# US 10,770,908 B2 · Configurable battery pack for series and parallel charging using switching > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,908 B2 - Document ID: US10770908B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/004,258 - Filed: 2018-06-08 - Published: 2019-05-02 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-29 - Assignees: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Mason Verbridge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770908B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/575: {Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit} - B60L 53/11: {DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4} - H01M 10/4207: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 10/441: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 10/482: {for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially} - H01M 50/269: Mechanical means for varying the arrangement of batteries or cells for different uses, e.g. for changing the number of batteries or for switching between series and parallel wiring (methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance H01M6/50, H01M10/42) - H01M 50/296: characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) - H01M 50/505: comprising a single busbar - H01M 50/51: Connection only in series - H01M 50/512: Connection only in parallel - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A configurable battery system may be arranged in such a way that two battery modules are connected in parallel to achieve a target maximum voltage for a load, or in series to achieve a high voltage of about double the target maximum voltage. Fast charging, at high voltage, may allow both battery modules to be charged at a charging current near a desired maximum current at the battery charger. A battery management module determines a switch configuration, coupling the battery modules in series or parallel. The battery management module applies the switch configuration to one or more switches to manage charging of the battery modules. The battery management module may receive charger capability information, local charging information, and fault information to aid in determining a switch configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A configurable battery system, comprising: a first battery module having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a second battery module having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and at least one switch, wherein the at least one switch comprises at least two poles and wherein: in a high voltage configuration of the at least one switch, the first battery module and the second battery module are connected in series, and in a low voltage configuration of the at least one switch, the first battery module and the second battery module are connected in parallel, wherein: the at least one switch comprises a first single pole double throw (SPDT) switch and second SPDT switch; in the high voltage configuration, the first SPDT switch and the second SPDT switch are each in a first switch position, thereby connecting the positive terminal of the first battery module to the negative terminal of the second battery module; and in the low voltage configuration: the first SPDT switch is in a second switch position, thereby connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module to the negative terminal of the second battery module; and the second SPDT switch is in a second switch position, thereby connecting the positive terminal of the first battery module to the positive terminal of the second battery module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The configurable battery system of claim 1, further comprising at least one charger switch configured to connect and disconnect the first and second battery modules to a charger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The configurable battery system of claim 1, wherein in the high voltage configuration: a positive terminal of a device load is connected to the positive terminal of the first battery module; and a negative terminal of the device load is connected the negative terminal of the first battery module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The configurable battery system of claim 1, further comprising at least one load switch comprising at least two poles, wherein in the high voltage configuration: when the at least one load switch is set to a first switch position or positions: a positive terminal of a device load is connected to the positive terminal of the first battery module, and a negative terminal of the device load is connected to the negative terminal of the first battery module; and when the at least one load switch is set to a second switch position or positions: the positive terminal of the device load is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery module, and the negative terminal of the device load is connected to the negative terminal of the first battery module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The configurable battery system of claim 4, further comprising control circuitry configured to, when in the high voltage configuration, set the position of the at least one load switch based on status information of at least one of the first battery module and the second battery module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The configurable battery system of claim 1, wherein: the configurable battery charging system is configured for use in an electric vehicle; and in the high voltage configuration, the configurable battery charging system is configured to receive a charging voltage of 900 volts (V). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The configurable battery system of claim 6, wherein in the charging configuration, the configurable battery charging system is configured to provide a voltage of 450 V to components of the electric vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The configurable battery system of claim 1, further comprising a battery management module configured to select between the low voltage configuration and the high voltage configuration. ### Claim 9 A configurable battery system, comprising: a first battery module having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a second battery module having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and at least one switch, wherein the at least one switch comprises at least two poles and wherein: in a high voltage configuration of the at least one switch, the first battery module and the second battery module are connected in series, and in a low voltage configuration of the at least one switch, the first battery module and the second battery module are connected in parallel, wherein: the at least one switch comprises two single pole single throw (SPST) switches; in the high voltage configuration: a first of the two SPST switches is in an off position, and a second of the two SPST switches is in an on position, thereby connecting the positive terminal of the first battery module to the negative terminal of the second battery module; and in the low voltage configuration: the first of the two SPST switches is in an on position, thereby connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module to the negative terminal of the second battery module, and the second of the two SPST switches is in an off position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The configurable battery system of claim 9, further comprising at least one load switch comprising at least two poles, wherein in the high voltage configuration: when the at least one load switch is set to a first switch position or positions: a positive terminal of a device load is connected to the positive terminal of the first battery module, and a negative terminal of the device load is connected to the negative terminal of the first battery module; and when the at least one load switch is set to a second switch position or positions: the positive terminal of the device load is connected to the positive terminal of the second battery module, and the negative terminal of the device load is connected to the negative terminal of the first battery module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The configurable battery system of claim 10, further comprising control circuitry configured to, when in the high voltage configuration, set the position of the at least one load switch based on status information of at least one of the first battery module and the second battery module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The configurable battery system of claim 9, wherein: the configurable battery charging system is configured for use in an electric vehicle; and in the high voltage configuration, the configurable battery charging system is configured to receive a charging voltage of 900 volts (V). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The configurable battery system of claim 12, wherein in the charging configuration, the configurable battery charging system is configured to provide a voltage of 450 V to components of the electric vehicle. ### Claim 14 A method for managing battery charging of a first battery module and a second battery module that are coupled in series, comprising: using at least one switch in a first switch configuration to couple an electric load in parallel to the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a first battery characteristic of the first battery module during charging, wherein the first battery characteristic comprises a first voltage across a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the first battery module; determining, using a battery management module, a second battery characteristic of the second battery module during charging, wherein the second battery characteristic comprises a second voltage across a positive terminal and a negative terminal of the second battery module; determining, using a battery management module, to apply a second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic, wherein the second switch configuration couples the electric load in parallel to the second battery module during charging and wherein determining to apply the second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic comprises determining a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage; and applying, using control circuitry, the second switch configuration to the at least one switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising determining local charging information, wherein the local charging information comprises a preference to charge at high voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising determining to couple the first battery module and the second battery module in series based at least in part on the local charging information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein applying the second load switch configuration to the at least one switch further comprises applying a pre-charge configuration to the at least one switch to reduce in-rush current. ### Claim 18 A method for managing battery charging of a first battery module and a second battery module that are coupled in series, comprising: using at least one switch in a first switch configuration to couple an electric load in parallel to the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a first battery characteristic of the first battery module during charging, wherein the first battery characteristic comprises a first cumulative time of the first battery module being coupled to the electric load; determining, using a battery management module, a second battery characteristic of the second battery module during charging, wherein the second battery characteristic comprises a second cumulative time of the second battery module being coupled to the electric load; determining, using a battery management module, to apply a second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic, wherein the second switch configuration couples the electric load in parallel to the second battery module during charging; and applying, using control circuitry, the second switch configuration to the at least one switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein determining to apply the second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic comprises determining a difference between the first cumulative time and the second cumulative time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising determining local charging information, wherein the local charging information comprises a preference to charge at high voltage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising determining to couple the first battery module and the second battery module in series based at least in part on the local charging information. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein applying the second load switch configuration to the at least one switch further comprises applying a pre-charge configuration to the at least one switch to reduce in-rush current. ### Claim 23 A method for managing battery charging of a first battery module and a second battery module that are coupled in series, comprising: using at least one switch in a first switch configuration to couple an electric load in parallel to the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a first battery characteristic of the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a second battery characteristic of the second battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, to apply a second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic, wherein the second switch configuration couples the electric load in parallel to the second battery module during charging; applying, using control circuitry, the second switch configuration to the at least one switch; and identifying whether a fault has occurred in the first battery module or the second battery module, wherein determining to apply the second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic is further based at least in part on whether the fault has occurred. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising determining local charging information, wherein the local charging information comprises a preference to charge at high voltage. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising determining to couple the first battery module and the second battery module in series based at least in part on the local charging information. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein applying the second load switch configuration to the at least one switch further comprises applying a pre-charge configuration to the at least one switch to reduce in-rush current. ### Claim 27 A method for managing battery charging of a first battery module and a second battery module that are coupled in series, comprising: using at least one switch in a first switch configuration to couple an electric load in parallel to the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a first battery characteristic of the first battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, a second battery characteristic of the second battery module during charging; determining, using a battery management module, to apply a second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic, wherein the second switch configuration couples the electric load in parallel to the second battery module during charging; applying, using control circuitry, the second switch configuration to the at least one switch; and determining an elapsed time since a previous change in a switch configuration, wherein determining to apply the second switch configuration to the at least one switch based on the first battery characteristic and the second battery characteristic is further based at least in part on the elapsed time. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, further comprising determining local charging information, wherein the local charging information comprises a preference to charge at high voltage. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising determining to couple the first battery module and the second battery module in series based at least in part on the local charging information. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein applying the second load switch configuration to the at least one switch further comprises applying a pre-charge configuration to the at least one switch to reduce in-rush current.