Circuit with control function and test method thereof

• US 20080211532A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Terao, Kyozo
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 326/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided a circuit with control function including a circuit to be controlled so as to be operated only if a predetermined environment meets a specific condition and being arranged to detect, in any predetermined environment, whether or not the circuit with control function is normally operated, and a test method thereof. The circuit with control function includes a controller (microcomputer) for operating the circuit to be controlled (a heater) only if a predetermined environment (ambient temperature) detected by a sensor (a first temperature sensor) meets a specific condition (0° or below). The controller includes a self-diagnosis device for diagnosing whether or not the circuit with control function is normally operated (step S5) and an interruption detecting device (steps S1 to S4) for detecting whether or not energization from a commercial power supply is intermittently interrupted in a predetermined pattern and activating the self-diagnosis device when the interruption of the predetermined pattern is detected.

Claims

1. A circuit with control function comprising:

a circuit to be controlled, the circuit being operated by a commercial power supply;

a sensor for detecting a predetermined environment; and

control means that is operated by the commercial power supply to control the circuit to be controlled, the control means being arranged to operate the circuit to be controlled only if the predetermined environment detected by the sensor meets a specific condition,

wherein the control means includes;

self-diagnosis means for diagnosing whether or not the circuit with control function is normally operated; and

interruption detecting means for detecting whether or not energization from the commercial power supply is intermittently interrupted in a predetermined pattern, the interruption detecting means being arranged to activate the self-diagnosis means when the interruption in the predetermined pattern is detected, irrespective of whether or not the predetermined environment meets the specific condition.

2. The circuit with control function according to claim 1, wherein

the interruption detecting means is arranged to activate the self-diagnosis means only if the interruption of the predetermined pattern is detected within a predetermined initial period of time from the start of the energization from the commercial power supply.

3. The circuit with control function according to claim 1, wherein

the circuit to be controlled is a heater which can be fixed to a battery structure to heat the battery structure,

the sensor is a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature corresponding to the predetermined environment;

the control means is arranged to energize the heater only if the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor is within a specific temperature range corresponding to the specific condition, and

the interruption detecting means is arranged to activate the self-diagnosis means when the interruption of the predetermined pattern is detected, irrespective of whether or not the ambient temperature is within the specific temperature range.

4. The circuit with control function according to claim 1, wherein

the control means includes current control means for changing a state of a current flowing from the commercial power supply at a predetermined timing according to a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis means.

5. A test method of a circuit with control function for testing whether or not the circuit with control function according to claim 1 is normally operated, the method comprising:

a diagnosis instruction step of activating the self-diagnosis means in the circuit with control function by intermittently interrupting the energization from the commercial power supply in the predetermined pattern; and

a detecting step of detecting a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis means.

6. The test method of a circuit with control function, according to claim 5, wherein

the circuit with control function is a circuit with control function including current control means for changing a state of a current flowing from the commercial power supply at a predetermined timing according to a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis means, and

the detecting step is executed to detect the result of self diagnosis by detecting a state of current flowing from the commercial power supply to the circuit with control function.

7. A circuit with control function comprising:

a circuit to be controlled, the circuit being operated by a commercial power supply;

a sensor for detecting a predetermined environment; and

a control device that is operated by the commercial power supply to control the circuit to be controlled, the control device being arranged to operate the circuit to be controlled only if the predetermined environment detected by the sensor meets a specific condition,

wherein the control device includes;

a self-diagnosis device for diagnosing whether or not the circuit with control function is normally operated; and

an interruption detecting device for detecting whether or not energization from the commercial power supply is intermittently interrupted in a predetermined pattern, the interruption detecting device being arranged to activate the self-diagnosis device when the interruption in the predetermined pattern is detected, irrespective of whether or not the predetermined environment meets the specific condition.

8. The circuit with control function according to claim 7, wherein

the interruption detecting device is arranged to activate the self-diagnosis device only if the interruption of the predetermined pattern is detected within a predetermined initial period of time from the start of the energization from the commercial power supply.

9. The circuit with control function according to claim 7, wherein

the circuit to be controlled is a heater which can be fixed to a battery structure to heat the battery structure,

the sensor is a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature corresponding to the predetermined environment;

the control device is arranged to energize the heater only if the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor is within a specific temperature range corresponding to the specific condition, and

the interruption detecting device is arranged to activate the self-diagnosis device when the interruption of the predetermined pattern is detected, irrespective of whether or not the ambient temperature is within the specific temperature range.

10. The circuit with control function according to claim 7, wherein

the control device includes a current control device for changing a state of a current flowing from the commercial power supply at a predetermined timing according to a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis device.

11. A test method of a circuit with control function for testing whether or not the circuit with control function according to claim 7 is normally operated, the method comprising:

a diagnosis instruction step of activating the self-diagnosis device in the circuit with control function by intermittently interrupting the energization from the commercial power supply in the predetermined pattern; and

a detecting step of detecting a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis device.

12. The test method of a circuit with control function, according to claim 11, wherein

the circuit with control function is a circuit with control function including a current control device for changing a state of a current flowing from the commercial power supply at a predetermined timing according to a result of self diagnosis by the self-diagnosis device, and

the detecting step is executed to detect the result of self diagnosis by detecting a state of current flowing from the commercial power supply to the circuit with control function.