# US 10,873,192 B2 · Link device for coupling energy storage devices having disparate chemistries

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- Number: US 10,873,192 B2
- Document ID: US10873192B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/579,718
- Filed: 2019-09-23
- Published: 2020-03-26
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-24
- Assignees: Goal Zero LLC
- Applicants: Goal Zero LLC
- Inventors: Keyvan Vasefi; Robert Kerback; Sterling Robison; Evan Price
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873192B2

## CPC

- 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 10/46: Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus (circuits for charging H02J7/00)
- H01M 16/00: Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
- H02J 7/342: {The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68)}
- H02J 7/40: characterised by the exchange of charge or discharge related data
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 7/667: {disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running}
- H02J 7/70: characterised by the mechanical construction
- H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery}
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H01M 10/06: Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20)
- 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 2220/10: Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
- H02J 7/485: {with provisions for charging different types of batteries}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An energy storage system includes a first energy storage device having a first energy storage chemistry, a second energy storage device having a second energy storage chemistry different than the first energy storage chemistry, and a link device. The link device is configured to facilitate electrically coupling the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device, regulate a first power profile of first power provided by the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device such that the first energy storage device can selectively charge the second energy storage device, and regulate a second power profile of second power provided by the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device such that the first energy storage device can selectively draw power from the second energy storage device to increase a power capacity thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An energy system comprising:
a first energy storage device including:
a first battery having a first battery chemistry; and
a first interface;
a second energy storage device including:
a housing defining an internal cavity and a recess;
a lid pivotally coupled to the housing, the lid selectively enclosing the recess;
a second battery disposed within the internal cavity and having a second battery chemistry;
a second interface; and
a third interface configured to facilitate electrically coupling the second energy storage device to a load; and
a link device configured to be selectively received within the recess of the second energy storage device, the link device including:
a fourth interface configured to facilitate selectively coupling the link device to the first interface of the first energy storage device;
a fifth interface configured to facilitate selectively coupling the link device to the second interface of the second energy storage device;
a regulator positioned between the fourth interface and the fifth interface; and
a controller configured to:
determine a type of the first battery chemistry and the second battery chemistry; and
control the regulator to regulate a power profile of power provided by the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device based on at least the type of the first battery chemistry and the second battery chemistry such that the second energy storage device can receive the power from the first energy storage device to increase a power capacity of the second energy storage device for at least one of powering or charging the load.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the regulator is a first regulator and the power profile is a first power profile, wherein the link device includes a second regulator, and wherein the controller is configured to control the second regulator to
regulate a second power profile of second power provided by the second energy storage device to the first energy storage device such that the second energy storage device can selectively charge the first energy storage device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the second battery chemistry is a lithium-ion battery chemistry, and wherein the first battery chemistry includes at least one of a lead-acid battery chemistry, a lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry, or a fuel cell battery chemistry.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the second battery chemistry is a lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry, and wherein the first battery chemistry includes at least one of a lead-acid battery chemistry or a fuel cell battery chemistry.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the link device is configured to prioritize charging and discharging of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device such that the first energy storage device is charged first and discharged first.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the link device is configured to prioritize charging and discharging of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device such that the second energy storage device is charged first and discharged first.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the link device is configured to prioritize charging and discharging of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device such that the first energy storage device is charged first and the second energy storage device is discharged first.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the link device is configured to prioritize charging and discharging of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device such that the second energy storage device is charged first and the first energy storage device is discharged first.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the link device is configured to prioritize charging and discharging of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device such that the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are simultaneously charged and discharged.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the second energy storage device functions as a conduit for power transfer from the first energy storage device to the load such that the power received by the second energy storage device from the first energy storage device through the link device is not stored by the second energy storage device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the power received by the second energy storage device from the first energy storage device through the link device is stored by the second energy storage device and then subsequently provided by the second energy storage device to the load.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to facilitate coupling the first energy storage device to the load independent of the second energy storage device such that the first energy storage device can at least one of power or charge the load if the first energy storage device is decoupled from the link device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The energy system of claim 1, further comprising a third energy storage device having a third energy storage chemistry that (i) is different than the second battery chemistry and (ii) is the same as or different than the first battery chemistry, and wherein the link device is configured to facilitate coupling the third energy storage device to the second energy storage device.