METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING A DISCHARGE CIRCUIT OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• US 20130257446A1
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Soell, Max, Wahl, Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 9,651,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/503
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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 31/28 Testing of electronic circuits, e.g. by signal tracer EMC, EMP or similar testing of electronic circuits G01R31/002; testing for short-circuits, discontinuities, leakage or incorrect line connection G01R31/50; checking computers or computer components G06F11/00; checking static stores for correct operation G11C29/00 ; testing receivers or transmitters of transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2827 Testing of electronic protection circuits testing switches G01R31/327; checking alarm systems G08B29/00; self test of summation current transformers H02H3/335
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit, wherein provision is made for the discharge circuit for discharging an electrical system, in particular for discharging an electrical system of a vehicle capable of being electrically driven. In order to achieve this end, means are provided which partially discharge the electrical system by means of said discharge circuit in a procedural step for diagnosing said discharge circuit.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing a discharge circuit, wherein the discharge circuit is provided for discharging an electrical system, particularly for discharging an electrical system of a vehicle capable of being electrically driven, wherein the electrical system is partially discharged by means of the discharge circuit in a procedural step for diagnosing said discharge circuit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage is measured in the electrical system during the procedural step for diagnosing the discharge circuit;

and a voltage drop which occurs is determined at least once, in particular a plurality of times, and compared with a, in particular a plurality of, corresponding predefined value(s) for the voltage drop.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the discharge circuit is recognized to be defective if the amount of the difference between a determined voltage drop and the corresponding predefined value for the voltage drop exceeds a predefined tolerance value.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit is a first discharge circuit, and in that the electrical system comprises a second discharge circuit, wherein the electrical system is partially discharged in a first step by means of the second discharge circuit and is further discharged by means of the first discharge circuit in the succeeding procedural step for diagnosing said first discharge circuit.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the electrical system is further discharged by means of the second discharge circuit in a succeeding step.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit is a first discharge circuit and the electrical system comprises a second discharge circuit, wherein the electrical system is partially discharged by means of the first discharge circuit in the procedural step for diagnosing said first discharge circuit and is further discharged by means of the second discharge circuit in a succeeding step.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the procedural step for diagnosing the discharge circuit is carried out for a predefined limited time period, in particular for a time period which is limited to approximately 200-500 ms.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein at most a limited proportion of the charge contained in the electrical system, in particular 5%, is discharged by means of the procedural step for diagnosing the discharge circuit.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the procedural step for diagnosing the discharge circuit is performed if the electrical voltage in the electrical system lies below a predefinable value, in particular if the voltage lies below approximately 170 volts.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit is an emergency discharge circuit, which discharges the electrical system if a defect is present within said electrical system.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the discharge circuit is designed such that said discharge circuit is defective after carrying out a limited number of discharge cycles, in particular 30 discharge cycles.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method for diagnosing the discharge circuit is carried out in every driving cycle, wherein a driving cycle particularly comprises the start of a trip and the completion of the trip with the vehicle.

13. An apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit, wherein provision is made for the discharge circuit for discharging an electrical system, in particular for discharging an electrical system of a vehicle capable of being electrically driven, wherein means are provided which actuate the discharge circuit in such a manner that the electrical system is partially discharged by means of said discharge circuit in a procedural step for diagnosing said discharge circuit.

14. The apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit according to claim 13, wherein the discharge circuit is a first discharge circuit and in that the electrical system comprises a second discharge circuit, wherein means are provided which actuate the first and the second discharge circuit in such a manner that said electrical system is partially discharged by means of the second discharge circuit in a first step and is further discharged by means of the first discharge circuit in the succeeding procedural step for diagnosing said first discharge circuit.

15. The apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit according to claim 14, wherein means are provided which actuate the first and the second discharge circuit in such a manner that the electrical system is further discharged by means of the second discharge circuit in a further step.

16. The apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit according to claim 13, wherein the discharge circuit is a first discharge circuit and in that the electrical system comprises a second discharge circuit, wherein means are provided which actuate the first and the second discharge circuit in such a manner that said electrical system is partially discharged by means of the first discharge circuit in the procedural step for diagnosing said first discharge circuit and is further discharged by means of the second discharge circuit in a further step.

17. A drive train for a vehicle comprising an apparatus for diagnosing a discharge circuit according to claim 13.