Solid state switch for vehicle energy-storage systems

• US 10,407,004 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faraday & Future Inc.
• Inventors: Harris, W. Porter, Sampson, Nicholas John
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US14/864,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• 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 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• 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 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/509 characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Provided are battery coupling systems. The system may comprise a first terminal electrically coupled to a vehicle electrical system; and a first contactor electrically coupled to a first battery connection of a battery and the first terminal, the first contactor comprising a first solid state switch for selectively coupling and decoupling the first battery connection to and from the first terminal, using a first control signal. The system may also comprise a second terminal electrically coupled to the vehicle electrical system; and a second contactor electrically coupled to a second battery connection of the battery and the second terminal, the second contactor comprising a second solid state switch for selectively coupling and decoupling the second battery connection to and from the second terminal, using a second control signal.

Claims

1. A battery coupling system comprising:

a first terminal electrically coupled to a vehicle electrical system;

a first contactor electrically coupled to a first battery connection of a battery and the first terminal, the first contactor comprising a first solid state switch for selectively coupling and decoupling the first battery connection to and from the first terminal, using a first control signal;

a second terminal electrically coupled to the vehicle electrical system;

a second contactor electrically coupled to a second battery connection of the battery and the second terminal, the second contactor comprising a second solid state switch for selectively coupling and decoupling the second battery connection to and from the second terminal, using a second control signal;

a first fuse electrically coupling the first contactor to the first battery connection, the first fuse configured to interrupt current flow between the first contactor and the first battery connection in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined current lower than a rated current of the first contactor;

a second fuse electrically coupling the second contactor to the second battery connection, the second fuse configured to interrupt current flow between the first contactor and the first battery connection in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined current lower than a rated current of the second contactor; and

an enclosure comprising a tray having the battery, the first contactor, and the second contactor disposed therein, the tray comprising a first bus bar electrically coupling the first contactor to the first terminal and a second bus bar electrically coupling the second contactor to the second terminal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the first battery connection has a first electrical polarity and the second battery connection has a second electrical polarity, the first electrical polarity being opposite of the second electrical polarity; and

the first terminal has a third electrical polarity and the second terminal has a fourth electrical polarity, the third electrical polarity being opposite of the fourth electrical polarity.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first solid state switch and the second solid state switch are each at least one of a:

a thyristor, semiconductor-controlled rectifier (SCR), power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and triode for alternating current (TRIAC).

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a controller providing the first and second control signals.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the battery comprises:

a plurality of modules, each module comprising;

two half modules coupled together, each half module comprising;

a plurality of cylindrical rechargeable lithium-ion cells each having a first end and a second end, the first end distal from the second end, and having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal being disposed at the first end.