System for battery module balancing via variable voltage DC-DC converter in a hybrid-electric powertrain
First Claim
1. An apparatus for balancing a battery module in a vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of batteries in the battery module, said plurality of batteries connected in series, said plurality of batteries each having a battery voltage, and at least one battery providing power to an electrical system of the vehicle;
an electric generator producing a generator voltage to charge said plurality of batteries; and
a DC—
DC converter coupled to said electrical generator and receiving power from said electrical generator, said DC—
DC converter monitoring at least one of said battery voltages of at least one of said plurality of batteries and controlling said battery voltage of said battery providing power to said electrical system of the vehicle with reference to said monitored battery voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for balancing a battery module in a vehicle including a plurality of batteries in the battery module, the plurality of batteries connected in series, the plurality of batteries each having a battery voltage, and at least one battery providing power to an electrical system of the vehicle, an electric generator producing a generator voltage to charge the plurality of batteries, and a DC—DC converter coupled to the electrical generator and receiving power from the electrical generator, the DC—DC converter monitoring at least one of the battery voltages of at least one of the plurality of batteries and controlling the battery voltage of the battery providing power to the electrical system of the vehicle with reference to the monitored battery voltage.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for balancing a battery module in a vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of batteries in the battery module, said plurality of batteries connected in series, said plurality of batteries each having a battery voltage, and at least one battery providing power to an electrical system of the vehicle;
an electric generator producing a generator voltage to charge said plurality of batteries; and
a DC—
DC converter coupled to said electrical generator and receiving power from said electrical generator, said DC—
DC converter monitoring at least one of said battery voltages of at least one of said plurality of batteries and controlling said battery voltage of said battery providing power to said electrical system of the vehicle with reference to said monitored battery voltage.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
power control circuitry having a voltage output;
a microcontroller coupled to said power control circuitry to control said voltage output; and
a plurality of sensors coupled to said microprocessor to detect said voltages of said battery modules.
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15. An apparatus for balancing a battery module comprising:
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a DC—
DC converter including a microcontroller, voltage sensors, and power circuitry;
wherein said DC—
DC converter receives power from an electrical generator or the battery module;
wherein the battery module includes a plurality of batteries each said battery having a battery voltage; and
wherein said DC—
DC converter charges at least one of said plurality of batteries with reference to the voltages of the remaining plurality of batteries.- View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of regulating a battery module in a vehicle having a plurality of batteries, at least one of said plurality of batteries providing power to a vehicle electrical system, comprising:
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monitoring the voltage of at least one of said plurality of batteries;
generating a voltage with an electric generator to charge said plurality of batteries and provide power to a DC—
DC converter;
applying a voltage with said DC—
DC converter to said at least one of said plurality of batteries providing power to said vehicle electrical system; and
varying said applied voltage with respect to said monitored voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification