Device for capturing voltage-based events in motor vehicles

A device for capturing voltage-based events in a vehicle, the device comprising:

• a controller;
• a voltage monitor coupled to a vehicle battery of the vehicle, the voltage monitor having a voltage monitor output representing a battery voltage of the vehicle battery;
• an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a digital output coupled to the controller and an analog input coupled to the voltage monitor output;
• a digital to analog converter (DAC) coupled to the controller and having a DAC output;
• a comparator having a first input coupled to the voltage monitor output, a second input coupled to the DAC output, and a comparator output coupled to the controller;
• and
• a non-volatile memory coupled to the controller, the non-volatile memory storing machine-executable programming instructions which configure the device to:
• determine that a vehicle type of the vehicle is one of:
• an electric vehicle (an EV), an internal combustion engine vehicle (an ICEV), and an unknown type;
• in response to determining that the vehicle type is an unknown type or is an EV:
• compare by the comparator the battery voltage with a charging threshold;
• in response to determining that the battery voltage is above the charging threshold:
• when the vehicle type is an unknown type:
• query the vehicle for the vehicle type;
• save the vehicle type;
• in response to determining that the vehicle type is an ICEV:
• compare by the comparator the battery voltage with a cranking threshold;
• in response to determining that the battery voltage is below the cranking threshold:
• capture a plurality of cranking voltage values;
• and check for at least one indicator that indicates that the vehicle is turned on.