Power supply system for a vehicle

• US 7,420,352 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Kranz, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton; Gary L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fantu; Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US11/256,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/124, 320/137, 320/128, 320/104, 320/166, 320/150, 307/10.7, 180/54.1
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Power supply system for a vehicle, in the case of which an onboard voltage supply system for supplying electric consuming devices can be fed by at least one power accumulator, and in which external electric consuming devices can be connected to the onboard voltage supply system. At least one portable removable accumulator, which can be charged by way of the onboard voltage supply system of the vehicle, is provided, which removable accumulator is constructed as an energy accumulator expansion unit controllable by way of a battery management system, by way of which energy accumulator expansion unit electric consuming devices, which are part of the vehicle and/or external electric consuming devices, may be operated, so that the removable accumulator can optionally be utilized as a stationary power supply device in the vehicle when the onboard voltage supply system is connected or, when the onboard voltage supply system is not connected, can be used as a mobile power supply device independently of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A power supply system for a vehicle having an onboard voltage supply system for supplying electric consuming devices, external electric consuming devices being connectable to the onboard voltage supply system, the power supply system comprising:

at least one portable removable accumulator chargeable via the onboard voltage supply system of the vehicle;

a battery management system, said accumulator being a power accumulator expansion unit controllable via the battery management system and by which at least one of vehicle specific electric consuming devices and external electric consuming devices are operable;

wherein the removable accumulator is configured to operate in a stationary power supply mode when coupled with the onboard voltage supply system and in a mobile power supply mode independently of the vehicle when not coupled with the onboard voltage supply system,

wherein accumulator-relevant data is bidirectionally exchanged between the removable accumulator and the onboard voltage supply system of the vehicle via the battery management system; and

wherein the at least one portable removable accumulator is operatively coupled to the onboard voltage supply system via a support assembly arranged in an interior of the vehicle, when operating in the stationary power supply mode.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the external consuming devices are at least one of office equipment, a communication device, and an electronic entertainment unit.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes a slide-in unit arranged in the interior of the vehicle, the at least one portable removable accumulator being adapted to slide into the slide-in unit.

4. The power supply system according to claim 2, wherein the support assembly includes a slide-in unit arranged in the interior of the vehicle, the at least one portable removable accumulator being adapted to slide into the slide-in unit.

5. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the battery management system is integrated in the removable accumulator.

6. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein an actual charge condition of the removable accumulator is reportable to the onboard voltage supply system via the battery management system.

7. The power supply system according to claim 5, wherein an actual charge condition of the removable accumulator is reportable to the onboard voltage supply system via the battery management system.

8. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the supply of electrical power to the removable accumulator by the onboard voltage supply system is prioritized via the battery management system.

9. The power supply system according to claim 5, wherein the supply of electrical power to the removable accumulator by the onboard voltage supply system is prioritized via the battery management system.

10. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the battery management system has a limit function such that a defined maximal voltage and current intensity cannot be exceeded when the removable accumulator is being supplied with electrical power.

11. The power supply system according to claim 10, wherein the limit function includes overload protection such that a defined maximum load of the removable accumulator cannot be exceeded and triggering of a safety fuse is prevented.

12. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the battery management system has a blocking function such that power stored in the removable accumulator may be utilized only for defined functions.

13. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the removable accumulator is configured so as to be chargeable via an external power supply unit.

14. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the removable accumulator is a lithium ion polymer battery.

15. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of removable accumulators, each of which is adapted to specific uses, are chargeable by way of the onboard voltage supply system of the vehicle.

16. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the accumulator-relevant data is bidirectionally exchanged over a databus interposed between the battery management system and the onboard voltage supply system.

17. The power supply system according to claim 16, wherein the databus includes a controller area network (CAN) databus.