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US 12,531,426 B2Granted
Switch device, current determination method and computer program
AssigneesAutonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
InventorShunichi Sawano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load is detachably connected to a device connector of a switch device. A resistance value of a switch circuit when a sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of a main switch. A microcomputer acquires node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of the main switch and the sub-switch from a voltage detection unit in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON. The microcomputer determines whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information.
Claims12
A switch device comprising:
- a connector detachably connected to a load;
- a main switch provided on a first current path from a DC power source to the connector;
- a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector and including a sub-switch;
- a resistor provided on a third current path from the DC power source to the connector and connected at one end to a connection node;
- and
- a capacitor connected at one end to the connection node;
- and
- a processing unit configured to execute processing,
- wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch, and
- the processing unit executes processing for
- acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of the connection node located downstream of the main switch and the sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON, and
- determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information, and
- acquiring the node voltage information in a state where the main switch and the sub-switch are OFF, and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the node voltage information acquired in the state where the main switch and the sub-switch are OFF.
11 more elements
A current determination method in which a computer executes:
- a step of acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of a main switch and a sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON, the main switch being provided on a first current path from a DC power source to a connector detachably connected to a load and the sub-switch being included in a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector;
- and
- a step of determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information,
- wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch;
- and
- acquiring the node voltage information in a state where the main switch and the sub-switch are off;
- and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the node voltage information acquired in the state where the main switch and the sub-switch are OFF.
5 more elements
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a processer, the processor executing the instructions to perform the steps of:
- acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of a main switch and a sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON, the main switch being provided on a first current path from a DC power source to a connector detachably connected to a load and the sub-switch being included in a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector;
- and
- determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information,
- wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch;
- and
- acquiring the node voltage information in a state where the main switch and the sub-switch are off;
- and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the node voltage information acquired in the state where the main switch and the sub-switch are OFF.
5 more elements
A switch device comprising:
- a connector detachably connected to a load;
- a main switch provided on a first current path from a DC power source to the connector;
- a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector and including a sub-switch;
- a processing unit configured to execute processing,
- wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch, and
- the processing unit executes processing for:
- acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of the main switch and the sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON;
- and
- determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information;
- and
- acquiring current information indicating the switch current, when the main switch is ON;
- and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the acquired current information.
10 more elements
A current determination method in which a computer executes:
- a step of acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of a main switch and a sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON, the main switch being provided on a first current path from a DC power source to a connector detachably connected to a load and the sub-switch being included in a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector;
- and
- a step of determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information, wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch;
- and
- acquiring current information indicating the switch current, when the main switch is ON, and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the acquired current information.
3 more elements
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory memory storing instructions and a processer, the processor executing the instructions to perform the steps of:
- acquiring node voltage information indicating a node voltage of a connection node located downstream of a main switch and a sub-switch, in a state where the main switch is OFF and the sub-switch is ON, the main switch being provided on a first current path from a DC power source to a connector detachably connected to a load and the sub-switch being included in a switch circuit provided on a second current path from the DC power source to the connector;
- and
- determining whether a switch current that flows via the main switch when the main switch turns ON will be less than a current threshold value, based on the acquired node voltage information, wherein a resistance value of the switch circuit when the sub-switch is ON is greater than an ON resistance value of the main switch;
- and
- acquiring current information indicating the switch current, when the main switch is ON, and
- determining whether the load is connected to the connector based on the acquired current information.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.