Process for testing the ground contact of parts of a networked system
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsJuergen Minuth, Juergen Setzer, Guenther Schwarz, Max Reeb
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Abstract
In a method for testing the ground contact of parts of a networked system in which data are sent and received via at least one line, at least one line at each part is connected via a resistance arrangement to a common potential of the parts and is connectable via a controllable switch to a further potential. The voltage across the resistance arrangement is compared with a predetermined potential when the line is at one potential in a steady state, and the state of the ground contact of the part is deduced from a comparison of the voltage across the resistance arrangement with the predetermined potential.
Claims24
A method for testing ground contact of respective members of a networked system comprising a plurality of members which are coupled in data communication by transmission of data among said members via at least one line which at each member is connected via a resistance to a common potential of the members, said at least one line also being connectable via a controllable switch to a further potential for transmitting data among said members via said at least one line, said method comprising:
- comparing a voltage across the resistance with a predetermined potential when the line is at one potential in a steady state;
- and
- determining existence or absence of a faulty ground contact of a member based on a result of said comparison.
A method for testing ground contact of respective members of a networked system comprising a plurality of members which are coupled in data communication by transmission of data among said members via at least one line which at each member is connected via a resistance to a member-specific potential, said at least one line also being connectable via a controllable switch and a contact to a common potential for transmitting data among said members via said at least one line, said method comprising:
- comparing a voltage across the resistance with a predetermined potential when the line is at one potential in a steady state;
- and
- determining existence or absence of a faulty ground contact of a member based on a result of said comparison.
A method for testing ground contact of subscribers of a networked system, having a plurality of subscribers, including reference subscribers, which are coupled to a battery, said method comprising:
- detecting local battery voltage at each subscriber;
- transmitting detected local battery voltages to at least one reference subscriber via the networked system;
- comparing said local battery voltages with battery voltage detected by the at least one reference subscriber;
- and
- deducing existence of a faulty ground contact if any variation in the detected battery voltages exceeds a specific threshold value.
An apparatus for testing ground contact of members in a networked system in which data are sent and received among said members via two lines, wherein:
- one line at each member is connected via a first resistance to a common potential for the members and is connectable via a controllable switch to a further potential;
- the other line at each member is connected via a second resistance to a member-specific potential and is connectable via a controllable switch to a common potential;
- a voltage across at least one of said first and second resistances is supplied to one input of a comparator whose other input is supplied with a comparison potential;
- and
- the state of the ground contact of member is deduced based on an output signal from the comparator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.