Proximity detection circuit for on-board vehicle charger
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorsEladi HOMEDES PEDRET, Jordi ESCODA VALLDEPEREZ, Jordi TOST BARTOLOME, Antoni FERRE FABREGAS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A proximity detection circuit suitable for use with an on-board vehicle charger, such as but not limited to the type of chargers used within hybrid and electric vehicles, to facilitate current conservation during period of time when it is unnecessary or otherwise undesirable. The on-board charger can test for connection of a cordset or other electrical connection used to connect the on-board charger to a charging station or other current source. The on-board charger can be used to detect two different cordsets or vehicles using different charging circuitries.
Claims19
A vehicle charging system, comprising:
- an on-board vehicle charger being operable to charge a high voltage battery with current provided through a cordset connected thereto, the on-board charger requiring regulated voltage from a low voltage power supply to detect connection of the cordset and move from a sleep state to an active state;
- a vehicle coupler on a vehicle and adapted to receive the cordset;
- and
- a detection circuit connected to the vehicle coupler and configured to change the on-board vehicle charger to from sleep state to the active state when a cordset is connected to the vehicle coupler and reduce quiescent current during the sleep state using a switchable resistance.
A proximity detection circuit for a vehicle on-board charger, comprising:
- vehicle coupler circuitry to receive a cordset in a charging receptacle of a vehicle;
- and
- a Wheatstone bridge including a first leg from a portion of the vehicle coupler circuitry, a second leg with a controllable resistance, a third leg, and a fourth leg, the first leg and second leg being connected at a first node, the third and fourth leg being connected at a second node, the Wheatstone bridge further including a center detection circuit connected between the first node and the second node, the center detection circuit outputting a first signal with the Wheatstone bridge balanced and a second signal when the Wheatstone bridge is unbalanced by vehicle coupler circuitry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.