Advanced battery controller with state of charge control
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorsThomas J. Dougherty, William P. Segall, Michael E. Iverson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Battery powered equipment is provide with a controller which monitors the voltage supplied by the battery. Should the battery voltage drop below a preset level when the equipment is inactive, the controller disconnects non-essential loads of the equipment from the battery to conserve what charge remains in the battery. When used with a motor vehicle the controller may be tied into the security system and disable the ignition during inactive periods unless the proper reactivation signal is received.
Claims20
In a vehicle having an electric motor for starting an engine, an alternator driven by the engine to generate electricity, and vehicle loads, a battery system comprising:
- a first battery for selectively powering the electric motor to start the engine, the first battery having a first charge level;
- a second battery to operate and maintain the vehicle loads, the second battery being connected to the alternator and having a second charge level;
- a charging switch in a first circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator, the charging switch connecting the first battery to the second battery and the alternator;
- a charge maintenance device in a second circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator for charging the first battery to a predefined level;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first battery to monitor the first charge level and coupled to the second battery to monitor the second charge level, the controller enabling and disabling the charge maintenance device in response to the first charge level, and the controller opening and closing the charging switch in response to the second charge level.
In a vehicle having an electric motor for starting an engine, an alternator driven by the engine to generate electricity, and vehicle loads, a battery system comprising:
- a first battery for selectively powering the electric motor to start the engine, the first battery having a first voltage level;
- a second battery to operate and maintain the vehicle loads, the second battery being connected to the alternator and having a second voltage level;
- a charging switch in a first circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator, the charging switch connecting the first battery to the second battery and the alternator;
- a charge maintenance device in a second circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator for charging the first battery to a predefined voltage level;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first battery to monitor the first voltage level and coupled to the second battery to monitor the second voltage level,
- wherein the controller enables the charge maintenance device in response to the first voltage level being less than a first reference voltage, and disables the charge maintenance device in response to the first voltage level being greater than a second reference voltage, the first reference voltage being less than the second reference voltage, and
- the controller closes the charging switch in response to second voltage level being less than a third reference voltage, and opens the charging switch in response to the second voltage level being greater than a fourth reference voltage, the third reference voltage being less than the fourth reference voltage.
In a vehicle having an electric motor for starting an engine, an alternator driven by the engine to generate electricity, and vehicle loads, a battery system comprising:
- a first battery for selectively powering the electric motor to start the engine, the first battery having a first voltage level;
- second battery to operate and maintain the vehicle loads, the second battery being connected to the alternator and having a second voltage level;
- a charging switch in a first circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator, the charging switch connecting the first battery to the second battery and the alternator;
- a charge maintenance device in a second circuit path between the first battery and the second battery and the alternator for charging the first battery to a predefined voltage level;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first battery to monitor the first voltage level and coupled to the second battery to monitor the second voltage level,
- wherein the controller enables the charge maintenance device in response to the first voltage level being less than a first reference voltage, and disables the charge maintenance device in response to the first voltage level being greater than a second reference voltage, the first reference voltage being less than the second reference voltage, and
- the controller closes the charging switch in response to second voltage level being less than a third reference voltage, and opens the charging switch in response to the second voltage level being greater than a fourth reference voltage, the third reference voltage being less than the fourth reference voltage, and
- the controller closes the cging switch after engine starting until the first battery is charged, and
- the charge maintenance device responds to an enable signal from the controller by applying a series of current pulses to recharge the first battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.