METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VOLTAGE SOURCE FOR CHARGING A BATTERY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20160121750A1
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2014
• 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 10,293,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2072 for drive off
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/20 Drive modes; Transition between modes
• 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: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling a voltage source is used to charge a battery of a motor vehicle, wherein the desired voltage value of the voltage source is selected and controlled. The method changes between at least two charging modes at planned time intervals, wherein a first charging mode applies a different desired voltage value for charging the battery than a second charging mode. In particular, the two charging modes are a process of equalization charging the battery and a process of float charging the battery.

Claims

1. A method for charging a battery of a vehicle comprising:

by a controller, selectively changing at planned intervals between an equalization charging mode in which a z-curve defined desired voltage at connection terminals of the battery is achieved to fully charge all cells of the battery and a float charging mode in which current of the battery is minimized and a state of charge of the battery is maintained around a fixed value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float charging mode includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals to a temperature-dependent value by way of feedback control of the voltage.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float charging mode includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals to a temperature-dependent value by way of closed-loop control with a feed-forward disturbance value.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the float charging mode includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals such that the current is zero.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising selectively changing between the equalization and float charging modes only if a prerequisite condition is satisfied.

6. A method for controlling a voltage source that is used to charge a battery of a motor vehicle comprising:

by a controller, changing at planned time intervals between an equalization charging mode in which a desired voltage is applied to fully charge all cells of the battery and a float charging mode in which battery current is minimized and battery state of charge is maintained around a fixed value.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein for at least one of the modes at least one prerequisite is defined and the at least one of the modes is only activated after a defined time interval has expired if the at least one prerequisite has been fulfilled.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prerequisite includes a defined operating mode of the vehicle.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prerequisite includes a minimum battery state of charge.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prerequisite includes deactivation of electrical consumers of the vehicle that are sensitive to current exceeding a predefined level.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prerequisite includes deactivation of at least one defined further charging mode.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one defined further charging mode includes an initial battery charging process in which a charging voltage is applied to the battery if the motor vehicle changes into a torque-generating mode or into a mode in which a charging operation is performed at an electrical socket.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one defined further charging mode inhibits a charging current for charging the battery until a defined charging process inhibit period has expired and wherein the charging process inhibit period commences if the motor vehicle is switched off after a journey.

14. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the voltage source is an AC generator or a DCDC convertor of the motor vehicle.

15. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the voltage source is charged by a low voltage supply distribution network of the motor vehicle.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a battery; and

a controller programmed to, at planned intervals, selectively change between operating to cause a z-curve defined desired voltage to be present at connection terminals of the battery to fully charge all cells of the battery and operating to minimize a current of the battery and to maintain a state of charge of the battery around a fixed value.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein operating to minimize a current of the battery and to maintain a state of charge of the battery around a fixed value includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals to a temperature-dependent value by way of feedback control of the voltage.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein operating to minimize a current of the battery and to maintain a state of charge of the battery around a fixed value includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals to a temperature-dependent value by way of closed-loop control with a feed-forward disturbance value.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein operating to minimize a current of the battery includes controlling a voltage at the connection terminals such that the current is zero.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the controller is further programmed to selectively change only if a prerequisite condition is satisfied.