# US 10,479,220 B2 · Hybrid powertrain with dual energy storage devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,220 B2 - Document ID: US10479220B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/484,537 - Filed: 2017-04-11 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-11 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri; Venkata Prasad Atluri; Suresh Gopalakrishnan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479220B2 ## CPC - B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles - B60K 6/28: characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors - B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules - F02N 11/0866: {comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries} - F02N 11/087: {Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches} - B60R 16/04: Arrangement of batteries - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2300/91: Battery charging - B60Y 2400/60: Electric Machines, e.g. motors or generators - B60Y 2400/61: Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters - F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop} - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y10S 903/906: Motor or generator - Y10S 903/907: Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A powertrain includes a motor-generator that is coupled to an engine. A starter mechanism is coupled to the engine. A first energy storage device is disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the starter mechanism. A second energy storage device is disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the motor-generator. The electrical circuit exhibits a first electrical resistance between the first energy storage device and the motor-generator, and a second electrical resistance between the second energy storage device and the motor-generator. The first electrical resistance is greater than the second electrical resistance so that electrical energy from the motor-generator more easily flows to the second energy storage device than the first energy storage device, and the motor-generator more easily draws electrical energy from the second energy storage device than from the first energy storage device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powertrain for a vehicle, the powertrain comprising: an engine; an electrical circuit including: a motor-generator coupled to the engine, and operable as either a motor to provide power to the engine, or as a generator to generate an electrical current from power supplied from the engine; a starter mechanism coupled to the engine and operable to start the engine from a cranking current; a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the starter mechanism, wherein the first energy storage device is operable to supply the cranking current to the starter mechanism; a second energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with the motor-generator, wherein the second energy storage device is operable to receive a current from the motor-generator, or provide a current to the motor generator; a first auxiliary electric system disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with both the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device; wherein the electrical circuit exhibits a first electrical resistance between the first energy storage device and the motor-generator, and exhibits a second electrical resistance between the second energy storage device and the motor-generator, with the first electrical resistance being greater than the second electrical resistance so that electrical energy from the motor-generator more easily flows to the second energy storage device than the first energy storage device, and so that the motor-generator more easily draws electrical energy from the second energy storage device than from the first energy storage device; and characterized by the electrical circuit lacking a switch disposed between the first energy storage device and the motor-generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powertrain set forth in claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first electrical resistance divided by the second electrical resistance is equal to or greater than a pre-determined value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powertrain set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first resistor disposed within the electrical circuit between the first energy storage device and the motor-generator, and providing at least a portion of the first electrical resistance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The powertrain set forth in claim 3, further comprising a second resistor disposed within the electrical circuit between the second energy storage device and the motor-generator, and providing at least a portion of the second electrical resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The powertrain set forth in claim 4, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are arranged to share a common connection with the second energy storage device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The powertrain set forth in claim 4, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are arranged in series between the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The powertrain set forth in claim 4 wherein the first resistor is not disposed within the electrical circuit between the first energy storage device and the starter mechanism, such that first resistor does not have to carry the cranking current used to operate the starter mechanism, and wherein the second resistor is not disposed within the electrical circuit between the second energy storage device and the first auxiliary electric system, such that the second resistor does not have to carry a current between the second energy storage device and the first auxiliary electric system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The powertrain set forth in claim 3, wherein the first resistor is a non-linear resistor that can be controlled to be in a first resistance state during predetermined operating conditions, and set to a second resistance to replenish the charge of the first energy storage device during other operating conditions, wherein the first resistance state is higher than the second resistance state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The powertrain set forth in claim 1, wherein the second energy storage device includes a first switch for opening and closing electrical communication between the electrical circuit and the second energy storage device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The powertrain set forth in claim 9, wherein the first switch is a bi-directional blocking switch having a first open state and a first closed state, wherein the first switch is operable to prevent an electrical current in both a first direction and an opposite second direction when disposed in the first open state, and wherein the first switch is operable to conduct an electrical current in either the first direction or the opposite second direction when disposed in the first closed state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The powertrain set forth in claim 1 wherein: the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device each operate at a substantially identical voltage; and the first energy storage device is operable to store a first amount of charge and provide short bursts of power within a first amperage range over a first temperature range, and wherein the second energy storage device is operable to store a second amount of charge and provide short bursts of power at a second amperage over a second temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The powertrain set forth in claim 11 wherein the first amount of charge of the first energy storage device is greater than the second amount of charge of the second energy storage device, the first amperage range of the first energy storage device is greater than the second amperage range of the second energy storage device, and wherein the first temperature range over which the first energy storage device is operable to provide power is greater than the second temperature range over which the second energy storage device is operable to provide power. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The powertrain set forth in claim 11 wherein the first energy storage device is a lead acid battery. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The powertrain set forth in claim 11 wherein the second energy storage device is one of a Li-Ion battery or an ultra-capacitor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The powertrain set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second auxiliary electric system disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with both the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The powertrain set forth in claim 15 wherein the first auxiliary electric system includes at least one electric component that operates with an allowable voltage fluctuation of equal to or less than a first predetermined value. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The powertrain set forth in claim 16 wherein the second auxiliary electric system includes at least one electric component that operates with an allowable voltage fluctuation of greater than a second predetermined value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The powertrain set forth in claim 17, further comprising a DC-DC converter disposed within the electrical circuit, between the first auxiliary electric system and the second auxiliary electric system.