MULTI-PORT RECONFIGURABLE BATTERY

• US 20120256568A1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solsona Enterprise, LLC
• Original Assignee: Chong U.K. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Chong Uk
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 : Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 : Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 : characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 : for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 : Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 : with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 5/685 : electrically connected in series, i.e. carrying the same current
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 5/69 : mechanically coupled by gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 : Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A multi-port reconfigurable battery has at least one bank of statically joined series connected battery cells, each including a positive and negative pole connected through switches to respective output connections on at least one port. Processor controlled switches reconfigure the cells to provide power for electrical loads on one or more ports and simultaneously provide charging on one or more other ports. An alternative configuration divides groups of series connected cells into separate battery banks that permit other configurations. Ports are configurable to share one electrically common connection with other ports providing a simplified configuration (multi-tap reconfigurable battery). Applications include selectable motor speed control and battery regeneration schemes matched to motor output, and single or multiphase AC power output at selectable frequencies for use as an Uninterruptible Power Supply. The battery is also described as a power source for a forced-air induction system (e.g. electric supercharger) for a combustion engine.

Claims

1. A multi-port reconfigurable battery, comprising at least one bank of:

a statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells;

each of said battery cells comprising a first voltage pole and a second voltage pole; and

a plurality of ports, each port comprising;

at least one processor controlled switch electrically connected between said first voltage pole of each of said battery cells and a first electrical output connection, and

at least one processor controlled switch electrically connected between said second voltage pole of each of said battery cells and a second electrical output connection;

wherein said processor controlled switches are adapted to electrically reconfigure said battery cells by coupling a first voltage pole of one of said battery cells to said first electrical output connection and a second voltage pole of one of said battery cells to said second electrical output connection to provide a reconfigurable battery output voltage between said first and second electrical output connections.

2. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1 further comprising:

for each said port;

at least one switch electrically connected between said first voltage pole of a beginning battery cell in said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells and said second electrical output connection.

3. The reconfigurable battery according to claim 1 further comprising:

for each said port;

at least one switch electrically connected between said second voltage pole of an end battery cell in said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells and said first electrical output connection.

4. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said multi-port reconfigurable battery output voltage is approximately equal to the voltage summation of the electrically reconfigured battery cells, and is in a range between zero volts and a maximum absolute value of an output voltage for said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells.

5. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of banks of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells connected in a parallel configuration.

6. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein a series joining of a first bank of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells to a second bank of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells comprises:

a first intermediate processor controlled switch connected between a second voltage pole of an end positioned battery cell in a first bank and a first voltage pole of a beginning positioned battery cell in a second bank;

a second intermediate processor controlled switch connected between a first voltage pole of a beginning positioned battery cell in a first bank and a second voltage pole of an end positioned battery cell in a second bank; and

for each said port;

connection of said first electrical output connection of said first bank to said first electrical output connection of said second bank, and

connection of said second electrical output connection of said first bank to said second electrical output connection of said second bank;

wherein said first intermediate processor controlled switch and said second intermediate processor controlled switch cannot simultaneously be in a closed state.

7. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 6 wherein said second bank comprising a statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells is substituted by a single battery cell.

8. The reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said second electrical output connection is a common electrical connection connecting all said plurality of ports.

9. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an inductive or a capacitive element for at least one of voltage and current waveform filtering.

10. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage monitoring means and a current monitoring means.

11. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 10, wherein said voltage and current monitoring means comprise a battery cell condition control system.

12. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 6, wherein said switches and said intermediate switches comprise at least one of solid state and mechanical switches.

13. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said first voltage pole is at a higher voltage potential than said second voltage pole.

14. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said battery provides energy for an electrical load comprising a vehicle with at least one electrical motor, electronic equipment, or a computer.

15. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 14, wherein said vehicle is one of an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, an electric vehicle, a hybrid automobile, a hybrid truck, an electric powered wheelchair, and an electric powered golf cart.

16. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said battery provides electrical power comprising at least one of alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to an electrical load.

17. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 16, wherein said AC or DC current comprises at least one of a constant, periodic or arbitrary waveform.

18. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 17, wherein said alternating current comprises one of single frequency waveforms, or variable frequency waveforms, and one of single phase waveforms, or multi-phase waveforms.

19. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 18, wherein said battery is simultaneously configured to provide alternating current (AC) from at least one said port of said battery and direct current (DC) from at least one other port of said battery.

20. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said battery is configured to simultaneously provide electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads by connection of each of said electrical loads to a separate one of said plurality of ports.

21. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein:

said battery is charged by connecting at least one AC or at least one DC power source to said battery, and said power source comprises at least one of a generator, a Main AC line, and a vehicle electrical system adapted for regenerative charging.

22. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 21, wherein an input voltage of said power source for charging said battery is variable from a voltage about equal to one of said battery cells in said battery to a voltage equal to about the sum of all battery cells in said battery.

23. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 1, wherein said battery is configured to simultaneously charge a portion of said battery cells and discharge an alternate portion of said battery cells by connecting a power source to at least one port and simultaneously connecting at least one electrical load to at least one other port.

24. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 23, further comprising:

a) at least one switch for regulating power entering said battery;

b) at least one switch for regulating power exiting said battery; and

c) a controller for monitoring voltage, current and regulating at least one processor controlled switch;

wherein said battery functions as an uninterruptible power supply.

25. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 24, further comprising a switch for allowing power to bypass said battery to supply power to a connected electrical load.

26. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 24, further comprising a line filter for conditioning power exiting from said uninterruptible power supply.

52. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 20, wherein said electrical load is at least one electric motor driven forced-air induction system adapted for a combustion engine.

53. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 52, wherein said electric motor driven forced-air induction system comprises at least one of a single-phase AC electric motor, a three-phase AC electric motor, or a DC electric motor.

54. The multi-port reconfigurable battery according to claim 52, further comprising:

a) at least one switch for regulating power entering said battery;

b) at least one switch for regulating power exiting said battery;

c) a controller for monitoring voltage, current, and regulating at least one processor controlled switch; and

d) a controller for monitoring performance of said motor driven forced-air induction system and said combustion engine and regulating power to at least one electric motor of said system;

wherein said battery functions as a power supply for said electric motor driven forced-air induction system.

27. A method for reconfiguring a multi-port battery comprising

for each port of a plurality of ports:

arranging a portion of a statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells into a first configuration adapted to provide a first battery voltage, and

reconfiguring at least a portion of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells into a second configuration adapted to provide a second battery voltage;

wherein said reconfiguring comprises;

closing a first processor controlled switch to electrically couple a first voltage pole of a battery cell in said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells to a first electrical output connection; and

closing a second processor controlled switch to electrically couple a second voltage pole of a battery cell in said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells to a second electrical output connection.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said reconfiguring for a series joined first bank of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells to a second bank of said statically joined plurality of series connected battery cells comprises alternatively closing:

a) a first intermediate processor controlled switch connected between a second voltage pole of an end positioned battery cell in said first bank and a first voltage pole of a beginning positioned battery cell in said second bank, or

b) a second intermediate processor controlled switch connected between a first voltage pole of a beginning positioned battery cell in said first bank and a second voltage pole of an end positioned battery cell in said second bank.

29. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said processor controlled switches comprise one of pulse width modulation processor controlled switches or pulse density modulation processor controlled switches.

30. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said first voltage pole is at a higher voltage potential than said second voltage pole.

31. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said second processor controlled switch comprises alternatively switching by pulse width modulation switching or pulse density modulation switching between a first configuration of series connected battery cells exhibiting a first voltage and a second configuration of series connected battery cells exhibiting a second voltage to produce an intermediate output voltage.

32. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein said multi-port battery is configured to simultaneously provide energy to at least one electrical load and to receive energy for recharging.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein said electrical load comprises a vehicle with at least one electrical motor, electronic equipment, or at least one computer.

34. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

said multi-port reconfigurable battery is recharged by connecting at least one power source to said battery; and

said power source provides regenerative charging via a vehicle braking action that activates at least one electric motor, inducing current flow to said battery.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34, further comprising:

monitoring voltage and current of battery power discharge;

monitoring voltage and current of battery power charge; and

controlling said reconfiguring based on said monitoring.

36. A method in accordance with claim 35, further comprising:

providing an auxiliary power source for said monitoring, for said controlling, and for said reconfiguring of a plurality of series connected battery cells.

37. A method in accordance with claim 27, further comprising:

joining said second electrical output connection for each of said plurality of ports to a common electrical connection.

38. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said processor controlled switches comprise one of pulse width modulation processor controlled switches or pulse density modulation processor controlled switches.

39. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first voltage pole is at a higher voltage potential than said second voltage pole.

40. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said second processor controlled switch comprises alternatively switching by pulse width modulation switching or pulse density modulation switching between a first configuration of series connected battery cells exhibiting a first voltage and a second configuration of series connected battery cells exhibiting a second voltage to produce an intermediate output voltage.

41. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein said reconfigurable battery is configured to provide energy to at least one electrical load and to receive energy for recharging.

42. A method in accordance with claim 41, wherein said electrical load comprises a vehicle with at least one electrical motor, electronic equipment, or at least one computer.

43. A method in accordance with claim 41, wherein:

said multi-port reconfigurable battery is recharged by connecting at least one power source to said battery; and

said power source provides regenerative charging via a vehicle braking action that activates at least one electric motor, inducing current flow to said battery.

44. A method in accordance with claim 41, further comprising:

monitoring voltage and current of battery power discharge;

monitoring voltage and current of battery power charge; and

controlling said reconfiguring based on said monitoring.

45. A method in accordance with claim 44, further comprising:

providing an auxiliary power source for said monitoring, for said controlling, and for said reconfiguring of a plurality of series connected battery cells.

46. A method in accordance with claim 28, further comprising:

joining said second electrical output connection for each of said plurality of ports to a common electrical connection.

47. An electronics controller enabled method of forming a periodic alternating current waveform exhibiting a voltage pattern comprising:

a) selecting a waveform peak-to-peak voltage amplitude less than or equal to twice the maximum output voltage deliverable from a reconfigurable multi-port battery;

b) selecting a wave period;

c) selecting an output port;

d) dividing said wave period into a series of contiguous and realizable time increments;

e) calculating and assigning to each time increment in said series of contiguous and realizable time increments, an incremental voltage step such that the concatenation of all said incremental voltage steps approximates said voltage pattern of said periodic alternating current waveform;

f) selecting an initial time increment from said series of contiguous and realizable time increments;

g) configuring said reconfigurable multi-port battery to output said incremental voltage step associated with said time increment on said output port;

h) waiting until said time increment has elapsed;

i) selecting a next time increment in said series of contiguous time increments;

j) repeating said configuring step g), said waiting step h) and said selecting step i) until said wave period has elapsed; and

k) continuing to form the periodic waveform determined by steps f) through j) until an instruction to change or halt said method is received by said controller.

48. A method in accordance with claim 47, further comprising applying at least one of an inductive or a capacitive element for filtering said waveform.

49. A method in accordance with claim 47, wherein a multiphase alternating current waveform is created, comprising the steps of:

i) initiating said method of forming a periodic alternating current waveform on a separate output port;

ii) waiting 1/p time period of a waveform cycle; and

iii) repeating steps i) and ii) an additional p−

1 times;

wherein p is an integer greater than one and corresponds to the number of phases in said multiphase waveform.

50. A method in accordance with claim 48, wherein said multi-port reconfigurable battery is configured to operate as an uninterruptible power supply comprising the steps of:

a) sensing a reduced main voltage condition or a failed main voltage condition; and

b) forming a periodic alternating current waveform;

wherein said periodic alternating current waveform is supplied on said output port.

51. A method in accordance with claim 50, wherein said uninterruptible power supply is configured to supply nominal voltage under reduced main voltage conditions, and to supply nominal voltage under loss of main voltage conditions.

55. An electronics controller enabled method of configuring a multi-port reconfigurable battery to power an electric motor driven forced-air induction system comprising the steps of:

a) sensing a throttle condition of a combustion engine;

b) initializing an instruction to activate said electric motor driven forced-air induction system for a predetermined throttle condition;

c) determining voltage required by said electric motor driven forced-air induction system;

e) configuring said multi-port reconfigurable battery to deliver said voltage required to said electric motor driven forced-air induction system;

f) continuously monitoring power delivery by said multi-port reconfigurable battery;

g) reconfiguring said multi-port reconfigurable battery if said voltage required by said electric motor driven forced-air induction system changes or said controller otherwise instructs said reconfiguring.

56. A method in accordance with claim 55, wherein said multi-port reconfigurable battery is recharged by connecting at least one power source to said battery;

wherein said power source comprises at least one of an alternator, a generator, or an automobile battery.