Combination battery charger/controller

• US 6,242,889 B1
• Filed: 09/10/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DAX Industries, Inc. (Fluor Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DAX Industries, Inc. (Fluor Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belyo, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/380,931
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 320/128, 320/127
• US Class Current: 320/128
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00711 with introduction of pulses during the charging process
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A battery powered device such as an electric vehicle includes a high power loads such as a drive motor (50), and on-board charging and discharging systems (20) which share significant components such as a pulsing subsystem (40). In particularly preferred embodiments the battery (10) and regenerative braking system (90), where applicable, are selected to operate efficiently with the charging and discharging systems (20).

Claims

1. A battery powered device comprising:

a battery;

a battery control system having a main charging subsystem and a main discharging subsystem, wherein the charging and discharging subsystems share at least one of the following;

(a) a duty cycle modulator;

(b) a current carrying bus bar; and

(3) a transistor heat sink; and

a DC electric drive motor.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the charging and discharging subsystem share at least two of the following:

(a) a duty cycle modulator;

(b) a current carrying bus bar; and

(3) a transistor heat sink.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the duty cycle modulator produces pulses having varied pulse widths.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a battery pack having a rated voltage of between 120 V and 156 V.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the battery contains a polymer electrolyte.

6. A battery powered device comprising:

a battery;

a battery control system having a main charging subsystem and a main discharging subsystem, wherein the charging and discharging subsystems share at least one of the following;

(a) a duty cycle modulator;

(b) a current carrying bus bar; and

(3) a transistor heat sink; and

a DC electric drive motor;

wherein the duty cycle modulator produces pulses at a frequency of at least 19,600 Hz.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the duty cycle modulator produces pulses at a frequency of at least 20,000 Hz.

8. An electric vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a battery control system having a pulsed on-board main charging subsystem and a pulsed on-board main discharging subsystem, and

a DC electric drive motor.

9. An electric vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a battery control system having a pulsed on-board main charging subsystem and a pulsed on-board main discharging subsystem, and

a DC electric drive motor;

wherein the duty cycle modulator produces pulses at a frequency of at least 19,600 Hz., with varied pulse widths.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a regenerative braking system which generates electrical power upon braking, wherein at least a portion of the electrical power generated thereby is used to charge the battery.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a battery pack having a rated voltage of between 120 V and 156 V.

12. A battery powered device comprising:

a battery;

a battery control system having a duty cycle modulator which produces pulses at a frequency of at least 19,600 Hz.; and

a DC electric drive motor.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the battery control system comprises a main charging subsystem and a main discharging subsystem, and the duty cycle modulator is shared by both the charging subsystem and the discharging subsystem.