SEMI-ACTIVE ARCHITECTURES FOR BATTERIES HAVING TWO DIFFERENT CHEMISTRIES
First Claim
1. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
- a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry;
a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and configured to be selectively coupled to the electrical system via a DC/DC converter, wherein the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry, and the DC/DC converter is configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery.
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Abstract
A 12 volt automotive battery system includes a first battery coupled to an electrical system, in which the first battery includes a first battery chemistry. The first battery is charged with a relatively constant first voltage, in which an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage. The 12 volt automotive battery system further includes a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and selectively coupled to the electrical system via a DC/DC converter, in which the second battery includes a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. The DC/DC converter boosts the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, in which the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be coupled to an electrical system and to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery and configured to be selectively coupled to the electrical system via a DC/DC converter, wherein the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry, and the DC/DC converter is configured to boost the first voltage to a second voltage to charge the second battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating a 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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outputting a relatively constant first voltage from an alternator; charging a first battery with the first voltage, wherein the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and boosting the first voltage to a second voltage with a DC/DC converter to charge a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking, wherein the second voltage is higher than a maximum charging voltage of the first battery, and the second battery comprises a second battery chemistry that has a higher coulombic efficiency than the first battery chemistry. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein the relatively constant first voltage is output by an alternator, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter comprising; a converter path configured to charge a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking by boosting the first voltage to a second voltage; a bypass path configured to enable the second battery to supply power when voltage of the second battery is higher than the first voltage and the second battery has a positive state of charge; and a DC/DC converter switch configured to selectively switch between the converter path and the bypass path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for operating a 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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outputting a relatively constant first voltage from an alternator; charging the first battery with the first voltage, wherein the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; selecting a converter path in a DC/DC converter with a battery control unit to charge a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery during regenerative braking by boosting the first voltage to a second voltage; and selecting a bypass path in the DC/DC converter with the battery control unit to enable the second battery to supply power when voltage of the second battery is higher than the first voltage. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A 12 volt automotive battery system, comprising:
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a first battery configured to be charged with a relatively constant first voltage, wherein an alternator outputs the relatively constant first voltage, and the first battery comprises a first battery chemistry; and a DC/DC converter comprising; a converter path configured to enable a second battery coupled in parallel with the first battery to supply power when the second battery has a positive state of charge by boosting voltage of the second battery to the first voltage; a bypass path configured to enable the second battery to be charged during regenerative braking when the voltage of the second battery is lower than the first voltage; and a DC/DC converter switch configured to selectively switch between the converter path and the bypass path. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification