Power fault detection system for a communication bus

• US 6,881,106 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gonring, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US10/694,324
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 440/1, 440/2, 440/84
• US Class Current: 440/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/22 the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4072 Drivers or receivers G06F13/4086 takes precedence; for multistate logic circuits H03K19/0002

Abstract

A method is provided for monitoring voltage changes along a cable. First and second controllers monitor voltage potentials at first and second locations along the cable and these voltage potentials are compared to determine whether or not voltage drops exist along the cable. These voltage drops would normally be caused by improperly connected or damaged nodes which increase the resistance to the power provided by a power source.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a communication bus, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical power connected in electrical communication with said bus at a first location;

measuring a first voltage potential at said first location of said bus;

measuring a second voltage potential at a second location of said bus;

comparing said first and second voltage potentials; and

determining an operation condition of said bus as a function of a differential between said first and second voltage potentials.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first voltage potential is measured by a first controller connected in electrical communication with said first location on said bus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said second voltage potential is measured by a second controller connected in electrical communication with said second location on said bus.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

communicating said first voltage potential from said first controller to said second controller prior to said comparing step.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

communicating said second voltage potential from said second controller to said first controller prior to said comparing step.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a battery as said source of electrical power; and

connecting said battery to said bus at said first location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said second voltage potential is measured by a first controller connected in electrical communication with said second location on said bus.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a sensing wire connected between said first controller and said second location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said communication bus comprises two power wires and at least one signal wire.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said communication bus is a CAN bus.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said communication bus is a portion of a marine vessel communication system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first location is proximate a marine propulsion system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said second location is proximate a helm of a marine vessel.

14. A method of monitoring a communication bus, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical power connected in electrical communication with said bus at a first location, said communication bus being a CAN bus, said communication bus being a portion of a marine vessel communication system;

measuring a first voltage potential at said first location of said bus;

measuring a second voltage potential at a second location of said bus;

comparing said first and second voltage potentials;

determining an operation condition of said bus as a function of a differential between said first and second voltage potentials.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said first voltage potential is measured by a first controller connected in electrical communication with said first location on said bus; and

said second voltage potential is measured by a second controller connected in electrical communication with said second location on said bus.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

communicating said first voltage potential from said first controller to said second controller prior to said comparing step.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

communicating said second voltage potential from said second controller to said first controller prior to said comparing step.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said second voltage potential is measured by a first controller connected in electrical communication with said second location on said bus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

said first location is proximate a marine propulsion system and said second location is proximate a helm of a marine vessel.

20. A method of monitoring a communication bus, comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical power connected in electrical communication with said bus at a first location, said communication bus being a CAN bus, said communication bus being a portion of a marine vessel communication system;

measuring a first voltage potential at said first location of said bus;

measuring a second voltage potential at a second location of said bus;

comparing said first and second voltage potentials;

determining an operation condition of said bus as a function of a differential between said first and second voltage potentials, said first voltage potential being measured by a first controller connected in electrical communication with said first location on said bus, said second voltage potential being measured by a second controller connected in electrical communication with said second location on said bus; and

communicating said first voltage potential from said first controller to said second controller prior to said comparing step, said first location being proximate a marine propulsion system and said second location being proximate a helm of a marine vessel.