US 11,668,260 B2Granted

Control logic circuit for connecting multiple high side loads in engine control module

AssigneeCummins Inc.

InventorsAbhik Giri, Ashish Raj Jain, Ming Feng, Mark Swain

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for connecting multiple loads with a common return pin in engine control module application are disclosed. Only one of the multiple loads can be connected to a power source at a time. At the high side, each load is coupled to the power source through a respective pin at a connector. At the low side, the multiple loads share a common return pin at the connector that connects the loads to the ground. When a first load is connected to the power source at the high side, a first low side driver circuit is used to connect the first load to the ground at the low side. When a second load is connected to the power source at the high side, the second low side driver circuit is used to connect the second load to the ground at the low side.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electronic control module comprising:

a first high side driver circuit configured to control connection of a first load to a voltage source;
a second high side driver circuit configured to control connection of a second load to the voltage source, wherein only one of the first load and the second load is connected to the voltage source at a time;
a first low side driver circuit configured to control connection of the first load to a ground, wherein the first low side driver circuit is coupled to the first load through a common element of a connector;
a second low side driver circuit configured to control connection of the second load to the ground, wherein the second low side driver circuit is coupled to the second load through the common element of the connector;
and
a controller configured to:
selectively use the first high side driver circuit to connect the first load to the voltage source and the first low side driver circuit to connect the first load to the ground;
and
selectively use the second high side driver circuit to connect the second load to the voltage source and the second low side driver circuit to connect the second load to the ground.

6 more elements

A method comprising:

selectively using a first high side driver circuit to connect a first load to a voltage source and a first low side driver circuit to connect the first load to a ground, wherein the first low side driver circuit is coupled to the first load through a common element of a connector;
and
selectively using a second high side driver circuit to connect a second load to the voltage source and a second low side driver circuit to connect the second load to the ground, wherein the second low side driver circuit is coupled to the second load through the common element of the connector.

An apparatus comprising:

a controller coupled to and configured to control a first high side driver circuit, a second high side driver circuit, a first low side driver circuit, and a second low side driver circuit, the controller configured to:
determine which of a first load and a second load to connect;
in response to determining the first load to connect, use the first high side driver circuit to connect the first load to a voltage source and the first low side driver circuit to connect the first load to a ground, wherein the first low side driver circuit is coupled to the first load through a common element of a connector;
and
in response to determining the second load to connect, use the second high side driver circuit to connect the second load to the voltage source and the second low side driver circuit to connect the second load to the ground, wherein the second low side driver circuit is coupled to the second load through the common element of the connector.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/521,538Filed 8 Nov 2021 · continuation
Published: US 2022/0065186 A13 Mar 2022
Granted: 6 Jun 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

F02D 41/28
Using computer, e.g. microprocessor: interface circuits
F02D 41/20
Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents: output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
H03K 17/165
In field-effect transistor switches: by feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
F02B 37/186
Arrangements of bypass valves or actuators therefor: arrangements of actuators or linkage for bypass valves

Family

PCT/US2017/044828Parent of this continuation · filed 1 Aug 2017
US 2022/0065186 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Mar 2022
Application16/633,118Parent of this continuation
US 11,168,638 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2021/0156330 A1Published application
US 11,668,260 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.