# US 9,753,074 B2 · Circuit arrangement for detecting a type for a solenoid valve

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- Number: US 9,753,074 B2
- Document ID: US9753074B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/417,014
- Filed: 2013-07-19
- Published: 2015-07-23
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-26
- Assignees: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
- Applicants: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
- Inventors: Frank Scholl; Gerhard Wieder; Dieter Winz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753074B2

## CPC

- G01R 31/007: {using microprocessors or computers}
- B60T 8/36: including a pilot valve responding to an electromagnetic force
- B60T 8/885: {using electrical circuitry}
- B60T 17/22: Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
- G01R 31/67: Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits
- B60T 1/00: Arrangements of braking elements, i.e. of those parts where braking effect occurs {specially for vehicles}
- B60T 7/00: Brake-action initiating means
- B60T 2270/406: Test-mode; Self-diagnosis
- F16K 1/00: Lift valves {or globe valves}, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces ({in combination with sliding valves F16K3/246, F16K3/267} ; diaphragm valves F16K7/00)
- F16K 15/00: Check valves (valves specially adapted for inflatable balls A63B41/00)
- G05D 1/00: Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots (drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A circuit arrangement for detecting a solenoid valve type in vehicles, including at least one solenoid valve in the circuit arrangement for detecting the solenoid valve type and having at least one coil winding having a resistance of the typical order of magnitude for a predetermined vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage, a constant current source, arranged to impress a predetermined measurement current into the one coil winding of the solenoid valve, a current mirror circuit, arranged to generate a second voltage on a detection section of the circuit arrangement from a first voltage produced as a result of the impressed measurement current on the at least one coil winding of the at least one solenoid valve, in which the second voltage produced on the detection section is passed out, on the detection section, directly to a microcontroller in a control device for determining the type of solenoid valve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit arrangement for detecting a type of solenoid valve in a vehicle, comprising:
at least one solenoid valve incorporated into the circuit arrangement to detect the type of the solenoid valve and having at least one coil winding having a resistance associated with a predetermined vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage;
a constant current source arranged so as to impress a predetermined measurement current into the at least one coil winding of the at least one solenoid valve; and
a current mirror circuit arranged so as to generate a second voltage on a detection section of the circuit arrangement from a first voltage produced as a result of the impressed measurement current on the at least one coil winding of the at least one solenoid valve;
wherein the second voltage produced on the detection section is passed out, on the detection section, directly to a microcontroller in a control device for determining the type of solenoid valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the detected type of solenoid valve is a vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage for which the solenoid valve is designed, wherein the vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage includes rated voltages of 12 V and/or 24 V, and in that the solenoid valve is a pressure control solenoid valve for use in braking systems and/or traction control systems of a utility vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The circuit arrangement of claim 2, wherein the resistance of the coil winding of the solenoid valve for a rated voltage of 12 V is within a single-digit resistance value range, and for a higher rated voltage, is within a two-digit to three-digit resistance value range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the constant current source includes a transistor, which is connected to a respective resistance at the emitter, base and collector, with a voltage signal which is 5 V in the measurement state of the circuit arrangement being applied to the base connection of said transistor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the measurement current impressed by the constant current source into the at least one coil winding of the at least one solenoid valve is configured so that solenoid valve type is detectable, but the flow of said measurement current does not yet result in functional activation of a respectively measured solenoid valve, and the measurement current is approximately 9 mA.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the current mirror circuit includes an operational amplifier, a transistor and a second resistance, which forms the detection section, and the current mirror circuit transmits the first voltage to a first resistance, which is connected to the transistor towards the vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one first high-side switch for activating the coil of the at least one solenoid valve is in series with the at least one solenoid valve, a second switch, which is common for the at least one solenoid valve, is in parallel with the constant current source to ground potential, wherein said second switch is closed in the normal operating state, and a third switch for switchably impressing the constant current is at the constant current source, and wherein, in a measurement operation state, the third switch is closed, the second switch is open, and the at least one first switch is closed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein a sensitivity and/or a detection range of the circuit arrangement is adjustable, wherein the resistance of the solenoid coils is calculated via the transformation ratio of the first voltage to the second voltage and the impressed measurement current.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement forms part of an anti-lock braking system and/or part of a traction control system for a utility vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein a battery is provided as a vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage, a first resistance and at least one first switch are connected at in each case one first connection to a high potential of the vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage, a transistor is connected at an emitter connection to the first resistance, an operational amplifier is connected at an output thereof to a base connection of the transistor, an inverting input of the operational amplifier is connected to the first resistance and to the emitter connection of the transistor, a noninverting input of the operational amplifier is connected to a first connection of a second switch, a first connection of a third switch, and a second connection of the at least one solenoid valve, a first connection of the at least one solenoid valve is connected to a second connection of the at least one first switch, a collector connection of the transistor is connected to a first connection of a second resistance, a second connection of the third switch is connected to a first connection of the constant current source, and in each case a second connection of the second resistance, a second connection of the constant current source, and a second connection of the second switch are connected to a low potential of the vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage, wherein the second voltage as measurement voltage is passed out to the microcontroller between the first connection of the second resistance and the collector connection of the transistor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The circuit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the detected type of solenoid valve is a vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage for which the solenoid valve is designed, wherein the vehicle electrical distribution system supply voltage includes rated voltages of more than 24 V, and in that the solenoid valve is a pressure control solenoid valve for use in braking systems and/or traction control systems of a utility vehicle.