Diagnostic system for a voltage regulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9728359-B1
Application number	US-201615247392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator is provided. The diagnostic system includes a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports. The first analog-to-digital converter outputs a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage regulator. The microcontroller executes a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value. The microcontroller executes a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator, comprising:
a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports;
a first analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the first analog-to-digital converter; the input port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator;
a second analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the second analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter;
a voltage step-down circuit having an input node and an output node, the input node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator, the output node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the input port of the second analog multiplexer;
the first analog multiplexer receiving a first voltage from the voltage regulator and outputting the first voltage to the first analog-to-digital converter;
the first analog-to-digital converter outputting a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage regulator; and
the microcontroller being programmed to execute a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller being further programmed to execute a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.

3. A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator, comprising:
a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports;
a first analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the first analog-to-digital converter; the input port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator;
a second analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the second analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter;
a voltage step-down circuit having an input node and an output node, the input node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator, the output node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the input port of the second analog multiplexer;
the second analog multiplexer receiving a first voltage from the output node of the voltage step-down circuit and outputting the first voltage to the second analog-to-digital converter;
the second analog-to-digital converter outputting a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage step-down circuit; and
the microcontroller being programmed to execute a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 3 , wherein the microcontroller being further programmed to execute a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.

Assignees

• Lg Chemical Ltd

Inventors

• Katrak Kerfegar K
• Tipnis Kunal

Classifications

• G01R19/16566

  Circuits and arrangements for comparing voltage or current with one or several thresholds and for indicating the result not covered by subgroups G01R19/16504, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533 · CPC title

• G01R31/40 Primary

  Testing power supplies (testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10) · CPC title

• G01R31/2834

  Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers (G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736) · CPC title

• G05F3/02 Primary

  Regulating voltage or current · CPC title

• H01H47/002 Primary

  Monitoring or fail-safe circuits · CPC title