VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CHARGING BATTERY OF SAME

• US 20110163722A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gale, Allan Roy, Blakemore, Bruce Carvell, Degner, Michael W., Momcilovich, Paul Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A method for charging a battery may include determining a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery, altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition, and charging the battery with the altered charge profile.

Claims

1. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

a traction battery arranged to provide energy to move the vehicle; and

at least one controller configured to determine a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery, to alter a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition, and to charge the battery with the altered charge profile.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery age, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage based on the battery age.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes a shorted battery cell, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes decreasing the charge voltage.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes a sulphated plate, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery dry out, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage and decreasing the maximum current.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to alter a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery age, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing at least one of the set point voltage and set point current based on the battery age.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes a sulphated plate, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the set point voltage.

9. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery dry out, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the set point voltage.

10. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes a shorted battery cell, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes decreasing the set point voltage.

11. A method for charging a battery comprising:

determining a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery;

altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition; and

charging the battery with the altered charge profile.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery age, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage based on the battery age.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes a shorted battery cell, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes decreasing the charge voltage.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes a sulphated plate, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the default charge profile is defined by a charge voltage and maximum current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery dry out, and wherein altering a default charge profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the charge voltage and decreasing the maximum current.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a battery; and

at least one controller configured to determine a degradation condition of the battery based on impedance parameters of the battery, to alter a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition, and to operate the battery with the altered operating profile.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery age, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing at least one of the set point voltage and set point current based on the battery age.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes a sulphated plate, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the set point voltage.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the default operating profile is defined by a set point voltage and set point current, wherein the degradation condition includes battery dry out, and wherein altering a default operating profile for the battery based on the degradation condition includes increasing the set point voltage.

21. (canceled)