Methods and systems for detecting vehicle charging system faults

• US 9,841,467 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: DeMarco, John Anthony, Grant, Robert Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): HOQUE, FARHANA AKHTER
• Application Number:
  US14/511,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 320109, 324149, 32476401
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/343 in operation
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10

Abstract

A vehicle may include a vehicle charging system having an alternator operatively coupled to an engine and a controller. The controller may be programmed to output a warning indicative of a vehicle charging system fault in response to a quotient of a voltage drop associated with the alternator and an output current of the alternator exceeding a threshold value while the alternator is operating in a steady state condition.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a vehicle charging system fault comprising:

by a controller,

responsive to a connection resistance exceeding a threshold while an alternator is in steady state operation, displaying a warning, the connection resistance being derived by the controller as a quotient of

a difference between an output voltage measured via a voltage sensor at the alternator and a distribution voltage measured via a distribution voltage sensor at a control module input, and

an output current measured via a current sensor at the alternator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steady state operation begins as an output voltage associated with the alternator approaches a voltage set point.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the steady state operation begins as the output current approaches a current set point.

4. A vehicle power system comprising:

an alternator; and

a controller programmed to, responsive to a connection resistance exceeding a threshold while the alternator is in steady state operation, generating a warning, the connection resistance being derived by the controller as a quotient of

a difference between an output voltage measured via a voltage sensor at the alternator and a distribution voltage measured via a distribution voltage sensor at a control module input, and

an output current measured via a current sensor at the alternator.

5. The vehicle power system of claim 4 wherein the steady state operation begins as an output voltage associated with the alternator approaches a voltage set point.

6. The vehicle power system of claim 4 wherein the steady state operation begins as the output current approaches a current set point.

7. A vehicle power system comprising:

an alternator; and

a controller programmed to, responsive to a connection resistance exceeding a threshold while the alternator is in steady state operation, display a warning, wherein the connection resistance is derived by the controller as a quotient of

a difference between voltages measured by respective voltage sensors at the alternator and a power electronics, and

a current measured via a current sensor at the alternator.