# US 8,569,656 B2 · Electrical storage device heater for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,569,656 B2 - Document ID: US8569656B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/115,564 - Filed: 2011-05-25 - Published: 2011-11-10 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-07-23 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Douglas Zhu; Jacob Mathews; Pax Maguire; Patrick Padgett - Inventors: Douglas Zhu; Jacob Mathews; Pax Maguire; Patrick Padgett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8569656B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/63: Control systems (charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 {, H01M10/443}; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 {, H01M10/486}) - B60L 58/24: for controlling the temperature of batteries - B60L 58/27: by heating - F02N 11/0862: {characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery} - F02N 19/02: Aiding engine start by thermal means, e.g. using lighted wicks - H01M 10/615: Heating or keeping warm - B60K 6/28: characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors - B60K 2001/008: {with means for heating the electrical propulsion units} - B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters - B60W 2510/244: Charge state - B60W 2510/246: Temperature - F02N 11/0866: {comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries} - F02N 11/14: Starting of engines by means of electric starters with external current supply (F02N11/12 takes precedence) - F02N 2200/064: Battery temperature - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - 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 - 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 - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A heater system for an electrical storage device, such as a high voltage traction battery, is connectable to an external AC power source maintain a proper temperature of the battery as long as the system remains connected to the external power source. The battery temperature can be maintained at a level that ensures that the vehicle will start even in extremely cold climates. The heater system includes a heater disposed within the battery itself. Other system components, such as an AC/DC converter and a control module, may be connected to the battery heater system outside of the battery, allowing the battery heater system to act as a modular component that can be easily included in or excluded from a vehicle as an option, either alone or in a package with an engine block heater. The battery heater system is designed so that it can be connected along with the engine block heater to the AC power source using a single common connector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery heater system for a vehicle, comprising: an external power source; a battery system that is powered by said external power source, wherein said battery system includes a battery cell, a heater that selectively heats said battery cell, and a switch that selectively couples said heater to said external power source; and a controller that controls the operation of said heater by selectively operating said switch to couple said heater to said external power source, wherein said controller is powered by a second power source that is separate from said external power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is disposed outside of said battery system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, comprising an AC/DC converter connected between said external power source and said battery system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said AC/DC converter is disposed outside of said battery system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said external power source includes a battery located on-board said vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller monitors said battery system even when said battery system is unconnected to said external power source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery cell includes one of a nickel metal hydride cell and a lead acid cell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second power source includes a low voltage battery having a nominal voltage output of approximately 10 volts to 15 volts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said external power source is a 120V AC power source and said second power source includes a low voltage battery having a nominal voltage output of approximately 10 volts to 15 volts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said switch is closed to heat said battery cell if a temperature of said battery system falls below a temperature threshold and said switch is opened to stop heating said battery cell if the temperature of said battery system is above said temperature threshold. ### Claim 11 A battery heater system for a vehicle, comprising: an external power source; a battery system that is powered by said external power source, wherein said battery system includes a battery cell, a heater that selectively heats said battery cell, and a switch that selectively couples said heater to said external power source; a controller that controls the operation of said heater by selectively operating said switch to couple said heater to said external power source, wherein said controller is powered by a second power source that is separate from said external power source; and an engine block heater that is coupled to said battery system and is powered by said external power source, wherein said engine block heater and said battery system are connected to said battery system through a single connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system as recited in claim 11, comprising an AC/DC converter connected between said external power source and said battery system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said AC/DC converter is disposed outside of said battery system. ### Claim 14 A method for controlling a battery heater system for a vehicle, comprising the steps of: checking whether a key is in a vehicle ignition of the vehicle; checking a temperature of the battery heater system; checking whether the battery heater system is receiving an AC/DC active signal; closing a switch to heat a battery cell of the battery heater system if the temperature of the battery heater system falls below a temperature threshold; opening the switch to stop heating the battery cell of the battery heater system if the temperature of the battery heater system is above the temperature threshold; and periodically awakening from a sleep mode to re-check the temperature of the battery heater system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, comprising the steps of: remaining in the sleep mode for a selected time period; awakening from the sleep mode after the selected time period; and rechecking whether the battery heater system is receiving the AC/DC active signal after the step of awakening from the sleep mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, comprising the steps of: rechecking the temperature of the battery heater system if the AC/CD active signal is received; and reentering the sleep mode if the temperature is below the temperature threshold.