IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,962,423
Granted Patent B2
US 10,962,423 · App. 14/858,071 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Method for detecting interlock failure of connector in eco-friendly vehicle

Inventors: Gun Soo Kang (Gyeonggi-Do, KR); Ki Jong Lee (Gyeonggi-Do, KR); Kang Ho Jeong (Changwon-Gyeongsangnam-Do, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
G01K7/22B60L3/0023G01R31/42G01R31/006G01R31/3277
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,962,423
App. No.
14/858,071
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes: detecting, by a motor controller, an interlock failure of a connector for connecting between a gate driver and the motor controller, the connector being connected to an inverter for driving a motor in an eco-friendly vehicle; and determining, by the motor controller, that the interlock failure of the connector has occurred when an output value of a signal processor provided in the motor controller so that a sensing signal is inputted from the gate driver through the connector is detected as a value beyond a predetermined normal sensing range.

Claims (14)

1. A method for testing an interlock connection of a connector that directly connects a gate driver and a motor controller including a signal processor, the gate driver being connected to an inverter for driving a motor in an eco-friendly vehicle, the gate driver being configured separately from the motor controller, the motor controller being configured to apply power and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the gate driver, and receive an arm short signal, a temperature sensing signal which is a resistance value of a temperature sensor, a voltage sensing signal, and an interlock signal which are input through the connector from the gate driver, the method comprising:

determining, by the motor controller, that an interlock failure of the connector has occurred when an output value of the signal processor provided in the motor controller is detected as a value beyond a predetermined normal sensing range or determining, by the motor controller, that the connector is normally interlocked when the output value of the signal processor is detected as a value within the predetermined normal sensing range,

wherein output value of the signal processor is a temperature sensing voltage, the temperature sensing voltage={(the resistance value of the temperature sensor×a VCC voltage of the motor controller)/(the resistance value of the temperature sensor+a pull-up resistance)}×a gain value,

wherein the pull-up resistance is measured for a pull-up resistor connected to a power input terminal, the resistance value is a resistance of the temperature sensor installed in a power module in the inverter or the gate driver which changes based on temperature, and the gain value is measured from a gain and protection circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the signal processor includes the pull-up resistor connected to the power input terminal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing signal is outputted from the temperature sensor installed in the power module in the inverter or the gate driver in order to monitor a junction temperature of the power module in the inverter.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions executed by a processor to perform a program for testing an interlock connection of a connector that directly connects a gate driver and a motor controller including a signal processor, the gate driver being connected to an inverter for driving a motor in an eco-friendly vehicle, the gate driver being configured separately from the motor controller, the motor controller being configured to apply power and a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the gate driver, and receive an arm short signal, a temperature sensing signal which is a resistance value of a temperature sensor, a voltage sensing signal, and an interlock signal which are input through the connector from the gate driver, the program comprising:

program instructions that determine that an interlock failure of the connector has occurred when an output value of the signal processor provided in the motor controller is detected as a value beyond a predetermined normal sensing range or program instructions that determine that the connector is normally interlocked when the output value of the signal processor is detected as a value within the predetermined normal sensing range,

wherein the output value of the signal processor is a temperature sensing voltage, the temperature sensing voltage={(the resistance value of the temperature sensor×a VCC voltage of the motor controller)/(the resistance value of the temperature sensor+a pull-up resistance)}×a gain value,

wherein the pull-up resistance is measured for a pull-up resistor connected to a power input terminal, the resistance value is a resistance of the temperature sensor installed in a power module in the inverter or the gate driver which changes based on temperature, and the gain value is measured from a gain and protection circuit.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4 , wherein:

the signal processor includes the pull-up resistor connected to the power input terminal.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensing signal is outputted from the temperature sensor installed in the power module in the inverter or the gate driver in order to monitor a junction temperature of the power module in the inverter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2015
From: KANG, GUN SOO; LEE, KI JONG; JEONG, KANG HO
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036598/0813 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0152065 · Nov 4, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160124046A1 · May 5, 2016