Abnormality detection apparatus of comparator

• US 20040164744A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd. (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd. (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Uno, Koji, Koga, Osamu, Kawamura, Yasuharu
• Granted Patent: US 6,870,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/537
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/1076 Detection or location of converter hardware failure, e.g. power supply failure, open or short circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/12 Analogue/digital converters H03M1/001 – H03M1/10 take precedence

Abstract

Abnormality of a comparator is to be detected while it is assembled in a control apparatus. An output OUT of a comparator 4 is connected to a first analog data input port 13 in addition to an input port 11 of a microcomputer 6. A pin P1 as a signal input terminal of the comparator is connected to a second output port 15 capable of outputting an H or L microcomputer signal MO of the microcomputer and also to a second analog data input port 14. An abnormality judgment portion 9 of the microcomputer can detect abnormality due to failure of the comparator itself and failure of the peripheral devices on the basis of the output of the comparator during a normal operation, the comparator output when the microcomputer signal is outputted, and the comparator outputs before and after the output and stop of the microcomputer signal.

Claims

1. An abnormality detection apparatus for a comparator including an output terminal thereof connected to an input port of a microcomputer, which is characterized in that said output terminal of said comparator is further connected to a first analog data input port of said microcomputer, and said microcomputer includes an abnormality judgment portion for judging existence/absence of abnormality of said comparator on the basis of an output voltage of said comparator.

2. An abnormality detection apparatus for a comparator as defined in claim 1, which is characterized in that a signal input terminal of said comparator is further connected to an output port of said microcomputer capable of outputting a microcomputer signal of an H level or an L level relative to a reference voltage of said comparator, and said abnormality judgment portion judges existence/absence of abnormality of said comparator on the basis of an output level corresponding to said microcomputer signal and an output voltage of said comparator.

3. An abnormality detection apparatus for a comparator including peripheral devices for imparting hysteresis and an output terminal thereof connected to an input port of a microcomputer, which is characterized in that said output terminal of said comparator is further connected to a first analog data input port of said microcomputer, a signal input terminal of said comparator is further connected to an output port of said microcomputer capable of outputting a microcomputer signal of an H level or an L level relative to a reference voltage of said comparator and to a second analog data input port, and said microcomputer includes an abnormality judgment portion for judging existence/absence of abnormality of a comparator circuit inclusive of said peripheral devices on the basis of an output level corresponding to said microcomputer signal and an output voltage of said comparator and an input voltage of said comparator.