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US 12,510,568 B2Granted
Method for determining a current flowing through at least one switching element, electrical circuit arrangement, and motor vehicle
AssigneeAudi AG
InventorDaniel Ruppert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method determines a current flowing through at least one switching element of an electrical circuit arrangement. When the switching element is turned on the current flows through a switchable portion of the switching element. The switching element is associated with a temperature sensor and a voltage sensor. The temperature sensor measures a temperature of the switching element and the voltage sensor measures a voltage drop across the switchable portion of the switching element. The temperature sensor and the voltage sensor are connected to a computing device. The computing device determines a current value of the current based on the measured temperature and the measured voltage drop.
Claims12
A method, comprising:
- turning on a switching element of an electrical circuit arrangement;
- flowing a current through a switchable portion of the switching element;
- measuring a temperature of the switching element with a temperature sensor that is adjacent to the switchable portion of the switching element, wherein the temperature sensor includes a temperature-dependent electrical resistance and is connected to a computing device;
- measuring a voltage drop across the switchable portion of the switching element with a voltage sensor connected to the computing device;
- obtaining a digital temperature value by digitalizing the temperature of the switching element measured by the temperature sensor;
- obtaining a digital voltage value by digitalizing the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor;
- relaying the digital temperature value and the digital voltage value to the computing device across a galvanically separating connection;
- and
- determining a current value of the current with the computing device based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and based on the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor.
6 more elements
An electrical circuit arrangement, comprising:
- a switching element having a switchable portion;
- a temperature sensor, adjacent to the switchable portion of the switching element, wherein the temperature sensor, in operation, measures a temperature of the switching element;
- a voltage sensor that, in operation, measures a voltage drop across the switchable portion;
- at least one analog-to-digital converter connected to the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor, wherein the at least one analog-to-digital converter, in operation, obtains a digital temperature value by digitalizing the temperature of the switching element measured by the temperature sensor and obtains a digital voltage value by digitalizing the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor;
- and
- a computing device connected to the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor, wherein the computing device, in operation, measures a current flowing through the switching element based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and based on the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor,
- wherein the at least one analog-to-digital converter and the computing device are connected by a galvanically separating connection, and
- wherein the digital temperature value and the digital voltage value are relayed to the computing device across the galvanically separating connection.
5 more elements
A motor vehicle comprising an electrical circuit arrangement, the electrical circuit arrangement including:
- a switching element having a switchable portion;
- a temperature sensor adjacent to the switchable portion of the switching element, wherein the temperature sensor, in operation, measures a temperature of the switching element;
- a voltage sensor that, in operation, measures a voltage drop across the switchable portion;
- at least one analog-to-digital converter connected to the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor, wherein the at least one analog-to-digital converter, in operation, obtains a digital temperature value by digitalizing the temperature of the switching element measured by the temperature sensor and obtains a digital voltage value by digitalizing the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor;
- and
- a computing device connected to the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor, wherein the computing device, in operation, measures a current flowing through the switching element based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor and based on the voltage drop measured by the voltage sensor,
- wherein the at least one analog-to-digital converter and the computing device are connected by a galvanically separating connection, and
- wherein the digital temperature value and the digital voltage value are relayed to the computing device across the galvanically separating connection.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.