# US 10,480,370 B2 · Dual power supply for eCAT and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,370 B2 - Document ID: US10480370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/682,629 - Filed: 2017-08-22 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-22 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Roberto Romanato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480370B2 ## CPC - F01N 3/2026: {directly electrifying the catalyst substrate, i.e. heating the electrically conductive catalyst substrate by joule effect} - F01N 3/2013: {using electric or magnetic heating means} - F01N 9/00: Electrical control of exhaust gas treating apparatus (monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus F01N11/00; conjoint electrical control of two or more combustion engine functions F02D43/00) - F01N 2240/16: an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater - F01N 2550/22: of electric heaters for exhaust systems or their power supply - F01N 2900/0418: using integration or an accumulated value within an elapsed period - F01N 2900/1602: Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus - F01N 2900/1631: Heat amount provided to exhaust apparatus - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - Y02T 10/40: Engine management systems - Y04S 20/20: End-user application control systems - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling an electrically-heated catalyst system of a vehicle. A method includes that a power request is received. The method includes determining whether to use a high power voltage net or a low power voltage net based upon the received power request. The electrically-heated catalyst system is controlled using the determined high power voltage net or the low power voltage net. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling electric power to an electrically-heated catalyst system of a vehicle, comprising: receiving a power request value related to operation of the electrically-heated catalyst system; determining whether to use a high power voltage net or a low power voltage net based upon the received power request value; and controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system using the determined high power voltage net or the low power voltage net; wherein when the high power voltage net is used, then a first PWM value is set to zero and a second PWM value for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, a resistance value, and a voltage value of the high power voltage net: wherein when the low power voltage net is used, then the second PWM value is set to zero and the first PWM value for is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, the resistance value, and a voltage value of the low power voltage net. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a dual power supply comprises the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the dual power supply comprises switches for controlling whether the high power voltage net or the low power voltage net is used in response to the received power request value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net help reduce the impact on an electrical network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net help reduce the impact on drivability due to a ripple current. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high power voltage net is used for power requests greater than what the low power voltage net can provide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the low power voltage net is used for power requests that can be handled by the low power voltage net. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the high power voltage net is used for power requests that can be handled by the high power voltage net. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein when the high power voltage net is used, then the first PWM value is set to zero and the second PWM value for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system is set to: PWM 2 = P req * R V H wherein when the low power voltage net is used, then the second PWM value is set to zero and the first PWM value for is set to: PWM 1 = P req * R V L wherein Preq is value of the requested power value; R is the resistance value, VL is the voltage value of the low power voltage net, and VH is the voltage value of the high power voltage net. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a third power voltage net is used with the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system. ### Claim 11 A system for controlling electric power to an electrically-heated catalyst system of a vehicle, comprising: a high power voltage net and a low power voltage net for supplying control to the electrically-heated catalyst system; switches associated with the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net; wherein the switches are operated in response to determining whether to use the high power voltage net or the low power voltage net based upon a received power request value; and wherein the electrically-heated catalyst system is controlled using the determined high power voltage net or the low power voltage net; wherein when the high power voltage net is used, then a first PWM value is set to zero and a second PWM value for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, a resistance value, and a voltage value of the high power voltage net: wherein when the low power voltage net is used, then the second PWM value is set to zero and the first PWM value for is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, the resistance value, and a voltage value of the low power voltage net. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a dual power supply comprises the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the dual power supply uses the switches for controlling whether the high power voltage net or the low power voltage net is used in response to the received power request value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net help reduce the impact on an electrical network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net help reduce the impact on drivability due to a ripple current. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the high power voltage net is used for power requests greater than what the low power voltage net can provide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the low power voltage net is used for power requests that can be handled by the low power voltage net. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the high power voltage net is used for power requests that can be handled by the high power voltage net. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein when the high power voltage net is used, then the first PWM value is set to zero and the second PWM value for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system is set to: PWM 2 = P req * R V H wherein when the low power voltage net is used, then the second PWM value is set to zero and the first PWM value for is set to: PWM 1 = P req * R V L wherein Preq is value of the requested power value; R is the resistance value, VL is the voltage value of the low power voltage net, and VH is the voltage value of the high power voltage net. ### Claim 20 A vehicle, comprising: an electrically-heated catalyst system; a high power voltage net and a low power voltage net for supplying control to the electrically-heated catalyst system; and switches associated with the high power voltage net and the low power voltage net; wherein the switches are operated in response to determining whether to use the high power voltage net or the low power voltage net based upon a received power request value; wherein the electrically-heated catalyst system is controlled using the determined high power voltage net or the low power voltage net; wherein when the high power voltage net is used, then a first PWM value is set to zero and a second PWM value for controlling the electrically-heated catalyst system is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, a resistance value, and a voltage value of the high power voltage net; wherein when the low power voltage net is used, then the second PWM value is set to zero and the first PWM value for is set to a value that is based upon the requested power value, the resistance value, and a voltage value of the low power voltage net.