Proximity detection circuit for on-board vehicle charger
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorKrzysztof Klesyk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A proximity detection circuit is operable to detect connection of a cordset to a vehicle charging system or connection of another device to some other electrical circuit where it may be desirable to facilitate detection while a controller or other current drawing source is inactive.
Claims20
A proximity detection circuit for use in awakening a microcontroller to detect connection of a charging cordset to a receptacle of a vehicle charging system, the cordset having a proximity pin that plugs into a terminal of the receptacle when the cordset is connected, the proximity detection circuit comprising:
- a wake-up signal generating circuit operable to generate a wake-up signal for awakening the microcontroller to detect connection of the charging cordset to the receptacle;
- and
- a connection circuit configured to conduct through the pin in order to enable the wake-up signal generating circuit to generate the wake-up signal.
A proximity detection circuit for use in awakening a microcontroller to detect connection of a charging cordset to a vehicle charging system, the proximity detection circuit comprising:
- a pulse signal generating circuit operable to generate a single-pulsed signal for use in awakening the microcontroller from a sleep state to an active state upon connection of the charging cordset to the vehicle charging system;
- and
- a connection circuit configured to enable the pulse signal generating circuit to generate the single-pulsed signal upon connection of the charging cordset to the vehicle charging system.
A proximity detection circuit for use in awakening a microcontroller from a sleep state to an active state in order to detect connection of a charging cordset to a vehicle charging system, the proximity detection circuit comprising:
- a pulse signal generating circuit operable to generate a first signal having a first duration;
- a latching circuit operable to process the first signal into a second signal having a second duration, the second duration sufficient for awakening the microcontroller from the sleep state to the active state;
- and
- a connection circuit configured to enable the pulse signal generating circuit to generate the first signal upon connection of the charging cordset to the vehicle charging system.
The proximity detection circuit 17 wherein the connection circuit includes a voltage divider connected to the pulse generating circuit at a connection node, the voltage divider providing a first voltage at the connection node when the cordset is disconnected and a second voltage when the cordset is connected, wherein the pulse generating circuit requires the second voltage in order to generate the first signal, and wherein the connection circuit consumes less than 150 uA through the voltage divider when providing the first voltage at the connection node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.