System and method for testing vehicle traction battery components

• US 9,383,416 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Loftus, Michael Edward, Swoish, James Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Satanovsky, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kuan, John
• Application Number:
  US14/015,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 31/2846 using hard- or software simulation or using knowledge-based systems, e.g. expert systems, artificial intelligence or interactive algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/69 of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances

Abstract

A traction battery connection simulator is disclosed comprising a plurality of power supplies connected to simulate a traction battery and a plurality of switching devices that selectively connect the power supplies to a controller under test. The simulator further comprises a controller programmed to selectively connect at least one of power supplies to the controller under test for a predetermined period of time before connecting remaining power supplies. The controller may also be programmed to disconnect at least one power supplies from the controller under test for a predetermined period of time before disconnecting remaining power supplies. Voltages associated with each power supply and currents through each switching device may be compared to corresponding predetermined ranges. An indicator may be set in response to at least one of the voltages and currents being outside of a corresponding predetermined range.

Claims

1. A traction battery connection simulator comprising:

a plurality of power supplies connected to simulate battery cells of a multiple-cell traction battery;

a plurality of switching devices that selectively connect the plurality of power supplies to a controller under test; and

at least one controller programmed to operate the plurality of switching devices to selectively connect at least one of the plurality of power supplies to the controller under test for a predetermined period of time before connecting remaining power supplies of the plurality of power supplies to the controller under test.

2. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to compare voltages associated with each of the power supplies and currents through each of the switching devices to corresponding predetermined ranges.

3. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 2 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to communicate with the controller under test to receive voltage data that are voltage measurements associated with each of the power supplies.

4. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of current sensors for measuring a current passing through each of the plurality of switching devices, wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to measure current data from the plurality of current sensors.

5. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to, when all of the plurality of power supplies are connected to the controller under test, operate the plurality of switching devices so that at least one of the plurality of power supplies is not selectively connected for another predetermined period of time before operating the plurality of switching devices such that none of the plurality of power supplies are connected.

6. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 1 wherein two of the plurality of power supplies are connected for the predetermined period of time.

7. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 1 wherein the plurality of power supplies have an output voltage that is adjustable.

8. A method for testing a controller comprising:

connecting at least one of a plurality of power supplies that simulate battery cells of a multiple-cell traction battery to the controller for a predetermined time using a programmed controller;

connecting, after the predetermined time, remaining power supplies of the plurality of power supplies to the controller using the programmed controller; and

comparing voltages and currents associated with each of the power supplies to corresponding predetermined ranges.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein connecting the plurality of power supplies comprises controlling corresponding switching devices using the programmed controller.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein voltage data associated with each of the power supplies is received from the controller.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein, for the predetermined time, two of the plurality of power supplies are connected.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising setting an indicator in response to at least one of the voltages and currents being outside of a corresponding predetermined range.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising (i) connecting all of the plurality of power supplies to the controller, (ii) disconnecting at least one of the plurality of power supplies from the controller for another predetermined time and (iii) disconnecting remaining power supplies of the plurality of power supplies after the another predetermined time, using the programmed controller.

14. A traction battery connection simulator comprising:

at least one power supply connected to simulate battery cells of a multiple-cell traction battery;

a plurality of switching devices that selectively apply power from the power supply to combinations of pins of a connector electrically coupled to a controller under test; and

at least one controller programmed to operate the plurality of switching devices to connect power to at least one of the pins of the connector for a predetermined period of time before connecting power from the power supply to remaining pins of the connector.

15. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 14 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to connect power from the power supply to various combinations of pins associated with the controller under test.

16. The traction battery connection simulator of claim 15 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to compare voltages and currents associated with the combinations to corresponding predetermined ranges.

17. the traction battery connection simulator of claim 14 wherein the at least one controller is further programmed to, after operating the plurality of switching devices to connect power to all pins of the connector, operate the switching devices to selectively disconnect power to various combinations of pins connected to the controller under test for another predetermined period of time before disconnecting power to all pins.