METHOD FOR CHARGING THE STARTER BATTERY OF A VEHICLE

• US 20160090000A1
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: EIFERT, Mark, KARDEN, Eckhard
• Granted Patent: US 10,052,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• 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

Abstract

A method for charging the starter battery of a motor vehicle at a voltage source includes charging the starter battery after a traction battery of the vehicle has been charged up to a defined value. The starter battery is charged if a charge state of the starter battery is established that is below a defined threshold value. If the charge state of the starter battery is of such a low level, the starter battery is charged until one or more defined termination conditions are fulfilled. The termination conditions may include the total charging period since the low charge state of the starter battery has been established exceeds a defined threshold value and/or the total time period charging the traction battery and the starter battery at the voltage source exceeds a defined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle having a starter battery, a traction battery, and an engine in communication with at least one controller while the vehicle is connected to a stationary power source, wherein the at least one controller performs the method comprising:

charging the traction battery;

charging the starter battery to a second charge state after the traction battery charges to a first charge state;

deactivating current from the power source after the traction and starter batteries charge to the first and second charge states, respectively;

after expiration of a predetermined time period, periodically reactivating current from the power source to monitor the starter battery charge state; and

resuming charging of the starter battery if the starter battery charge state is below a first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the controller provides an equalization current to the starter battery if the starter battery charge state is below a second threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second charge state is below a maximum desired charge, the first threshold is a maximum desired charge, and the controller provides a trickle charge current to the starter battery when the starter battery charge is below the first threshold.

4. A method for charging a starter battery of a vehicle having an engine and a traction battery at a voltage source, comprising:

charging, by a controller, the starter battery after the traction battery charges to a first value if the starter battery charge is below a second value until at least one of (1) a starter battery charging period exceeds a first threshold and (2) a traction battery charging period exceeds a second threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring, by the controller, the charge state of the starter battery; and

terminating charging of the starter battery in response to the charge state of the starter battery exceeding a limit value.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the limit value corresponds to a charge state of the starter battery that is below a fully charged state.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

terminating charging of the starter battery in response to a charge supplied to the starter battery exceeding a charge threshold value.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

terminating charging of the starter battery in response to a charge supplied to the starter battery after the vehicle has been connected to the voltage source exceeding a charge threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the starter battery is charged with a desired voltage value that initiates an equalization charging process of the starter battery.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the controller:

deactivates current supply to the vehicle after a defined time interval during which the vehicle is connected to the voltage source has expired; and

periodically reactivates the current supply and monitors a charge state of the starter battery.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the voltage source is a local power supply system to which the vehicle is temporarily connected.

12. A method for a vehicle having a traction battery, a starter battery, and a control module while the vehicle is connected to a power grid, comprising, by the control module:

activating current supply to the starter battery in response to the traction battery exceeding a first threshold and the starter battery being below a second threshold; and

deactivating current supply from the power grid a predetermined time after the starter battery exceeds a third threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, by the control module:

periodically reactivating the current supply from the power grid and monitoring a charge state of the starter battery; and

supplying current to the starter battery if the starter battery charge state falls below the second threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second threshold is a maximum desired charge state.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the first threshold is less than a maximum desired traction battery charge state.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising, by the control module, stopping current supply to the starter battery in response to a starter battery charging period exceeding a first time period.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising, by the control module, stopping current supply to the starter battery in response to a traction battery charging period exceeding a second time period.