US 12,032,038 B2
Load short-circuit detection method and load short-circuit detection device
Masaya Nishinaka, Kanagawa Ken (JP); and Hisashi Senga, Kanagawa Ken (JP)
Assigned to PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD., Kanagawa (JP)
Filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Jun. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/832,076.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-124928 (JP), filed on Jul. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0030557 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G01R 31/52 (2020.01); G01R 19/165 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 31/52 (2020.01) [G01R 19/16585 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load short-circuit detection method executed in a load drive device comprising:
a power storage element that stores electric power for driving a load;
a first switch that is connected to a low-potential side of the load and controls a current flowing through the load;
a second switch that is connected to a high-potential side of the power storage element and connects the power storage element to a high-potential side power supply; and
a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage of a current flow path flowing from the power storage element to a low-potential side power supply via the first switch, the load short-circuit detection method comprising:
PWM-driving the first switch at a predetermined duty ratio;
detecting that the load is being short-circuited in a case where a state in which the voltage of the current flow path detected by the voltage detection circuit is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold voltage continues for a predetermined period of time or longer; and
storing the electric power by connecting the power storage element to the high-potential side power supply by turning on the second switch while the first switch is tuned off, prior to the PWM-driving.