Wheel sensor interface apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10429410-B2
Application number	US-201715488597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2017
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

A wheel sensor interface apparatus may include: a wheel sensor interface unit configured to supply power to a wheel sensor of a vehicle, or sense an output current of the wheel sensor and transmit the sensed current to a microprocessor unit of the vehicle; and an over-current detection unit including: a reference current generation unit configured to generate a reference current using a voltage across a resistor through which the output current flows; and a voltage level decision unit configured to decide a voltage level according to the reference current. The over-current detection unit may determine whether the output current is an over-current, according to the voltage level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel sensor interface apparatus, comprising:
a wheel sensor interface unit configured to supply power to a wheel sensor of a vehicle, sense an output current of the wheel sensor and transmit the sensed current to a microprocessor unit of the vehicle; and
an over-current detection unit comprising: a reference current generation unit configured to generate a reference current using a voltage across a resistor through which the output current flows; and a voltage level decision unit configured to decide a voltage level according to the reference current,
wherein the reference current generation unit comprises:
a first NPN transistor having a base terminal connected to one end of the resistor;
a first PNP transistor having an emitter terminal connected to an emitter terminal of the first NPN transistor;
a second NPN transistor having a base terminal connected to the other end of the resistor and a collector terminal connected to a collector terminal of the first NPN transistor;
a second PNP transistor having an emitter terminal connected to an emitter terminal of the second NPN transistor and a base terminal connected to a base terminal of the first PNP transistor; and
wherein the over-current detection unit determines whether the output current is an over-current, according to the voltage level.

2. The wheel sensor interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reference current generation unit comprises:
a first N-channel FET having a source terminal connected to the collector and base terminals of the first PNP transistor;
a second N-channel FET having a source terminal connected to a collector terminal of the second PNP transistor and a gate terminal connected to the gate terminal of the first N-channel FET; and
a first current source having one end connected to drain and gate terminals of the first N-channel FET and a gate terminal of the second N-channel FET.

3. The wheel sensor interface apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the voltage level decision unit comprises:
a third N-channel FET having a drain terminal connected to a drain terminal of the second N-channel FET;
a fourth N-channel FET having a gate terminal connected to the drain terminal of the second N-channel FET, the drain terminal of the third N-channel FET and a gate terminal of the third N-channel FET; and
a second current source having one end connected to a drain terminal of the fourth N-channel FET, and
the reference current configured to flow through the third N-channel FET.

4. The wheel sensor interface apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the same current as the reference current flowing through the third N-channel FET flows through the fourth N-channel FET, according to a current mirror effect.

5. The wheel sensor interface apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the voltage level is decided at a node between the drain terminal of the fourth N-channel FET and one end of the second current source.

6. The wheel sensor interface apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the voltage level is transmitted to the microprocessor unit, and the microprocessor unit determines that the output current is an over-current when the voltage level is a low level, and determines that the output current is a normal current when the voltage level is a high level.

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jaehyun

Classifications

• G01P3/481

  of pulse signals · CPC title

• B60T8/171 Primary

  Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation · CPC title

• G05F3/267

  using both bipolar and field-effect technology · CPC title

• B60T2270/10

  ABS control systems · CPC title

• G01P21/00 Primary

  Testing or calibrating of apparatus or devices covered by the preceding groups · CPC title