PORTABLE USB POWER MODE SIMULATOR TOOL

• US 20100280813A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Robert F., Quezada, Juan M., De Stefano, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/13
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/28 Interface circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/30 characterised by the use of digital means
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/02 non-automatically; dependent on position of personal controls of engine, e.g. throttle position

Abstract

A simulation tool includes a printed circuit board assembly or PCBA having a built-in USB communication port and a microcontroller. A host computer transmits user-selected configuration data to the microcontroller, which transforms the data into solid-state signals. These are provided to a power master module in an electrical bench or a test vehicle. A method of simulating a low-current ignition switch that is usable with the PMM includes transmitting user-selectable configuration data from a host computer to a PCBA having a microcontroller, transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals simulating a desired set of power mode parameters, and transmitting the solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate an operation of the low-current ignition switch.

Claims

1. A portable tool operable for simulating a low-current ignition switch and usable with a vehicle power master module (PMM), the tool comprising:

a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a USB connection suitable for receiving user-selectable configuration data from a host computer, and a microcontroller operable for transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals; and

an algorithm downloadable to and executable by the microcontroller, wherein the algorithm includes the configuration data;

wherein the microcontroller is adapted for transmitting the set of solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate a predetermined operation of the low-current ignition switch.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the set of solid-state signals has a timing delay or interval greater than approximately 1 millisecond.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the low-current ignition switch is configured as a Discrete Logic Ignition Switch (DLIS).

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured as a PIC18F4550 device.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the PMM is configured as one of a Body Control Module (BCM) of a vehicle and a portion of a test bench.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the configuration data includes a desired power mode, a desired delay time for the desired power mode, and a number of required cycles.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the PCBA includes a circuit having a plurality of a PNP small signal transistors and a plurality of solid-state buffers electrically connected to the transistors.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the solid-state buffers are configured as I.C. 7406-type inverter buffers that each feature an open collector output for selectively preventing a flow of current from the solid-state buffers to the transistors.

10. The tool of claim 8, wherein the transistors are each capable of supporting approximately 800 mA of electrical current.

11. The tool of claim 8, wherein an output of each transistor is connected to a different 10 Kohm resistor to provide only two discrete voltage levels at an output of the PCBA.

12. The tool of claim 10, wherein the two discrete voltage levels are 0-volts and 12-volts.

7. A portable tool operable for simulating a low-current ignition switch and usable with a vehicle power master module (PMM), the tool comprising:

a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a USB connection suitable for receiving configuration data from a host computer, and a microcontroller operable for transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals, wherein the set of solid-state signals has a voltage range of approximately 3-volts to approximately 12-volts; and

an algorithm downloadable to and executable by the microcontroller, wherein the algorithm includes the configuration data, and wherein the configuration data includes a plurality of user-selectable values including a desired power mode and a desired number of cycles;

wherein the microcontroller is adapted for transmitting the set of solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate an operation of the low-current ignition switch.

13. A method of simulating a low-current ignition switch that is usable with a vehicle power master module (PMM), the method comprising:

transmitting user-selectable configuration data from a host computer to a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a microcontroller;

transforming the configuration data into a set of solid-state signals simulating a desired set of power mode parameters; and

transmitting the solid-state signals to the PMM to thereby simulate an operation of the low-current ignition switch.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the PMM is configured as a Body Control Module (BCM) of a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting user-selectable configuration data from a host computer to a PCBA includes transmitting the configuration data over a USB connection to a USB port that is built-in to the PCBA.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein transforming the configuration data includes processing the configuration data using a plurality of a PNP small signal transistors and a plurality of solid-state buffer electrically connected to the transistors.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the solid-state buffers are configured as I.C. 7406-type inverter buffers that each feature an open collector output for selectively preventing a flow of current from the solid-state buffers to the transistors.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the configuration data includes a desired power mode selected from the group consisting essentially of:

OFF, AWAKE, ACCESSORY, RUN, and CRANK.