GRAPHITE THERMOELECTRIC AND/OR RESISTIVE THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A thermoelectric battery thermal management system configured to manage temperature of a battery cell, the system comprising:
- a heat spreader in thermal communication with a temperature sensitive region of a battery cell, the heat spreader comprising;
pyrolytic graphite in thermal communication with the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell, the pyrolytic graphite comprising a plurality of graphite layers extending substantially in parallel along the heat spreader and configured to transfer thermal energy and electric current along a plane substantially parallel to the graphite layers;
a plurality of thermal elevators between the plurality of graphite layers, the thermal elevators configured to transfer thermal energy between the plurality of graphite layers and configured to transfer thermal energy substantially orthogonal to the plane; and
a conductor in thermal communication with the pyrolytic graphite and the plurality of thermal elevators, the conductor in electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite to heat the battery cell upon application of electric current through the pyrolytic graphite via the conductor;
a thermoelectric device comprising a main side and a waste side, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main side and the waste side of the thermoelectric device upon application of electric current to the thermoelectric device, wherein the main side of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device; and
a thermal management controller configured to operate in a heating mode or a cooling mode,wherein in the heating mode, the battery cell is heated by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy to the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell when electric current is applied to the heat spreader via the conductor, when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a first polarity, or when electric current is applied to both the heat spreader via the conductor and the thermoelectric device in the first polarity, andwherein in the cooling mode, the battery cell is cooled by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy away from the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a second polarity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed embodiments include thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include a heat spreader in thermal communication with a temperature sensitive region of the electrical device. The heat spreader can include the one or more pyrolytic graphite sheets. The heat spreader can include thermal/electrical elevators connecting the one or more pyrolytic graphite sheets. The systems can include a thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the heat spreader. Electric power can be directed to the heat spreader and/or thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling of the electrical device.
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Citations
103 Claims
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1. A thermoelectric battery thermal management system configured to manage temperature of a battery cell, the system comprising:
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a heat spreader in thermal communication with a temperature sensitive region of a battery cell, the heat spreader comprising; pyrolytic graphite in thermal communication with the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell, the pyrolytic graphite comprising a plurality of graphite layers extending substantially in parallel along the heat spreader and configured to transfer thermal energy and electric current along a plane substantially parallel to the graphite layers; a plurality of thermal elevators between the plurality of graphite layers, the thermal elevators configured to transfer thermal energy between the plurality of graphite layers and configured to transfer thermal energy substantially orthogonal to the plane; and a conductor in thermal communication with the pyrolytic graphite and the plurality of thermal elevators, the conductor in electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite to heat the battery cell upon application of electric current through the pyrolytic graphite via the conductor; a thermoelectric device comprising a main side and a waste side, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main side and the waste side of the thermoelectric device upon application of electric current to the thermoelectric device, wherein the main side of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device; and a thermal management controller configured to operate in a heating mode or a cooling mode, wherein in the heating mode, the battery cell is heated by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy to the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell when electric current is applied to the heat spreader via the conductor, when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a first polarity, or when electric current is applied to both the heat spreader via the conductor and the thermoelectric device in the first polarity, and wherein in the cooling mode, the battery cell is cooled by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy away from the temperature sensitive region of the battery cell when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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21. A battery thermal management system configured to heat or cool a battery cell, the system comprising:
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a heat spreader in thermal communication with a battery cell, the heat spreader comprising; a pyrolytic graphite sheet configured to transfer thermal energy and electric current along the pyrolytic graphite sheet; and a conductor in thermal and electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet, the conductor in electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet to heat the battery cell upon application of electric current to the pyrolytic graphite sheet via the conductor, the conductor in thermal communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet to transfer thermal energy to and from the pyrolytic graphite sheet; and a thermoelectric device comprising a main side and a waste side, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main side and the waste side of the thermoelectric device upon application of electric current to the thermoelectric device, wherein the main side of the thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device, wherein the battery cell is heated by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy to the battery cell when electric current is applied to the heat spreader via the conductor, or when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a first polarity, or when electric current is applied to both the heat spreader via the conductor and the thermoelectric device in the first polarity, and wherein the battery cell is cooled by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy away from the battery cell when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 47)
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49. A heat spreader assembly for managing temperature of an electrical device, the heat spreader assembly comprising:
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a graphite sheet in thermal communication with an electrical device, the graphite sheet configured to transfer thermal energy and electric current along the graphite sheet; and a conductor in thermal and electrical communication with the graphite sheet, the conductor in electrical communication with the graphite sheet to heat the electrical device upon application of electric current to the graphite sheet via the conductor, the conductor in thermal communication with the graphite sheet to transfer thermal energy to and from the graphite sheet, wherein the electrical device is heated by the graphite sheet transferring thermal energy to the electrical device when electric current is applied to the heat spreader via the conductor, and wherein the electrical device is cooled by the graphite sheet transferring thermal energy away from the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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76. A method of manufacturing a battery thermal management system for heating or cooling a battery cell, the method comprising:
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thermally connecting a heat spreader to a battery cell, the heat spreader comprising; a pyrolytic graphite sheet configured to transfer thermal energy and electric current along the pyrolytic graphite sheet; and a conductor in thermal and electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet, the conductor in electrical communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet to heat the battery cell upon application of electric current to the pyrolytic graphite sheet via the conductor, the conductor in thermal communication with the pyrolytic graphite sheet to transfer thermal energy to and from the pyrolytic graphite sheet; and thermally connecting a main side of a thermoelectric device to the heat spreader to heat or cool the battery cell by adjusting a polarity of electric current delivered to the thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer thermal energy between the main side and a waste side of the thermoelectric device upon application of electric current to the thermoelectric device, wherein the battery cell is heated by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy to the battery cell when electric current is applied to the heat spreader via the conductor, or when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a first polarity, or when electric current is applied to both the heat spreader via the conductor and the thermoelectric device in the first polarity, and wherein the battery cell is cooled by the heat spreader transferring thermal energy away from the battery cell when electric current is applied to the thermoelectric device in a second polarity. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification