Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method of measuring a temperature-dependent voltage drop over a temperature sensitive resistor. The method may comprise delivering a reference voltage to the temperature sensitive resistor in a first instance of time; determining an auto-ranging current through the temperature sensitive resistor while the reference voltage is delivered to the temperature sensitive resistor; determining a temperature measurement current based on the auto-ranging current; delivering the temperature measurement current to the temperature sensitive resistor in a second instance of time, wherein the second instance of time is after the first instance of time; and measuring the temperature-dependent voltage drop over the temperature sensitive resistor while the temperature measurement current is delivered to the temperature sensitive resistor.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes circuits and techniques to operate power switch driver circuits as well as techniques to dynamically change configuration parameters. The power switch driver circuit of this disclosure may be configured to received communication signals along the same signal paths as for pulse modulated switching control signals. In other words, the power switch driver circuit may receive a main function signaling, switching the power switches on and off, overlaid with a secondary function signaling, communication, which may include configuration parameters. In this manner the power switch driver circuit may receive both switching (commutation) function and communication function along the same signal path.

Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method of operating a plurality of battery management circuits of a battery management system associated with an electric device. The method may comprise adjusting a first trim value associated with a first battery management circuit during operation of the electric device, and adjusting a second trim value associated with a second battery management circuit during operation of the electric device. The method may also comprise sinking a first amount of current in the first battery management circuit based on the first trim value; and sinking a second amount of current in the second battery management circuit based on the second trim value, wherein sinking the first amount of current and sinking the second amount of current causes the first battery management circuit and the second battery management circuit to consume substantially similar amounts of current.

Abstract: A cooling plate assembly for cooling at least one battery module in a battery tray includes a first plate and a second plate disposed in stacked relationship with one another to collectively define a cooling channel extending therebetween. An adhesive is disposed between the first and second plate and extends along at least a portion of the cooling channel for structurally bonding the first and second plates to one another. At least one mechanical fixation is disposed adjacent the adhesive and extends between the first and second plates for maintaining a position of the first and second plates during a curing of the adhesive. A method of manufacturing the cooling plate assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: Circuitry to measure individual battery cells of a battery pack and make corrections to account for environmental differences between battery cells and their associated measuring circuit. Several cell supervision circuits (CSCs) may be placed to monitor and manage one or more subsets of battery cells within the battery pack. The temperature of this battery pack is not distributed homogeneously which may cause a temperature gradient and affect the internal regulation circuit that generates a reference voltage used to determine the voltage of its supervised cell or cells and regulates power to the CSC components. This reference voltage is temperature dependent and thus a temperature mismatch of the CSCs. Based on the measurement circuit an external regulation terminal controls a pass device to share power between the pass device and the internal regulation circuit to manage the temperature of each CSC.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive, from a controller, an instruction requesting data for the device and determine a comparison result value based on a comparison of the data for the device and a reference value. The device is further configured to determine whether to respond to the instruction based on the comparison result value and, in response to a determination to respond to the instruction, output, to the controller, the comparison result value, wherein, to output the comparison result value, the device is configured to refrain from outputting the data for the device.

Abstract: A battery cell circuit of a battery management system configured to receive, from a previous battery cell circuit of a plurality of battery cell circuits connected in a daisy chain configuration or ring configuration, an instruction requesting a value for the battery cell circuit and determine a comparison result value based on a comparison of the value for the battery cell circuit and a reference value. The battery cell circuit is further configured to output, to a controller, the comparison result value, wherein, to output the comparison result value, the battery cell circuit is configured to refrain from outputting the value for the battery cell circuit.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive, from a controller, an instruction requesting data for the device and determine a comparison result value based on a comparison of the data for the device and a reference value. The device is further configured to determine whether to respond to the instruction based on the comparison result value and, in response to a determination to respond to the instruction, output, to the controller, the comparison result value, wherein, to output the comparison result value, the device is configured to refrain from outputting the data for the device.

Abstract: A process for determining an impedance of a battery cell may comprise delivering an excitation current to the battery cell; performing, via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), one or more first measurements associated with the battery cell in the presence of the excitation current, wherein the one or more first measurements comprise one or more current measurements; performing, via the ADC, one or more second measurements associated with the battery cell in the presence of the excitation current, wherein the one or more second measurements comprise one or more voltage measurements; and determining the impedance of the battery cell based on the one or more first measurements and the one or more second measurements.

Abstract: A method includes detecting in a communication bus a write command to a first circuit and comparing a write address of the write command with a set of safe addresses. When the write address matches a safe address of the set of safe addresses, an error correction code (ECC) is generated based at least on write data of the write command, and the ECC is stored in a memory of a parameter safe storage circuit. A read command to the first circuit is detected in the communication bus, a read address of the read command is compared with the set of safe addresses, and, when the read address matches a safe address of the set of safe addresses, it is determined whether read data of the read command is corrupted based on the stored ECC, and an error notification is provided when the read data is determined to be corrupted.

Abstract: A device for excitation of a resolver comprising an excitation coil and one or more sensing coils includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to amplify a carrier signal using a first gain value to generate an excitation signal for output to the excitation coil of the resolver and determine whether the excitation signal is outside of a threshold band of voltages. The circuitry is further configured to amplify the carrier signal using a second gain value, wherein the second gain value is generated based on whether the excitation signal is outside of the threshold band of voltages.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes generating a clock signal; generating a switching signal based on the clock signal; generating a synchronization signal having an edge transition corresponding to a predetermined phase of the switching signal; transmitting the synchronization signal to a master controller; receiving a frequency adjustment command from the master controller based on the transmitted synchronization signal; and adjusting a frequency of the clock signal based on the frequency adjustment command.

Abstract: A device for excitation of a resolver comprising an excitation coil and one or more sensing coils includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to amplify a carrier signal using a first gain value to generate an excitation signal for output to the excitation coil of the resolver and determine whether the excitation signal is outside of a threshold band of voltages. The circuitry is further configured to amplify the carrier signal using a second gain value, wherein the second gain value is generated based on whether the excitation signal is outside of the threshold band of voltages.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes driving a predetermined load using a driver circuit according to a drive pattern; supplying power to the driver circuit using a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) configured to be coupled to at least one external component; and verifying functionality of the SMPS while driving the predetermined load. Verifying the functionality includes monitoring at least one operating parameter of the SMPS, where the at least one operating parameter of the SMPS is dependent on the drive pattern and the at least one external component, comparing the at least one operating parameter to at least one expected operating parameter to form a first comparison result, and indicating an error condition based on the first comparison result.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes using a monitoring circuit disposed on a monolithic integrated circuit to monitor an output signal of a first switching transistor for a first output edge transition at a monitoring terminal of the monolithic integrated circuit; using a time measuring circuit disposed on the monolithic integrated circuit to measure a first time delay between a first input edge transition of a first drive signal and the first output edge transition, where the first drive signal is configured to cause a change of state of the first switching transistor; using an analysis circuit disposed on the monolithic integrated circuit to compare the measured first time delay with a first predetermined threshold to form a first comparison result; and indicating a first error condition based on the first comparison result.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of transferring data includes determining, by a first device, a data check field of a data frame based on a predetermined identification field and a plurality of data bits, wherein the predetermined identification field represents at least one of a content, source or target of the plurality of data bits; and transmitting, by the first device to a second device, the data frame comprising the plurality of data bits and the data check field without directly transmitting the predetermined identification field.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes monitoring a first voltage across a buffer capacitor; activating a first current path between a power supply node and the buffer capacitor when the monitored first voltage is below a first threshold voltage, activating a second current path between the power supply node and the buffer capacitor when the monitored first voltage is below a second threshold voltage, and transferring power from the buffer capacitor to a driver circuit coupled across the buffer capacitor.

Abstract: A system includes a bus system to connect a number of components in a chain-like structure. A first control device (e.g., microcontroller or microprocessor) is configured to control the components in a first mode of the system. A second control device (e.g., microcontroller or microprocessor) is configured to control a first subset of the components in a second mode of the system.