Diagnostic system for a voltage regulator

• US 9,728,359 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Tipnis, Kunal, Katrak, Kerfegar K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Emily P
• Application Number:
  US15/247,392
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16566 Circuits and arrangements for comparing voltage or current with one or several thresholds and for indicating the result not covered by subgroups G01R19/16504, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/02 Regulating voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/002 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits

Abstract

A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator is provided. The diagnostic system includes a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports. The first analog-to-digital converter outputs a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage regulator. The microcontroller executes a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value. The microcontroller executes a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator, comprising:

a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports;

a first analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the first analog-to-digital converter;

the input port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator;

a second analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the second analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter;

a voltage step-down circuit having an input node and an output node, the input node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator, the output node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the input port of the second analog multiplexer;

the first analog multiplexer receiving a first voltage from the voltage regulator and outputting the first voltage to the first analog-to-digital converter;

the first analog-to-digital converter outputting a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage regulator; and

the microcontroller being programmed to execute a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value.

2. The diagnostic system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller being further programmed to execute a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.

3. A diagnostic system for a voltage regulator, comprising:

a microcontroller having first and second analog-to-digital converters and first and second output ports;

a first analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the first analog-to-digital converter;

the input port of the first analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator;

a second analog multiplexer having an input port and an output port, the output port of the second analog multiplexer being electrically coupled to the second analog-to-digital converter;

a voltage step-down circuit having an input node and an output node, the input node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the voltage regulator, the output node of the voltage step-down circuit being electrically coupled to the input port of the second analog multiplexer;

the second analog multiplexer receiving a first voltage from the output node of the voltage step-down circuit and outputting the first voltage to the second analog-to-digital converter;

the second analog-to-digital converter outputting a first voltage value corresponding to the first voltage from the voltage step-down circuit; and

the microcontroller being programmed to execute a first diagnostic function to set a first voltage regulator diagnostic flag equal to a fault value indicating a voltage out of range condition, if the first voltage value is greater than a first threshold voltage value or the first voltage value is less than a second threshold voltage value.

4. The diagnostic system of claim 3, wherein the microcontroller being further programmed to execute a second diagnostic function to stop generating first and second control signals to de-energize a contactor coil to open a contact of a contactor if the first voltage regulator diagnostic flag is equal to the fault value.