Method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of electrical loads in an automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a plurality of electrical loads in an automotive vehicle, the loads collectively requiring an output current from a power supply, the apparatus comprising:
- single detecting means for detecting the output current and generating an output signal based on the output current, the single detecting means being serially connected to the power supply and the loads;
a plurality of devices, each of the devices selectively completing or breaking a current path from the power supply to its respective load in response to a control signal; and
control means coupled to the single detecting means and the plurality of devices, the control means including a memory for storing a plurality of delay values corresponding to electrical characteristics of the loads, the control means;
(1) receiving the output signal and an input signal corresponding to a first load;
(2) generating a first control signal in response to the input signal, a first one of the devices completing its corresponding current path at a given time in response to the first control signal, so that a change in the output current occurs;
(3) retrieving a first delay value corresponding to the first load from the memory in response to the input signal;
(4) detecting a change in the output signal corresponding to the change in the output current after a first time delay from the given time based on the first delay value; and
(5) generating a diagnostic signal in response to the change in the output signal, the diagnostic signal being related to an operating condition of the first load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a plurality of electrical loads in an automotive vehicle with a single current sensor. The current sensor detects the change in the total output current associated with the electrical loads and generates an output signal based on the current change. The apparatus also includes a controller which activates each electrical load at a given time to obtain a like plurality of timing signals so that each electrical load receives a portion of the output current. The controller processes the output signal and the timing signals to obtain a diagnostic signal related to an operating condition of at least one of the electrical loads. Finally, the controller controls an operating state of the at least one of the electrical loads based on the diagnostic signal.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a plurality of electrical loads in an automotive vehicle, the loads collectively requiring an output current from a power supply, the apparatus comprising:
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single detecting means for detecting the output current and generating an output signal based on the output current, the single detecting means being serially connected to the power supply and the loads; a plurality of devices, each of the devices selectively completing or breaking a current path from the power supply to its respective load in response to a control signal; and control means coupled to the single detecting means and the plurality of devices, the control means including a memory for storing a plurality of delay values corresponding to electrical characteristics of the loads, the control means; (1) receiving the output signal and an input signal corresponding to a first load; (2) generating a first control signal in response to the input signal, a first one of the devices completing its corresponding current path at a given time in response to the first control signal, so that a change in the output current occurs; (3) retrieving a first delay value corresponding to the first load from the memory in response to the input signal; (4) detecting a change in the output signal corresponding to the change in the output current after a first time delay from the given time based on the first delay value; and (5) generating a diagnostic signal in response to the change in the output signal, the diagnostic signal being related to an operating condition of the first load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for monitoring the operation of a plurality of electrical loads in an automotive vehicle including a control module having memory which stores plurality of delay values corresponding to electrical characteristics of the loads, the loads collectively requiring an output current from a power supply, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the output current and generating an output signal based on the output current; receiving the output signal and an input signal corresponding to a first load; generating a first control signal in response to the input signal; completing a circuit path from the power supply to the first load at a given time in response to the first control signal, so that a change in the output current occurs; retrieving a first delay value corresponding to the first load from the memory in response to the input signal; detecting a change in the output signal corresponding to the change in the output current after a first time delay from the given time based on the first delay value; and generating a diagnostic signal in response to the change in the output signal, the diagnostic signal being related to an operating condition of the first load. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification