SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING BATTERY PACK STATE OF CHARGE LIMITS

• US 20150105947A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chang, Xiaoguang, He, Chuan, Wang, Xu
• Granted Patent: US 9,340,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• 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: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating a battery pack supplying power to propel a vehicle are disclosed. One example method comprises, adjusting a battery pack state of charge window in response to vehicle mass. Adjusting the battery pack state of charge window in response to vehicle mass may allow the battery pack to provide an increased amount of energy to a motor so that the motor may provide torque to a driveline for a longer period of time and/or absorb more vehicle generator produced power during vehicle operations.

Claims

1. A system for operating a battery pack of a vehicle, comprising:

a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells; and

a controller including non-transitory instructions for adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds in response to vehicle mass.

2. The system of claim 1, where vehicle mass includes vehicle cargo and passengers.

3. The system of claim 1, where vehicle mass includes mass of a trailer mechanically coupled to the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack state of charge battery charging high and/or maximum thresholds.

5. The system of claim 4, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes decreasing a battery pack state of charge battery discharging low and/or minimum threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack charging energy and/or power in response to an increase in vehicle mass.

7. The system of claim 6, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack discharging energy and/or power in response to an increase in vehicle mass.

8. A system for operating a battery pack of a vehicle, comprising:

a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells; and

a controller including non-transitory instructions for adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds in response to environmental conditions that affect power of an engine.

9. The system of claim 8, where the environmental conditions include barometric pressure.

10. The system of claim 9, where the environmental conditions include humidity.

11. The system of claim 10, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack charging threshold in response to an environmental condition that decreases power of an engine.

12. The system of claim 11, where adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes decreasing a battery pack discharging threshold in response to the environmental condition that decreases power of the engine.

13. The system of claim 12, where adjusting the battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack charging energy and/or power in response to the environmental condition that decreases power of the engine.

14. The system of claim 13, where adjusting the battery pack state of charge operating thresholds includes increasing a battery pack discharging energy and/or power in response to the environmental condition that decreases power of the engine.

15. A method for operating a battery pack, comprising:

adjusting an available amount of battery pack output and/or input energy and/or power in response to vehicle mass.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the output and/or input energy and/or power of the battery pack in response to environmental conditions that affect torque of an engine.

17. The method of claim 15, where the vehicle mass includes mass of a trailer mechanically coupled to the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting battery pack state of charge operating thresholds in response to vehicle mass.

19. The method of claim 15, where adjusting the available amount of battery pack output energy and/or input power includes decreasing the available amount of battery pack output and/or input power in response to a decrease in vehicle mass.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising reducing the available amount of battery pack output energy and/or input power in response to no change in vehicle mass after a predetermined duration.