Current sensing module, vehicle system and method of performing current sensing and failure diagnosis

A vehicle system comprising:

• a battery configured to provide a current and a driving voltage;
• a charging circuit coupled to the battery and configured to charge the battery;
• a current sensing module coupled to the battery for sensing the current, comprising:
• a shunt resistor for receiving and sensing the current and comprising:
• a connecting part;
• a first resistive part;
• and
• a second resistive part coupled in series to the first resistive part via the connecting part;
• an analog sensing circuit coupled to the second resistive part, and configured to:
• measure a second analog voltage of the second resistive part when the current flows through the second resistive part;
• and
• provide a second analog measuring value associated with the second analog voltage using a first method;
• and
• a digital sensing circuit coupled to the first resistive part, and configured to:
• measure a first analog voltage of the first resistive part when the current flows through the first resistive part;
• provide a first digital measuring value associated with the first analog voltage, and/or a second digital measuring value associated with the second analog voltage using a second method;
• a motor coupled to the battery, and configured to receive the driving voltage for driving the vehicle system;
• and
• a management system coupled to the charging circuit, the motor, and the digital sensing circuit of the current sensing module, and configured to:
• monitor the current based on the first digital measuring value and the second analog measuring value;
• determine whether the shunt resistor fails based on a relationship between the first digital measuring value and the second analog measuring value;
• and
• when the shunt resistor fails, reduce operations of the charging circuit and the motor, and output an alarm;
• wherein the first digital measuring value, the second analog measuring value and the second digital measuring value vary according to the current, the digital sensing circuit and the analog sensing circuit are operated separately, circuit components of the digital sensing circuit and circuit components of the analog sensing circuit are different, the first method and the second method are different, and the second analog measuring value is directly outputted for the management system.

A method of performing current sensing and failure diagnosis, comprising:

• providing a shunt resistor which includes a connecting part, a first resistive part and a second resistive part coupled in series to the first resistive part via the connecting part;
• measuring a first analog voltage of the first resistive part when a current flows through the first resistive part using a digital sensing circuit;
• providing a first digital measuring value associated with the first analog voltage to a management system by the digital sensing circuit using a first method;
• measuring a second analog voltage of the second resistive part when the current flows through the second resistive part using an analog sensing circuit;
• providing a second analog measuring value associated with the second analog voltage directly to the management system by the analog sensing circuit using a second method;
• monitoring the current based on the first digital measuring value and the second analog measuring value using the management system;
• and
• determining whether the shunt resistor fails based on a relationship between the first digital measuring value and the second analog measuring value, wherein:
• the digital sensing circuit and the analog sensing circuit are operated separately;
• circuit components of the digital sensing circuit and circuit components of the analog sensing circuit are different;
• and
• the first method and the second method are different.