Patent ID: 8129999
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: G01R,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A circuit that indicates an impedance of a dielectric housing of a battery, comprising: a signal generator module that has a first terminal connected to ground and a second terminal that connects to a first terminal of the battery and that flows a first current from ground to the first terminal of the battery; a sensor circuit that has a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the battery and a second terminal connected to ground via a resistance connected in series with the sensor circuit and that generates a signal based on a second current that flows from the second terminal of the battery through the second terminal of the battery though the resistance to ground; and a signal conversion module that generates an output signal based on the signal, wherein the output signal represents the impedance presented by the dielectric housing; and a fault detection module that receives the output signal and that determines whether the dielectric housing is intact based on whether the impedance of the dielectric hosing is greater than a threshold impedance, wherein the threshold impedance is based on a voltage of the battery.