IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,381,408
Granted Patent B2
US 12,381,408 · App. 17/576,001 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Operating modes for testing monitor circuits

Inventors: Ariton E. Xhafa (Plano, TX); Mathew Giaramita (New York, NY); Minghua Fu (Plano, TX); Arvind Kandhalu (Frisco, TX); Jonathan Nafziger (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
H02J7/0047G01R31/382
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,381,408
App. No.
17/576,001
Filed
Jan 14, 2022
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2859
USPC
320/134
Abstract

A system is provided. In some examples, the system includes a control circuit and a plurality of monitor circuits including a first monitor circuit. In a production mode, the control circuit is configured to test the plurality of monitor circuits. In a storage mode after testing the plurality of monitor circuits in the production mode, the control circuit is configured to test the plurality of monitor circuits more than once. In an assembly mode after testing the plurality of monitor circuits in the storage mode, the control circuit is configured to test the plurality of monitor circuits. In one or more examples, the control circuit is configured to skip the storage mode and test the plurality of monitor circuits in the assembly mode after testing in the production mode.

Claims (84)

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of battery monitor circuits including a first battery monitor circuit; and

a control circuit configured to:

in a production mode, test the plurality of battery monitor circuits;

in a storage mode, test the plurality of battery monitor circuits more than once after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the production mode; and

in an assembly mode, test the plurality of battery monitor circuits after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the storage mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to test the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the assembly mode after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the production mode by skipping the storage mode.

3. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein in the production mode, the control circuit is configured to encrypt, using a preconfigured network identification value, communications to the first battery monitor circuit, and

wherein in the storage and assembly modes, the control circuit is configured to:

negotiate a network key with the first battery monitor circuit; and

encrypt, using the network key, communications to the first battery monitor circuit.

4. The system of claim 3 ,

wherein the control circuit includes a first memory,

wherein the first battery monitor circuit includes a second memory, and

wherein the preconfigured network identification value is pre-loaded in the first and second memories.

5. The system of claim 3 ,

wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the preconfigured network identification value without negotiating with the first battery monitor circuit, and

wherein the first battery monitor circuit is configured to determine the preconfigured network identification value without negotiating with the control circuit.

6. The system of claim 3 ,

wherein the control circuit is configured to negotiate the network key by at least:

sending a first certificate to the first battery monitor circuit;

verifying a second certificate received from the first battery monitor circuit; and

computing the network key based on the first and second certificates, and

wherein the first battery monitor circuit is configured to negotiate the network key by at least:

verifying the first certificate received from the control circuit;

sending the second certificate to the control circuit; and

computing the network key based on the first and second certificates.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the production mode, the control circuit is configured to:

perform a single round of testing on the first battery monitor circuit; and

responsive to determining that the first battery monitor circuit has passed the single round of testing, refrain from performing additional testing on the first battery monitor circuit until the control circuit is operating in the storage mode.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein to perform the single round of testing, the control circuit is configured to:

request a first data value from the first battery monitor circuit;

determine that the first data value received from the first battery monitor circuit is acceptable;

after determining that the first data value is acceptable, request a second data value from the first battery monitor circuit; and

determine that the second data value received from the first battery monitor circuit is acceptable.

9. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of battery monitor circuits includes a second battery monitor circuit, and

wherein in the production mode, the control circuit is configured to:

broadcast network information at a first time;

after broadcasting the network information at the first time, perform a first round of testing on the first battery monitor circuit;

after finishing the first round of testing on the first battery monitor circuit, broadcast the network information at a second time;

after broadcasting the network information at the second time, perform a second round of testing on the second battery monitor circuit;

after finishing the second round of testing on the second battery monitor circuit, broadcast the network information at a third time; and

in response to determining that a request to join a network has not been received after broadcasting the network information at the third time, exit the production mode.

10. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein, when installed in a vehicle, the first battery monitor circuit is configured to communicate with the control circuit a first number of times per hour,

wherein in the storage mode, the first battery monitor circuit is configured to communicate with the control circuit a second number of times per hour, and

wherein the first number is at least ten times larger than the second number.

11. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein in the storage mode, the control circuit is configured to communicate with a first number of battery monitor circuits of the plurality of battery monitor circuits,

wherein in the assembly mode, the control circuit is configured to communicate with a second number of battery monitor circuits of the plurality of battery monitor circuits, and

wherein the first number is at least two times larger than the second number.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the assembly mode, the control circuit is configured to test the plurality of battery monitor circuits until all of the battery monitor circuits have either passed testing or been replaced.

13. A method comprising:

by a control circuit operating in a production mode, testing a plurality of battery monitor circuits including a first battery monitor circuit;

by the control circuit operating in a storage mode, testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits more than once after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the production mode; and

by the control circuit operating in an assembly mode, testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the storage mode.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

in the production mode, encrypting communications to the first battery monitor circuit using a preconfigured network identification value;

in the storage and assembly modes, negotiating a network key with the first battery monitor circuit; and

in the storage and assembly modes, encrypting communications to the first battery monitor circuit using the network key.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein negotiating the network key comprises:

sending a first certificate to the first battery monitor circuit;

verifying a second certificate received from the first battery monitor circuit; and

computing the network key based on the first and second certificates.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

in the production mode, performing a single round of testing on the first battery monitor circuit; and

in the production mode, responsive to determining that the first battery monitor circuit has passed the single round of testing, refraining from performing additional testing on the first battery monitor circuit until the control circuit is operating in the storage mode.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

in the storage mode, communicating with a first number of battery monitor circuits; and

in the assembly mode, communicating with a second number of battery monitor circuits,

wherein the first number is at least two times larger than the second number.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon, configured to be executable by processing circuitry for causing the processing circuitry to:

in a production mode, test a plurality of battery monitor circuits including a first battery monitor circuit;

in a storage mode, test the plurality of battery monitor circuits more than once after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the production mode; and

in an assembly mode, test the plurality of battery monitor circuits after testing the plurality of battery monitor circuits in the storage mode.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are configured to be executable by the processing circuitry for further causing the processing circuitry to:

in the production mode, encrypt communications to the first battery monitor circuit using a preconfigured network identification value;

in the storage and assembly modes, negotiate a network key with the first battery monitor circuit; and

in the storage and assembly modes, encrypt communications to the first battery monitor circuit using the network key.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions are configured to be executable by the processing circuitry for further causing the processing circuitry to:

in the production mode, perform a single round of testing on the first battery monitor circuit; and

in the production mode, responsive to determining that the first battery monitor circuit has passed the single round of testing, refrain from performing additional testing on the first battery monitor circuit until the processing circuitry is operating in the storage mode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2022
From: XHAFA, ARITON; GIARAMITA, MATHEW; FU, MINGHUA; KANDHALU, ARVIND; NAFZIGER, JONATHAN
To: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 058696/0190 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63138266 · Jan 15, 2021
Related Publication 20220231525A1 · Jul 21, 2022
References Cited (8)
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Cited By (1)
US 12,713,239