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:
Apr. 28, 2015
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2012
John W. Meyer, Iii, Fishers, IN (US);
David P. Tasky, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
S. M. Nayeem Hasan, Novi, MI (US);
Bryan M. Ludwig, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
John W. Meyer, III, Fishers, IN (US);
David P. Tasky, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
S. M. Nayeem Hasan, Novi, MI (US);
Bryan M. Ludwig, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle includes a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an electric traction motor, a traction power inverter module (TPIM), a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) bus that electrically connects the RESS to the TPIM, a passive discharge circuit connected across the positive and negative rails of the bus, and a microprocessor. The circuit includes a semiconductor switch. The microprocessor provides an output signal at a first voltage level that opens the switch and prevents discharge of the HVDC bus when the microprocessor is operating normally, and at a default second voltage level that closes the switch in the presence of a predetermined vehicle condition to thereby discharge the HVDC bus. An optocoupler may receive the output signal, and a zener diode may be in electrical parallel with an output side of the optocoupler. The switch may be an insulated gate bipolar transistor or a thyristor in different embodiments.