On-board device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12587003-B2
Application number	US-202218571996-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2022
Priority date	Jun 30, 2021
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

An ECU (on-board device) includes a fuse F1 and a blown fuse detection circuit. The blown fuse detection circuit monitors a fuse voltage between two connection nodes respectively located upstream and downstream of the fuse in a current path of a current flowing from a positive electrode of a DC power supply through the fuse. The blown fuse detection circuit outputs a voltage lower than a reference voltage if the fuse voltage is lower than a voltage threshold value. The blown fuse detection circuit outputs a voltage higher than or equal to the reference voltage if the fuse voltage is higher than or equal to the voltage threshold value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An on-board device comprising:
a fuse; and a blown fuse detection circuit configured to detect that the fuse has blown, the blown fuse detection circuit includes a circuit switch provided on a second current path of a current flowing from a connection node located upstream of the fuse in the current path; and a circuit resistor provided downstream of the circuit switch in the second current path, wherein the circuit switch is configured to switch from off to on when the fuse voltage increases to a voltage higher than or equal to the voltage threshold value; and wherein the blown fuse detection circuit is configured to:
monitor a fuse voltage between two connection nodes respectively located upstream and downstream of the fuse in a current path of a current flowing from a positive electrode of a DC power supply through the fuse;
output a voltage lower than a reference voltage if the fuse voltage is lower than a voltage threshold value; and
output a voltage higher than or equal to the reference voltage if the fuse voltage is higher than or equal to the voltage threshold value, and a voltage at an upstream end of the circuit resistor is output from the blown fuse detection circuit.

2 . The on-board device according to claim 1 , including;
a substrate, wherein a terminal of the fuse is attached to the substrate with solder.

3 . The on-board device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the blown fuse detection circuit includes a second circuit resistor located upstream of the circuit resistor in the second current path, when the circuit switch is on, the circuit resistor and the second circuit resistor divide a voltage at a connection node located upstream of the fuse in the current path, and the voltage divided by the circuit resistor and the second circuit resistor is output from the blown fuse detection circuit.

4 . The on-board device according to claim 1 , including:
a device switch; a device resistor connected in series to the device switch; and a processing unit configured to perform processing, wherein a series circuit including the device switch and the device resistor is connected between two ends of an upstream switch located upstream of the fuse in the current path, and the processing unit is configured to:
switch on the device switch; and
in a state where the device switch is on, determine whether or not the fuse has blown, based on a voltage output from the blown fuse detection circuit.

5 . The on-board device according to claim 1 , including:
a path switch and a path resistor provided on a third current path of a current flowing from a connection node located downstream of the fuse in the current path; and a processing unit configured to perform processing, the processing unit is configured to:
switch on the path switch; and
in a state where the path switch is on, determine whether or not the fuse has blown, based on a voltage output from the blown fuse detection circuit.

6 . The on-board device according to claim 5 ,
wherein a downstream switch is provided downstream of the fuse in the current path, and in the current path, a current flows from a connection node located between the fuse and the downstream switch through the third current path.

7 . The on-board device according to claim 1 , including:
a plurality of fuses, wherein a plurality of currents flowing from the positive terminal of the DC power supply respectively flow through the plurality of fuses, and the blown fuse detection circuit is configured to:
monitor the fuse voltage in each of a plurality of current paths of the plurality of currents flowing from the positive electrode of the DC power supply through the plurality of fuses,
output a voltage lower than the reference voltage if all the fuse voltages are lower than the voltage threshold value; and
output a voltage higher than or equal to the reference voltage if at least one of the plurality of fuse voltages is higher than or equal to the voltage threshold value.

8 . The on-board device according to claim 7 ,
wherein, in each of one or more specific paths included in the plurality of current paths, a current flows from a connection node located downstream of the fuse corresponding thereto through the third current path, the on-board device comprises:
a plurality of path resistors respectively provided on the one or more third current paths;
a path switch provided on a common section of the one or more third current paths; and
a processing unit configured to perform processing, and
the processing unit is configured to:
switch on the path switch; and
in a state where the path switch is on, determine whether or not at least one of the plurality of fuses has blown, based on a voltage output from the blown fuse detection circuit.

9 . The on-board device according to claim 8 ,
wherein, in each of the specific paths, a downstream switch is provided downstream of the fuse corresponding thereto, and in each of the specific paths, a current flows from a connection node located between the fuse corresponding thereto and the downstream switch through the third current path corresponding thereto.

10 . The on-board device according to claim 7 , wherein, in each of one or more second specific paths included in the plurality of current paths, a second upstream switch is provided upstream of the fuse corresponding thereto, and
the fuse voltage in each of the second specific paths is a voltage between a connection node located upstream of the second upstream switch and a connection node located downstream of the fuse corresponding thereto.

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Oda Kota
• Masuda Ryosuke
• Ina Masaya

Classifications

• H02H3/087

  for DC applications · CPC title

• B60L3/0046

  relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title

• H01H85/46

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device · CPC title

• H02H3/046 Primary

  Signalling the blowing of a fuse (detecting non functioning of a lamp H05B47/20) · CPC title

• G01R31/74 Primary

  Testing of fuses · CPC title