DC power heater short-to-chassis ground detection circuit
First Claim
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1. An electronics system comprising:
- a heating circuit; and
a fault detection system in electronic communication with the heating circuit, the fault detection system including;
a first resistor comprising a first resistance;
a second resistor comprising a second resistance, the first resistance being equal to the second resistance;
a voltage level detector configured to receive a signal based on a first voltage across the first resistor and a second voltage across the second resistor; and
a controllable switch connected in series with the first resistor and the second resistor, the controllable switch in electronic communication with the voltage level detector,wherein the heating circuit is coupled in series between the first resistor and the second resistor.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for electronics systems are provided herein. An electronics system may comprise a heating circuit and a fault detection system. The heating circuit may include a heating element. The fault detection system may include a first resistor comprising a first resistance, a second resistor comprising a second resistance, the first resistance being equal to the second resistance, a voltage level detector, and a controllable switch connected in series with the first resistor and the second resistor, the controllable switch in electronic communication with the voltage level detector. A fault may be detected in response to the first voltage being greater than the second voltage.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronics system comprising:
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a heating circuit; and a fault detection system in electronic communication with the heating circuit, the fault detection system including; a first resistor comprising a first resistance; a second resistor comprising a second resistance, the first resistance being equal to the second resistance; a voltage level detector configured to receive a signal based on a first voltage across the first resistor and a second voltage across the second resistor; and a controllable switch connected in series with the first resistor and the second resistor, the controllable switch in electronic communication with the voltage level detector, wherein the heating circuit is coupled in series between the first resistor and the second resistor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ice detection system comprising:
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a first resistor comprising a first resistance, the first resistor configured to provide a means of measuring a first current; a second resistor in series with the first resistor, the second resistor comprising a second resistance and configured to provide a means of measuring a second current, wherein the second current is less than the first current in response to a fault in the ice detection system; a heating element comprising a third resistance; a controllable switch in electronic communication with the first resistor and in electronic communication with the heating element, the controllable switch located upstream of the heating element and downstream of the first resistor, wherein the first current is configured to flow from the first resistor, through the controllable switch, through the heating element, and through the second resistor; and a voltage level detector in electronic communication with the controllable switch wherein the heating element is coupled in series between the first resistor and the second resistor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of detecting a fault in a heating circuit, comprising:
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detecting a first voltage across a first resistor; detecting a second voltage across a second resistor, the second resistor being in series with the first resistor; calculating a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage; determining if the voltage difference is greater than a predetermined threshold value; detecting the fault in response to the voltage difference being greater than the predetermined threshold value; and sending a disable signal to a controllable switch in response to the voltage difference being greater than the predetermined threshold value, wherein the controllable switch moves to an open position in response to the sending. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification