Diagnostic device for checking a control signal line

• US 9,372,218 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Zaki, Sami, Schalli, Niklas, Steinlechner, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORTICH, ALVARO E
• Application Number:
  US14/420,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20150219705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/58 Testing of lines, cables or conductors testing of electric windings G01R31/72

Abstract

A diagnostic device for checking a control signal line between a control device of a motor vehicle and a motor-vehicle-side charging connection for a battery of the motor vehicle, includes a first resistor disposed at the charging connection and connecting the control signal line to ground, a second resistor connected in parallel with first resistor to form a parallel circuit, an evaluation device associated with the control device and comprising a current source and/or a voltage source for supplying a corresponding current or voltage outside a charging operation, and a diode connected in series with the first and second resistors and blocking a current flow from ground to the control signal line. The evaluation device is configured to measure, by using the first and second resistor, a current indicating a control signal line defect or a voltage indicating a control signal line defect.

Claims

1. A diagnostic device for checking a control signal line between a control device of a motor vehicle and a motor-vehicle-side charging connection for a battery of the motor vehicle, comprising:

a first resistor disposed in the control device and connecting a first end of the control signal line to ground,

a second resistor disposed in the motor-vehicle-side charging connection and having one terminal connected to ground and another terminal connected to a second end of the control signal line,

a first diode connected in series with the first resistor and blocking a current flow from ground to the first end of the control signal line,

a second diode connected in series with the second resistor and blocking a current flow from ground to the second end of the control signal line,

wherein the series connection of the first resistor and the first diode and the series connection of the second resistor and the second diode form a parallel circuit, and

an evaluation device associated with the control device and comprising at least one of a current source and a voltage source for supplying a corresponding current or voltage outside a charging operation,

wherein the evaluation device is configured to measure, by using the first and second resistor, a current indicating a control signal line defect or a voltage indicating a control signal line defect.

2. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor have identical resistance values.

3. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the second resistor is arranged in a charging socket.

4. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are connected to a common ground wire.

5. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation device comprises a measuring resistor connected downstream of the voltage source so as to form a voltage divider in conjunction with the parallel circuit formed of the first resistor and the second resistor.

6. The diagnostic device of claim 5, wherein the evaluation device is configured to detect a control signal line defect when a voltage corresponding to only the first resistor is measured across the parallel circuit formed of the first resistor and the second resistor.

7. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the current source is configured to apply a predetermined current through the parallel circuit formed of the first resistor and the second resistor, and wherein the evaluation device comprises a current measuring device for measuring a current flowing through the first resistor.

8. The diagnostic device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation device further comprises a switching device for selectively connecting at least one of the voltage source and the current source for performing a diagnostic operation outside the charging operation.

9. A motor vehicle comprising a diagnostic device for checking a control signal line between a control device of a motor vehicle and a motor-vehicle-side charging connection for a battery of the motor vehicle, comprising:

a first resistor disposed in the control device and connecting a first end of the control signal line to ground,

a second resistor disposed in the motor-vehicle-side charging connection and having one terminal connected to ground and another terminal connected to a second end of the control signal line,

a first diode connected in series with the first resistor and blocking a current flow from ground to the first end of the control signal line,

a second diode connected in series with the second resistor and blocking a current flow from ground to the second end of the control signal line,

wherein the series connection of the first resistor and the first diode and the series connection of the second resistor and the second diode form a parallel circuit, and

an evaluation device associated with the control device and comprising at least one of a current source and a voltage source for supplying a corresponding current or voltage outside a charging operation, and

wherein the evaluation device is configured to measure, by using the first and second resistor, a current indicating a control signal line defect or a voltage indicating a control signal line defect.

10. A method for detecting a control signal line defect of a control signal line arranged between a control device of a motor vehicle and a motor-vehicle-side charging connection for a battery of the motor vehicle, comprising:

connecting a first end of the control signal line to ground by way of a series connection formed from a first resistor and a first diode disposed in the control device, with the first diode blocking a current flow from ground to the first end of the control signal line, and

connecting a second end of the control signal line to ground by way of a series connection formed from a second resistor disposed and a second diode disposed at the charging connection side, with the second diode blocking a current flow from ground to the second end of the control signal line,

wherein the series connection of the first resistor and the first diode and the series connection of the second resistor and the second diode form a parallel circuit,

feeding at least one of a voltage and a current into the circuit comprising the first and the second resistor outside a charging operation, and

measuring and evaluating at another location of the circuit a voltage that depends on an availability of the second resistor or a current that depends on the availability of the second resistor with respect to the control signal line defect.