IP Library Granted Patent US 11,664,649
Granted Patent B2
US 11,664,649 · App. 16/710,413 · Granted May 30, 2023

Power distribution unit with a configurable offset voltage for fuse current determination

Inventors: Brandon William Fisher (Portland, OR); James David (Portage, MI); Asheesh Soni (Bonn, DE)
Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
H02H3/08B60L3/04H01H39/00H01H85/0241H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,664,649
App. No.
16/710,413
Granted
May 30, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus to determine offset voltage to adjust a fuse current determination including a fuse load circuit structured to determine that no current is demanded for a fuse load, and to further determine that contactors associated with the fuse are open, an offset voltage determination circuit structured to determine an offset voltage corresponding to at least one component in a fuse circuit associated with the fuse, in response to the determining that no current is demanded for the fuse load, and an offset data management circuit structured to store the offset voltage, and to communicate a current calculation offset voltage for use by a controller to determine current flow through the fuse.

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus to determine offset voltage to adjust a fuse current determination, comprising:

a fuse load circuit structured to determine that no current is demanded for a fuse load of a fuse, and to further determine that contactors associated with the fuse are open;

an offset voltage determination circuit structured to determine an offset voltage corresponding to at least one component in a fuse circuit associated with the fuse, in response to the determining that no current is demanded for the fuse load; and

an offset data management circuit structured to store the offset voltage, and to communicate a current calculation offset voltage for use by a controller to determine current flow through the fuse.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to diagnose a component in response to the offset voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to determine which one of a plurality of components is contributing to the offset voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the component is at least one of degraded, failed, or in a fault or off-nominal condition.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to compare a null offset nominal voltage to a null offset voltage threshold value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-off event has occurred for a vehicle including the fuse, an electrical power source, and the electrical load.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-on event has occurred for a vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a vehicle is powering down.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines a vehicle is in an accessory condition, where the vehicle in the accessory condition does not provide power through the fuse.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the offset data management circuit is further structured to replace the stored offset voltage with a new offset voltage.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the new offset voltage is determined through one of averaging or filtering updated values.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the new offset voltage is held for a confirmation before being applied.

13. A system, comprising:

a vehicle having a motive electrical power path;

a power distribution unit comprising a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a fuse;

a current determination circuit structured to determine that no current is demanded for a fuse load, and to further determine that contactors associated with the fuse are open;

an offset voltage determination circuit structured to determine an offset voltage corresponding to at least one component in a fuse circuit associated with the fuse, in response to the determining that no current is demanded for the fuse load; and

an offset data management circuit structured to store the offset voltage, and to communicate a current calculation offset voltage for use by a controller to determine current flow through the fuse.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to diagnose a component in response to the offset voltage.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to determine which one of a plurality of components is contributing to the offset voltage.

16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a diagnostic circuit structured to compare a null offset nominal voltage to a null offset voltage threshold value.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-off event has occurred for a vehicle including the fuse, an electrical power source, and the electrical load.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-on event has occurred for a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a vehicle is powering down.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines a vehicle is in an accessory condition, where the vehicle in the accessory condition does not provide power through the fuse.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the offset data management circuit is further structured to replace the stored offset voltage with a new offset voltage.

22. A method for determining offset voltage for a fuse current measurement system, comprising:

determining that no current is demanded for a fuse load for a fuse electrically disposed between an electrical power source and an electrical load;

determining that contactors associated with the fuse are open;

determining a null offset voltage in response to no current demanded for the fuse load; and storing the null offset voltage; and

updating a stored null offset voltage in response to the determined null offset voltage; and

communicating a current calculation offset voltage for use by a controller to determine current flow through the fuse.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising diagnosing a component in response to the null offset voltage.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining which one of a plurality of components is contributing to the null offset voltage.

25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising comparing a null offset nominal voltage to a null offset voltage threshold value.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-off event has occurred for a vehicle including the fuse, an electrical power source, and the electrical load.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a key-on event has occurred for a vehicle.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines that a vehicle is powering down.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the determination that no current is demanded for a fuse load determines a vehicle is in an accessory condition, where the vehicle in the accessory condition does not provide power through the fuse.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2020
From: FISHER, BRANDON WILLIAM; DAVID, JAMES; SONI, ASHEESH
To: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
Reel/Frame 052950/0273 →
Priority Claims (5)
IN 201711039846 · Nov 8, 2017 · national
IN 201711039847 · Nov 8, 2017 · national
IN 201711039848 · Nov 8, 2017 · national
IN 201711039849 · Nov 8, 2017 · national
IN 201711039850 · Nov 8, 2017 · national
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16184185 · Nov 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62583367 · Nov 8, 2017
Provisional Application 62583428 · Nov 8, 2017
Provisional Application 62583355 · Nov 8, 2017
Related Publication 20200114777A1 · Apr 16, 2020