# US 10,479,402 B2 · Method for supplying an inductive load > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,402 B2 - Document ID: US10479402B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/330,190 - Filed: 2017-09-11 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14 - Assignees: Continental Automotive France; Continental Automotive GmbH - Applicants: Continental Automotive France; Continental Automotive GmbH - Inventors: Angelo Pasqualetto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479402B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/0487: {detecting motor faults (B62D5/0496 takes precedence)} - G01R 31/343: {in operation} - H01H 71/12: Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release - H02P 7/04: {by means of a H-bridge circuit} - H02P 8/36: Protection against faults, e.g. against overheating or step-out; Indicating faults - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract A method for supplying power to an inductive load including an H-bridge switching structure coupled to a power supply and including a first, a second, a third and a fourth switch and current measurement means designed to measure a current through each switch, the power supply method including: a) supplying power to the inductive load, b) reducing an accumulated current in the inductive load. Upon detection of an anomaly: c) identifying the switch that caused a circuit break, d) identifying whether the anomaly was detected during step a) or step b). If an anomaly is detected in step a): e) performing step b) for a third duration, f) identifying the origin of the anomaly, g) if an anomaly is detected in step b): h) identifying the origin of the anomaly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for supplying power to an inductive load comprising: an H-bridge switching structure coupled to a positive power supply and to an electrical ground and including a first, a second, a third and a fourth switch that are distributed over two branches of the H-bridge, said four switches being positioned with respect to said inductive load such that closing a first pair of switches formed by the first and third switches allows a current to flow through the inductive load in a forward direction, and that closing a second pair of switches, comprising the second and fourth switches, allows a current to flow through the inductive load in a reverse direction, current measurement means designed to measure a current through each switch, the power supply method comprising: a) supplying power to the inductive load for a first given duration by way of the first pair of switches or of the second pair of switches, b) reducing an accumulated current in the inductive load after the step of supplying power to the inductive load, for a second given duration, by closing a third pair of switches formed by the second and third switches, or by closing a fourth pair of switches, formed by the first and fourth switches, the method further comprising upon detection of an anomaly by way of the current measurement means during step a) or step b): c) identifying the switch out of the four switches that caused the circuit break, d) identifying whether the anomaly was detected during step a) or step b), if the anomaly is detected in step a): h) performing step b) with another pair of switches for a third duration, i) identifying the origin of the anomaly, if the anomaly is detected in step b): j) identifying the origin of the anomaly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 1, furthermore comprising, following step f) k) detecting the presence of a circuit break on the basis of one of the two activated switches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 2, furthermore comprising if a circuit break has not been established: i) identifying the origin of the anomaly in the inductive load. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 2, furthermore comprising if a circuit break has been established: j) identifying the origin of the anomaly in the branch of the switch that caused the circuit break. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 1, furthermore comprising, following step g) k) detecting the presence of a circuit break on the basis of the same switch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 5, furthermore comprising, following step k) l) identifying the origin of the anomaly in the branch of the switch that caused the circuit break. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 5, furthermore comprising, following step k) k) identifying a measurement error if a circuit break has not been established. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first duration has a time equal to the second duration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first duration has a time different from the second duration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method for supplying power to an inductive load as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third duration has a time different from the time of the second duration.