Patent ID: 6496109
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: H02J

Abstract:
A fault detector for determining a charge system fault in a motor vehicle charging system using an existing warning indicator on a display panel of the motor vehicle, the fault detector comprising:a charge isolator receiving as an input a signal indicative of the charge voltage provided from an alternator of the motor vehicle to the battery; a charge power loss detector operable to determine when a voltage level of the input signal is less than a predetermined threshold; a flasher operable to generate a pulsed signal if the voltage level of the input signal is less than the predetermined threshold; and signaling logic operable to transmit the pulsed signal to an existing warning indicator on a display panel of the motor vehicle, detect a fault associated with the existing warning signal, and prioritize between the fault and the charge system fault including selecting a higher priority fault to drive the existing warning indicator.