BATTERY AUGMENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130181516A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taing Foung Phan
• Original Assignee: Taing Foung Phan
• Inventors: Phan, Taing Foung
• Application Number:
  US13/877,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181516A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery augmentation system and method is disclosed. It is particularly designed for the augmentation of batteries in electric or hybrid vehicles. The system comprises of conversion means operatively connected between an auxiliary power system and a electric-motor-battery of the vehicle, wherein the conversion means converts an output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal. The converted signal supplements the electric-motor-battery output voltage preventing it from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing damage to the electric-motor-battery. The system makes further use of an external battery which can be charged either by mains power or through the auxiliary power system of the electric/hybrid vehicle allowing the vehicle to be converted to a plug-in capable hybrid/electric vehicle. Once installed, the battery augmentation system improves the power of a hybrid or electric vehicle, extends the useful lifetime of a new or used electric-motor-battery and also improves fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A battery augmentation system comprising, at least one conversion means wherein the conversion means is adapted to be coupled, in use, to an auxiliary power system for receiving an output signal from the auxiliary power system, the conversion means being capable of converting the output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal and the conversion means further being adapted to be coupled, in use, to a battery or battery circuit for providing the battery with the converted signal to thereby supplement the battery, wherein supplementing the battery prevents the battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing damage to the battery.

2. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery augmentation system is a battery augmentation system for use in a hybrid or electric vehicle and the auxiliary power system includes an alternator, converter or other power conversion means powered by, for example, an internal combustion engine, a regenerative breaking system, one or more batteries, electric motor generators, solar/wind power generators or other means.

3. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery is an electric-motor-battery of the vehicle.

4. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery augmentation system is a battery augmentation system for use in an industrial battery bank and the auxiliary power system is an alternator, converter or other power conversion means powered by mains power or other power source(s).

5. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conversion means comprises of inverting means and rectifying means wherein the inverting means converts the output signal from the auxiliary power system into an AC signal, and the rectifying means rectifies the AC signal into the converted signal, the converted signal being a DC converted signal.

6. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the converted signal prevents the electric-motor-battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, particularly when the electric-motor-battery is under stress during heavy demand periods of the electric motor of the vehicle.

7. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the system further comprises charge storage means coupled to the auxiliary power system of the vehicle.

8. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the charge storage means is also coupled to a charging unit which allows the charge storage means to be plugged in and charged through AC mains power or other external power sources such as solar powered charging.

9. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the charge storage means is coupled to the auxiliary charging system such that the charge storage means is continuously charged from the vehicle'"'"'s auxiliary power system.

10. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the charge storage means is one or more 12V (or 24V) lead acid, lithium ion or any other type of batteries.

11. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the charge storage means is capable of supplying an output signal to the conversion means and the system comprises of switching means for selecting an output signal to be supplied to the conversion means, the output signal being chosen from the auxiliary power system, the charge storage means or both.

12. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the output signal from the auxiliary power system is, for example, a 12V (or 24 V) DC signal and the conversion means converts the 12V (or 24V) DC signal into a DC voltage signal corresponding to the electric-motor-battery voltage.

13. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rectifying means includes one or more diode rectifiers, capacitors and resistors.

14. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the converted signal prevents the output voltage of the electric-motor-battery from dropping below a predefined level, even when the electric-motor-battery is under stress, the predefined level being a value unique to each type of electric-motor-battery, for example 280VDC.

15. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery augmentation system is in an ‘

always working’

configuration with the electric-motor-battery during operation of the vehicle.

16. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery augmentation system provides increased power and/or an increase in fuel economy to a vehicle with the system installed and in particular to a vehicle having a suspected weak electric-motor-battery.

17. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery augmentation system is capable of being installed in all hybrid and/or electric vehicles, and in particular in the Toyota Prius (generation 1—

NHW 10, generation 2—

NHW 11 and generation 3—

NHW20), Honda Insight and Honda Civic hybrid.

18. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the battery augmentation system is turned on or off by a remote switch or by the ignition switch of the vehicle so that the system turns on or off simultaneously with the vehicle starting or turning off.

19. A battery augmentation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery augmentation system further comprise one or more thermistors coupled to the conversion means for limiting the current output from the conversion means preventing the conversion means from overloading.

20. A hybrid or electric vehicle having at least one conversion means wherein the conversion means is operatively connected to an auxiliary power system of the vehicle, the conversion means converting an output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal, the converted signal being supplied to an electric-motor-battery of the vehicle, the converted signal supplementing the electric-motor-battery output voltage, wherein supplementing the electric-motor-battery output voltage with the converted signal prevents the electric-motor-battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing damage to the electric-motor-battery.

21. A device for use in a vehicle, wherein the device is adapted to be coupled, in use, to an auxiliary power system of the vehicle for receiving an output signal from the auxiliary power system, the device being capable of converting the output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal and the device further being adapted to be coupled, in use, to an electric-motor-battery or battery circuit of the vehicle for providing the electric-motor-battery with the converted signal to thereby supplement the electric-motor-battery, wherein supplementing the electric-motor-battery prevents the electric-motor-battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing damage to the electric-motor-battery.

22. A battery augmentation method for augmenting a battery, the method comprising the steps of:

converting an output signal from an auxiliary power system into a converted signal through conversion means,

supplying the converted signal to the battery or battery circuit thereby supplementing the battery output voltage,

such that supplementing the battery output voltage with the converted signal prevents the battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing damage to the battery.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the method includes a preliminary step of connecting conversion means between the auxiliary power system and the battery or battery circuit.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the method is for augmenting a battery of a vehicle.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the conversion means includes inverting means and rectifying means.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the converting of the output signal through the conversion means involves the inverting means converting the output signal into an AC signal and the rectifying means converting the AC signal into a DC converted signal.

27. A battery augmentation system for a hybrid or electric vehicle, the system comprising at least one conversion means, the conversion means capable, in use, of being connected between an auxiliary power system and an electric-motor-battery of the vehicle, wherein the conversion means is capable, in use, of converting an output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal and supplying the converted signal to the electric-motor-battery, thereby supplementing the output voltage of the electric-motor-battery, thus preventing the output voltage of the electric-motor-battery from dropping beyond a predetermined value and preventing damage to cells of the electric-motor-battery.

28. An add-on kit for a hybrid or electric vehicle, the add-on kit including at least one conversion means, the conversion means capable, in use, of being connected between an auxiliary power system and an electric-motor-battery of the vehicle, wherein the conversion means is capable, in use, of converting an output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal and supplying the converted signal to the electric-motor-battery, thereby supplementing the output voltage of the electric-motor-battery, thus preventing the output voltage of the electric-motor-battery from dropping beyond a predetermined value and preventing damage to cells of the electric-motor-battery.

29. A battery augmentation system comprising, at least one conversion means wherein the conversion means is operatively connected to an auxiliary power system, the conversion means converting an output signal from the auxiliary power system into a converted signal, the converted signal supplementing an output voltage of a battery, wherein supplementing the battery output voltage with the converted signal prevents the battery output voltage from dropping below a predefined level, thus preventing the battery from being damaged.