Power supply system and method for supplying power to a vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRonald Elder, Michael Degner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power supply system is provided that can operate with energy storage units of varying voltages and temperatures, that can correct voltage and temperature deviations, and that can continue to provide power when an energy storage unit is inoperable. A power supply system is also provided that can recondition an energy storage unit during vehicle operation.
Claims18
A power supply system for a vehicle including an electrical system arrangement configured to receive and output electrical energy, the power supply system comprising:
- first and second energy storage units, each of the units being capable of receiving and storing electrical energy, and further capable of outputting electrical energy;
- and
- an electrical converter connected to the first and second energy storage units and the electrical system arrangement, the first and second energy storage units being connected to the converter in an electrical circuit such that the first and second energy storage units are selectively electrically connected in parallel to each other and the converter, the converter being operable to receive energy from the first and second energy storage units and to concurrently transfer the energy received from the first and second energy storage units at differing rates to the electrical system arrangement;
- and
- a control system in communication with the converter and including at least one controller, the control system being configured to determine information related to at least one respective operating characteristic of each of the first and second energy storage units, and to independently control the respective rates of energy transferred from each of the first and second energy storage units at least partly in response to the at least one respective operating characteristic.
A power supply system for a vehicle including at least one electrical load connected to an electrical bus, the power supply system comprising:
- a plurality of battery modules, each of the battery modules including at least one battery cell;
- and
- an electrical converter connected to the electrical bus and the battery modules, the converter being operable to transfer energy from each of the battery modules to the electrical bus at differing rates;
- and
- a control system in communication with the converter and including at least one controller, the control system being configured to determine information related to at least one respective operating characteristic of each of the battery modules, and to independently control the respective rates of energy transferred from each of the battery modules at least partly in response to the at least one respective operating characteristic.
A method of providing power to a vehicle, the vehicle including first and second energy storage units and an electrical system arrangement configured to receive and output electrical energy, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one respective operating characteristic of each of the first and second energy storage units;
- concurrently transferring energy from the first and second energy storage units to the electrical system arrangement at differing rates;
- and
- independently controlling the selective transferring of energy from each of the first and second energy storage units at least partly in response to the at least one respective operating characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.