Multiple battery management system, auxiliary battery attachment system, and network controlled multiple battery system

• US 20050035741A1
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Original Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Inventors: Elder, David, Bruno, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/122 Multimode batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/59 characterised by the protection means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0019 using switched or multiplexed charge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and network controlled multiple battery system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an at least one auxiliary battery having an at least one auxiliary positive output and an at least one auxiliary negative output. A main electrical circuit having an at least one switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively couple the main and at least one auxiliary battery to the common positive terminal. In the first of the at least two operating positions electrical charge is provided to both the main battery and the at least one auxiliary battery. A controller is also provided and coupled to the main electrical circuit and switches the at least one switching device based on input from an at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A multiple battery management system comprising:

a common positive and common negative terminal;

an at least one main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output;

an at least one auxiliary battery having an auxiliary positive output and an auxiliary negative output; and

a battery management system comprising an at least one controller, an at least one switching device, an at least one recharging selection mechanism, and an at least one sensor, wherein the battery management system selectively couples the common positive terminal with at least one of the at least one main positive battery output or the at least one auxiliary battery positive output and the at least one recharging selection mechanism selectively couples to at least one of the at least one main or at least one auxiliary battery by coupling, through the at least one one-way charging circuit that proceeds the recharging selection mechanism, the common positive terminal with the respective at least on battery.

2. The multiple battery management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one recharging selection mechanism is one of an at least one relay or an at least one MOSFET or similar solid state electrical component.

3. The multiple battery management system of claim 2, wherein the at least one switching device has at least two operating positions and a first operating position of the at least two operating positions couples the common positive terminal to the main positive output of the at least one main battery.

4. The multiple battery management system of claim 3, wherein second of the two operating positions couples the common positive terminal through the at least one switching device to the auxiliary positive output of the at least one auxiliary battery.

5. The multiple battery management system of claim 4, wherein the at least one recharging selection mechanism has at least two settings, a first setting wherein recharging is provided through the one-way charging circuit to the auxiliary battery and a second setting wherein charge is provided through the one-way charging circuit to the main positive output of the main battery.

6. The multiple battery management system of claim 5, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one main and at least one auxiliary batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said first position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in said first position, coupling the main output of the at least one main battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one auxiliary battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit.

7. The multiple battery management system of claim 5, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one main and at least one auxiliary batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said first position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in said second position, coupling the main output of the at least one main battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one main battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit, whereby the at least one auxiliary battery is electrically isolated.

8. The multiple battery management system of claim 5, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one main and at least one auxiliary batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said second position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in a first position, coupling the auxiliary positive output of the at least one auxiliary battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one auxiliary battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit, whereby the at least one main battery is electrically isolated.

9. The multiple battery management system of claim 5, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one main and at least one auxiliary batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said second position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in a second position, coupling the auxiliary positive output of the at least one auxiliary battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one main battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit.

10. The multiple battery management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one one-way charging circuit comprises an at least one one-way charging diode.

11. The multiple battery management system of claim 10, wherein the at least one one-way charging diode further comprises an at least one silicon rectifier.

12. The multiple battery management system of claim 11, wherein the at least one one-way charging diode further comprises an at least one silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).

13. The multiple battery management system of claim 5, wherein the controller couples to and communicates with a position sensor to detect the position of the switching device and selectively engages the switching device based on the input of at least one of an at least one main battery voltage sensor, an at least one main battery amperage sensor, an at least one auxiliary battery voltage sensor, and an at least one auxiliary battery amperage sensor.

46. The multiple battery management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary battery comprises a single auxiliary battery.

47. The multiple battery management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary battery comprises a plurality of auxiliary batteries.

49. The multiple battery management system of claim 3, wherein the battery management system further comprises an at least one of:

an at least one microprocessor, an at least one signal processor, an at least one set of lookup tables, an at least one memory device, an at least one security protocol/encryption element and an at least one indicator element.

50. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 49, wherein the at least one indicator element is at least one of a klaxon, a horn, a light, a plurality of lights, an LCD panel, a simulated human voice, a human voice, a light emitting diode, a plurality of light emitting diodes.

51. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 50, wherein the at least one indicator element is a plurality of indicator elements having at least one of a red, orange, green, or amber color.

14. A vehicle multiple battery system comprising:

an accessory battery having an accessory positive output and an accessory negative output;

a starter battery having a starter positive output and a starter negative output;

a controller coupled to an at least one sensor, the controller sensing the condition of the accessory and starter batteries and switching an at least one switching device to one of the at least two switching positions; and

a switching device with at least two operating positions, the at least two operating positions selectively engaging said accessory battery and said starter battery and comprising;

a first operating position of said at least two operating positions wherein the common positive terminal is coupled to the accessory positive output and is further coupled to the at least one starter battery positive output through a one-way charging circuit between and preceding the at least one starter battery and;

a second operating position of said at least two operating positions which couples the common positive terminal to the starter positive such that the common positive terminal is coupled at a point beyond the one-way charging circuit to the starter battery positive.

15. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein upon sensing a startup sequence, the controller can place the at least one switching device in the second operating position which puts the starter battery alone in series with the electrical system and prevents electrical energy in the starter battery from flowing to the accessory battery.

16. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the one-way charging circuit electrically isolates the accessory battery in the second operating position.

17. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein in the first operating position, the one-way charging circuit permits electrical energy from the electrical system to flow into both the accessory and starter batteries, but prevents electrical energy from flowing out of the starter battery.

18. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 17, wherein in the second operating position, the accessory battery is electrically isolated from the starter battery.

19. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein only the positive outputs of the accessory battery and the at least one starter battery are switched by the switching device.

20. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the second operating position of the at least two operating positions fully disconnects the accessory battery from the electrical system and introduces only the at least one starter battery.

21. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the accessory battery is a 60 amp hour battery.

22. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the at least one starter battery is a 25 amp hour battery.

23. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the one-way charging circuit comprises an at least one one-way charging diode.

24. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 23, wherein the at least one-way charging diode further comprises an at least one silicon rectifier.

25. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 24, wherein the at least one silicon rectifier is a silicon controlled rectifier.

26. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 25, wherein the controller is coupled to and switches the switching device and is coupled to and controls the silicon controlled rectifier.

27. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 26, further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the controller.

28. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 27, wherein the at least one sensor in communication with the controller includes an at least one switch position sensor to detect the position of the switching device and wherein the controller actuates the switching device based on input from the at least one switching device sensor and at least one of a battery voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a VI sensor.

29. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 28, wherein the at least one Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) is coupled to the controller and disables the coupling of the Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) with the at least one auxiliary battery if a thermal runaway condition is detected in the auxiliary battery by the at least one sensor.

30. A vehicle multiple battery management system comprising:

a common positive and common negative terminal;

an at least one accessory battery having an accessory positive output and a accessory negative output;

at least one starter battery having a starter positive output and an starter negative output; and

a battery management system comprising an at least one controller, an at least one switching device, an at least one recharging selection mechanism, and an at least one sensor, wherein the battery management system selectively couples the common positive terminal with at least one of the accessory or starter battery positive outputs and the battery management system also selectively couples the at least one recharging selection mechanism to the accessory or the starter battery by coupling, through the at least one one-way charging circuit that proceeds the recharging selection mechanism, the respective battery output to the common output.

31. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 30, wherein the at least on recharging selection mechanism is one of an at least one relay or an at least one MOSFET or similar solid state electrical component.

32. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 31, wherein the at least one switching device has at least two operating positions and a first operating position of the at least two operating positions couples the common positive terminal to the accessory positive output of the at least one accessory battery.

33. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 32, wherein second of the two operating positions couples the common positive terminal through the at least one switching device to the starter positive output of the at least one starter battery.

34. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 33, wherein the at least one recharging selection mechanism has at least two settings, a first setting wherein recharging is provided through the one-way charging circuit to the starter battery and a second setting wherein charge is provided through the one-way charging circuit to the accessory positive output of the accessory battery.

35. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 34, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one accessory and at least one starter batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said first position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in said first position, coupling the accessory output of the at least one accessory battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one starter battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit.

36. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 34, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one accessory and at least one starter batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said first position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in said second position, coupling the accessory output of the at least one accessory battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one accessory battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit, whereby the at least one starter battery is electrically isolated.

37. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 34, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one accessory and at least one starter batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said second position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in a first position, coupling the starter positive output of the at least one starter battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one starter battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit, whereby the at least one accessory battery is electrically isolated.

38. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 34, wherein the battery management system senses the condition of the at least one of the at least one accessory and at least one starter batteries and selectively engages the at least one switching device in said second position and said at least one recharge selection mechanism in a second position, coupling the starter positive output of the at least one starter battery to the common positive output and recharging the at least one accessory battery through the at least one one-way charging circuit.

39. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 30, wherein the at least one one-way charging circuit comprises an at least one one-way charging diode.

40. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 39, wherein the at least one one-way charging diode further comprises an at least one silicon rectifier.

41. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 40, wherein the at least one one-way charging diode further comprises an at least one silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).

42. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 34, wherein the controller couples to and communicates with the position sensor to detect the position of the switching device and selectively engages the switching device based on the input of at least one of an at least one accessory battery voltage sensor, the at least one accessory battery amperage sensor, an at least one starter battery voltage sensor, and an at least one amperage sensor.

43. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 30, wherein the controller further comprises an at least one indicator element.

44. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 43, wherein the at least one indicator element is at least one of a klaxon, a horn, a light, a plurality of lights, an LCD panel, a simulated human voice, a human voice, a light emitting diode, a plurality of light emitting diodes.

45. The vehicle multiple battery management system of claim 43, wherein the at least one indicator element is a plurality of indicator elements having at least one of a red, orange, green, or amber color.

48. A method of battery management

detecting the condition of an at least one main battery and an at least one auxiliary battery;

selectively switching a multiple battery system having a main and an auxiliary battery between an at least two positions to selectively engage at least one of the main or auxiliary batteries based on charge balancing parameters set within a controller;

selectively recharging a battery system through selectively engaging a first of an at least two positions in a recharging mechanism; and

maintaining a charge level in each battery through the selective switching and selective recharge of the batteries in the system.