PRE-CHARGING SYSTEM FOR A CAPACITOR IN A VOLTAGE INVERTER FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR
First Claim
1. A pre-charging system for a capacitor in a voltage inverter for an electric motor, comprising:
- a grounding contactor electrically coupled between a grounding terminal of a battery pack and a first end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter;
a pre-charging contactor and a resistor electrically coupled in series with one another, the pre-charging contactor and the resistor electrically coupled between a high voltage terminal of the battery pack and a second end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter;
a microprocessor programmed to generate a first control signal to induce the grounding contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the grounding terminal of the battery pack to the first end of the capacitor;
the microprocessor further programmed to generate a second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the high voltage terminal through the resistor to the second end of the capacitor;
a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a first voltage level between the high voltage terminal and the grounding terminal of the battery pack;
the voltage measurement circuit further configured to generate a first voltage value indicating the first voltage level that is received by the microprocessor;
the voltage measurement circuit further configured to measure second, third, and fourth voltage levels between a first electrical line and the grounding terminal of the battery pack at first, second, and third times, respectively, the first electrical line being electrically coupled in series between the resistor and the second end of the capacitor, the third time being after the second time, the second time being after the first time;
the voltage measurement circuit further configured to generate second, third, and fourth voltage values indicating the second, third, and fourth voltage levels, respectively, that are received by the microprocessor;
the microprocessor further programmed to determine a total amount of energy supplied to the resistor between the first time and the third time based on the first, second, third, and fourth voltage values and a resistance level of the resistor; and
the microprocessor further programmed to stop generating the second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have an open operational position to electrically de-couple the high voltage terminal from the second end of the capacitor, if the total amount of energy is greater than a threshold amount of energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-charging system for a capacitor in a voltage inverter for an electric motor is provided. The system includes a grounding contactor electrically coupled between a grounding terminal of a battery pack and a first end of the capacitor. The system further includes a pre-charging contactor and a resistor electrically coupled in series. The pre-charging contactor and the resistor are electrically coupled between a high voltage terminal of the battery pack and a second end of the capacitor. The microprocessor determines a total amount of energy supplied to the resistor and induces the pre-charging contactor to have an open operational position to electrically de-couple the high voltage terminal from the second end of the capacitor, if the total amount of energy is greater than a threshold amount of energy.
9 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A pre-charging system for a capacitor in a voltage inverter for an electric motor, comprising:
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a grounding contactor electrically coupled between a grounding terminal of a battery pack and a first end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter; a pre-charging contactor and a resistor electrically coupled in series with one another, the pre-charging contactor and the resistor electrically coupled between a high voltage terminal of the battery pack and a second end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter; a microprocessor programmed to generate a first control signal to induce the grounding contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the grounding terminal of the battery pack to the first end of the capacitor; the microprocessor further programmed to generate a second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the high voltage terminal through the resistor to the second end of the capacitor; a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure a first voltage level between the high voltage terminal and the grounding terminal of the battery pack; the voltage measurement circuit further configured to generate a first voltage value indicating the first voltage level that is received by the microprocessor; the voltage measurement circuit further configured to measure second, third, and fourth voltage levels between a first electrical line and the grounding terminal of the battery pack at first, second, and third times, respectively, the first electrical line being electrically coupled in series between the resistor and the second end of the capacitor, the third time being after the second time, the second time being after the first time; the voltage measurement circuit further configured to generate second, third, and fourth voltage values indicating the second, third, and fourth voltage levels, respectively, that are received by the microprocessor; the microprocessor further programmed to determine a total amount of energy supplied to the resistor between the first time and the third time based on the first, second, third, and fourth voltage values and a resistance level of the resistor; and the microprocessor further programmed to stop generating the second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have an open operational position to electrically de-couple the high voltage terminal from the second end of the capacitor, if the total amount of energy is greater than a threshold amount of energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for charging a capacitor in a voltage inverter for an electric motor, comprising:
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providing a pre-charging circuit having a grounding contactor, a pre-charging contactor, a resistor, a voltage measurement circuit, and a microprocessor;
the grounding contactor electrically coupled between a grounding terminal of a battery pack and a first end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter;
the pre-charging contactor and the resistor electrically coupled in series with one another, the pre-charging contactor and the resistor electrically coupled between a high voltage terminal of the battery pack and a second end of the capacitor in the voltage inverter;generating a first control signal to induce the grounding contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the grounding terminal of the battery pack to the first end of the capacitor, utilizing the microprocessor; generating a second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have a closed operational position to electrically couple the high voltage terminal through the resistor to the second end of the capacitor, utilizing the microprocessor; measuring a first voltage level between the high voltage terminal and the grounding terminal of the battery pack, utilizing the voltage measurement circuit; generating a first voltage value indicating the first voltage level that is received by the microprocessor, utilizing the voltage measurement circuit; measuring second, third, and fourth voltage levels between a first electrical line and the grounding terminal of the battery pack at first, second, and third times, respectively, utilizing the voltage measurement circuit, the first electrical line being electrically coupled in series between the resistor and the second end of the capacitor, the third time being after the second time, the second time being after the first time; generating second, third, and fourth voltage values indicating the second, third, and fourth voltage levels, respectively, that are received by the microprocessor, utilizing the voltage measurement circuit; determining a total amount of energy supplied to the resistor between the first time and the third time based on the first, second, third, and fourth voltage values and a resistance level of the resistor, utilizing the microprocessor; and stopping the generating of the second control signal to induce the pre-charging contactor to have an open operational position to electrically de-couple the high voltage terminal from the second end of the capacitor, if the total amount of energy is greater than a threshold amount of energy, utilizing the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification