Back to results
US 11,994,560 B1Granted
Relay monitoring for electrical systems
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorMuhammad Mobeen Mahmood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure relate to relay monitoring for electrical systems. An electrical system may include one or more relays, such as steering relays, that switchably couple separate portions of the electrical system. By exercising the relay(s) and measuring voltages on opposite sides of the relay, it may be determined whether the relay is healthy.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- an electrical system, comprising:
- a relay having a pole that is coupled to power electronics of the apparatus and that is switchably couplable to:
- a first contact that is coupled to a power source terminal, and
- a second contact that is coupled to a load terminal;
- and
- control circuitry configured to, prior to energizing the power electronics:
- exercise the relay to connect the pole to the first contact;
- determine that a first voltage at the first contact of the relay is equal to a second voltage at the pole of the relay;
- exercise the relay to connect the pole to the second contact;
- obtain a third voltage at the second contact of the relay and a fourth voltage at the pole of the relay;
- and
- determine whether the relay has a fault based on a comparison of the third voltage and the fourth voltage.
9 more elements
A method, comprising:
- exercising a relay of an electrical system to connect a pole of the relay to a first contact of the relay, the pole of the relay coupled to power electronics of the electrical system;
- and
- prior to energizing the power electronics:
- determining that a first voltage at the first contact of the relay is equal to a second voltage at the pole of the relay;
- exercising the relay to connect the pole to a second contact of the relay;
- obtaining a third voltage at the second contact of the relay and a fourth voltage at the pole of the relay;
- and
- determining whether the relay has a fault based on a comparison of the third voltage and the fourth voltage.
5 more elements
An electric vehicle, comprising:
- a relay having a pole that is coupled to power electronics of the electric vehicle and that is switchably couplable to:
- a first contact that is coupled to a power source terminal, and
- a second contact that is coupled to a load terminal;
- and
- control circuitry configured to, prior to energizing the power electronics:
- exercise the relay to connect the pole to the first contact;
- determine that a first voltage at the first contact of the relay is equal to a second voltage at the pole of the relay;
- exercise the relay to connect the pole to the second contact;
- obtain a third voltage at the second contact of the relay and a fourth voltage at the pole of the relay;
- and
- determine whether the relay has a fault based on a comparison of the third voltage and the fourth voltage.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.