Method and apparatus for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system
First Claim
1. A method for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, the power bridge including a switching circuit having first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states, the method comprising the steps of:
- selectively switching the first and second switching elements between the "on" and "off" states;
independently monitoring the first and second switching elements to determine whether the first and second switching elements operate in the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched;
simultaneously producing an output for each of the first and the second switching elements; and
indicating a failure of the switching circuit when at least one of the first and second switching elements does not operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, the power bridge including a switching circuit having first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states. The method comprises the steps of selectively switching the first and second switching elements between the "on" and "off" states, monitoring the first and second switching elements to determine whether the first and second switching elements operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched, and indicating a failure o#the switching circuit when at least one of the first and second switching elements does not operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched.
64 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, the power bridge including a switching circuit having first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states, the method comprising the steps of:
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selectively switching the first and second switching elements between the "on" and "off" states; independently monitoring the first and second switching elements to determine whether the first and second switching elements operate in the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched; simultaneously producing an output for each of the first and the second switching elements; and indicating a failure of the switching circuit when at least one of the first and second switching elements does not operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for testing a power bridge for an electric vehicle propulsion system, the power bridge including a plurality of switching circuits each having first and second switching elements operable between "on" and "off" states, the method comprising the steps of:
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selectively switching the first and second switching elements between the "on" and "off" states; independently and simultaneously monitoring the first and second switching elements of one of the plurality of switching circuits to determine whether the first and second switching elements of the one of the plurality of switching circuits operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched; simultaneously producing an output signal for each of the first and the second switching elements representing the operational status of each of said switches; simultaneously analyzing the output signals to determine the operational status of the first and second switching, elements; and indicating a failure of the switching circuit when at least one of the output signals indicates that at least one of the first and second switching elements does not operate between the "on" and "off" states when selectively switched. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A switching circuit for a power bridge comprising:
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first and second IGBT switches for selectively switching between an on and an off state; plural test circuits, each of said test circuits in parallel with one of said switches for independently monitoring the operational status of said switch such that an output signal is generated when a selected amount of the operating voltage of said switch is detected across said switch, each of said test circuits comprising a resistor in series with an opto-coupler, where said opto-coupler includes an output indicating the operational status of one of said switches whereby the operational status of each of said switches may be monitored simultaneously and independently.
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Specification