# US 11,305,670 B2 · Device and method for controlling battery in vehicle

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- Number: US 11,305,670 B2
- Document ID: US11305670B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/036,331
- Filed: 2020-09-29
- Published: 2021-09-30
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-26
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Dae Kwang Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305670B2

## CPC

- B60L 58/20: having different nominal voltages
- B60L 1/00: Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)
- B60L 50/61: by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
- B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC]
- B60L 58/13: Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
- B60L 58/15: Preventing overcharging
- H02J 7/1423: {with multiple batteries}
- H02J 7/82: Control of state of charge [SOC]
- H02J 7/94: in response to battery current
- B60L 2210/10: DC to DC converters
- B60L 2240/547: Voltage
- H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV]
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- 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
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A device for controlling a battery in a vehicle is provided and includes a sensor that senses states of charge of a plurality of batteries and a controller that controls connection of one of the plurality of batteries to adjust voltages applied to the plurality of batteries and an electronic device based on a determination result of whether a load has occurred on the electronic device connected to the one of the plurality of batteries and a state of charge of the one of the plurality of batteries. Thus, when the load occurs on the electronic device, the device controls the connection of the battery to improve a fuel efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for controlling a battery in a vehicle, comprising:
a sensor configured to sense states of charge of a plurality of batteries;
an alternator configured to adjust the voltages supplied to the plurality of batteries;
a first switch disposed between: a first point connecting the alternator with a first battery of the plurality of batteries, and a second battery of the plurality of batteries;
a second switch disposed between: a second point connecting the second battery with the first switch, and the electronic device;
a third switch disposed between: a third point connecting the second switch with the electronic device, and the first point; and
a controller configured to:
determine whether the state of charge of the second battery exceeds a first reference value in response to determining that the load has occurred on the electronic device;
determine whether the state of charge of the second battery exceeds a second reference value less than the first reference value in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery is less than the first reference value; and
turn on the first switch to connect the alternator and the second battery with each other, to turn on the second switch to connect the second battery and the electronic device with each other, and to turn off the third switch to disconnect the alternator and the electronic device from each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery exceeds the second reference value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to turn off the first switch to disconnect the alternator and the second battery from each other, to turn off the third switch to disconnect the alternator and the electronic device from each other, and to turn on the second switch to connect the second battery and the electronic device with each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery exceeds the first reference value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to turn on the first switch to connect the alternator and the second battery with each other, to turn off the second switch to disconnect the second battery and the electronic device from each other, and to turn on the third switch to connect the alternator and the electronic device with each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery does not exceed the second reference value.

### Claim 4

A method for controlling a battery in a vehicle, comprising:
determining, by a controller, whether a load has occurred on an electronic device connected to one of a plurality of batteries;
adjusting, by an alternator, the voltages supplied to the plurality of batteries;
disposing a first switch between: a first point connecting the alternator and a first battery of the plurality of batteries, and a second battery of the plurality of batteries;
disposing a second switch between: a second point connecting the second battery and the first switch, and the electronic device;
disposing a third switch between: a third point connecting the second switch and the electronic device, and the first point;
determining, by the controller, whether the state of charge of the second battery exceeds a first reference value in response to determining that the load has occurred on the electronic device;
determining, by the controller, whether the state of charge of the second battery exceeds a second reference value less than the first reference value in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery is less than the first reference value; and
turning on, by the controller, the first switch to connect the alternator and the second battery with each other, turning on the second switch to connect the second battery and the electronic device with each other, and turning off the third switch to disconnect the alternator and the electronic device from each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery exceeds the second reference value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
turning off, by the controller, the first switch to disconnect the alternator and the second battery from each other, turning off the third switch to disconnect the alternator and the electronic device from each other, and turning on the second switch to connect the second battery and the electronic device with each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery exceeds the first reference value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
turning on, by the controller, the first switch to connect the alternator and the second battery with each other, turning off the second switch to disconnect the second battery and the electronic device from each other, and turning on the third switch to connect the alternator and the electronic device with each other in response to determining that the state of charge of the second battery is less than the second reference value.