Abstract: A circuit for detection and warning of electro-migration in a region on a printed circuit board between a first electrically conductive element having a first electrical characteristic and a second electrically conductive element having a second electrical characteristic different than the first. The circuit includes an electrically conductive guard track that is electrically isolated from the first and second elements in the region and has a normal condition electrical characteristic based on the first and second characteristics. The circuit includes an electrical characteristic supervisor to detect an electrical characteristic of the guard track. In response to electro-migration creating an electrical connection of the guard track to the first or second element, the guard track has an abnormal condition electrical characteristic different than the normal condition. In response to detecting the abnormal condition of the guard track, the supervisor effectuates a warning of electro-migration in the region.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for adaptively performing diagnostics in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes at least one microcontroller and a communication controller. The at least one microcontroller is positioned in a vehicle and is configured to provide first information indicative of operating characteristics for at least one switch in the vehicle. The communication controller is configured to receive the first information from the at least one microcontroller and to wirelessly transmit the first information to a remote server. The communication controller is further configured to receive second information related to a remaining useful life (RUL) for the at least one switch from the remote server and to transmit the second information to the at least one microcontroller to determine when the at least one switch will exhibit a failure.

Abstract: A circuit for detection and warning of electro-migration in a region on a printed circuit board between a first electrically conductive element having a first electrical characteristic and a second electrically conductive element having a second electrical characteristic different than the first. The circuit includes an electrically conductive guard track that is electrically isolated from the first and second elements in the region and has a normal condition electrical characteristic based on the first and second characteristics. The circuit includes an electrical characteristic supervisor to detect an electrical characteristic of the guard track. In response to electro-migration creating an electrical connection of the guard track to the first or second element, the guard track has an abnormal condition electrical characteristic different than the normal condition. In response to detecting the abnormal condition of the guard track, the supervisor effectuates a warning of electro-migration in the region.

Abstract: A method and system to perform the verification of measures done by a sensor in quasi real-time. The sensor verification may be implemented at two different levels—a functionality level and a measurement level. At the functionality level, a consistency check of information from different variables may be processed at sensor level depending on the functionality of the physical system being measured. At the measurement level, diagnostics may be performed of the circuits present in the measurement path by specific circuitry and at suitable instants of time to guarantee a Fault Tolerant Time Interval while minimizing sample loss. This may be achieved, at least in part, by increasing the measuring sample rate.

Abstract: A method and system to perform the verification of measures done by a sensor in quasi real-time. The sensor verification may be implemented at two different levels—a functionality level and a measurement level. At the functionality level, a consistency check of information from different variables may be processed at sensor level depending on the functionality of the physical system being measured. At the measurement level, diagnostics may be performed of the circuits present in the measurement path by specific circuitry and at suitable instants of time to guarantee a Fault Tolerant Time Interval while minimizing sample loss. This may be achieved, at least in part, by increasing the measuring sample rate.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for adaptively performing diagnostics in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes at least one microcontroller and a communication controller. The at least one microcontroller is positioned in a vehicle and is configured to provide first information indicative of operating characteristics for at least one switch in the vehicle. The communication controller is configured to receive the first information from the at least one microcontroller and to wirelessly transmit the first information to a remote server. The communication controller is further configured to receive second information related to a remaining useful life (RUL) for the at least one switch from the remote server and to transmit the second information to the at least one microcontroller to determine when the at least one switch will exhibit a failure.

Abstract: A method and system to perform the verification of measures done by a sensor in quasi real-time. The sensor verification may be implemented at two different levels—a functionality level and a measurement level. At the functionality level, a consistency check of information from different variables may be processed at sensor level depending on the functionality of the physical system being measured. At the measurement level, diagnostics may be performed of the circuits present in the measurement path by specific circuitry and at suitable instants of time to guarantee a Fault Tolerant Time Interval while minimizing sample loss. This may be achieved, at least in part, by increasing the measuring sample rate.

Abstract: An assembly for providing one or two disconnection switches in any of different electrical supply systems includes a printed circuit board having an internally configurable dual switch arrangement. The dual switch arrangement includes first and second switch areas for first and second groups of solid-state devices, first and second driver areas for first and second switch drivers, and busbars and power terminals. The first switch area includes the first group of solid-state devices and the first driver area includes the first switch driver which drives these solid-state devices as either a normally closed (NC) or a normally opened (NO) disconnection switch. First and second ones of the busbars respectively connect ends of the disconnection switch to first and second ones of the power terminals whereby the disconnection switch is provided in the electrical supply system when the electrical supply system is connected to the first and second power terminals.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for diagnosing a state of a capacitive sensor is provided. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit for being electrically coupled to a capacitive sensor. The measuring circuit is configured to measure a first impedance of the capacitive sensor at a first frequency and to determine a first capacitance of the capacitive sensor at the first frequency based on the first impedance. The measuring circuit is further configured to compare the first capacitance of the capacitive sensor to a first threshold and to a second threshold to diagnose the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a first battery, a second battery remotely separated from the first battery, components to be shared by the batteries, and a battery housing. The batteries and the components are contained within the battery housing. The batteries may be Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries having different voltages. The components to be shared by the batteries may include a battery module controller (BMC), a common I/O (COM), a cooling system, and protection mechanisms like fuses, transient voltage suppressors, and battery disconnection devices (JB/BDU). An electronic control unit remotely separated from the battery pack is configured to communicate with the battery module controller to control operation of the battery pack.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring at least one relay contact. The system may include an emitter adapted for communication with a relay contact and configured to emit a signal, and a receiver adapted for communication with the relay contact and configured to detect a signal emitted by the emitter. The system may further include a controller adapted for communication with the emitter and receiver, and configured to determine an open or closed state of the relay contact. The controller may control the emitter to emit a signal, may determine a closed state of the relay contact if the receiver detects the signal, and may determine an open state of the relay contact if the receiver fails to detect the signal.

Abstract: An assembly for providing one or two disconnection switches in any of different electrical supply systems includes a printed circuit board having an internally configurable dual switch arrangement. The dual switch arrangement includes first and second switch areas for first and second groups of solid-state devices, first and second driver areas for first and second switch drivers, and busbars and power terminals. The first switch area includes the first group of solid-state devices and the first driver area includes the first switch driver which drives these solid-state devices as either a normally closed (NC) or a normally opened (NO) disconnection switch. First and second ones of the busbars respectively connect ends of the disconnection switch to first and second ones of the power terminals whereby the disconnection switch is provided in the electrical supply system when the electrical supply system is connected to the first and second power terminals.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a first battery, a second battery remotely separated from the first battery, components to be shared by the batteries, and a battery housing. The batteries and the components are contained within the battery housing. The batteries may be Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries having different voltages. The components to be shared by the batteries may include a battery module controller (BMC), a common I/O (COM), a cooling system, and protection mechanisms like fuses, transient voltage suppressors, and battery disconnection devices (JB/BDU). An electronic control unit remotely separated from the battery pack is configured to communicate with the battery module controller to control operation of the battery pack.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing age-compensation control for a power converter is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller for being coupled to a power converter including a plurality of phases for converting a first input signal into a first output signal. The controller is configured to activate at least one first switch for a first phase from the plurality of phases for converting the first input signal into the first output signal. The controller is further configured to determine an aging condition for the at least one first switch for the first phase based on an equivalent time, Teq of the at least one first switch, wherein Teq corresponds to an amount of time the at least one first switch is active and on an operating temperature of the at least one first switch while the at least one first switch is active.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for diagnosing a state of a capacitive sensor is provided. The apparatus comprises a measuring circuit for being electrically coupled to a capacitive sensor. The measuring circuit is configured to measure a first impedance of the capacitive sensor at a first frequency and to determine a first capacitance of the capacitive sensor at the first frequency based on the first impedance. The measuring circuit is further configured to compare the first capacitance of the capacitive sensor to a first threshold and to a second threshold to diagnose the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring at least one relay contact. The system may include an emitter adapted for communication with a relay contact and configured to emit a signal, and a receiver adapted for communication with the relay contact and configured to detect a signal emitted by the emitter. The system may further include a controller adapted for communication with the emitter and receiver, and configured to determine an open or closed state of the relay contact. The controller may control the emitter to emit a signal, may determine a closed state of the relay contact if the receiver detects the signal, and may determine an open state of the relay contact if the receiver fails to detect the signal.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing age-compensation control for a power converter is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller for being coupled to a power converter including a plurality of phases for converting a first input signal into a first output signal. The controller is configured to activate at least one first switch for a first phase from the plurality of phases for converting the first input signal into the first output signal. The controller is further configured to determine an aging condition for the at least one first switch for the first phase based on an equivalent time, Teq of the at least one first switch, wherein Teq corresponds to an amount of time the at least one first switch is active and on an operating temperature of the at least one first switch while the at least one first switch is active.