US 11,173,803 B2Granted

Reconfigurable micro-grid

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsKrishna Prasad Bhat, Jacek Brauner, Xi Lu, Theodore Joseph Filippi, Ke Zou, Allan Roy Gale, Michael W. Degner

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Abstract

A vehicle system includes a converter, outlets, and a switching arrangement electrically between the outlets and the converter. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a first request, operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a line and a neutral to a first outlet and operate the converter to output single-phase power to the first outlet. Responsive to a second request, the controller is configured to operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a plurality of lines and not the neutral to a second outlet, and operate the converter to output three-phase power to the second outlet.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A vehicle system comprising:

a converter;
first, second, third, and fourth outlets,
wherein the third and fourth outlets are each in selective electrical communication with the converter,
wherein the third outlet has an electrical parameter configuration that is different than the first and second outlets, and
wherein the fourth outlet has another electrical parameter configuration that is different than the first, second, and third outlets;
a switching arrangement electrically between the outlets and converter;
and a controller programmed to, responsive to a first request, operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a line and neutral to the first outlet and operate the converter to output single-phase power to the first outlet, and responsive to a second request,
operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a plurality of lines and not the neutral to the second outlet, and
operate the converter to output three-phase power to the second outlet,
wherein the switching arrangement includes a first contactor group configured to selectively electrically connect the first outlet to the converter, and
a second contactor group configured to selectively electrically connect the second outlet to the converter,
wherein the first contactor group includes a first contactor configured to selectively electrically connect the first outlet to the line,
a second contactor configured to selectively connect the first outlet to the neutral, and
a third contactor configured to selectively electrically connect the first outlet to a ground line, and
wherein the second contactor group includes a fourth contactor configured selectively electrically connect the second outlet to the line,
a fifth contactor configured to selectively electrically connect the second outlet to a second line,
a sixth contactor configured to selectively electrically connect the second outlet to a third line, and
a seventh contactor configured to selectively electrically connect the second outlet to the ground line.

15 more elements

A vehicle system comprising:

first and second converters;
first, second, third, and fourth outlets,
wherein the third and fourth outlets are each in selective electrical communication with the first converter,
wherein the third outlet has an electrical parameter configuration that is different than the first and second outlets, and wherein the fourth outlet has another electrical parameter configuration that is different than the first, second, and third outlets;
a switching arrangement electrically between the outlets and first converter;
and a controller programmed to,
responsive to a first request,
operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a line and neutral to the first outlet and operate the first converter to output single-phase power to the first outlet, and
responsive to a second request,
operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a plurality of lines and not the neutral to the second outlet, and
operate the first converter to output three-phase power to the second outlet,
responsive to a third request,
operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a second line, and not the line, to the third outlet, and
operate the first converter and the second converter to output single-phase power in parallel to the third outlet, and
responsive to a fourth request,
operate the switching arrangement to electrically connect a third line, and not the line or the second line, to the fourth outlet, and
operate the first converter and the second converter to output single-phase power in parallel to the fourth outlet.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/166,330Filed 22 Oct 2018
Published: US 2020/0122585 A123 Apr 2020
Granted: 16 Nov 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification27 codes

B60L 55/00
Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network
G05B 19/0426
Using digital processors: programming the control sequence
B60L 1/006
Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles: to power outlets
B60L 53/22
Characterised by converters located in the vehicle: constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging…