Secondary battery housing with control electronics

• US 10,256,511 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bren-Tronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bren-Tronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Clemente, Tullio, Squillante, Alan, Ilkhanov, Azer, Kahn, Jarred, Sandler, David, Paczkowski, Henry, Burke, Peter J., Fung, Sai
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US15/166,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20160372801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 320112
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4264 with capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/242 adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/18 for batteries; for accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0014 Circuits for equalisation of charge between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 : of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 : with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 : Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 : Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

Rechargeable cells in cylindrical form are arranged within frames in a honeycomb structure and coupled by connecting straps outside the frames to form cell pack. Several cell packs, an electronic switch and control circuit are integrated into the battery housing. A bus bar extends around the perimeter of the housing. A high density MOSFET switch is coupled between the bur bar and the battery contact. A high power electronic clamp disposed across the battery terminals absorbs or redirects transients. An active, high-efficiency, low-noise cell balance converter or a LC based resonant converter may also be provided. For advanced battery applications a +5V CAN bus interface is provided via two circular connectors. Thermistors are provided for use in a thermal protection scheme.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electronically controlling and mechanically coupling cells together within a battery housing comprising:

a plurality of cells having a cylindrical shape and a diameter;

two end frames each having a plurality of cell-receiving cups arranged in rows, wherein adjacent rows are staggered from each other by one-half of the cell diameter so that said cells are retained within the end frames in a honeycomb configuration to form a cell pack, wherein said cell-receiving cups have an annular ring capped on one end with a circular bottom having an aperture therethrough;

connecting tabs extending across adjacent cups and electrically soldered to said cells through said apertures to sandwich the end frames between said cells and said connecting tabs; and

a control circuit including an LC steered resonant flyback converter with a zero voltage MOSFET switch for switching of sinusoidal waveforms at the self-resonant frequency of the LC steered resonant flyback converter to maintain all of said cells at the same potential voltage and state of charge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cells, said zero voltage MOSFET switch and the first inductor (L) are in a series loop and a first diode and the first capacitor (C) in parallel with said zero voltage MOSFET switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a transformer having said first inductor (L) as the primary winding and including a secondary winding in series with a second diode and a second output capacitor, wherein the transformer output is in parallel with said second output capacitor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said end frame includes an internal side facing said cells and including said cell-receiving cups, and an opposed external side with channels for receiving said connecting tabs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said internal side of said end frame includes support posts extending off of said annular rings with tapered ends that align said cell within said cell-receiving cup.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said support posts are disposed between selected groups of three adjacent cell-receiving cups.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein selected ones of said support posts have a triangular cross-sectional shape with the three sides being concave with a curvature matching the cylindrical shape of said cells.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including thermal fuses electrically connected to said cells which blow under excessive currents, and potting compound surrounding said thermal fuses and part of the connection to the cells to insulate the thermal fuses from heat generated from normal cell operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cells are Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a strip heater intertwined between said cells in the separation formed by said honeycomb configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a smart bus and a multi-pin connector mounted to said battery housing and coupled to said control circuit including a low voltage pin to supply low voltage and activate smart bus function, a high voltage pin to supply high voltage and activate the smart bus function;

a high communication signal pin, a low communication signal pin and a ground pin;

wherein the smart bus provides state of charge, voltage, current and other battery information.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further including a visual display mounted to said battery housing and coupled to said smart bus to indicate the battery state of charge.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a thermal protection system comprising:

a thermistor to sense battery temperature and output temperature data; and

a microprocessor coupled to said thermistor for sampling the temperature data, digitally filtering said samples to generate parameters, and collectively analyzing said parameters to determine the sample validity.

14. An apparatus for electronically controlling and mechanically coupling cells together within a battery housing comprising:

a plurality of cells having a cylindrical shape and a diameter;

two end frames each having a plurality of cell-receiving cups arranged in rows, wherein adjacent rows are staggered from each other by one-half of the cell diameter so that said cells are retained within the end frames in a honeycomb configuration to form a cell pack, wherein said cell-receiving cups have an annular ring capped on one end with a circular bottom having an aperture therethrough;

connecting tabs extending across adjacent cups and electrically soldered to said cells through said apertures to sandwich the end frames between said cells and said connecting tabs; and

a control circuit including an isolated steered current resonant converter to provide a high side power supply for a MOSFET switch where energy will be transferred back and forth between an inductor (L) and a first capacitor (C);

wherein said cells, said MOSFET switch and said inductor (L) are in a series loop and a first diode and said first capacitor (C) are in parallel with said MOSFET switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a transformer having said inductor (L) as the primary winding and including a second winding in series with a second diode and a second output capacitor, wherein the transformer output is in parallel with said second capacitor.

16. An apparatus for electronically controlling and mechanically coupling cells together within a battery housing comprising:

a plurality of cells having a cylindrical shape and a diameter;

two end frames each having a plurality of cell-receiving cups arranged in rows, wherein adjacent rows are staggered from each other by one-half of the cell diameter so that said cells are retained within the end frames in a honeycomb configuration to form a cell pack, wherein said cell-receiving cups have an annular ring capped on one end with a circular bottom having an aperture therethrough;

connecting tabs extending across adjacent cups and electrically soldered to said cells through said apertures to sandwich the end frames between said cells and said connecting tabs;

an electronic switch and a control circuit including and LC resonant converter to maintain all of said cells at the same potential and state of charge; and

isolation mounts and a five-sided pocket, wherein said end frame includes slots along its periphery which have a height equal to the height of said annular rings, wherein said isolation mounts are installed in said slots to absorb shock and vibration by distancing the cell pack from the internal surfaces of the five-sided pocket when the cell pack is disposed therein to form a pocketed cell pack.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the battery housing further includes:

a tray cover attached to said battery housing and forming the sixth side of said five-sided pockets, wherein said isolation mounts distance the cell pack from the bottom surface of said tray cover.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including a negative bus bar disposed within the tray, a positive bus bar disposed within the tray, and said electronic switch and control circuit disposed within the tray.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each cell pack includes one set of connecting tabs that electrically terminate in a negative cell pack terminal and another set of connecting tabs that electrically terminate in a positive cell pack terminal, wherein said pocketed cell packs are arranged within said battery housing so that said negative cell pack terminals are located in the middle of said battery housing and said positive cell pack terminals are at the edge of said battery housing, wherein said negative bus bar is located in the middle of said tray cover directly above, and in electrical connection with, the negative cell pack terminals.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said positive bus bar is a continuous rectangular metal frame disposed around the edge of said tray cover directly above, and in electrical connection with, the said positive cell pack terminals.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said continuous rectangular metal frame structurally supports said tray cover around its periphery where it is bonded to said battery housing.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further including a positive battery output terminal, wherein said electronic switch comprises a high density bidirectional MOSFET switch having a plurality of bilateral paths in parallel with cell balancing resistors so that all paths transmit the same current, wherein said high density bidirectional MOSFET switch electrically couples said cells to said positive bus bar, wherein said positive bus bar is a heat sink for said MOSFET switch.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further including a negative battery output terminal electrically coupled to said negative bus bar, and positive and negative battery posts which are keyed for connection to said positive and negative battery output terminals, respectively, where said positive battery post includes keying which is different from said battery post keying.

24. An apparatus for electronically controlling and mechanically coupling cells together within a battery housing comprising

a plurality of cells having a cylindrical shape and a diameter;

two end frames each having a plurality of cell-receiving cups arranged in rows, wherein adjacent rows are staggered from each other by one-half of the cell diameter so that said cells are retained within the end frames in a honeycomb configuration to form a cell pack, wherein said cell-receiving cups have an annular ring capped on one end with a circular bottom having an aperture therethrough,

connecting tabs extending across adjacent cups and electrically soldered to said cells through said apertures to sandwich the end frames between said cells and said connecting tabs; and

an electronic switch and a control circuit including;

an LC resonant converter to maintain all of said cells at the same potential voltage and state of charge; and

a clamp having a second switch and a capacitor arranged in series with said cells, wherein said capacitor comprises an energy reservoir to absorb currents when said second switch is open;

said clamp further includes a diode in parallel with said capacitor and coupled across the positive and negative terminals of said cell so that current continues to flow while the voltage across the battery is clamped.