BATTERY DISCONNECTION IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A system in an automobile adapted to disconnect electrical power in the automobile upon detection of a crash event, the system comprising:
- at least one vehicular component;
a battery for supplying electrical power to the at least one vehicular component;
a contactor for providing electrical communication between the at least one vehicular component and the battery when the contactor is in a closed configuration;
a battery management unit in communication with the contactor and being adapted to provide a disconnect signal that results in the contactor achieving an open configuration that severs a power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery;
a crash detection unit adapted to emit a crash signal upon making a determination as to whether the crash event has occurred; and
a controller area network in communication with a plurality of control units including the battery management unit and the crash detection unit, wherein upon occurrence of the crash event, the controller area network is adapted to receive the crash signal from the crash detection unit and the battery management unit is adapted to sense a signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred from the controller area network for emitting the disconnect signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for disconnection of battery power from vehicular components in an electric vehicle upon the occurrence of a crash event are described. In an embodiment of an electric vehicle, upon detection of a crash event, an appropriate signal is transmitted through a controller area network (CAN). A battery management unit (BMU) detects the signal and then severs a power connection between the battery and one or more vehicular components of the electric vehicle. In another embodiment of an electric vehicle, a crash event is detected and a signal to deploy an airbag and/or a pretensioner is emitted. Once a decision is made to deploy the airbag and/or the to pretensioner, the BMU then cuts off battery power to one or more vehicular components of the electric vehicle.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system in an automobile adapted to disconnect electrical power in the automobile upon detection of a crash event, the system comprising:
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at least one vehicular component; a battery for supplying electrical power to the at least one vehicular component; a contactor for providing electrical communication between the at least one vehicular component and the battery when the contactor is in a closed configuration; a battery management unit in communication with the contactor and being adapted to provide a disconnect signal that results in the contactor achieving an open configuration that severs a power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery; a crash detection unit adapted to emit a crash signal upon making a determination as to whether the crash event has occurred; and a controller area network in communication with a plurality of control units including the battery management unit and the crash detection unit, wherein upon occurrence of the crash event, the controller area network is adapted to receive the crash signal from the crash detection unit and the battery management unit is adapted to sense a signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred from the controller area network for emitting the disconnect signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system in an automobile adapted to disconnect electrical power in the automobile upon detection of a crash event, the system comprising:
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at least one vehicular component; a battery for supplying electrical power to the at least one vehicular component; a contactor for providing electrical communication between the at least one vehicular component and the battery when the contactor is in a closed configuration; a battery management unit in communication with the contactor and being adapted to provide a disconnect signal that results in the contactor achieving an open configuration that severs a power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery; a crash detection unit adapted to emit a crash signal upon making a determination to as to whether the crash event has occurred; an airbag control unit adapted to emit an airbag deployment signal upon reception of the crash signal from the crash detection unit; the battery management unit being adapted to sense a signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred from the airbag control unit for emitting the disconnect signal; and a feedback system adapted to generate a feedback signal that indicates whether the contactor is placed in the open configuration. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for disconnecting electrical power in an automobile upon detecting a crash event, the method comprising:
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providing a battery disposed in the automobile; connecting at least one vehicular component to the battery for supplying electrical power to the at least one vehicular component; detecting whether a crash event has occurred; emitting a crash signal from a crash detection unit to a controller area network that is in communication with a plurality of control units disposed in the automobile; sensing a signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred from the controller area network by a battery management unit; and in response to the sensing of the signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred, emitting a disconnect signal from the battery management unit to a contactor to between the at least one vehicular component and the battery for severing a power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for disconnecting electrical power in an automobile upon detecting a crash event, the method comprising:
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providing a battery disposed in the automobile; connecting at least one vehicular component to the battery for providing electrical power to the at least one vehicular component; detecting whether a crash event has occurred; emitting a crash signal from a crash detection unit; detecting the crash signal by an airbag control unit and, in response to the detecting of the crash signal, emitting an airbag deployment signal from the airbag control unit; sensing a signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred by a battery management unit; in response to the sensing of the signal that indicates that the crash event has occurred, emitting a disconnect signal from the battery management unit to a contactor between the at least one vehicular component and the battery for severing a power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery; and generating a feedback signal that indicates whether the power connection between the at least one vehicular component and the battery has been severed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification