ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HEALTH MONITOR (ESHM) SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130158776A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GTR Development LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Groeller, Dale B. Henningson, Guy T. Rini
• Inventors: RINI, GUY T., GROELLER, CHARLES J., HENNINGSON, DALE B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/15 Failure diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An engine-powered vehicle includes an engine, a battery corresponding to a battery voltage, a starter, an alternator, a plurality of switchable electrical loads, a key switch configured to control the switchable electrical loads and corresponding to a key voltage, and an electrical system health monitor (ESHM) controller. The ESHM controller is configured to monitor a plurality of voltages, to determine an operating state based on the plurality of voltages, and to determine whether an operating state is a valid operating state or a fault state. The ESHM controller is configured to set a fault alert for vehicle maintenance when the operating state is a fault state and, when the operating state is a valid operating state, to monitor a predetermined set of input parameters corresponding to the operating state, to detect certain anomalies based voltage waveforms of the plurality of voltages, and to perform a corrective action based on the anomalies.

Claims

1. An engine-powered vehicle, comprising:

an engine for providing power to the vehicle;

a battery configured to provide electrical power and corresponding to a battery voltage indicating an output voltage of the battery;

a starter configured to start the engine using the electrical power provided by the battery;

an alternator configured to recharge the battery while the engine is running;

a plurality of switchable electrical loads;

a key switch configured to control the electrical power to the switchable electrical loads and corresponding to a key voltage indicating a voltage at the key switch output;

an electrical system health monitor (ESHM) controller configured to;

monitor a plurality of voltages including at least the battery voltage and the key voltage;

determine an operating state based on the plurality of voltages;

determine whether an operating state is a valid operating state or a fault state;

when the operating state is a fault state, set a fault alert for vehicle maintenance; and

when the operating state is a valid operating state, monitor a predetermined set of input parameters corresponding to the operating state, detect certain anomalies based voltage waveforms of the plurality of voltages, and perform a corrective action based on the anomalies.

2. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, to determine an operating state based on the plurality of voltages, the ESHM controller is further configured to:

determine values of a plurality of logic inputs based on the plurality of voltages, wherein the plurality of logic inputs define a sequence of operating states; and

determine the operating state from the sequence of operating states based on the values of the plurality of logic inputs.

3. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 2, wherein:

the valid operating state is one of a Park state, an Accessory state, a Run state, and a Start state.

4. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 2, further including:

a battery contactor configured to control open and close of the battery and corresponding to an out voltage indicating a voltage at the battery contractor output.

5. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 4, wherein:

the valid operating state is one of a Park state, a Timeout state, an Accessory state, a Run state, and a Start state, and

when the operating state is in the Timeout state, the ESHM controller is further configured to;

disconnect the battery after a timeout period;

determine whether hazard lights of the vehicle are operational; and

when the hazard lights are operational, reset the timeout period.

6. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of voltages includes the battery voltage, the out voltage, and the key voltage.

7. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of logic inputs includes a first logic input indicating whether the key switch is on or off, a second logic input indicating whether the engine is on or off, a third logic input indicating whether the starter is on or off.

8. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 7, wherein:

the plurality of logic inputs further includes a fourth logic input indicating whether the battery is open or closed.

9. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 1, further including:

an alternator coupled to the engine to generate electrical power for the battery when the engine is running.

10. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 1, further including:

one or more temperature sensor configured to provide values of ambient temperature,

wherein the ESHM controller is further configured to determine initial values of the plurality of voltages based on an open circuit voltage of the battery and the ambient temperature.

11. The engine-powered vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the ESHM controller is further configured to:

store a history of difference between the out voltage and the key voltage;

calculate a current difference between the out voltage and the key voltage;

determine whether the current difference is below a predetermined threshold based on the stored history of difference between the out voltage and the key voltage; and

when the current difference is below the predetermined threshold, indicate a maintenance of the vehicle is required.

12. A method for an on-board electrical system health monitor (ESHM) system in an engine-powered vehicle containing an engine for providing power to the vehicle, a battery configured to provide electrical power and corresponding to a battery voltage indicating an output voltage of the battery, a starter configured to start the engine using the electrical power provided by the battery, a plurality of switchable electrical loads, and a key switch configured to control the electrical power to the switchable electrical loads and corresponding to a key voltage indicating a voltage at the key switch output, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of voltages including at least the battery voltage and the key voltage;

determining an operating state based on the plurality of voltages;

determining whether an operating state is a valid operating state or a fault state;

when the operating state is a fault state, setting a fault alert for vehicle maintenance; and

when the operating state is a valid operating state, monitoring a predetermined set of input parameters corresponding to the operating state, detecting certain anomalies based voltage waveforms of the plurality of voltages, and performing a corrective action based on the anomalies.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein determining an operating state based on the plurality of voltages further includes:

determining values of a plurality of logic inputs based on the plurality of voltages, wherein the plurality of logic inputs define a sequence of operating states; and

determining the operating state from the sequence of operating states based on the values of the plurality of logic inputs.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the valid operating state is one of a Park state, an Accessory state, a Run state, and a Start state.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle further includes a battery contactor configured to control open and close of the battery and corresponding to an out voltage indicating a voltage at the battery contractor output;

the valid operating state is one of a Park state, a Timeout state, an Accessory state, a Run state, and a Start state, and

when the operating state is in the Timeout state, the method further includes;

disconnecting the battery after a timeout period;

determining whether hazard lights of the vehicle are operational; and

when the hazard lights are operational, resetting the timeout period.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle further includes a battery contactor configured to control open and close of the battery and corresponding to an out voltage indicating a voltage at the battery contractor output; and

the plurality of voltages includes the battery voltage, the out voltage, and the key voltage.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of logic inputs includes a first logic input indicating whether the key switch is on or off, a second logic input indicating whether the engine is on or off, a third logic input indicating whether the starter is on or off, and a fourth logic input indicating whether the battery contactor is open or closed.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the vehicle further includes one or more temperature sensor configured to provide values of ambient temperature; and

the method further includes determining initial values of the plurality of voltages based on an open circuit voltage of the battery and the ambient temperature.

19. The method according to claim 18, further including:

storing a history of difference between the out voltage and the key voltage;

calculating a current difference between the out voltage and the key voltage;

determining whether the current difference is below a predetermined threshold based on the stored history of difference between the out voltage and the key voltage; and

when the current difference is below the predetermined threshold, indicating a maintenance of the vehicle is required.