, 2009
James E. Tarchinski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Gery J. Kissel, Northville, MI (US);
William J. Omell, Washington Township, MI (US);
Ronald W. Young, Whittier, CA (US);
James E. Tarchinski, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Gery J. Kissel, Northville, MI (US);
William J. Omell, Washington Township, MI (US);
Ronald W. Young, Whittier, CA (US);
Gem Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for a functional high-voltage interlock system. The apparatus includes an enclosure, a high-voltage terminal, a low-voltage circuit, and a control circuit. The enclosure includes an access point that may be breached. The high-voltage terminal is disposed at least partially within the enclosure, is accessible by breaching the high-voltage access point, and is configured to be energized from a high-voltage electrical power source. The low-voltage circuit is disposed within the enclosure, and is coupled to selectively receive a low-voltage electrical signal. The control circuit is coupled to, and is configured to supply the low-voltage electrical signal to, the low-voltage circuit only when the high-voltage access point is not breached. The control circuit implements a first function and a disparate second function. The first function determines whether the access point is breached and, if so, prevents the high-voltage terminal from being energized from the high-voltage electrical source.