Method and apparatus for testing at least one temperature sensor in a vehicle
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for testing a temperature sensor in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a power device. The power device is configured to receive a power signal and to filter the power signal to generate a filtered power signal. The power device is further configured to compare the filtered power signal to a first threshold and to test the temperature sensor based on the comparison of the filtered power signal to the first threshold.
1. An apparatus for testing a temperature sensor in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a power device including a filter and being configured to:
receive a power signal;
generate a filtered power signal by filtering the power signal with the filter;
compare the filtered power signal to a first threshold prior to testing the temperature sensor; and
initiate testing the temperature sensor in response to the filtered power signal being greater than the first threshold.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filtered power signal is associated with a measured temperature signal.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the measured temperature signal corresponds to a temperature reading of a mechanism positioned within the power device.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the power device is further configured to test the temperature sensor by comparing the measured temperature signal to a temperature threshold.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the power device is further configured to determine that the temperature sensor is operational in response to the measured temperature signal being greater than the temperature threshold.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the power device is further configured to determine that the temperature sensor is non-operational in response to the measured temperature signal being below the temperature threshold.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the filter is configured to filter the power signal using a time constant α, the time constant α corresponding to an amount of time that is needed for a predetermined temperature level to be achieved.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the predetermined temperature level corresponds to 0.5° C.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the power device is a battery charger.
10. A method for testing a temperature sensor in a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a power signal at a power device;
filtering the power signal with a filter, to generate a filtered power signal;
comparing the filtered power signal to a first threshold prior to testing the temperature sensor; and
trigger testing the temperature sensor in response to the filtered power signal being greater than the first threshold.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the filtered power signal is associated with a measured temperature signal.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the measured temperature signal corresponds to a temperature reading of a mechanism positioned within the power device.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising testing the temperature sensor by comparing the measured temperature signal to a temperature threshold.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining that the temperature sensor is operational in response to the measured temperature signal being greater than the temperature threshold.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining that the temperature sensor is non-operational in response to the measured temperature signal being less than the temperature threshold.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein filtering the power signal to generate the filtered power signal further comprises filtering the power signal with the filter using a time constant α, the time constant α corresponding to an amount of time that is needed for a predetermined temperature level to be achieved.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined temperature level corresponds to 0.5° C.
18. An apparatus for testing a temperature sensor in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a battery charger including a filter and being configured to:
receive a power signal from a charge station;
generate a filtered power signal by filtering the power signal with the filter;
compare the filtered power signal to a first threshold prior to testing the temperature sensor; and
trigger testing the temperature sensor based in response to the filtered power signal being greater than the first threshold.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the filtered power signal is associated with a measured temperature signal.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the battery charger is further configured to test the temperature sensor by comparing the measured temperature signal to a temperature threshold.