Modular electronically reconfigurable battery system

A hybrid electric vehicle, comprising:

• a prime mover for providing a primary source of propulsion energy to a vehicle load;
• an electronically reconfigurable battery for providing a secondary source of propulsion energy to said vehicle load, and for providing a source of energy for a short-term and/or pulsed load provided on said vehicle, said electronically reconfigurable battery comprising:
• a first plurality of battery modules;
• a plurality of switches selectively interconnecting said plurality of battery modules, wherein a selectable number of said plurality of battery modules are capable of being connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states;
• an output switch connecting a first output terminal of said battery to said short-term and/or pulsed load;
• and
• a second output terminal of said battery being connected to said vehicle load;
• wherein each of said plurality of battery modules is associated with at least three of said plurality of switches, one of which connects said battery module in series with an adjacent battery module when closed, and the other two of which connect said battery module in parallel with the adjacent battery module when closed, such that when said one switch is closed, said other two switches are open, and when said switch is open, said other two switches are closed.

An electronically reconfigurable battery comprising:

• a first battery module including positive and negative terminals;
• a second battery module including positive and negative terminals, wherein the second battery module is adjacent to the first battery module;
• an output switch, wherein the positive terminal of the first battery module is connected to the output switch;
• a first switch connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module with the positive terminal of the second battery module when closed;
• a second switch connecting the positive terminal of the second battery module with the positive terminal of the first battery module when closed;
• and
• a third switch connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module with the negative terminal of the second battery module when closed.

A system comprising:

• electronically reconfigurable battery comprising:
• a first battery module including positive and negative terminals;
• a second battery module including positive and negative terminals, wherein the second battery module is adjacent to the first battery module;
• an output switch, wherein the positive terminal of the first battery module is connected to the output switch;
• a first switch connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module with the positive terminal of the second battery module when closed;
• a second switch connecting the positive terminal of the second battery module with the positive terminal of the first battery module when closed;
• and
• a third switch connecting the negative terminal of the first battery module with the negative terminal of the second battery module when closed;
• and
• power electronic circuitry configured to connect the first and second battery modules in either (a) a series configuration by closing the first switch and opening the second and third switches or (b) in a parallel configuration by opening the first switch and closing the second and third switches.