A system and method according to various embodiments can include a programmable current sink circuit that comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The DAC is programmable to set an adjustable magnitude of current sink so that a proper amount of current is jointly sunk from a plurality of inputs to generate a total sink current. With the adjustable current sink, redundant inputs, such as dual modular redundancy or triple modular redundancy, or simplex inputs can jointly sink the proper amount of current.

A switching device for a coil is specified, having an input connection, for connection to a coil electronics system and/or to a resonant circuit capacitor, an output connection, for connection to an end of the coil and/or to a resonant circuit capacitor, and a disconnecting device, wherein the disconnecting device is able to be switched between an on-state and an off-state, the disconnecting device connects the input connection and the output connection to an on-impedance in the on-state, and the disconnecting device connects the input connection and the output connection to an off-impedance in the off-state, the off-impedance has an increased value compared to the on-impedance, the off-impedance permits a flow of current between the input connection and the output connection, and the off-impedance is formed so as to damp at least one external signal of a definable frequency, the external signal being coupled into the coil.

The failure detection device detects failure in switches that are selectively switched between conduction and non-conduction in a current path, and includes: two or more temperature sensors in which a resistance value between terminals changes in accordance with temperature changes, the two or more temperatures sensors being provided near two or more of the switches connected to each other in parallel, and the two or more temperatures sensors being electrically connected in series to each other; a detection unit that detects the combined resistance value of the two or more temperature sensors; and a determination unit that determines, based on a combined resistance value, that one or more of the two or more switches has failed.

A relay state management apparatus including a switch connected to an end of a battery module, a resistor unit connected to the switch, a voltage measuring unit measuring a voltage applied to the resistor unit, a relay connected between the battery module and a load, and a controller controlling the switch and the relay to be short-circuited and diagnosing a state of the relay based on the voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit.

A monitoring device is provided for monitoring a semiconductor-based switching element having a control input, a power input, and a power output. The monitoring device includes a charge carrier source for charging the control input of the switching element with electric charge carriers, and a measuring device for detecting a charge carrier drain from the control input of the switching element. The measuring device emits a warning signal if the charge carrier drain lies above a specified threshold value. A corresponding method for monitoring a semiconductor-based switching element is also provided.

A method for performing a low energy pulse testing in a power distribution network that causes contacts to close and then open in about one fundamental frequency cycle of current flow time and close on a voltage waveform that produces symmetrical fault current. The method includes energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of a spring to move a movable contact towards a fixed contact. The method also includes de-energizing the actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, where energizing the magnetic actuator occurs when an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for detecting malfunction of a relay, which includes a temperature determination unit configured to determine whether or not a relay resistor is overheated based on a resistance temperature of the relay resistor being connected to a relay; a charging voltage determination unit configured to determine whether or not a variation value of a charging voltage of a direct current (DC) link capacitor according to an operation start of an inverter system exceeds a reference variation value; and a relay malfunction determination unit configured to determine whether or not the relay is malfunctioned based on one or more the determination results whether or not the relay resistor is overheated and whether or not the variation value exceeds the reference variation value.

The present disclosure relates to a device for monitoring a high-voltage contactor in a vehicle. In one implementation, the high-voltage contactor has a coil with an anchor, the coil is energized with a coil current or a coil voltage to switch the high-voltage contactor, and the high-voltage contactor is switched by a motion of the anchor, thus also changing the inductivity of the coil. The device may include an interface for reading in a measurement value function for the generated coil voltage and/or for the generated coil current during the switching cycle of the high-voltage contactor; an analysis device for determining a motion information representing a travel distance of the anchor based on the measurement value function; and a comparison device for comparing the motion information with a threshold value information. A fault signal is generated when the motion information falls below the threshold information.

A device and a method for monitoring and analysis utilize unintended electromagnetic emissions of electrically powered components, devices or systems. The emissions are received at the antenna and a receiver. A processor processes and measures change or changes in a signature of the unintended electromagnetic emissions. The measurement are analyzed to both record a baseline score for future measurements and to be used in determining status and/or health of the analyzed system or component.

Provided herein are improved relay protection systems that can detect a short to ground condition on an output of a relay. A relay protection system can bias an output of the relay. The output of the relay can be monitored to determine if a bias level reduces below a predetermined threshold, indicating a short to ground condition. If a short to ground condition is detected, the relay protection system can prevent the relay from transitioning from an open position to a closed position. As a result, a power source can remain decoupled from a load, thereby preventing damage to the relay and the load.