Electronic circuit and method for monitoring a leakage current

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to electronic circuits and methods for monitoring leakage current. Electronic circuits and methods are provided for detecting leakage current in a second circuit. According to embodiments, the electronic circuit comprises timing circuitry and monitoring circuitry, wherein the timing circuitry is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuitry at time intervals set by the timing circuitry to repeatedly measure a measurement current indicative of leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuitry is configured to compare the measurement current measured at each interval to a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measurement current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuitry is configured to send an indication to control circuitry of the second circuit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to methods and systems for monitoring leakage current. Background Technology

[0002] Corrosion associated with leakage current can occur in electronic circuits and systems. Therefore, effective monitoring of leakage current is necessary. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to an embodiment, an electronic circuit for detecting leakage current in a second circuit is provided, the electronic circuit comprising: a timing circuit system and a monitoring circuit system; wherein the timing circuit system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure a measurement current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to compare the measurement current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measurement current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system is configured to send an indication to a control circuit system of the second circuit.

[0004] According to another embodiment, a system is provided, the system including electronic circuitry and a second circuit; the electronic circuitry including: a timing circuit system and a monitoring circuit system; wherein the timing circuit system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure a measurement current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to compare the measurement current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measurement current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system is configured to send an indication to a control circuit system of the second circuit.

[0005] According to another embodiment, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle including electronic circuitry or a system. The system includes: electronic circuitry and a second circuit. The electronic circuitry includes: a timing circuitry system and a monitoring circuitry system; wherein the timing circuitry system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuitry system at time intervals set by the timing circuitry system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuitry system is configured to compare the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuitry system is configured to send an indication to a control circuitry system of the second circuit.

[0006] According to another embodiment, the use of an electronic circuit is provided. This use is for leakage current detection in a vehicle. The electronic circuit includes: a timing circuit system and a monitoring circuit system; wherein the timing circuit system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to compare the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system is configured to send an indication to a control circuit system of a second circuit.

[0007] According to another embodiment, the use of the system is provided. This use is for leakage current detection in a vehicle. The system includes: electronic circuitry and a second circuit. The electronic circuitry includes: a timing circuitry system and a monitoring circuitry system; wherein the timing circuitry system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuitry system at time intervals set by the timing circuitry system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuitry system is configured to compare the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuitry system is configured to send an indication to the control circuitry system of the second circuit.

[0008] According to another embodiment, a method is provided, which is performed by electronic circuitry, wherein the electronic circuitry includes a timing circuitry system and a monitoring circuitry system. The method includes: the timing circuitry system automatically activating the monitoring circuitry system at time intervals set by the timing circuitry system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and the monitoring circuitry system comparing the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current indicating a leakage state, wherein when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuitry system sends an indication to a control circuitry system of a second circuit.

[0009] The above overview is merely a brief summary of some features of some embodiments and should not be construed as limiting in any way, as other embodiments may include features different from those given above. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a diagram of an electronic circuit 100 used to detect leakage current in a second circuit.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a more detailed diagram of the electronic circuit 200 used to detect leakage current in the second circuit (about...). Figure 1 (The image in the image).

[0012] Figure 3a This is a flowchart of method 300a according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 3b This is a flowchart of method 300b according to an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of method 400 according to an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 5 It is a timing diagram 500 according to an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 6 This is state diagram 600 according to an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0017] When corrosion occurs in electronic circuits (such as power supply circuits or vehicle control circuit systems), low leakage current can flow through the corroded or partially conductive path between the affected component of the circuit and the circuit's ground. When corrosion has begun but has not yet created a fully conductive path, the leakage current may be particularly low, resulting in a high-resistance circuit.

[0018] Very low leakage currents (e.g., in the double-digit milliampere range) can be used as early indicators in corrosion monitoring systems to detect subtle degradation or corrosion. By identifying such low-level currents, the system can provide warnings before serious damage or failure is likely to occur.

[0019] In such cases, high ohmic resistance to ground can be caused by partially corroded materials, moisture, or other contaminants that only allow for small leakage currents. In these situations, the "high ohmic" resistance is typically in the megaohm (MΩ) range, requiring a sensitive detection system to accurately measure the low leakage current. Accurate measurement of low leakage current can aid in the early diagnosis and preventative maintenance of easily corroded circuits.

[0020] An example of circuits prone to corrosion can be a vehicle's control circuitry. Vehicles typically include multiple electronic components mounted on a PCB (printed circuit board). Any electronic components and units on a PCB, including the connecting cables and connectors themselves, and similar parts, can suffer from very low current leakage (high ohmic resistance to ground), which can deteriorate over time, especially due to humidity. This deterioration of corrosion over time can be referred to as "active corrosion," or in other words, corrosion that changes over time. If active corrosion goes undetected for an extended period, serious damage or malfunction (such as a fire in a car) can occur.

[0021] To observe the increase in leakage current due to active corrosion, which is typically in the tens of milliamps (double-digit milliamp range), corrosion monitoring is not easy. One issue involves the nature of circuits prone to corrosion, such as the control circuitry of a vehicle, which is designed to manage significant electrical loads. For example, the operation and diagnostics of high-side switches (HSS) or bypass devices in a vehicle typically involve currents in the double-digit ampere range, while monitoring active corrosion requires detecting much smaller currents (e.g., in the double-digit milliamp range). Other issues associated with monitoring active corrosion involve distinguishing leakage current from load current. For example, detection may be most effective during, for instance, a vehicle's parking mode, where no current is expected to flow. For example, a typical HSS switch can have a nominal current as high as 40A (through a 0.8mOhm load), while leakage current due to active corrosion during a vehicle's parking period can be on the order of 50mA. However, continuous detection or sensing during parking mode (low-power mode) will reduce the vehicle's battery capacity. This is because the monitoring circuitry can draw significant power to monitor leakage current. Therefore, there is a need for more efficient detection of leakage current, both in terms of accuracy related to the high contrast between nominal load current and leakage current, and in terms of reducing the power consumption required to monitor leakage current.

[0022] Low-power mode (or in other words, shutdown mode, passive mode, idle mode, or standby mode) can refer to a power state in which the system or circuit remains active but operates with reduced power consumption while one or more components are turned off. Therefore, in low-power mode, the system or circuit typically performs only basic functions or waits for a specific trigger to resume full operation. The terms "low-power mode," "shutdown mode," "passive mode," "idle mode," or "standby mode" are used interchangeably in this application.

[0023] The low-power mode relates to the operation of a secondary circuit (e.g., a vehicle's power supply circuit), while the reduced power consumption during leakage current monitoring relates to the operation of the electronic circuitry or system of this application. The relationship between the low-power mode and the reduced power consumption allows leakage current monitoring to be performed in the low-power mode, and the power consumption during leakage current monitoring can be reduced because the timing circuitry automatically manages the monitoring. Therefore, this automatic monitoring results in reduced power consumption caused by the electronic circuitry or system of this application.

[0024] Low-power modes can be used to conserve energy, particularly in systems powered by a vehicle's battery, while maintaining readiness to detect and respond to potential corrosion-related events. During this mode, the system can monitor low-level parameters, such as leakage current or environmental conditions, without initiating intensive diagnostics or active intervention. Low-power modes may include reduced functionality, such as periodic sampling of signals, maintaining low-power states in sensors and microcontrollers (i.e., states when some functions or components are powered down), and storing minimum data until a threshold event (such as an increase in leakage current or a change in resistance) activates the entire system.

[0025] Various embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are given by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting in any way.

[0026] Features from different embodiments can be combined to form other embodiments. Variations, modifications, or details in one description of an embodiment also apply to other embodiments and will not be repeated.

[0027] The following will explain some of the terms used in this article.

[0028] A high-side switch (HSS) can refer to an electronic component used to control the flow of current from the positive terminal (high side) of a power supply to the load. It can act as a smart switch and is typically implemented using power transistors such as MOSFETs, particularly DMOS. HSSs are used in automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics applications. HSSs can achieve quiescent current levels as low as <1μA to several μA in standby mode. In automotive applications, HSS devices typically need to remain operational during low-power states to wake the system without draining the battery. HSS devices can limit current consumption to microamp levels during switching events. The connection paths switched by an HSS may be susceptible to corrosion, and therefore leakage current can occur. This leakage current can be monitored using current-applied methods and systems.

[0029] Bypass devices can be used in electric vehicles to reroute current. Bypass devices typically include relays, diodes, and resistors. Bypass devices can replace or work in conjunction with a high-side switch (HSS) for applications such as isolating faulty circuits, maintaining power flow during system maintenance, or managing low-power operation (like charging). Battery charging typically occurs in low-power modes (i.e., during parking). Therefore, in some examples of this application, low-power modes are also referred to as parking modes. By providing an alternative current path, bypass devices can enhance the reliability of a second circuit (such as the electrical circuitry of an electric vehicle) and reduce stress on the HSS. In both cases, if the bypass device is used in addition to or as a replacement for the HSS, the connection path switched by the bypass device may be susceptible to corrosion, and therefore leakage current may occur. This leakage current can be monitored using methods and systems applied to the current.

[0030] Low current consumption can be defined by microamplitude levels or lower. According to ISO standards (e.g., automotive standard ISO 26262) or applications (e.g., automotive / vehicle technology), current ranges of <1mA, <10mA, 500μA to 1mA, <100μA, single-digit μA current, and / or <50μA can be considered "low current." In contrast to "low current," double-digit ampere currents can be considered "high current."

[0031] In one or more examples, the control circuitry of the second circuit may include a microcontroller. The second circuit may be, for example, a circuitry of a vehicle or a part thereof, or a circuitry that is susceptible to corrosion and consumes electrons. Additionally or alternatively, for vehicle control circuitry systems, the leakage detection of this application can generally be used in automotive applications, such as leakage detection in electric motor drives.

[0032] A microcontroller can refer to a computer device typically housed on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input / output peripherals. Input / output peripherals generally refer to hardware components or devices that can be connected to a microcontroller, such as sensors, displays, or actuators. Microcontrollers are commonly used to manage and control operations in devices requiring real-time processing and automation, such as home appliances, automotive systems, medical devices, industrial machinery, and consumer electronics.

[0033] ADC stands for Analog-to-Digital Converter, a device or circuit that converts analog signals (which are inherently continuous) into digital signals that are discrete and can be processed by digital electronic systems. ADCs can be used in applications such as converting analog signals (e.g., measuring current) into digital data (e.g., digitizing current), enabling real-time monitoring and control in systems like automotive electronics and industrial machinery. An ADC may include key components such as a sampler for capturing analog input at discrete intervals, a quantizer for mapping the sampled values ​​to a finite set of levels, and an encoder for representing these levels in binary format for the digitized output.

[0034] This disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated. However, this disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals throughout refer to the same elements.

[0035] The foregoing features, characteristics, and advantages, and the ways in which they are implemented, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the description of exemplary embodiments explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For purposes of simplicity and illustration, this disclosure is described primarily by reference to exemplary embodiments thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of this disclosure. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be practiced without being limited to these specific details. Well-known methods and structures are not described in detail in this specification so as not to unnecessarily obscure this disclosure.

[0036] Some examples of this disclosure typically provide multiple circuits or other electrical devices. All references to circuits and other electrical devices, and the functions provided by each, are not intended to be limited to what is illustrated and described herein. Although specific labels may be assigned to the various circuits or other electrical devices disclosed, such labels are not intended to limit the scope of operation for the circuits and other electrical devices. Such circuits and other electrical or electronic devices may be combined and / or separated from each other in any way based on a desired particular type of electrical implementation. It should be appreciated that any circuit or other electrical or electronic device disclosed herein may include any number of microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), integrated circuits, memory devices, and software that cooperate with each other to perform the operations(s) disclosed herein. Additionally, any one or more of the electrical or electronic devices may be configured to execute program code embedded in a non-transient computer-readable medium programmed to perform any number of functions as disclosed.

[0037] The accompanying drawings are intended to be schematic representations, and the elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are shown such that their function and general purpose will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0038] Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the accompanying drawings or described herein may also be achieved through indirect connection or coupling. Coupling between components may also be established relative to a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a diagram of an electronic circuit 100 used to detect leakage current in a second circuit.

[0040] The electronic circuit 100 includes a timing circuit system 102 and a monitoring circuit system 104.

[0041] The timing circuit system 102 is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system 104 at time intervals set by the timing circuit system 102 to repeatedly measure the measurement current indicating leakage.

[0042] The monitoring circuit system 104 is configured to compare the measured current, measured at each interval, with the leakage threshold current. When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system 104 is configured to send an indication to the control circuit system 106 of the second circuit.

[0043] In some examples, the second circuit may be a vehicle circuit, such as a power supply circuit. In some examples, the control circuitry system 106 of the second circuit may include a microcontroller.

[0044] In some examples, the measured current can indicate the current through the power transistor in the second circuit. In some examples, the measurement can be performed with the power transistor off.

[0045] In some examples, the power transistors of the second circuit can be integrated with the electronic circuit 100 in a modular component or integrated circuit. The control circuitry system 106 of the second circuit (e.g., a microcontroller in a vehicle) can communicate with the electronic circuit 100; however, the control circuitry system 106 need not be part of the electronic circuit 100. The electronic circuit 100 can be configured to receive data from the control circuitry system 106 (e.g., setting 202) and send data to the control circuitry system 106 (e.g., indication, comparator report 204). Therefore, the microcontroller of the control circuitry system is not required for measurements performed by the timing circuitry system and the monitoring circuitry system. In other words, the timing circuitry system and the monitoring circuitry system allow for the elimination of the need for a control circuitry system (e.g., a microcontroller) involved in monitoring leakage current. The control circuitry system can remain in a partially active mode during leakage current monitoring (passive mode), where one or more components of the control circuitry system can be turned off. Therefore, both the control circuitry system (e.g., the microcontroller) and the second circuit itself (e.g., the vehicle's power supply circuit) can operate in a low-power mode during leakage current monitoring. For example, an electric vehicle can charge its battery while parked (i.e., in low-power mode), while electronic circuitry (including timing and monitoring circuitry) monitors leakage current. In this scenario, the electronic circuitry can consume less power during monitoring compared to conventional systems because monitoring occurs automatically, triggered by a timer, without requiring all components of the control circuitry to be active. In conventional systems, corrosion monitoring is typically achieved by a microcontroller that remains active during monitoring, meaning that all components of the microcontroller are usually involved and kept on. Therefore, the method of this application allows for reduced energy consumption and loss during leakage current monitoring, particularly for electric vehicles.

[0046] Return to Figure 1 ,exist Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the timing circuit system 102 includes a timer 102.2 and a switch 102.4.

[0047] exist Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figure, the monitoring circuit system 104 includes a measurement circuit system 104.2 and a comparator circuit system 104.4.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the measurement circuit system 104.2 includes a sensing transistor 104.6 and a load transistor 104.8.

[0049] In some examples, the gate of the sensing transistor 104.6 may be coupled to the gate of the power transistor (load transistor 104.8). The measured current may be referred to as the current flowing through the sensing transistor 104.6 (sensing current 104.12Isense). More specifically, the measured current may indicate the sensing current 104.12.1 from the sensing transistor 104.6, or the sensing current 104.12.2 supplied to the comparator circuit system. The measured current may also indicate the load current 104.14Iload, particularly the load current 104.14.1 from the load transistor.

[0050] Similar to the KILIS (“K”) method in US 2010 / 0102845 A1, this application's Figure 1 The sensing transistor 104.6 illustrated in the figure can have a smaller channel area than the load transistor 104.8, such that a sensing current proportional to the load current is generated based on the difference in channel area. Current source ( Figure 1 (Not shown) can be coupled to sensing transistor 104.6 and configured to set sensing current 104.12.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, the measurement circuit system 104.2 may have an operational transconductance amplifier 104.10 OTA, which has a non-inverting input coupled to the source of a sensing transistor 104.6 and an inverting input coupled to the source of a load transistor 104.8. The OTA can be configured to output a measurement current indicating leakage, which in turn can indicate the corrosion state. The OTA can be configured to regulate the sensing current such that the sensing current is maintained at a fixed ratio (“K” ratio) to the load current. The fixed ratio (“K” ratio) of the load current to the sensing current can be determined by the geometric area ratio of the channel area of ​​the load transistor to the channel area of ​​the sensing transistor. This “K” ratio in… Figure 2 The diagram further illustrates "1:K".

[0052] In some examples, the monitoring circuit system 104 may also include a comparator circuit system 104.4, such as Figure 1 As shown. The comparator circuit system 104.4 can be configured to compare the measured current with the leakage threshold current.

[0053] Figure 2 This is a more detailed diagram of the electronic circuit 200 used to detect leakage current in the second circuit (about...). Figure 1 (The image in the image).

[0054] Therefore, in Figure 1 The reference numerals and components described in the context also apply to the following: Figure 2Therefore, electronic circuit 200 can be understood as... Figure 1 An exemplary implementation of the electronic circuit 100 described in the context of [the above].

[0055] In some examples, the system may include electronic circuit 100 or electronic circuit 200, and a second circuit having control circuit system 106.

[0056] The system may also include a high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device that supplies current to the vehicle's loads. The monitoring circuitry can be configured to monitor the leakage status of the vehicle's high-side switch or bypass device by comparing the measured current with a leakage threshold current. The HSS or bypass device may include a load transistor 104.8, which may also be referred to as a power transistor.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the power supply voltage 210 can be applied to the load transistor 104.8, the sensing transistor 104.6, and the vehicle's power stage 206.

[0058] In some examples, the comparator circuit system 104.4 may also include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). For example... Figure 2 As shown, the ADC may have an encoder 212 and may receive a power supply voltage 210 and a reference current 240. The ADC may have a ground or floating power supply connection 250. The ADC may be configured to convert the measured current from an analog current to a digital current and compare the digital current with a leakage threshold current. When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the comparator circuit system 104.4 may be configured to send an indication to the control circuit system 106 of the second circuit. Sending the indication may be referred to as comparator report 204. This report may provide an interrupt request 230 (IRQ) to the control circuit system 106. Circuit 200 may receive (in) the interrupt request 230 (IRQ) from the control circuit system 106. Figure 2 (At point 220 in the middle) setting 202. The setting 202 received from 106 may include timing setting 202.2 and threshold setting 202.4. Timing setting 202.2 can be provided to timer 102.2, and the timer signal can be diagnosed with respect to timing setting 202.2 (in Figure 2 (At point 208 in the diagram). Based on the measurement of the current, encoder 212 can provide interrupt request 230 to control circuit system 106. Circuit 200 may also include output sensing pin 260 and output load 270. Circuit 200 may also include switch 102.4 for activating monitoring circuit system 104.

[0059] Therefore, in some examples, the monitoring circuitry system 104 of the electronic circuitry 200 may also be configured to receive at least one of a timing setting 202.2 and a threshold setting 202.4 from the control circuitry system 106 of the second circuitry. This arrangement provides flexibility, allowing leakage current monitoring to be tailored to the application. For example, different intervals and / or measurement durations may be selected based on, for example, the expected level of corrosion and / or energy consumption during monitoring. The threshold setting may include a value for the leakage threshold current. The timing setting may include at least one of the frequency of the time interval for activating the monitoring circuitry system 104 and the measurement duration for measuring the current.

[0060] In some examples, the monitoring circuitry system 104 of the electronic circuitry 200 may also be configured to be coupled to a high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device that supplies current to the vehicle's load 270. The monitoring circuitry system 104 may also be configured to detect the leakage status of the vehicle's monitoring HSS or bypass device by comparing the measured current with a leakage threshold current.

[0061] As understood above, HSS can include power transistors, such as high-speed switching transistors. However, monitoring leakage current can also be performed on non-high-speed switching power transistors. Non-high-speed switching power transistors can refer to power transistors that are not specifically designed for high-speed switching applications. Unlike high-speed switching transistors, which typically operate at very high frequencies to quickly turn power on and off, non-high-speed switching power transistors are generally optimized for low-speed switching or continuous operation. These transistors are often used in applications where switching speed is less critical, such as steady-state power control (managing a constant current or voltage in a circuit). For example, a non-high-speed switching power transistor can be a MOSFET transistor specifically designed for robust, low-speed operation rather than fast transient response.

[0062] In some examples, the vehicle may include electronic circuitry 200 or a system that includes electronic circuitry 200 and a second circuit having control circuitry system 106.

[0063] In some examples, electronic circuits 200 or 100 can be used for leakage current detection in vehicles.

[0064] In some examples, the system (including electronic circuit 200 and a second circuit with control circuit system 106) can be used for leakage current detection in vehicles.

[0065] Figure 3a This is a flowchart of method 300a according to an embodiment.

[0066] Method 300a is an exemplary implementation of a method for monitoring an increased leakage current. In this implementation, the HSS or bypass device is set to a low-power mode (idle mode), where an idle current is still supplied to the load. Via a configurable internal self-loop, monitoring can be activated to sense the load current via, for example, an ADC. Such an internal self-loop can be implemented by the timing circuitry 102 described in the context of Figure 1 The self-loop is also described in the context of the state diagram 600 in Figure 6 , specifically, via the self-loop 602 loop. Returning to Figure 3a , in the case where the measured current exceeds a threshold leakage current, the monitoring circuitry can transmit it to a higher-level communication (the control circuitry of a second circuit, where the control circuitry can include a microcontroller).

[0067] Method 300a includes the following steps: (S302) Set the input signal to logic "1" or high "H" (INx = "1"); where the setting of the initial state to H is also illustrated in the timing diagram in Figure 5 , where H is set to the "IN" pin before the idle mode occurs; the H state enables the internal wake-up of the timer; (S304a) Turn on the DMOS transistor, which enables the operation of the sense transistor to measure the measured current, as described in the context of Figure 2 ; (S305a) Check whether the low-power mode condition of the HSS or bypass device is satisfied; this can be achieved by comparing the measured current with the idle mode current, as further shown in the timing diagram in Figure 5 , where the idle mode starts, but corrosion has not occurred during the lifetime; (S306a) Activate the monitoring circuitry at a time interval set by the timing circuitry to repeatedly measure the measured current; when entering the idle mode, this triggers the measurement of the measured current until the measured current reaches the leakage threshold or the time interval exceeds the value set by the timing; (S307) Check whether the time interval exceeds the value set by the timing; (S309) Measure the measured current when the time interval exceeds this value; (S310) When the measured current does not exceed the leakage threshold current (ILoad < Ithreshold), continue to repeatedly measure the measured current at the time interval; (S311) Check whether the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current (ILoad > Ithreshold); and (S312) When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current (ILoad > Ithreshold), send an indication to the control circuitry.

[0068] In Figure 3a the illustrated exemplary implementation, the power transistor is implemented as a DMOS transistor.

[0069] In Figure 5The timing diagram 500 in the context of also describes checking the low power mode condition, setting the logic high and low states, and comparing ILoad with Ithreshold.

[0070] Figure 3b is a flowchart of a method 300b according to an embodiment.

[0071] Method 300b is another exemplary implementation of a method for monitoring increased leakage current. This method is similar to method 300a. Similarities can be seen in steps S302, S307, S310, S309, S311, and S312. The difference between 300a and 300b is that there is no low power mode (idle mode) in 300b. This means that, via an internal self-loop (as further shown by the self-loop circuit 602 in Figure 6 ), the DMOS transistor must be turned on by a timer to sense the measured current via a comparator that can include an ADC, for example. Then, the comparator (as described by comparator report 204 in Figure 2 ) can communicate with the control circuitry (microcontroller) in the same manner as in method 300a.

[0072] Therefore, method 300b can be summarized by the following steps: (S302) Set the input signal to logic 1 (INx = "1"), which is the same step as S302 in method 300a; (S304b) Turn off the DMOS transistor, which is an alternative step to entering the idle mode in method 300a and is necessary for configuring the cyclic wake-up in subsequent step S305b; (S305b) Configure the cyclic wake-up via a timing circuitry; (S306b) Activate the monitoring circuitry at a time interval set by the timing circuitry to repeatedly measure the measured current; (S307) Check whether the time interval exceeds the value set by the timing; (S308b) Turn on the DMOS transistor, which enables the operation of the sensing transistor to measure the measured current, as described in the context of Figure 2 ; (S309) When the time interval does not exceed the value set by the timing, measure the measured current until the time interval exceeds the value or the measured current ILoad reaches the leakage threshold current Ithreshold; (S310) When the measured current does not exceed the leakage threshold current (ILoad < Ithreshold), continue to repeatedly measure the measured current at the time interval; (S311) Check whether the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current (ILoad > Ithreshold); and (S312) When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current (ILoad > Ithreshold), send an indication to the control circuitry.

[0073] The loop wake-up in step S305b can be implemented by timer 102.2 and switch 102.4. Figure 5 The timing diagram 500 also illustrates the comparison between ILoad and Ithreshold in steps S310 and S311.

[0074] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of method 400 according to an embodiment.

[0075] Method 400, executed by electronic circuit 100 or 200, wherein the electronic circuit includes a timing circuit system 102 and a monitoring circuit system 104, includes the following steps (S402, S404, S406): (S402) the timing circuit system automatically activates the monitoring circuit system at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and (S404) the monitoring circuit system compares the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current indicating a leakage state; and (S406) when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system sends an indication to the control circuit system of the second circuit.

[0076] Therefore, method 400 is in Figure 3a and 3b The more general implementations of methods 300a and 300b described in the context of the above.

[0077] In some examples, the measured current provided by method 400 can indicate the load current through the power transistor in the second circuit, and the measurement can be performed with the power transistor off.

[0078] In some examples, method 400 may also include: detecting a low-power mode when the load current through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current to a low-power mode current defined by a low-power mode threshold current, wherein automatic activation and comparison are performed only in the low-power mode.

[0079] In some examples, method 400 may further include: automatically disabling the monitoring circuitry by a timing circuitry when the load current changes from the low-power mode current back to the nominal load current. More specifically, automatic activation can be achieved via an electronic timer (such as... Figure 1 and 2 The illustrated timer (Timer 102.2) and one or more automatic switches (such as...) Figure 1 and 2 The switch shown in the figure (switch 102.4) is used to achieve this. Therefore, the timing circuit system may include a timer and one or more automatic switches.

[0080] Timer 102.2 can be a synchronous timer based on an SPI clock signal, an asynchronous timer that operates independently of an SPI clock signal, a low-power timer based on an SPI clock signal, or a timer operating in a continuous loop (such as...). Figure 6 The self-circulating timer operates in the self-circulating loop 602.

[0081] SPI stands for Serial Peripheral Interface, a synchronous serial communication protocol typically used to enable high-speed data exchange between control circuitry (microcontrollers) and peripheral devices (timing and monitoring circuitry). SPI is particularly suitable for systems requiring a master-slave architecture with minimal wiring. SPI can include four main lines: a clock signal (SCLK) generated by the master device for synchronous communication, a master output / slave input (MOSI) line for data transfer from master to slave, a master input / slave output (MISO) line for data transfer from slave to master, and a slave select (SS) line for activating the desired slave device.

[0082] SPI-based synchronous timers can refer to timers that operate synchronously with the SPI clock signal. Synchronous timers can rely on the SPI clock (SCLK) to coordinate their timing functions, ensuring precise timing intervals relative to the clock edges of SPI communication.

[0083] An asynchronous timer can refer to a timer that operates independently of the SPI clock signal. Asynchronous timers can operate based on an internal clock or another external timing source, allowing them to perform timing operations without being tied to the SPI communication cycle. Asynchronous timers can be used for general-purpose timing, periodic interrupts, or time-based events that do not depend on SPI activity.

[0084] SPI-based low-power timers refer to timers specifically designed to consume minimal power when performing timing functions. Low-power timers can be implemented in battery-operated or energy-sensitive devices, such as electric vehicles or consumable electronic devices. SPI-based low-power timers can be configured to operate at reduced clock speeds or utilize energy-efficient circuitry. Such low-power timers can be used to maintain timing, generate periodic wake-up signals, for example... Figure 4 The timing diagram 500 in the figure is further shown.

[0085] A self-circulating timer can refer to a continuous loop (such as...) Figure 6 The timer operating in the self-looping 602 loop (further illustrated in the diagram) automatically restarts itself upon completion of its timed cycle. Without requiring external intervention to reset or restart the timer, the self-looping timer can be designed to generate periodic wake-up events or actions.

[0086] Returning to method 400, in some examples, method 400 may also include: comparing the measured current with the leakage threshold current by a comparator of the monitoring circuit system.

[0087] In some examples, method 400 may further include: converting the measured current from an analog current to a digital current by monitoring the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the circuit system, comparing the digital current with a leakage threshold current by the ADC, wherein when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the ADC sends an indication to the control circuit system of the vehicle, including a microcontroller, wherein the indication includes an interrupt request (IRQ) for activating the microcontroller of the control circuit system.

[0088] In some examples, method 400 may further include: receiving at least one of a timing setting and a threshold setting from a control circuit system by a monitoring circuit system, wherein the threshold setting includes a value of a threshold current, and wherein the timing setting includes at least one of a frequency for activating the monitoring circuit system and a measurement duration for measuring the control current.

[0089] Figure 5 It is a timing diagram 500 according to an embodiment.

[0090] The timing diagrams 500 respectively involve... Figure 1 Or the operation of electronic circuits 100 or 200.

[0091] In some examples, the timing circuitry 102 can also be configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuitry 104 by detecting a low-power mode when the load current 104.14 through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current (“iNominal”, in the order of amperes, ~A) to a low-power mode current (an idle mode current in the range of two microamps, tens (10th) μA) defined by the low-power mode threshold current. The measurement circuitry 104.2 can be configured to repeatedly measure and compare the measurement current only in the low-power mode (i.e., the “idle mode” illustrated in Figure 500). As corrosion progresses, the leakage current increases, adding to the low-power mode threshold current until “iLoad” reaches the leakage threshold current. In this case, the control circuitry can be notified by an interrupt request IRQ, and the pin under the control circuitry can be set from logic low “L” to logic high “H”. In the initial state and idle mode, the current consumed by the control circuitry system (iVS+HSS) can be on the order of tens (10th) μA, increasing to hundreds (100th) μA during measurement. If a notification is sent to the control circuitry system, the control circuitry system is woken up from the idle mode to the fully active mode by a propagation time delay (t_prop). Therefore, when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the timing circuitry system activates at least a portion of the control circuitry system by sending a notification to the control circuitry system.

[0092] As shown in Figure 500, when the control circuitry wakes up, its current consumption typically increases to tens (10th) mA. During idle mode, automatic monitoring can be triggered by setting the input pin (IN) from logic high H to a triple-floating state x. After a notification regarding leakage exceeding the leakage threshold is sent to the control circuitry, IN can be set back to H. In some examples, measurements can last, for example, 500 μs, and the interval between measurements can be, for example, 100 ms. The interval (e.g., 100 ms) and measurement duration (e.g., 500 μs) can be provided as timing settings (…). Figure 2 (Setting 202.2 in the original text). In this way, the control circuit system 106 does not need to remain fully active during idle mode, requiring current in the tens (10th) mA range. Thus, compared to being fully awake and consuming tens (10th) mA, the control circuit system 106 consumes only a few hundred (100th) μA during current measurement. In this manner, since certain parts of the control circuit system can be turned off, current consumption can be reduced during leakage current monitoring.

[0093] In some examples, the timing circuit system 102 can also be configured to switch when the load current iLoad shifts from the low-power mode current (in Figure 5shown as "idle mode") changes back to the nominal load current (at Figure 5 shown as "iNominal" in), the monitoring circuit system 104 is automatically deactivated. Thus, the monitoring of the leakage current can be fully automated, even further reducing the power consumption caused by the monitoring.

[0094] In some examples, the leakage state can indicate the corrosion state. In Figure 5 , the load current "iLoad" changing from the idle mode current to the current indicated as "corrosion during life" can indicate an active corrosion state. iLoad increasing above the leakage threshold can indicate a dangerous corrosion state, which may lead to a serious failure of the circuit, such as a fire.

[0095] Figure 6 is the state diagram 600 according to an embodiment.

[0096] The state diagram 600 relates to the operation of the electronic circuit 100 or 200 described in the context of Figure 1 or 2 respectively.

[0097] In FIG. 600, the self-loop 602 includes automatically activating 612 the monitoring circuit system, and then checking 614 whether the time interval exceeds a set value of the timing. The self-loop 602 then proceeds to measure 616 the measured current, and the measured current (ILoad) measured at each interval is compared 618 by the monitoring circuit system with the leakage threshold current (Ithreshold) indicating the leakage state. The self-loop 602 then proceeds to check the condition 620 whether ILoad < Ithreshold, and if so, the self-loop 602 resets the time interval and repeats measuring the measured current.

[0098] The initial state in the timing diagram corresponds to the initial state 604. In this initial state 604, the initial setting 606 can be set (e.g., the "H" state of the input pin). At the start of the self-loop 602, the nominal mode 608 can be verified, for example, by checking 610 whether the low-power mode condition is satisfied (e.g., this can be done by checking the nominal current iNominal described in the timing diagram 500). If so, this means entering the low-power mode (idle mode), and the self-loop 602 starts with automatic activation 612 until the state 622 where ILoad > Ithreshold is reached. When this state is reached, ILoad > Ithreshold, indicating that it is sent to the control circuit system 106 (624) by setting the IRQ pin of the control circuit system to the logic high "H" state.

[0099] Some embodiments are defined by the following examples:

[0100] Example 1. An electronic circuit for detecting leakage current in a second circuit, the electronic circuit comprising: a timing circuit system and a monitoring circuit system; wherein the timing circuit system is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure a measurement current indicating leakage; and wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to compare the measurement current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measurement current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system is configured to send an indication to a control circuit system of the second circuit.

[0101] Example 2. The electronic circuit according to Example 1, wherein the measured current indicates the current through the power transistor of the second circuit, and wherein the measurement is performed in the off state of the power transistor.

[0102] Example 3. The electronic circuit according to Example 2, wherein the power transistor of the second circuit is integrated with the electronic circuit in a modular component or integrated circuit.

[0103] Example 4. An electronic circuit according to Example 2 or 3, wherein the monitoring circuit system includes: a sensing transistor having a gate coupled to the gate of a power transistor, wherein the current is measured through the current of the sensing transistor.

[0104] Example 5. The electronic circuit according to Example 4, wherein the timing circuit system is further configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system by detecting a low-power mode when the load current through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current to a low-power mode current defined by the low-power mode threshold current; wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to repeatedly measure and compare the measured current only in the low-power mode.

[0105] Example 6. The electronic circuit according to Example 5, wherein the timing circuit system is further configured to automatically disable the monitoring circuit system when the load current changes from the low-power mode current back to the nominal load current.

[0106] Example 7. An electronic circuit according to any one of the foregoing examples, wherein the monitoring circuit system includes a comparator circuit system configured to compare a measured current with a leakage threshold current.

[0107] Example 8. The electronic circuit according to Example 7, wherein the comparator circuit system further includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to: convert the measured current from an analog current to a digital current, compare the digital current with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the comparator circuit is configured to send an indication to a control circuit system of a second circuit.

[0108] Example 9. An electronic circuit according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the monitoring circuit system is further configured to receive at least one of a timing setting and a threshold setting from a control circuit system of a second circuit, wherein the threshold setting includes a value of a leakage threshold current, and wherein the timing setting includes at least one of a frequency for activating the monitoring circuit system and a measurement duration for measuring the measurement current.

[0109] Example 10. An electronic circuit according to any one of Examples 2 to 9, wherein a monitoring circuit system is configured to be coupled to a high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device that supplies current to the loads of the vehicle, and wherein the monitoring circuit system is configured to monitor the leakage status of the vehicle's HSS or bypass device by comparing a measured current with a leakage threshold current.

[0110] Example 11. The electronic circuit described in Example 10, wherein the leakage condition indicates the corrosion condition.

[0111] Example 12. An electronic circuit according to any one of Examples 1 to 11, wherein the timing circuit system is configured to activate at least a portion of the control circuit system when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current.

[0112] Example 13. A system comprising the electronic circuit described in any of the preceding examples and the second circuit.

[0113] Example 14. The system according to Example 13 further includes: a vehicle high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device that supplies current to the vehicle's load, and wherein a monitoring circuit system is configured to monitor the leakage status of the vehicle's high-side switch or bypass device by comparing a measured current with a leakage threshold current.

[0114] Example 15. A vehicle comprising the electronic circuitry of any one of Examples 1 to 12 or the system of any one of Examples 13 to 14.

[0115] Example 16. Use of an electronic circuit according to any one of Examples 1 to 12 for automotive applications, optionally including leakage current detection in the vehicle.

[0116] Example 17. The system according to any one of Examples 13 to 14 is used for automotive applications, optionally including leakage current detection in the vehicle.

[0117] Example 18. A method performed by electronic circuitry, wherein the electronic circuitry includes a timing circuitry system and a monitoring circuitry system, the method comprising: automatically activating the monitoring circuitry system by the timing circuitry system at time intervals set by the timing circuitry system to repeatedly measure a measuring current indicating leakage; and comparing the measuring current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current indicating a leakage state by the monitoring circuitry system, wherein when the measuring current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuitry system sends an indication to a control circuitry system of a second circuit.

[0118] Example 19. The method according to Example 18, wherein the measured current indicates the load current through the power transistor of the second circuit, and the measurement is performed in the off state of the power transistor.

[0119] Example 20. The method according to Example 19 further includes: detecting a low-power mode when the load current through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current to a low-power mode current defined by a low-power mode threshold current, wherein automatic activation and comparison are performed only in the low-power mode.

[0120] Example 21. The method according to Example 20 further includes: when the load current changes from the low-power mode current back to the nominal load current, the monitoring circuit system is automatically disabled by the timing circuit system.

[0121] Example 22. The method according to any one of Examples 18 to 21 further includes: comparing the measured current with the leakage threshold current by a comparator of the monitoring circuit system.

[0122] Example 23. The method according to Example 22 further includes: converting the measured current from an analog current to a digital current by monitoring the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the circuit system, comparing the digital current with a leakage threshold current by the ADC, wherein when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the ADC sends an indication to the control circuit system of the vehicle, including a microcontroller, wherein the indication includes an interrupt request (IRQ) for activating the microcontroller of the control circuit system.

[0123] Example 24. The method according to any one of Examples 18 to 23, further comprising: receiving from the control circuit system by the monitoring circuit system at least one of a timing setting and a threshold setting, wherein the threshold setting includes a value of a threshold current, and wherein the timing setting includes at least one of a frequency of a time interval for activating the monitoring circuit system and a measurement duration for measuring the control current.

[0124] The methods and systems for current sensing in electronic circuits summarized in the examples above may be particularly advantageous for monitoring leakage current in control circuit systems susceptible to corrosion. The currently applied methods and systems allow for monitoring leakage current in power circuits with reduced power consumption of the monitoring circuit, while providing a robust measurement of low leakage current compared to the high current flowing through the load of the power circuit. The reduced power consumption of the monitoring circuit system, which operates automatically through a timing circuit system, can contribute to energy savings. Therefore, embodiments of this application can mitigate energy losses in current monitoring systems.

[0125] Example 25. The method according to any one of Examples 18 to 24 is used in an automotive application, optionally including leakage current detection in the vehicle.

[0126] While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various alternatives and / or equivalent embodiments may be used to replace the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the invention. This application is intended to cover any modifications or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, the invention is intended to be limited only by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit (100; 200) for detecting leakage current in a second circuit, said electronic circuit comprising: Timing circuit system (102) and monitoring circuit system (104); The timing circuit system (102) is configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system (104) at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure the measuring current indicating leakage; and The monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to compare the measured current measured at each interval with a leakage threshold current, wherein when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to send an indication to the control circuit system of the second circuit.

2. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 1. The measured current indicates the current through the power transistor of the second circuit, and the measurement is performed in the off state of the power transistor.

3. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 2. The power transistor of the second circuit is integrated with the electronic circuit (100; 200) in a modular component or integrated circuit.

4. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the monitoring circuit system (104) comprises: A sensing transistor having a gate coupled to the gate of the power transistor, wherein the measuring current is a current through the sensing transistor.

5. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 4. The timing circuit system (102) is further configured to automatically activate the monitoring circuit system (104) by detecting a low power mode when the load current through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current to a low power mode current defined by the low power mode threshold current. The monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to repeatedly measure and compare the measured current only in the low power mode.

6. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 5. The timing circuit system (102) is further configured to automatically disable the monitoring circuit system (104) when the load current changes from the low-power mode current back to the nominal load current.

7. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims. The monitoring circuit system (104) includes a comparator circuit system (104.4) configured to compare the measured current with the leakage threshold current.

8. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 7, wherein the comparator circuit system (104.4) further comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the ADC being configured to: The measured current is converted from analog current to digital current. The digitized current is compared with the leakage threshold current, wherein When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the comparator circuit system (104.4) is configured to send the indication to the control circuit system of the second circuit.

9. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims. The monitoring circuit system (104) is further configured to receive at least one of a timing setting and a threshold setting from the control circuit system of the second circuit. The threshold setting mentioned above includes the value of the leakage threshold current, and The timing settings include at least one of the frequency of the time interval used to activate the monitoring circuit system (104) and the measurement duration used to measure the measurement current.

10. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of claims 2 to 9. The monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to be coupled to a high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device that supplies current to the load of the vehicle, and the monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to monitor the leakage status of the HSS or bypass device of the vehicle by comparing the measured current with the leakage threshold current.

11. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to claim 10, wherein the leakage condition indicates a corrosion condition.

12. The electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The timing circuit system (102) is configured to activate at least a portion of the control circuit system when the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current.

13. A system comprising an electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of the preceding claims and the second circuit.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: The vehicle's high-side switch (HSS) or bypass device supplies current to the vehicle's load, and wherein the monitoring circuit system (104) is configured to monitor the leakage status of the vehicle's high-side switch or bypass device by comparing the measured current with the leakage threshold current.

15. A method (400) performed by electronic circuitry (100; 200), wherein the electronic circuitry includes a timing circuitry system (102) and a monitoring circuitry system (104), the method comprising: The monitoring circuit system (104) is automatically activated by the timing circuit system (102) at time intervals set by the timing circuit system to repeatedly measure the measuring current indicating leakage; and The monitoring circuit system (104) compares the measured current, measured at each interval, with a leakage threshold current indicating the leakage state. When the measured current exceeds the leakage threshold current, the monitoring circuit system (104) sends an instruction to the control circuit system of the second circuit.

16. The method (400) according to claim 15. The measured current indicates the load current through the power transistor of the second circuit, and the measurement is performed in the off state of the power transistor.

17. The method (400) according to claim 16, further comprising: A low-power mode is detected when the load current through the power transistor changes from the nominal load current to a low-power mode current defined by the low-power mode threshold current. The automatic activation and the comparison are performed only in the low power mode.

18. Use of the electronic circuit (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for automotive applications, use of the system according to any one of claims 13 to 14 for automotive applications, or use of the method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 for automotive applications.

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