BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FOR HYBRID VEHICLES

• US 20110140660A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: POTTER, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,552,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/30 Switches, e.g. mercury or ball type switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A user-operated switch is provided to enable an engine to operate a generator to charge a battery while the vehicle is parked.

Claims

1. A battery charging system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a battery arranged to supply power to an electric motor;

an engine capable of driving a generator to supply power to the battery;

a controller arranged to automatically activate the engine in response to a prevailing vehicle operation condition; and

a switching element adapted to activate the engine.

2. The battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapted to detect a charge level state of the battery and arranged to prevent an activation of the engine when the charge level state exceeds a predetermined level.

3. The battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a timer adapted to control a timing of an operation of the switching element for activating the engine.

4. The battery charging system according to claim 1, further comprising an interlock device adapted to prevent an actuation of the engine by the switching element during a normal operation of the hybrid vehicle.

5. The battery charging system according to claim 4, wherein the interlock device is adapted to prevent an activation of the engine unless the electric motor is off.

6. The battery charging system according to claim 4, wherein the interlock device is adapted to prevent an activation of the engine unless the hybrid vehicle is stationary.

7. A method of charging a battery of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

sensing a battery charge state level with a sensor when the hybrid vehicle is driven;

charging the battery with an engine when the battery charge state level is less than a predetermined threshold;

detecting an activation of a switch element indicating a request to operate the engine to charge the battery when the hybrid vehicle is parked; and

operating the engine to charge the battery upon the detecting the activation of the switch element.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising ceasing to operate the engine when the hybrid vehicle is parked and the battery charge state level at least reaches or exceeds a respective threshold value.

9. A method according to claim 7, the operating the engine to charge the battery is adapted to operate for a period of time determined by a user when the hybrid vehicle is parked.