Voltage disconnect architecture
First Claim
1. A disconnect architecture for use with a system having a battery pack, a positive bus rail, and a negative bus rail, the disconnect architecture comprising:
- a mid-pack low-power (LP) relay positioned between the positive and negative rails at a mid-stack point of the battery pack, wherein the mid-pack LP relay is operable to create an open circuit between series-connected cells of the battery pack when commanded open;
a pack fuse positioned between the mid-pack LP relay and the positive bus rail, and configured to open in response to a dead short condition of the system;
a pair of semiconductor switches positioned in electrical parallel with the mid-pack LP relay; and
a sequencer circuit configured to selectively turn on the semiconductor switches and thereby coordinate a flow of electrical current through the semiconductor switches and the mid-pack LP relay in response to a detected partial short condition of the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disconnect architecture for use with a system having a battery pack and positive and negative bus rails includes a mid-pack low-power (LP) relay, a fuse, semiconductor switches, and a sequencer circuit. The mid-pack LP relay is positioned between the rails at a mid-stack point of the battery pack, and divides a voltage across the battery pack when commanded open. The fuse is positioned between the mid-pack LP relay and the positive bus rail, and opens in response to a dead short condition of the system. The semiconductor switches are positioned in electrical parallel with the mid-pack LP relay. The sequencer circuit selectively turns on the semiconductor switches and thereby coordinates a flow of electrical current through the semiconductor switches and the mid-pack LP relay in response to a detected partial short condition of the system. A system includes the battery pack, bus rails, and disconnect architecture.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A disconnect architecture for use with a system having a battery pack, a positive bus rail, and a negative bus rail, the disconnect architecture comprising:
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a mid-pack low-power (LP) relay positioned between the positive and negative rails at a mid-stack point of the battery pack, wherein the mid-pack LP relay is operable to create an open circuit between series-connected cells of the battery pack when commanded open; a pack fuse positioned between the mid-pack LP relay and the positive bus rail, and configured to open in response to a dead short condition of the system; a pair of semiconductor switches positioned in electrical parallel with the mid-pack LP relay; and a sequencer circuit configured to selectively turn on the semiconductor switches and thereby coordinate a flow of electrical current through the semiconductor switches and the mid-pack LP relay in response to a detected partial short condition of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a battery pack having a plurality of cells; positive and negative bus rails; and a disconnect architecture having; a mid-pack low-power (LP) relay positioned between the positive and negative bus rails at a mid-stack point of the battery pack and operable to create an open circuit between series-connected cells of the battery pack when commanded open; a pack fuse positioned between the mid-pack LP relay and the positive bus rail, and configured to open in response to a dead short condition of the system; a pair of semiconductor switches positioned in electrical parallel with the mid-pack LP relay; and a sequencer circuit configured to selectively turn on the semiconductor switches and thereby coordinate a flow of electrical current through the semiconductor switches and the additional LP relay in response to a detected partial short condition of the system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification