ADJUSTING ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEMS BASED ON AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE THERMAL PROFILE

• US 20150046012A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Taiwan Limited (Gogoro Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Ching, Wu, Yi-Tsung, Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting
• Granted Patent: US 10,065,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/443 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Electric vehicles such as scooters are reliant upon one or more electrical energy storage devices to not only provide motive power but also power some or all vehicular systems. An electrical energy storage device can be equipped with a number of thermal sensors that provide data indicative of overall and/or localized electrical energy storage device temperature(s) to a controller. In order to maintain the electrical energy storage device in a desired thermal operating range or profile, the controller can selectively alter or control the power distributed or allocated to one or more vehicular systems. Such alteration or control of power allocation may be performed by the controller based upon an assessed degree of vehicular system criticality.

Claims

1. An electrical energy storage device thermal compensation system, the system comprising:

a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors to measure a respective temperature at a location within a vehicular electrical energy storage device;

at least one controller, communicably coupled to each of the plurality of thermal sensors, the controller to receive one or more process variable signals from each of the plurality of thermal sensors, each of the process variable signals including data indicative of a temperature sensed by the respective thermal sensor;

a controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set stored in a nontransitory storage medium communicably coupled to the at least one controller, that when executed by the at least one controller, causes the at least one controller to at least;

for each of a number of the plurality of thermal sensors, determine a respective sensed temperature;

for each of the number of thermal sensors, determine a first difference between the sensed temperature and at least one temperature threshold value logically associated with the respective thermal sensor;

responsive at least in part to the determined first difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, provide at least one control variable signal output at a communications interface; and

communicate the at least one control variable signal output to at least one vehicular system, the at least one control variable signal output including at least one parameter to adjust a power consumption of the at least one vehicular system.

2. The thermal compensation system of claim 1 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

stepwise adjust the at least one parameter of the at least one control variable signal output responsive to the determined first difference for each of the number of thermal sensors, wherein each of the stepwise parameter adjustment causes a change in power consumption of the respective vehicular system.

3. The thermal compensation system of claim 2 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

measure the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems;

assess the criticality of the one or more vehicular systems to at least one of;

user safety and regulatory compliance;

remaining vehicle range possible using the existing vehicular electrical energy storage device; and

vehicular performance;

identify non-critical vehicular systems; and

based at least in part on the determined first difference of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, selectively adjust downward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

identified non-critical vehicular systems;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range.

4. The thermal compensation system of claim 3 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

in response to a determined decrease in temperature sensed by one or more thermal sensors, using the at least one control variable signal, selectively adjust upward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

identified non-critical vehicular systems.

5. The thermal compensation system of claim 1 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set that causes the at least one controller to determine a sensed temperature change over a defined time interval for each of the plurality of thermal sensors, further causes the at least one controller to:

determine an average electrical energy storage device temperature by averaging the sensed temperature of at least two of the plurality of thermal sensors.

6. The thermal compensation system of claim 1 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set that causes the at least one controller to determine a sensed temperature change over a defined time interval for each of the plurality of thermal sensors, further causes the at least one controller to:

determine a component temperature of an electrical energy storage device component using the sensed temperature provided by at least two of the plurality of thermal sensors.

7. The thermal compensation system of claim 1 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

determine a temperature change rate logically associated with each of at least some of the plurality of thermal sensors; and

determine a second difference between the determined temperature change rate and one or more defined temperature change rate thresholds logically associated with the respective thermal sensor.

8. The thermal compensation system of claim 7 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

stepwise adjust the at least one parameter of the at least one control variable signal output responsive to the determined second difference for at least some of the plurality of thermal sensors, wherein each stepwise parameter adjustment causes a change in power consumption of the respective vehicular system.

9. The thermal compensation system of claim 8 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

measure the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems;

assess the criticality of the one or more vehicular systems to at least one of;

user safety and regulatory compliance;

remaining vehicle range possible using the existing vehicular electrical energy storage device; and

vehicular performance;

identify non-critical vehicular systems; and

in response to a determined increase in temperature change rate that exceeds one or more defined temperature change rate thresholds, using the at least one control variable signal parameter, selectively adjust downward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

identified non-critical vehicular systems;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range.

10. The thermal compensation system of claim 9 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

in response to a determined decrease in temperature change rate that exceeds one or more defined temperature change rate thresholds, using the at least one control variable signal parameter, selectively adjust upward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

identified non-critical vehicular systems.

11. The thermal compensation system of claim 1 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

store at least a portion of the data indicative of the determined sensed temperature change over the defined time interval for each of the plurality of thermal sensors in a nontransitory storage media coupled to the vehicular electrical energy storage device.

12. The thermal compensation system of claim 11 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

store at least a portion of data indicative of at least one vehicle operating parameter in the nontransitory storage media coupled to the vehicular electrical energy storage device.

13. The thermal compensation system of claim 11 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

store at least a portion of data indicative of a determined change in sensed temperature over time (dT/dt) logically associated with the respective thermal sensor in a nontransitory storage media coupled to the vehicular electrical energy storage device.

14. The thermal compensation system of claim 13 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set includes additional instructions that further cause the at least one controller to:

store at least a portion of data indicative of at least one vehicle operating parameter in the nontransitory storage media coupled to the vehicular electrical energy storage device.

15. An electrical energy storage device thermal compensation system, the system comprising:

a plurality of thermal sensors, each of the thermal sensors to measure a respective temperature at a location within a vehicular electrical energy storage device;

at least one controller, communicably coupled to each of the plurality of thermal sensors, the controller to receive one or more process variable signals from each of the plurality of thermal sensors, each of the process variable signals including data indicative of a temperature sensed by the respective thermal sensor;

a controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set stored in a nontransitory storage medium communicably coupled to the at least one controller, that when executed by the at least one controller, causes the at least one controller to at least;

for each of a number of the plurality of thermal sensors;

determine a respective sensed temperature;

determine a first difference between the sensed temperature and at least one temperature threshold value logically associated with the respective thermal sensor;

determine a respective temperature change rate;

determine a second difference between the determined temperature change rate and at least one defined temperature change rate threshold value logically associated with the respective thermal sensor;

responsive to the determined first difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors and responsive to the determined second difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, provide at least one control variable signal output at a communications interface; and

communicate the at least one control variable signal output to at least one vehicular system, the at least one control variable signal output including at least one parameter to adjust a power consumption of the at least one vehicular system.

16. An electrical energy storage device thermal compensation controller, the controller comprising:

a first signal interface for receipt of a number of process variable signals generated by each of a number of thermal sensors, each of the process variable signals including data indicative of a temperature in respective location in a vehicular electrical energy storage device;

a second signal interface for output of a number of control variable signals, each of the control variable signals including at least one parameter to adjust the power consumption of one vehicular system;

at least one processor communicably coupled to the first signal interface and the second signal interface;

a nontransitory storage media communicably coupled to the at least one processor that includes a processor-readable, machine-executable, instruction set that when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

for each of the number of thermal sensors, determine a respective sensed temperature;

for each of the number of thermal sensors, determine a first difference between the sensed temperature and at least one temperature threshold value logically associated with the respective thermal sensor;

responsive to the determined first difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, provide at least one control variable signal output at a communications interface; and

communicate the at least one control variable signal output to at least one vehicular system, the at least one control variable signal output including at least one parameter to adjust a power consumption of the at least one vehicular system.

17. The controller of claim 16 wherein the processor-readable, machine-executable, instruction set further causes the at least one processor to:

determine a temperature change rate for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors; and

determine a second difference between the determined temperature change rate and one or more defined temperature change rate thresholds logically associated with the respective thermal sensor.

18. The controller of claim 16 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set further causes the at least one controller to:

stepwise adjust the at least one parameter of the at least one control variable signal output responsive to the determined first difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, wherein each of the stepwise parameter adjustment causes a change in power consumption of the respective vehicular system.

19. The controller of claim 18 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set further causes the at least one controller to:

measure the power consumption of the one or more vehicular systems;

assess criticality of the one or more vehicular systems to user safety and regulatory compliance;

assess criticality of the one or more vehicular systems to remaining vehicle range possible using the existing vehicular electrical energy storage device;

assess a criticality of the one or more vehicular system to vehicular performance;

identify non-critical vehicular systems; and

in response to a determined increase in temperature sensed by one or more thermal sensors, using the at least one control variable signal, selectively adjust downward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

identified non-critical vehicular systems;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range.

20. The controller of claim 19 wherein the controller-readable, machine-executable, instruction set further causes the at least one controller to:

in response to a determined decrease in temperature sensed by one or more thermal sensors, using the at least one control variable signal, selectively adjust upward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

identified non-critical vehicular systems.

21. An electrical energy storage device thermal compensation method, the method comprising:

determining by at least one controller, a sensed temperature for each of a plurality of thermal sensors disposed in a vehicular electrical energy storage device;

determining a first difference between the determined sensed temperature for each of a number of the plurality of thermal sensors and at least one temperature threshold value logically associated with the respective thermal sensor;

responsive to the determined first difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, providing at least one control variable signal output at a communications interface; and

communicating the at least one control variable signal output to at least one vehicular system, the at least one control variable signal output including at least one parameter to adjust a power consumption of the at least one vehicular system.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a temperature change rate for each of at least some of the plurality of thermal sensors; and

determining a second difference between the determined temperature change rate and one or more defined temperature change rate thresholds logically associated with the respective thermal sensor.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

stepwise adjusting the at least one parameter of the at least one control variable signal output responsive to the determined difference for each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, wherein each stepwise parameter adjustment causes a change in power consumption of the respective vehicular system.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

measuring the power consumption of the one or more vehicular systems;

assessing criticality of the one or more vehicular systems to at least one of;

user safety and regulatory compliance;

remaining vehicle range possible using the existing vehicular electrical energy storage device; and

vehicular performance;

identifying non-critical vehicular systems; and

in response to a determined increase in temperature sensed by each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, using the at least one control variable signal, selectively adjusting downward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

identified non-critical vehicular systems;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range.

25. The power cell thermal compensation method of claim 24, further comprising:

in response to a determined decrease in temperature sensed by each of at least some of the number of thermal sensors, using the at least one control variable signal, selectively adjusting upward the power consumption of one or more vehicular systems in the following order;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to remaining vehicular range;

the one or more vehicular systems assessed as critical to vehicular performance; and

identified non-critical vehicular systems.