# US 8,786,312 B2 · Low voltage electronic module interface

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- Number: US 8,786,312 B2
- Document ID: US8786312B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/359,881
- Filed: 2012-01-27
- Published: 2012-05-24
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-27
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Srinivasa Baddela; Aly Aboulnaga
- Inventors: Srinivasa Baddela; Aly Aboulnaga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786312B2

## CPC

- H03K 17/18: Modifications for indicating state of switch
- G01R 31/007: {using microprocessors or computers}
- H02H 9/026: {Current limitation using PTC resistors, i.e. resistors with a large positive temperature coefficient}
- H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)

## Abstract

A low voltage electronic module interface, with a low voltage interface for an electronic module receiving a constant current from a body control module, the interface including a reverse current protection circuit 152; and a switch 154 operably connected in series with the reverse current protection circuit 152, the switch 154 being responsive to a status signal 144. The reverse current protection circuit 152 and the switch 154 form a low voltage electronic module interface circuit 150 having a resistance; and the resistance is selected so voltage across the low voltage electronic module interface circuit 150 is less than 2.70 Volts when the switch 154 is closed and the constant current 124 flows through the low voltage electronic module interface circuit 150.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A module interfacing method comprising:
providing an electronic module having an outage detection pin, the electronic module having a resistance to a constant current to generate less than 2.7V Volts at the outage detection pin when the constant current flows through the electronic module, wherein the electronic module includes a reverse current protection circuit having an overcurrent protector in series with a diode, the diode being operably connected parallel to a switch;
providing the constant current from a body control module (BCM) to the outage detection pin;
switching the constant current through the electronic module in response to a status signal;
determining voltage at the outage detection pin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising limiting reverse current through the electronic module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising limiting battery short current through the electronic module.

### Claim 4

A module interfacing system comprising:
an electronic module having an outage detection pin, the electronic module having a resistance to a constant current to generate less than 2.7 Volts at the outage detection pin when the constant current flows through the electronic module, wherein the electronic module includes a reverse current protection circuit having an overcurrent protector in series with a diode, the diode being operably connected parallel to a switch;
means for providing the constant current from a body control module (BCM) to the outage detection pin;
means for switching the constant current through the electronic module in response to a status signal; and
means for determining voltage at the outage detection pin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 further comprising means for limiting reverse current through the electronic module.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 further comprising means for limiting battery short current through the electronic module.