US 8,788,223 B2Granted

Comprehensive method of electrical fluid heating system fault detection and handling

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsMark R. Willey, Charles J. Bongiorno, David A. Bodenmiller, Craig Atiyeh, Aaron C. Osmun

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Abstract

A method and system are provided to eliminate the risk of over temperature concerns associated with electrical heating devices, which if undetected may result in an electrical over temperature condition. The electrical heating system may be applied to the detection and control structure of other automotive electrical loads where thermal concerns may exist. The electrical heating system combines several layers of fault detection strategies, to form a unique comprehensive approach to prevent and detect potential electrical fault conditions, which if undetected and/or controlled may result in an electrical over temperature condition.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A heating system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a heating control module comprising a microprocessor configured for heating fault detection and heating fault handling, a first field effect transistor (FET) operatively connected to the microprocessor, and a second field effect transistor (FET) operatively connected to the microprocessor;
and
a heating module comprising a heating element, a first thermistor operatively connected to the microprocessor, and a second thermistor operatively connected to the microprocessor;
wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
determine a fault condition when a temperature difference between a first temperature of the first thermistor and a second temperature of the second thermistor exceeds a temperature difference threshold;
determine the fault condition when at least one of the first temperature of the first thermistor and the second temperature of the second thermistor is less than a minimum temperature after the first FET is powered on and the second FET is powered on;
determine the fault condition when the first FET is powered on and the second FET is powered off and when the microprocessor does not detect logic voltage at an analog input;
and
determine the fault condition when the first FET is powered off and the second FET is powered off and when the microprocessor does not detect half the logic voltage at the analog input.

6 more elements

A method for a heating system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

configuring a heating control module comprising a microprocessor configured for heating fault detection and heating fault handling, a first field effect transistor (FET) operatively connected to the microprocessor, and a second field effect transistor (FET) operatively connected to the microprocessor;
and
configuring a heating module comprising a heating element, a first thermistor operatively connected to the microprocessor, and a second thermistor operatively connected to the microprocessor;
wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
determine a fault condition when a temperature difference between a first temperature of the first thermistor and a second temperature of the second thermistor exceeds a temperature difference threshold;
determine the fault condition when at least one of the first temperature of the first thermistor and the second temperature of the second thermistor is less than a minimum temperature after the first FET is powered on and the second FET is powered on;
determine the fault condition when the first FET is powered on and the second FET is powered off and when the microprocessor does not detect logic voltage at an analog input;
and
determine the fault condition when the first FET is powered off and the second FET is powered off and when the microprocessor does not detect half the logic voltage at the analog input.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/247,175Filed 28 Sep 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 29 Oct 2010
Published: US 2012/0109547 A13 May 2012
Granted: 22 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01R 31/50
Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by…
G01R 31/088
Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks: aspects of digital computing
G01R 31/1272
Of solid or fluid materials, e.g. insulation films, bulk material; of semiconductors or LV electronic components or parts; of cable, line or…
G01R 31/343
Testing dynamo-electric machines: in operation

Family

Application61/408,446Us provisional application · filed 29 Oct 2010
US 2012/0109547 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 May 2012
US 8,788,223 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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