# US 2018/0323638 A1 · Battery balancing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323638 A1 - Document ID: US20180323638A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/960,862 - Filed: 2018-04-24 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-04 - Assignees: Volvo Car Corporation - Applicants: Volvo Car Corporation - Inventors: Andreas ERIKSSON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323638A1 ## CPC - H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors} - B60L 15/007: {Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles} - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60L 58/13: Maintaining the SoC within a determined range - B60L 58/18: of two or more battery modules - B60L 58/20: having different nominal voltages - B60L 58/22: Balancing the charge of battery modules - F02N 11/0866: {comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries} - G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC - G05F 1/66: Regulating electric power - B60L 2210/12: Buck converters - B60L 2210/14: Boost converters - B60L 2240/547: Voltage - B60L 2240/549: Current - B60R 16/033: characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) - F02N 11/0814: {comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop} - F02N 2011/0888: {DC/DC converters} - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - 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 - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A voltage supply unit is described, provided with a first output adapted to supply a first voltage to a first load and provided with a second output adapted to supply a second voltage to a second load. The voltage supply unit includes a first battery stack, a second battery stack and an electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit is adapted to regulate the energy state of the first battery stack to a first energy state, and to regulate the energy state of the second battery stack to a second energy state, where the first energy state differs from the second energy state. Power characteristics of the voltage supply unit can be optimized by allowing the energy states of the first and the second battery stacks to differ. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage supply unit, provided with a first output configured to supply a first voltage to a first load and provided with a second output configured to supply a second voltage to a second load, the voltage supply unit comprising: a first battery stack; a second battery stack; and an electronic control unit configured to regulate an energy state of the first battery stack to a first energy state, and to regulate an energy state of the second battery stack to a second energy state, where the first energy state differs from the second energy state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage supply unit according to claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit is adapted to control the energy state of the first battery stack to be within a predefined SoC-window. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The voltage supply unit according to claim 2 wherein the predefined SoC-window is altered in dependency of a load condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The voltage supply unit according to claim 2 wherein the electronic control unit is adapted to control an energy transfer to the second battery stack from the first battery stack when the energy state of the first battery stack is above the predefined SoC-window. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The voltage supply unit according to claim 2 wherein the electronic control unit is adapted to control an energy transfer to the first battery stack from the second battery stack when the energy state of the first battery stack is below the predefined SoC-window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The voltage supply unit according to claim 4 wherein the energy is transferred through a DC/DC converter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The voltage supply unit according to claim 1 wherein the voltage supply unit comprises a second switch adapted to disconnect the second load from the second output if the current delivered by the first output exceeds a predefined limit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The voltage supply unit according to claim 1 wherein the DC/DC converter is adapted to charge the battery by an external voltage supply connected to the second output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the voltage supply unit of claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9 wherein a predefined SoC-window of the first battery stack is altered in dependency of a driving condition of the vehicle. ### Claim 12 A method for regulating energy states of a battery comprising a first battery stack and a second battery stack, the method comprising: regulating an energy state of the first battery stack to a first energy state; and regulating an energy state of the second battery stack to a second energy state, where the first energy state differs from the second energy state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 further comprising transferring energy to the second battery stack from the first battery stack when the energy state of the first battery stack is above a predefined SoC-window. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored computer executable instructions for use in regulating energy states of a battery comprising a first battery stack and a second battery stack, the instructions for execution by a processor and memory to: regulate an energy state of the first battery stack to a first energy state; and regulate an energy state of the second battery stack to a second energy state, where the first energy state differs from the second energy state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising computer executable instructions for execution by the processor and memory to transfer energy to the second battery stack from the first battery stack when the energy state of the first battery stack is above a predefined SoC-window.