Multiple battery switching method and apparatus

• US 7,388,349 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Original Assignee: Reserve Power Cell LLC
• Inventors: Elder, David, Bruno, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 320/DIG.18, 320/103, 320/104, 320/125, 320/126, 320/163, 429/1, 429/9, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0445 Multimode batteries, e.g. containing auxiliary cells or electrodes switchable in parallel or series connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/122 Multimode batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

The instant invention is directed to a multiple battery system and network controlled multiple battery system. A main battery having a main positive output and a main negative output is also provided, together with an at least one auxiliary battery having an at least one auxiliary positive output and an at least one auxiliary negative output. A main electrical circuit having an at least one switching device is provided with at least two operating positions. The two operating positions selectively couple the main and at least one auxiliary battery to the common positive terminal. In the first of the at least two operating positions electrical charge is provided to both the main battery and the at least one auxiliary battery. A controller is also provided and coupled to the main electrical circuit and switches the at least one switching device based on input from an at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle multiple battery system operating a vehicle electrical system connected between a system positive and a system negative terminal, the system comprising:

a main battery having a main positive output coupled to an at least one switching device having at least two operating positions and a main negative output;

at least one switching device and an at least one standby negative output coupled to the vehicle electrical system negative terminal; and

a main electrical circuit comprising a coupling of the system positive terminal with the at least one switching device, the at least one switching device having at least two operating positions to selectively and exclusively couple either the main or the at least one standby battery positive output to the system positive terminal to start and operate the vehicle electrical system;

wherein in a first operating position of an at least two operating positions electrical power is provided exclusively by the main battery at startup of the vehicle electrical system and the main battery is recharged by the vehicle electrical system and an at least one one-way charging circuit receives electrical power from the vehicle electrical system, the at least one one-way charging circuit simultaneously recharging the at least one standby battery without permitting the at least one standby battery to be engaged to start the vehicle electrical system, operate the vehicle electrical system, or electrically couple to the main battery; and

wherein in a second operating position of the at least two operating positions the main battery is electrically isolated by the one-way charging circuit from the at least one standby battery and the at least one standby battery exclusively provides electrical power to the vehicle electrical system at startup; and

a controller coupled to the main electrical circuit and the one-way charging circuit, the controller switching said at least one switching device based on input from an at least one sensor to selectively and exclusively provide power in each of the switch positions as enumerated, such that the main battery and the at least one standby battery never supply electrical energy to the vehicle electrical system simultaneously.

2. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 1, wherein in a second operating position of the at least two operating positions the system positive terminal is coupled directly to the standby positive output.

3. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the main battery is electrically isolated from the at least one standby battery in the second operating position of the at least two operating positions of the at least one switching device and the at least one standby battery provides electrical power at startup and during operation of the vehicle electrical system.

4. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein only the coupling of the positive output of the main battery or the positive output of the at least one standby battery are switched by the switching device.

5. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the second operating position of the at least two operating positions electrically isolates the main battery from the vehicle electrical system and introduces only the at least one standby battery.

6. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the controller further comprises an at least one indicator element.

7. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 6, wherein the at least one indicator element is at least one of a klaxon, a horn, a light, a plurality of lights, an LCD panel, a simulated human voice, a human voice, a light emitting diode, a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 6, wherein the at least one indicator element is a plurality of indicator elements having at least one of a red, orange, green, or amber color.

9. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the battery system further comprises a battery housing with a main battery compartment containing the main battery and an at least one standby battery compartment containing the at least one standby battery.

10. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 9, wherein the main battery compartment is located atop the at least one standby battery compartment.

11. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 9, wherein the main battery compartment is located aside the at least one standby battery compartment.

12. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the one-way charging circuit comprises an at least one one-way charging diode.

13. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the at least one one-way charging circuit further comprises an at least one silicon rectifier.

14. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 12, wherein the at least one one-way charging circuit further comprises an at least one Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR).

15. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the at least one Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) is coupled to the controller and disables the coupling with the at least one standby battery upon receiving a signal from the controller.

16. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the at least one standby battery comprises a single standby battery.

17. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the at least one battery comprises a plurality of standby batteries.

18. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor further comprises an at least one of:

an at least one main battery voltage sensor, an at least one main battery amperage sensor, an at least one standby battery voltage sensor, an at least one standby battery amperage sensor, an at least one switch position sensor.

19. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the controller further comprises at least one of:

an at least one microprocessor, an at least one signal processor, an at least one set of lookup tables, an at least one memory device, an at least one security protocol/encryption element and an at least one indicator element.

20. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the controller is a wireless controller system.

21. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 20, wherein the wireless controller system further comprises a wireless controller, a wireless transceiver, and an input device.

22. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 21, wherein the input device is a wireless input device and further comprises an at least one indicator element.

23. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the controller is a network interfaceable controller, the network interfaceable controller further comprising a network interface and transceiver.

24. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 23, wherein the network interfaceable controller is in communication with a Network Operations Center (NOC) via a network.

25. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 24, wherein the network interfaceable controller couples to and communicates with the at least one switching device to detect the position of the at least one switching device and selectively engages the at least one switching device based on the input of at least one of an at least one main battery voltage sensor, an at least one main battery amperage sensor, an at least one standby battery voltage sensor, and an at least one standby amperage sensor.

26. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the controller further comprises a trigger on the controller that signals the controller to periodically change the switch position of the at least one switching device so as to discharge the at least one standby battery in the second operating position of the at least two operating positions for periods of time and then switches back to the first operating position of the at least two operating positions.

27. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 25, further comprising an at least one VI sensor.

28. The vehicle multiple battery system of claim 2, wherein the multiple batteries are part of an at least one of a six-volt, a twelve-volt, a fourteen-volt, and a twenty-four volt battery vehicle electrical system.