Fuse Voltage Identification Using One Multiplexer Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current voltage monitoring systems in modern vehicles require multiple multiplexers to monitor multiple nodes, leading to increased complexity, cost, and space requirements on printed circuit boards due to the need for multiple digital input ports.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a single port of a multiplexer to monitor multiple nodes by connecting fuses and resistors in parallel, allowing a controller to read voltage levels and determine the status of each node, thereby reducing the number of multiplexers needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple multiplexers are used to monitor multiple voltage nodes, then the number of monitored nodes increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fuse monitoring circuits into a single multiplexer port by connecting multiple resistors in parallel. Each fuse is associated with a resistor, and all resistor connections are tied to the same multiplexer port, allowing multiple nodes to be monitored through one port simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The single multiplexer port is designed to serve multiple functions by monitoring multiple voltage nodes through the parallel resistor connections. The controller can read the combined voltage signal to determine the status of multiple fuses, making the port universal for monitoring purposes.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple multiplexers are used to monitor multiple voltage nodes, then the monitoring coverage increases, but the space requirements on printed circuit boards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple monitoring functions into a single physical location on the circuit board by using one multiplexer port with parallel resistor connections. This consolidation significantly reduces the space required compared to using separate multiplexers for each node.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple digital input ports are used to monitor voltage levels, then the monitoring capability increases, but the layout difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple digital input port functions into a single port by using parallel resistor connections tied to one multiplexer port. This reduces the number of physical ports needed and simplifies the overall layout on the circuit board.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are approaches for determining a status of a fuse. In some embodiments, a system may include a first fuse electrically connected to a first node and to a first resistor, and a second fuse electrically connected to a second node and a second resistor, wherein the first and second fuses are in parallel connection to a same port of a multiplexer. The system may further include a controller communicably connected with the multiplexer, the controller operable to read a voltage level of the first and second nodes.