US 11,689,043 B2Granted

Systems and methods for regulating charging of an electric aircraft

AssigneeBeta Air, LLC

InventorHerman Wiegman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system for regulating charging of an electric aircraft includes a charging connector and a controller communicatively connected to the charging connector. The charging connector includes a housing, at least a conductor, and at least a control signal conductor. The housing is configured to mate with an electric aircraft port of an electric aircraft. The at least a conductor is configured to conduct a current. The at least a control signal conductor is configured to conduct a control signal. The controller is configured to receive a voltage datum from the electric aircraft, and regulate a charging voltage, as a function of the voltage datum, to the electric aircraft. Regulation of the charging voltage includes charging at least a battery of the electric aircraft in a plurality of phases including a first charging phase at a constant current and a second charging phase at a constant voltage.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A system for regulating charging of an electric aircraft, the system comprising:

a charging connector, wherein the charging connector comprises:
a housing configured to mate with an electric aircraft port of an electric aircraft;
at least a conductor configured to conduct a current;
and
at least a control signal conductor configured to conduct a control signal, wherein each of the at least a conductor and the at least a control signal conductor are configured to make a connection with a mating component on the electric aircraft port when the housing is mated with the electric aircraft port;
and
a controller communicatively connected to the charging connector, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a voltage datum, through the at least a control signal conductor, from the electric aircraft;
regulate a charging voltage, as a function of the voltage datum, through the at least a conductor, to the electric aircraft, wherein regulating the charging voltage further comprises:
charging at least a battery of the electric aircraft in a plurality of phases;
wherein in a first charging phase the at least a battery is charged at a first constant current;
and
wherein in a second charging phase the at least a battery is charged at a constant voltage;
and
wherein in a third charging phase the at least a battery is charged at a second constant current that differs from the first constant current;
and
optimizing each of the plurality of phases based on data from one or more sensors communicatively connected to the controller as a function of the charging phases;
and
control a coolant flow, as a function of a control signal received through the at least a control signal conductor, to the at least a battery.

16 more elements

A method for regulating charging of an electric aircraft, the method comprising:

mating a housing of a charging connector with an electric aircraft port of an electric aircraft, wherein the charging connector further comprises:
at least a conductor configured to conduct a current;
and
at least a control signal conductor configured to conduct a control signal;
wherein mating the housing of the charging connector with the electric aircraft port further comprises connecting each of the at least a conductor and the at least a control signal conductor with a mating component on the electric aircraft port;
receiving, by a controller communicatively connected to the charging connector, a voltage datum, through the at least a control signal conductor, from the electric aircraft;
regulating, by the controller, a charging voltage, as a function of the voltage datum, through the at least a conductor, to the electric aircraft, wherein regulating the charging voltage further comprises:
charging, by the charging connector, at least a battery of the electric aircraft in a plurality of phases, wherein charging the at least a battery further comprises:
charging, in a first charging phase, the at least a battery at a first constant current;
and
charging, in a second charging phase, the at least a battery at a constant voltage;
and
charging, in a third charging phase, the at least a battery at a second constant current that differs from the first constant current;
and
optimizing, by the controller, each of the plurality of phases based on data from one or more sensors communicatively connected to the controller as a function of the charging phases;
and
controlling a coolant flow, as a function of a control signal received through the at least a control signal conductor, to the at least a battery.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/515,521Filed 31 Oct 2021
Published: US 2023/0136908 A14 May 2023
Granted: 27 Jun 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification33 codes

H02J 7/40
Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries: characterised by the exchange of charge or…
B60L 50/60
Using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells: using power supplied by batteries
B60L 53/16
Conductive energy transfer: connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
B60L 53/22
Characterised by converters located in the vehicle: constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging…