UNINTERRUPTIBLE BATTERY POWER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20130169038A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starvolt Inc.
• Original Assignee: Allen King
• Inventors: King, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,987,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for assuring uninterruptible battery power for a typical electric motor vehicle powered by an array of series-connected member batteries. Such assurance results from a provision of an electrically-operated bypass switch configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a faulty first member battery upon activation, thus keeping the vehicle powered up. In one embodiment, the bypass switch is a double-pole multi-contact selector switch connected to each member battery and complimented by a pole-connect switch. For an atypical electric motor vehicle, such as with a multiple battery array parallel configuration, a backup battery may be provided and connected with the faulty battery array in series to displace the bypassed member battery, thus maintaining equal voltage outputs from the battery arrays.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electrically-operated bypass switch configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery of an array of a plurality of series-connected member batteries if activated; and

a switch activator module configured to activate said bypass switch in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch comprises a double-pole multi-contact selector switch and a pole-connect switch, the first pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a first set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the second pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a second set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the first set of contacts being individually electrically connected to positive terminals of said member batteries, and the second set of contacts being individually electrically connected to negative terminals of said member batteries.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said selector switch is configured to connect the first pole to the positive terminal of the first member battery and connect the second pole to the negative terminal of the first member battery if activated, and the pole-connect switch is configured to connect the first pole to the second pole if activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bypass switch comprises a plurality of electrically-operated switches, each of which is configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across one member battery of said battery array if activated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if said battery array is connected with one or more like battery array in parallel, the apparatus further comprises a like bypass switch associated with each said additional battery array configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery thereof if activated, a backup battery and an electrically-operated backup switch associated with each said battery array, the backup battery configured with electric and electronic characteristics of member batteries, each said backup switch configured to connect the backup battery in series with the associated battery array if activated.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein, in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery of any said battery array, both said bypass switch and said backup switch associated therewith are activated by the switch activator module, whereby an equal voltage output from each said battery array required for a parallel connection is attained.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said member battery is selected from the group consisting of member battery, member fuel cell, and member ultracapacitor, and said battery array is accordingly selected from the group consisting of battery array, fuel cell array, and ultracapacitor array.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said backup battery is selected from the group consisting of backup battery, backup fuel cell, and backup ultracapacitor.

9. A system comprising:

an electric motor vehicle operating unit;

an electric motor vehicle operation controller, coupled to the electric motor vehicle operating unit; and

a battery enclosure with battery cooling means, coupled to the electric motor vehicle operation controller, the battery enclosure comprising;

a plurality of series-connected member batteries forming at least one battery array supplying power to the electric motor vehicle;

an uninterruptible power adapter (“

UPA”

), coupled to said battery array, the UPA comprising;

an electrically-operated bypass switch configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery of said battery array if activated;

a switch activator module configured to activate said bypass switch in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery; and

a plurality of electric conductors with connection means configured to electrically interconnect said components; and

a central battery controller, interfacing with said member batteries and the UPA, configured to provide battery operation and charge control and communication.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said bypass switch comprises a double-pole multi-contact selector switch and a pole-connect switch, the first pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a first set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the second pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a second set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the first set of contacts being individually electrically connected to positive terminals of said member batteries, and the second set of contacts being individually electrically connected to negative terminals of said member batteries.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said selector switch is configured to connect the first pole to the positive terminal of the first member battery and connect the second pole to the negative terminal of the first member battery if activated, and the pole-connect switch is configured to connect the first pole to the second pole if activated.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said bypass switch comprises a plurality of electrically-operated switches, each of which is configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across one member battery of said battery array if activated.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein if said battery array is connected with one or more like battery array in parallel, the UPA further comprises a like bypass switch associated with each said additional battery array configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery thereof if activated, a backup battery and an electrically-operated backup switch associated with each said battery array, the backup battery configured with electric and electronic characteristics of member batteries, each said backup switch configured to connect the backup battery in series with the associated battery array if activated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein, in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery of any said battery array, both said bypass switch and said backup switch associated therewith are activated by the switch activator module, whereby an equal voltage output from each said battery array required for a parallel connection is attained.

15. A method for assuring uninterruptible battery power for an electric motor vehicle powered by an array of a plurality of series-connected member batteries comprising:

providing an electrically-operated bypass switch configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery of said battery array if activated;

connecting said bypass switch to each said member battery electrically;

powering the electric motor vehicle for operation;

maintaining communication between said member batteries and a central battery controller of the electric motor vehicle; and

activating said bypass switch in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery, whereby a closed electrical bypass circuit path is formed across the first member battery.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said bypass switch comprises a double-pole multi-contact selector switch and a pole-connect switch, the first pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a first set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the second pole of said selector switch selectively connectable to a second set of a plurality of contacts thereof, the first set of contacts being individually electrically connected to positive terminals of said member batteries, and the second set of contacts being individually electrically connected to negative terminals of said member batteries.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said selector switch is configured to connect the first pole to the positive terminal of the first member battery and connect the second pole to the negative terminal of the first member battery if activated, and the pole-connect switch is configured to connect the first pole to the second pole if activated.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said bypass switch comprises a plurality of electrically-operated switches, each of which is configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across one member battery of said battery array if activated.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein if said battery array is connected with one or more like battery array in parallel, the method further comprises providing a like bypass switch associated with each said additional battery array configured to form a closed electrical bypass circuit path across a first member battery thereof if activated, a backup battery and an electrically-operated backup switch associated with each said battery array, the backup battery configured with electric and electronic characteristics of member batteries, each said backup switch configured to connect the backup battery in series with the associated battery array if activated.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising activating both said bypass switch and said backup switch associated with any said battery array in response to detection of a failure in the first member battery thereof, whereby an equal voltage output from each said battery array required for a parallel connection is attained.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said member battery is selected from the group consisting of member battery, member fuel cell, and member ultracapacitor, and said battery array is accordingly selected from the group consisting of battery array, fuel cell array, and ultracapacitor array.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said backup battery is selected from the group consisting of backup battery, backup fuel cell, and backup ultracapacitor.