# US 10,481,191 B2 · Diagnostic system for a vehicle electrical system

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- Number: US 10,481,191 B2
- Document ID: US10481191B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/950,478
- Filed: 2018-04-11
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03
- Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd.
- Inventors: Kerfegar K. Katrak; Sagar V. Nagaluru; Thaddeus Steyskal; Su Hyuk Jang; Kunal Tipnis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481191B2

## CPC

- G01R 31/007: {using microprocessors or computers}
- B60R 16/0315: {using multiplexing techniques (multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J)}
- B60R 16/033: characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36)
- G01R 19/10: Measuring sum, difference or ratio
- G01R 31/005: {Testing of electric installations on transport means}
- G01R 31/3278: {of relays, solenoids or reed switches (measuring contact resistance G01R27/205; high voltage magnetic switches G01R31/3271, G01R31/333; testing electric windings G01R31/72; monitoring of fail safe circuits H01H47/002)}
- G07C 5/08: Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
- H01H 47/002: {Monitoring or fail-safe circuits}
- H01H 47/22: for supplying energising current for relay coil
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- 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)

## Abstract

A diagnostic system for a vehicle electrical system includes a first voltage divider circuit that outputs a second voltage in response to a first voltage, and a second voltage divider circuit that outputs a third voltage in response to the first voltage. An analog-to-digital converter outputs first and second voltage values, respectively, based on the second and third voltages, respectively. A microcontroller determines a first compensated voltage value utilizing the first voltage value and a compensation value. The microcontroller determines a difference value based on the first compensated voltage value and the second voltage value. The microcontroller commands the high side driver circuit and the low side driver circuit to transition the contactor to an open operational position when the difference value is greater than a threshold difference value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A diagnostic system for a vehicle electrical system, wherein the vehicle electrical system has a battery module, a contactor, a high side driver circuit, a low side driver circuit, and a voltage regulator outputting a first voltage, the diagnostic system comprising:
a first voltage divider circuit receiving the first voltage and outputting a second voltage in response to the first voltage,
a second voltage divider circuit receiving the first voltage and outputting a third voltage in response to the first voltage;
a first analog multiplexer having an input port that receives the second voltage from the first voltage divider circuit;
a second analog multiplexer having an input port that receives the third voltage from the second voltage divider circuit;
an analog-to-digital converter being electrically coupled to an output port of the first analog multiplexer and an output port of the second analog multiplexer, the analog-to-digital converter receiving the second and third voltages at first and second times, respectively, and outputting first and second voltage values respectively, based on the second and third voltages, respectively, that are received by a microcontroller;
the microcontroller determining a first compensated voltage value utilizing the first voltage value and a compensation value;
the microcontroller determining a difference value based on the first compensated voltage value and the second voltage value; and
the microcontroller commanding the high side driver circuit and the low side driver circuit to transition a contact of the contactor to an open operational position when the difference value is greater than a threshold difference value indicating that the analog-to-digital converter is malfunctioning.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein
the microcontroller commands the high side driver circuit and the low side driver circuit to maintain the contact of the contactor in a closed operational position when the difference value is less than or equal to the threshold difference value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the first compensated voltage value is the first voltage value multiplied by the compensation value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the difference value is an absolute value of a difference between the first compensated voltage value and the second voltage value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is a single-channel analog-to-digital converter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the first voltage value is less than the second voltage value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage, and the third voltage is less than the first voltage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein a port number of the input port of the first analog multiplexer is different than a port number of the input port of the second analog multiplexer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the contactor has a contactor coil and the contact, the contact is electrically coupled to and between the battery module and an electrical load, the high side driver circuit is electrically coupled to a high side end of the contactor coil, and the low side driver circuit is coupled to a low side end of the contactor coil.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is substantially 5 Vdc.