US 9,789,784 B2Granted

Maintaining a vehicle battery

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsCathleen Tistle, Mark Eifert, Christopher Semanson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method is provided for determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery. A charge current from a battery charging circuit is provided. If a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point and the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, timer is started. If the timer reaches a time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point, the charge current is reduced.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

determining a lower voltage set-point, an upper voltage set-point, a temperature-dependent upper current set-point, a time limit value, and a lower current hysteresis threshold set-point based on a measured temperature of a battery;
providing a charge current from a battery charging circuit;
determining if a charge voltage is above the lower voltage set-point and below the upper voltage set-point;
and
determining whether the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, and if so,
starting a timer if, in addition to the charge current exceeding the temperature-dependent upper current set-point, the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point;
and,
if the timer reaches the time limit value while the charge current exceeds the temperature-dependent upper current set-point and the charge voltage is between the lower voltage set-point and the upper voltage set-point,
reducing the charge current below the lower current hysteresis threshold set-point when the timer expires.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/710,936Filed 13 May 2015
Published: US 2016/0332533 A117 Nov 2016
Granted: 17 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification25 codes

H02J 7/977
In response to temperature: of the battery
B60L 53/62
Monitoring or controlling charging stations: in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
B60L 58/15
Responding to state of charge [SoC]: preventing overcharging
B60L 58/25
For controlling the temperature of batteries: by controlling the electric load