Battery Management Systems for Autonomous Vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for managing power during a plurality of operational modes in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- providing a power input from a first battery to a power converter element;
providing a first power output from the power converter element to power a second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode of the plurality of operational modes;
determining whether one or both of a maximum discharge current threshold and a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery have been exceeded;
providing a control input to the power converter element to reduce the first power output in response to determining that one or both of the maximum discharge current threshold and the minimum voltage threshold of the first battery has been exceeded; and
increasing a second power output from the second battery to power the autonomous vehicle during a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes in response to the reduction of the first power output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices, and circuits are disclosed for managing a high energy density battery and a high power density battery during operational modes in an autonomous vehicle. A power input may be provided from a first battery to a power converter element. A first power output may be provided from the power converter element to power to a second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode. A control input to the power converter element may be provided to reduce the first power output in response to determining that one or both of a maximum discharge current threshold and a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery have been exceeded. A second power output may be increased from the second battery to power the autonomous vehicle during a second one of the plurality of operational modes in response to the reduction of the first power output.
83 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for managing power during a plurality of operational modes in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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providing a power input from a first battery to a power converter element; providing a first power output from the power converter element to power a second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode of the plurality of operational modes; determining whether one or both of a maximum discharge current threshold and a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery have been exceeded; providing a control input to the power converter element to reduce the first power output in response to determining that one or both of the maximum discharge current threshold and the minimum voltage threshold of the first battery has been exceeded; and increasing a second power output from the second battery to power the autonomous vehicle during a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes in response to the reduction of the first power output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power control element for managing power during a plurality of operational modes in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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a power converter element configured to be coupled to a first battery and a second battery within an autonomous vehicle, the power converter element configured to receive a first power input from the first battery and provide a first power output to the second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode of the plurality of operational modes; and a processor coupled to the power converter element and configured with processor-readable instructions to; determine whether one or both of a maximum discharge current threshold and a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery have been exceeded; and provide a control input to the power converter element to reduce the first power output in response to determining that one or both of the maximum discharge current threshold and the minimum voltage threshold of the first battery has been exceeded, wherein a second power output from the second battery to power the autonomous vehicle is increased during a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes in response to the reduction of the first power output. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A device for managing power during a plurality of operational modes in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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means for receiving a power input from a first battery; means for providing a first power output to power to a second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode of the plurality of operational modes; means for determining whether one or both of a maximum discharge current threshold and a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery have been exceeded; means for providing a control input to a power converter element to reduce the first power output in response to determining that one or both of the maximum discharge current threshold and the minimum voltage threshold of the first battery has been exceeded; and means for increasing a second power output from the second battery to power the autonomous vehicle during a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes in response to the reduction of the first power output.
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17. A circuit for managing power during a plurality of operational modes in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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a power converter element configured to be coupled to a first battery and a second battery of an autonomous vehicle, the power converter element configured to receive a first power input from the first battery and provide a first power output to the second battery and the autonomous vehicle during a first operational mode of the plurality of operational modes; a first current difference amplifier circuit configured to compare a first battery current signal with a maximum discharge current threshold and output a first battery current difference signal in response to the maximum discharge current threshold being exceeded; a first voltage difference amplifier circuit configured to compare a first battery voltage in the first battery with a minimum voltage threshold of the first battery and output a first battery voltage difference signal in response to the minimum voltage threshold being exceeded; and a control signal circuit configured to provide a control input to the power converter element to reduce the first power output in response to the output of one or both of the first battery current difference signal and the first battery voltage difference signal during a second operational mode of the plurality of operational modes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification