Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L1/00—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles
  • B60L1/003—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L1/00—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles
  • B60L1/02—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles to electric heating circuits
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L3/00—Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
  • B60L3/0023—Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
  • B60L3/0046—Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L3/00—Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
  • B60L3/0023—Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
  • B60L3/0069—Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L3/00—Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
  • B60L3/04—Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
  • B60L50/50—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
  • B60L50/51—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells characterised by AC-motors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L58/00—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
  • B60L58/10—Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/005—Testing of electric installations on transport means
  • G01R31/006—Testing of electric installations on transport means on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R31/00—Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere
  • G01R31/50—Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections
  • G01R31/52—Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L2250/00—Driver interactions
  • B60L2250/10—Driver interactions by alarm
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
  • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Definitions

• Cha ⁇ sis Controller bearing attorney docket No. 58,347, and filed on the same date herewith;
• the present invention relates generally to an electric vehicle fault detection circuit for sensing leakage currents. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fault detection circuit for sensing leakage currents between a power source and a chassis of an electric vehicle. While the invention is subject to a wide range of applications, it is especially suited for use in electric vehicles that utilize batteries or a combination of batteries and other sources, e.g., a heat engine coupled to an alternator, as a source of power, and will be particularly described in that connection.
• an electric vehicle propulsion system should provide the following features: (1) vehicle performance equivalent to typical gasoline-powered propulsion systems; (2) smooth control of vehicle propulsion; (3) regenerative braking; (4) high efficiency; (5) low cost; (6) self- cooling; (7) electromagnetic interference (EMI) containment; (8) fault detection and self-protection; (9) self-test and diagnostics capability; (10) control and status interfaces with external systems; (11) safe operation and maintenance; (12) flexible battery charging capability; and (13) auxiliary 12 volt power from the main battery.
• EMI electromagnetic interference
• a typical conventional electric vehicle propulsion system consisted of a DC motor, a chopper-type motor controller, an independent battery charger, and a distributed set of controls and status indicators.
• Vehicle performance was generally inadequate for highway driving, acceleration was uneven, and manual gear-changes were required.
• the issues of volume production cost, EMI, fault detection, maintenance, control and status interfaces, and safety were generally not addressed in a comprehensive manner.
• the batteries in electric vehicles are not referenced to the chassis as in traditional internal combustion vehicles with 12 volt storage batteries.
• neither battery terminal in the electric vehicles is connected to the chassis to prevent the user (referenced to the chassis) from being shocked by touching either of the battery terminals (power rails) independently.
• a leakage current flows between any one of the battery terminals and the chassis of the vehicle, dangerous levels of current may flow in the chassis. If a user comes in contact with the other terminal while in contact with any part of the chassis, serious injury may occur from electric shock.
• the present invention is directed to a fault detection circuit that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the prior art.
• An advantage of the present invention is the provision of an arrangement which substantially obviates one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of the described prior art.
• a fault detection circuit for detecting leakage currents between a DC power source and chassis of an automobile, comprises a voltage sensor coupled to the DC power source, the voltage sensor including an analog reference and a chassis ground; a differential amplifier coupled to the voltage sensor for detecting variations in the analog reference and the chassis ground; and a voltage comparator unit for determining whether the variations detected in the differential amplifier is above a predetermined threshold value.
• the fault detection circuit of the present invention further comprises a built-in test circuit, coupled to the differential amplifier, for testing whether the fault detection circuit is operating correctly.
• Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electric vehicle propulsion system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2 is a power distribution diagram of the electric vehicle propulsion system of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a functional diagram of the electric vehicle propulsion system of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a functional diagram of the motor controller of the electric vehicle propulsion system of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the fault detection circuit of the present invention.
• Fig. 6 is a detail circuit diagram of the fault detection circuit depicted in Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a detail circuit diagram of voltage references for the voltage comparator unit depicted in Fig. 5.
• the system control unit 12 includes a cold plate 14, a battery charger 16, a motor controller 18, a power distribution module 20, and a chassis controller 22.
• the motor assembly 24 includes a resolver 26, a motor 28, and a filter 30.
• the cooling system 32 includes an oil pump unit 34 and a radiator/ fan 36.
• Fig. 2 is a power distribution ' diagram of the electric vehicle propulsion system 10.
• the battery 40 serves as the primary source of power for the electric propulsion system 10.
• the battery 40 comprises, for example, a sealed lead acid battery, a monopolar lithium metal sulfide battery, a bipolar lithium metal sulfide battery, or the like, for providing a 320 volt output.
• the electric propulsion system 10 works over a wide voltage range, e.g., 120 volts to 400 volts, to accommodate changes in the output voltage of the battery 40 due to load or depth of discharge.
• the electric vehicle propulsion system 10 is preferably optimized for nominal battery voltages of about 320 volts.
• the power distribution module 20 is coupled to the output of the battery 40 and includes, among other things, fuses, wiring, and connectors for distributing the 320 volt output from the battery 40 to various components of the electric vehicle propulsion system 10.
• the power distribution module 20 distributes the 320 volt output from the battery 0 to the motor controller 18, the DC/DC converter 38, the oil pump unit 34, and the battery charger 16.
• the power distribution module 20 also distributes the 320 volt output from the battery 40 to various vehicle accessories, which are external to the electric vehicle propulsion system 10. These vehicle accessories include, for example, an air conditioning system, a heating system, a power steering system, and any other accessories that may require a 320 volt power supply.
• the DC/DC converter 38 which, as described above, is coupled to the 320 volt output of the power distribution module 20, converts the 320 volt output of the power distribution module 20 to 12 volts.
• the DC/DC converter 38 then supplies its 12 volt output as operating power to the battery charger 16, the motor controller 18, the chassis controller 22, the oil pump unit 34 and the radiator/fan 36.
• the DC/DC converter 38 also supplies its 12 volt output as operating power to various vehicle accessories, which are external to the electric vehicle propulsion system 10. These vehicle accessories include, for example, vehicle lighting, an audio system, and any ⁇ other accessories that may require a 12 volt power supply. It should be appreciated that the DC/DC converter 38 eliminates the need for a separate 12 volt storage battery. As shown in Figs.
• the components of the electric vehicle propulsion system 10 are interconnected via various data busses.
• the data busses can be of the electrical, optical, or electro-optical type as is known in the art. Operation of the electric vehicle propulsion system 10 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4.
• the battery charger 16 receives command signals from and sends status signals to the motor controller 18 for charging the battery 40.
• the battery charger 16 provides a controlled battery charging current from an external AC power source (not shown) .
• AC current is drawn from the external source at near- unity power factor and low harmonic distortion in compliance with expected future power quality standards.
• the battery charger 16 is preferably designed to be compatible with standard ground fault current interrupters and single-phase power normally found at residential locations.
• the oil pump unit 34 and radiator/fan 36 also receive command signals from and send status signals to the motor ' controller 18. As will be described in more detail below, the oil pump unit 34 and radiator/fan 36 are part of a closed loop oil * cooling system for the electric vehicle propulsion system 10.
• the motor 28 is a 3-phase AC induction motor having two identical, electrically isolated, windings per phase (windings Al and A2 are for the "A" phase, windings Bl and B2 are for the “B” phase, and windings Cl and C2 are for the "C” phase) for producing high torque at zero speed to provide performance comparable to conventional gas-driven engines.
• the rotor (not shown) of the motor 28 is coupled to the vehicle transaxle (not shown).
• the two windings in each phase of the motor 28 are aligned substantially on top of one another and are electrically in phase such that each winding provides approximately half the total power of the phase.
• the motor 28 is preferably completely sealed and utilizes spray-oil cooling to remove heat directly from the rotor and end windings to increase reliability.
• the re ⁇ olver 26 is illustrated in Fig. 6B and is positioned proximate to the motor 28 for detecting the angular position of the motor shaft and for providing signals indicative of the angular position of the motor shaft to the motor controller 18.
• the reference signal line R. connected to the resolver is for 5 a positive or negative reference value indicating the angular position of the motor shaft.
• the S. signal line from the resolver provides a positive or negative sine value for the angular position of the motor shaft and the S, signal line from the resolver provides a positive or negative cosine value for the 0 angular position of the motor shaft.
• the resolver 26 can comprise a commercially available resolver or other resolver known in the art. Reference signals for the resolver 26 are provided by the motor controller 18. 10
• the chassis controller 22 and the motor controller 18 receive signals from a vehicle communication bus.
• the vehicle communication bus serves as a communication pathway for interfacing various vehicle sensors and controllers to the chassis controller 22 and the motor controller 18, as will be explained in more detail below.
• the chassis controller 22 comprises a microprocessor- based digital and analog electronics system and provides control and status interfacing to the vehicle's sensors and controllers and to the motor controller 18.
• the chassis controller 22 is connected, via the vehicle communication bus, to the vehicle key switch, accelerator, brake, and drive selector switches.
• the chassis controller 22 interprets signals from these switches to provide the motor controller 18 with start-up, drive mode (e.g., forward, reverse, and neutral), motor torque, regenerative braking, shutdown, and built-in test (BIT) commands.
• start-up drive mode
• drive mode e.g., forward, reverse, and neutral
• motor torque e.g., regenerative braking, shutdown
• BIT built-in test
• the chassis controller 22 communicates with the motor controller 18 via an opto-coupled serial data interface and receives status signals from the motor controller 18 of all the commands sent to verify the communication links between the chassis controller 22, the vehicle, and the motor controller 18 and to verify that the vehicle is operating properly, it should be appreciated that because the chassis controller 22 provides the control and status interfacing to the vehicle's sensors and controllers and to the motor controller 18, the electric, vehicle propulsion system 10 can be modified for use with any number of different vehicles simply by modifying the chassis controller 22 for a particular vehicle.
• the chassis controller 22 also provides battery management capabilities by using signals received over the vehicle communication bus from a battery current sensor located in the power distribution module 20.
• the chassis controller 22 interprets signals from the battery current sensor, provides charging commands to the motor controller 18, and sends a state- of-charge value to a "fuel" gauge on the vehicle dashboard.
• the chassis controller 22 further connects, via the vehicle communication bus, to vehicle controllers including odometer, speedometer, lighting, diagnostic and emissions controllers, as well as to an RS-232 interface for system development.
• the motor controller 18 includes a low voltage power supply 42, an input filter and DC relay control unit 44, a vector control board 46, and first and second power bridges and gate drives 48 and 50, respectively.
• the low voltage power supply 42 converts the 12 volt output from the DC/DC converter 38 to provide +5V, +/-15V, and +20V outputs to the input filter and DC relay control unit 44, the vector control board 46, the first power bridge 48, and the second power bridge 50.
• the low voltage power supply 42 can comprise a commercially available power supply as is known in the art.
• the input filter and DC relay control unit 44 includes electrical connections for coupling the 320 volt output of the power distribution module 20 to the first and second power bridges 48 and 50, respectively.
• the input filter and DC relay control unit 44 includes EMI filtering, a relay circuit for disconnecting the coupling of the 320 volt output of the power distribution module 20 to the first and second power bridges 48 and 50, respectively, and various BIT circuits including voltage sense circuits and a chassis ground fault circuit.
• the input filter and DC relay control unit 44 receives control signals from and sends status signals, e.g., BIT signals, to the vector control board 46.
• Each of the first and second power bridges 48 and 50 includes insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switching circuits and associated gate drive circuits for applying drive currents to each of the windings of the motor 28.
• IGBT insulated gate bipolar transistor
• each of the first and second power bridges 48 and 50 respectively, provides half the current to the windings of the motor 28, thereby allowing the use of readily available, low cost IGBT switching circuits.
• the first and second power bridges 48 and 50 respectively, receive control signals from and send status signals, e.g., BIT signals, to the vector control board 46.
• the vector control board 46 comprises a microprocessor based digital and analog electronics system. As its primary function, the vector control board 46 receives driver-initiated acceleration and braking requests from the chassis controller 22.
• the vector control board 46 then acquires rotor position measurements from the resolver 26 and current measurements from the first and second power bridges 48 and 50, respectively, and uses these measurements to generate pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage waveforms for driving the irst and second power bridges
• PWM pulse width modulated
• the PWM voltage waveforms are generated in accordance with a control program which is designed to result in a requested torque output.
• the vector control board 46 also has the function of controlling the
• the fault detection circuit 115 is included in input filter and DC relay control unit 44 (Fig. 4).
• the fault detection circuit 115 includes a voltage sensor 112, power supply 114,
• the ault detection circuit of the present invention includes a voltage sensor which is coupled to a DC power source.
• the voltage sensor includes an analog reference and a chassis
• the voltage sensor 112 receives a high-power DC voltage from the power supply 114.
• the power supply 114 is a high-power DC voltage supply capable of supplying approximately 320 volts DC.
• a detailed circuit diagram . of the voltage sensor 112 is shown in Fig. 6.
• the voltage sensor 112 includes first and second voltage dividers 109 and 111, respectively.
• the first voltage divider 109 includes resistors R5 and R8 and the second voltage divider 111 includes resistors R6 and R9.
• a chassis ground 113 is tied to a junction 117 between the resistors R6 and R9 of the first voltage divider 109.
• a circuit analog reference 115 is tied to a junction 117 between the resistors R5 and R8.
• resistors R5, R6, R8 and R9 each have a resistance of 1 megohm, for example.
• the first and second dividers are matched such that if there are no other impedances across the positive and negative terminals 114' of the DC power supply 114, the voltage difference between the two junctions - junction 117 corresponding to chassis ground and junction 119 corresponding to circuit analog reference - will be zero. If a leakage occurs, however, between either voltage terminal 114' and the chassis of the vehicle, a voltage difference between the chassis ground 113 and the circuit analog reference 115 will develop.
• the fault detection circuit of the present invention also includes a differential amplifier coupled to the voltage sensor for detecting variations in the analog reference and the chassis ground.
• the differential amplifier 116 includes an operational amplifier 122 which receives voltage of the chassis ground 113 at the inverting input through a resistor R7 (1 megohm, for example) .
• the operational amplifier 122 receives the voltage of the circuit analog reference 115 at the non-inverting input 125 through a resistor R10 (20 kohms, for example) .
• the operational amplifier 122 has a feedback from output 129 to the inverting in 123 through a resistor R4 (20 kohms, for example).
• a capacitor Cl (0.1 microfarad, for example) is connected to resistor R4 in parallel.
• the operational amplifier 122 is powered by positive and negative voltages (label 27) of ⁇ 15 volts, for example.
• the differential amplifier 116 detects this voltage difference from the different input voltages at the operational amplifier 122.
• the operational amplifier 122 outputs (at 129) a voltage signal corresponding to the difference in the input voltages.
• the fault detection circuit of the present invention includes a voltage comparator unit for determining whether a magnitude of the variations detected in the differential amplifier is above a predetermined threshold value.
• the voltage comparator unit includes first and second comparators for comparing the voltage variations detected by the differential amplifier to a positive and negative threshold value, respectively.
• the voltage comparator unit 118 includes a first comparator 124 and a second comparator 126.
• the first comparator receives a voltage variation signal output from the differential amplifier 116 at a non-inverting input 131 while the second comparator receives the same voltage variation signal at inverting input 133.
• the non-inverting input of the first comparator 124 is connected to the inverting input of the second comparator 126.
• the other inputs of the first and second comparators are connected to set voltage references which supply the threshold voltages.
• the inverting input of the first comparator 124 is connected to reference voltage supply VREF 128 as a negative threshold voltage while the non-inverting input of the second comparator 126 is connected to reference voltage supply VREF 130 as a positive threshold voltage.
• the output of both comparators are shorted and tied to ⁇ 15 volts, for example, through a resistor R3.
• the first and second comparators are powered by positive and negative voltages of ⁇ 15 volts, for example.
• the reference voltage supplies VREF 128 and VREF 130 are shown in detail in Fig. 7.
• the positive and negative voltage supply circuits each include a voltage regulator V R (5.1 volts, for example) .
• the values for the resistors and capacitors shown in Fig. 7 are exemplary only and other suitable values may be used.
• the fault detection circuit of the present invention includes a built-in test (BIT) circuit for testing whether the fault detection circuit is operating correctly.
• the BIT circuit is coupled to the differential amplifier and includes first and second sections for injecting first and second test signals to the differential amplifier.
• the built-in test circuit 110 provides test signals to the differential amplifier 116 to determine whether the circuit is operating correctly.
• the BIT circuit includes a first section 132 and a second section 134 which supplies the test signals.
• the first section 132 including optical coupler 132A, supplies positive test signals to determine whether the circuit is correctly detecting voltage variations that are greater in magnitude than the negative threshold voltage at the voltage comparator unit 118.
• the second section 134 including optical coupler 134A, supplies negative test signals to determine whether the circuit is correctly detecting voltage variations that are greater in magnitude than the positive threshold voltage at the voltage comparator unit 118.
• the test signals are supplied from a controller in the electric car (not shown).
• the voltage comparator unit 118 produces an output signal at 120 corresponding to the applied test signal.
• the output signal from the voltage comparator unit 118 is sent to the controller which compares the output signal to a known value corresponding to the particular test signal.
• the fault detection circuit operates correctly if the output signal matches the known value.
• the controller tests the fault detection circuit by injecting the test signals to ensure that the circuit is operating correctly. If any of the test signals produces an error in the operation of the circuit, then the operator is notified of the fault condition in the circuit.
• the voltage sensor 112 receives a DC voltage of 320 volts. Under normal conditions, the chassis ground 113 and the circuit analog reference 115 in the voltage sensor 112 are matched and the differential amplifier 116 does not detect any voltage variation. However, if a leakage current flows (due to terminal corrosion or faulty circuit, for example) between one of the battery terminals (power rails) and the chassis of the vehicle, a dif erence in potential is created between the chassis and the other battery terminal to pose a dangerous condition. Immediately, the differential amplifier 116 detects this leakage current from the difference in voltages between the chassis ground and the circuit analog reference.
• the voltage comparator unit 118 determines whether the leakage current is at a dangerous level by comparing the corresponding voltage variation due to the leakage current to the positive and negative threshold values. If the leakage current is below the dangerous level, i.e., below the threshold values, then the voltage comparator unit 118 outputs a corresponding signal which informs the controller that the leakage current is not at a dangerous level. If, however, the leakage current is at or above the dangerous level, i.e., above the threshold values, then the voltage comparator unit 120 outputs a corresponding signal which informs the controller that the leakage current is at a dangerous level. The controller subsequently warns the operator of the dangerous condition.
• the circuit When the fault detection circuit undergoes a built-in test operation, the circuit operates in a manner similar to monitoring the difference in voltages between the chassis ground and circuit analog reference, except that the voltage input of the chassis ground is substituted for the test voltage signal. Accordingly, to test whether the fault detection circuit correctly detects current leakages from the positive battery terminal, a test signal having a known response is applied to the differential amplifier 116 through the positive section 132 of the BIT circuit ' 110. To test whether the fault detection circuit correctly detects current leakages from the negative battery terminal, a test signal having a known response is applied to the differential amplifier 116 through the negative section 134 of the BIT circuit
• the fault detection circuit of the present invention detects current leakages from any one of the two isolated reference potentials to the chassis of a vehicle. If the leakage is at a dangerous level, the operator is notified of the dangerous condition.
• the present invent:.-an also ensures proper operation of the fault detection circuit through the built-in test circuit.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
• Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
• Testing Of Short-Circuits, Discontinuities, Leakage, Or Incorrect Line Connections (AREA)
• Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (14)

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• 1994
  • 1994-06-10 US US08/258,179 patent/US5481194A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1995
  • 1995-06-01 WO PCT/US1995/006973 patent/WO1995034824A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1995-06-01 EP EP95920693A patent/EP0764275B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-06-01 AT AT95920693T patent/ATE169118T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-06-01 DE DE69503784T patent/DE69503784T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-06-10 MY MYPI95001551A patent/MY113384A/en unknown
  • 1995-06-28 TW TW084106605A patent/TW270976B/zh active

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