# US 10,479,223 B2 · Construction and operation of electric or hybrid aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,223 B2 - Document ID: US10479223B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/211,074 - Filed: 2018-12-05 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-25 - Assignees: H55 SA - Applicants: H55 SA - Inventors: Sébastien Demont - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479223B2 ## CPC - B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines} - B60L 50/40: using propulsion power supplied by capacitors - B60L 53/00: Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles - B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules - B64D 31/18: for hybrid-electric power plants - B64D 35/023: of series-parallel type - B64D 45/00: Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for - B64F 5/60: Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - H02J 7/1423: {with multiple batteries} - H02P 5/00: Arrangements specially adapted for regulating or controlling the speed or torque of two or more electric motors (H02P6/04, H02P8/40 take precedence) - B60L 2200/10: Air crafts - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - B64D 2045/0085: {Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration} - B64D 2221/00: Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft - H02J 7/143: {with multiple generators} - H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices} - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - Y02T 50/50: On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - 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 - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract This disclosure describes at least embodiments of a power management system for a vehicle. The vehicle can include a first transducer and a second transducer supported by a housing of the vehicle. The first transducer can be powered by a first battery, and the second transducer can be powered by a second battery different from the first battery. The first transducer and the second transducer can propel the housing, and the second transducer can charge the second battery. Electronic circuitry can cause the first battery to power the first transducer while the second transducer charges the second battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power management system for a vehicle having one or more transducers, the one or more transducers being configured to propel the vehicle using energy from one battery and charge the one battery, the power management system comprising: a first battery configured to power a first transducer to propel a housing, the first transducer being supported by the housing; a second battery configured to power a second transducer to propel the housing, the second battery being different from the first battery, the second transducer being supported by the housing and configured to charge the second battery; and electronic circuitry configured to: cause the first battery to power the first transducer to propel the housing, cause the second transducer to charge the second battery, and cause the second battery to power the second transducer to propel the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are the same transducer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power management system of claim 2, wherein the first transducer comprises a rotor, a first set of windings, and a second set of windings, and the first set of windings is usable to drive the rotor from the first battery and the second set of windings is usable to charge the second battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are mechanically coupled to one another so that a first rotor of the first transducer and a second rotor of the second transducer are mechanically coupled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are different transducers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to operate the first transducer and the second transducer in a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes comprising a first mode in which the first transducer is powered by the first battery and not the second battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power management system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of modes comprises one or more of: a second mode in which the first transducer is powered by the first battery and the second battery, a third mode in which the first transducer is powered by the second battery and not the first battery, a fourth mode in which the first transducer is powered by the first battery and the second transducer is charging the second battery, a fifth mode in which the first transducer is charging the first battery and the second transducer is powered by the second battery, a sixth mode in which the first transducer is charging the first battery and the second battery is not charging or powering, a seventh mode in which the second transducer is charging the second battery and the first battery is not charging or powering, or an eighth mode in which the first transducer is charging the first battery and the second transducer is charging the second battery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power management system of claim 7, further comprising a supercapacitor, wherein the plurality of modes comprises one or more of: a ninth mode in which the first transducer or the second transducer is powered by the supercapacitor, a tenth mode in which the first transducer or the second transducer is powered by the supercapacitor and the first battery or the second battery, an eleventh mode in which the first transducer is powered by the first battery, the second transducer is powered by the second battery, and the first transducer or the second transducer is charging the supercapacitor, an twelfth mode in which the first transducer or the second transducer is charging the supercapacitor, and a thirteenth mode in which the first transducer or the second transducer is charging the supercapacitor and the first battery or the second battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the second battery comprises battery cells that are lower energy density and higher power density than battery cells of the first battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a supercapacitor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power management system of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to cause the first battery and the supercapacitor to power the first transducer to propel the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The power management system of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to cause the first transducer to charge the first battery, the second battery, and the supercapacitor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The power management system of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to cause the supercapacitor to charge the first battery and the second battery. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises one or more controllers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to generate a drive signal and supply the drive signal to the first transducer to cause the first battery to power the first transducer to propel the housing. ### Claim 16 A method of operating a power management system of a vehicle, the method comprising: powering, by a first battery, a first transducer supported by a housing; powering, by a second battery different from the first battery, a second transducer supported by the housing; propelling, by said powering the first transducer, the housing; propelling, by said powering the second transducer, the housing; and charging the second battery with the second transducer while the first battery powers the first transducer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are the same transducer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: the first transducer comprises a rotor, a first set of windings, and a second set of windings, and said charging comprises charging, by the second set of windings, the second battery while the first battery drives the rotor via the first set of windings. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising mechanically coupling the first transducer to the second transducer so that a first rotor of the first transducer and a second rotor of the second transducer are mechanically coupled. ### Claim 20 A power management system for a vehicle having an electric motor, the electric motor being configured to propel the vehicle using energy from one power source and charge the one power source, the power management system comprising: a first power source configured to power an electric motor to propel a housing, the electric motor being supported by the housing; a second power source configured to power the electric motor to propel the housing and, at least when the first power source is powering the electric motor to propel the housing, charge from the electric motor; and electronic circuitry configured to: cause the first power source to power the electric motor to propel the housing, cause the electric motor to charge the second power source, and cause the second power source to power the electric motor to propel the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The power management system of claim 20, wherein the electric motor comprises a rotor, a first set of windings, and a second set of windings, and the first set of windings is usable to drive the rotor from the first power source and the second set of windings is usable to charge the second power source from the rotor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to: electrically connect the first battery to the first transducer to cause the first battery to power the first transducer to propel the housing, and electrically connect the second battery to the second transducer to cause the second battery to power the second transducer to propel the housing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to fly, and the electronic circuitry is configured to: cause the first battery to power the first transducer to propel the housing to fly, and cause the second battery to power the second transducer to propel the housing to fly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to cause the first battery to power the first transducer to propel the housing while the second transducer charges the second battery. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The power management system of claim 24, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to cause the second battery to power the second transducer to propel the housing while the first transducer charges the first battery. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The power management system of claim 1, further comprising the housing, the first transducer, and the second transducer, and wherein the housing is configured to fly.