Energy storage device including a status indicator

• US 7,439,711 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Bolton, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/951,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/132, 320/149, 320/DIG.21, 320/166, 320/167
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 2/24 Distinguishing marks, e.g. colour coding
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/14 Structural combinations or circuits for modifying, or compensating for, electric characteristics of electrolytic capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

An energy storage device for use with an electric vehicle includes an electrical energy storage device configured to be coupled to an electrical traction system of the electric vehicle to provide electrical power to the electrical traction system. The energy storage device also includes a sensor integrally mounted within the electrical energy storage device and configured to measure a voltage of the electrical energy storage device. The sensor also includes a status indicator integrally mounted to the electrical energy storage device and configured to provide a visual indication of the voltage.

Claims

1. An energy storage device for use with an electric vehicle, the energy storage device comprising:

an electrical energy storage device including at least one ultracapacitor configured to be coupled to an electrical traction system of the electric vehicle to provide electrical power to the electrical traction system;

a sensor integrally mounted within the electrical energy storage device and configured to measure a voltage of the ultracapacitor of the electrical energy storage device; and

a status indicator integrally mounted to the electrical energy storage device and configured to provide a visual indication of the voltage.

2. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storage device includes positive and negative terminals configured to be coupled to the electrical traction system of the electric vehicle, and wherein the sensor is configured to measure the voltage across the positive and negative terminals.

3. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The energy storage device of claim 3, wherein the electrical energy storage device is configured to intermittently illuminate the light emitting diode at a predetermined frequency when the voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold.

5. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the status indicator includes a plurality of segments configured to be sequentially illuminated to visually indicate the voltage.

6. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises an alphanumeric display configured to visually indicate the voltage.

7. The energy storage device of claim 6, wherein the alphanumeric display is one of a light emitting diode display and a liquid crystal display.

8. The energy storage device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a voltage converter.

9. A method of producing an energy storage device for use with an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an electrical energy storage device including at least one ultracapacitor configured to be removably mounted to the electric vehicle and further configured to be coupled to an electrical system of the electric vehicle;

mounting a sensor to the electrical energy storage device configuring the sensor to measure a voltage of the ultracapacitor of the electrical energy storage device;

integrally mounting a status indicator to the electrical energy storage device; and

configuring the status indicator to provide a visual indication of the voltage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein mounting the sensor to the electrical energy storage device comprises integrally mounting the sensor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring the sensor to measure the voltage comprises coupling the sensor to positive and negative terminals of the electrical energy storage device so that the sensor is configured to measure the voltage across the positive and negative terminals.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mounting the status indicator comprises mounting a light emitting diode.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising configuring the electrical energy storage device to intermittently illuminate the light emitting diode at a predetermined frequency when the voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein mounting the status indicator comprises mounting a plurality of segments configured to be sequentially illuminated.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the mounting the status indicator comprises mounting an alphanumeric display.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein mounting the sensor includes mounting a voltage converter.