All wheel drive electric vehicle power assist drive system
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for an all-electric vehicle using a primary drive system and a secondary drive system is provided. While the primary drive system utilizes a single electric motor, the secondary drive system utilizes a pair of electric motors. In one configuration, a single electrical energy storage system (ESS) is used to supply power to both drive systems. A DC/DC converter can be used so that the two drive systems can utilize different DC bus voltage ranges. In another configuration, each drive system is coupled to a different electrical ESS. A bi-directional DC/DC converter can be used to provide an electrical path between each motor'"'"'s inverter and the electrical ESS of the other drive system. An energy transfer control module connected to the bi-directional DC/DC converter and one or more sensors can be used to control the use of the bi-directional DC/DC converter.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1-7. -7. (canceled)
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8. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
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a primary drive system, comprising; a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle; a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter; and a primary battery pack electrically connected to said primary power control module, said primary battery pack comprised of a first plurality of batteries, wherein said primary battery pack supplies electrical power to said primary electric motor via said primary inverter and said primary power control module; an assist drive system, comprising; a first assist electric motor, said first assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a first wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said first assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said first wheel of said second vehicle axle; a first assist inverter electrically connected to said first assist electric motor; a first assist power control module electrically connected to said first assist inverter; a second assist electric motor, said second assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a second wheel of said second vehicle axle, wherein said second assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said second wheel of said second vehicle axle; a second assist inverter electrically connected to said second assist electric motor; a second assist power control module electrically connected to said second assist inverter; and a secondary battery pack electrically connected to said first assist power control module and to said second assist power control module, said secondary battery pack comprised of a second plurality of batteries, wherein said secondary battery pack supplies electrical power to said first assist electric motor via said first assist inverter and said first assist power control module, and wherein said secondary battery pack supplies electrical power to said second assist electric motor via said second assist inverter and said second assist power control module; a central power control module coupled to said primary power control module, said first assist power control module and said second assist power control module, wherein said central power control module provides control signals to said primary power control module, said first assist power control module and said second assist power control module; and a bi-directional DC/DC converter electrically connected to said primary drive system and to said assist drive system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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10. (canceled)
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22. An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:
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a primary drive system, comprising; a primary electric motor, said primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first vehicle axle, wherein said primary electric motor provides propulsion power to said at least one wheel of said first vehicle axle; a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor; a primary power control module electrically connected to said primary inverter; a primary battery pack electrically connected to said primary power control module, said primary battery pack comprised of a first plurality of batteries, wherein said primary battery pack supplies electrical power to said primary electric motor via said primary inverter and said primary power control module; and at least one primary battery pack condition sensor coupled to said primary battery pack; an assist drive system, comprising; a first assist electric motor, said first assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a first wheel of a second vehicle axle, wherein said first assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said first wheel of said second vehicle axle; a first assist inverter electrically connected to said first assist electric motor; a first assist power control module electrically connected to said first assist inverter; a second assist electric motor, said second assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a second wheel of said second vehicle axle, wherein said second assist electric motor provides propulsion power to said second wheel of said second vehicle axle; a second assist inverter electrically connected to said second assist electric motor; a second assist power control module electrically connected to said second assist inverter; and a secondary battery pack electrically connected to said first assist power control module and to said second assist power control module, said secondary battery pack comprised of a second plurality of batteries, wherein said secondary battery pack supplies electrical power to said first assist electric motor via said first assist inverter and said first assist power control module, and wherein said secondary battery pack supplies electrical power to said second assist electric motor via said second assist inverter and said second assist power control module; and at least one secondary battery pack condition sensor coupled to said secondary battery pack; a bi-directional DC/DC converter electrically connected to said primary drive system and to said assist drive system, wherein said bi-directional DC/DC converter provides a first electrical path connecting said secondary battery pack to said primary inverter via said primary power control module, wherein said bi-directional DC/DC converter provides a second electrical path connecting said primary battery pack to said first assist inverter via said first assist power control module, and wherein said bi-directional DC/DC converter provides a third electrical path connecting said primary battery pack to said second assist inverter via said second assist power control module; and an energy transfer control module electrically connected to said bi-directional DC/DC converter and to said at least one primary battery pack condition sensor and to said at least one secondary battery pack condition sensor, wherein said energy transfer control module sends control signals to said bi-directional DC/DC converter based on output from said at least one primary battery pack condition sensor and said at least one secondary battery pack condition sensor.
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23. A method of operating an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) monitoring a first performance parameter associated with a primary battery pack, said primary battery pack supplying electrical energy to a first drive system, said first drive system comprised of a primary electric motor mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of a first axle of the electric vehicle, a primary inverter electrically connected to said primary electric motor, and a primary power control module electrically connected to, and interposed between, said primary inverter and said primary battery pack; b) transmitting a first output signal corresponding to said monitored first performance parameter to an energy transfer control module; c) monitoring a second performance parameter associated with a secondary battery pack, said secondary battery pack supplying electrical energy to a second drive system, said second drive system comprised of a first assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a first wheel of a second vehicle axle of the electric vehicle, a first assist inverter electrically connected to said first assist electric motor, and a first assist power control module electrically connected to, and interposed between, said first assist inverter and said secondary battery pack, and wherein said second drive system is further comprised of a second assist electric motor mechanically coupled to a second wheel of said second vehicle axle of the electric vehicle, a second assist inverter electrically connected to said second assist electric motor, and a second assist power control module electrically connected to, and interposed between, said second assist inverter and said secondary battery pack; d) transmitting a second output signal corresponding to said monitored second performance parameter to said energy transfer control module; e) transmitting a control signal from said energy transfer control module to a bi-directional DC/DC converter in response to said first and second output signals; f) transferring energy between said primary battery pack, said secondary battery pack, said first drive system and said second drive system via said bi-directional DC/DC converter in response to said control signal; g) repeating steps a)-f) at a first frequency throughout operation of said electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification