Multi-configurable, scalable, redundant battery module with multiple fault tolerance
First Claim
1. An energy delivery system, comprising:
- a plurality of strings, each string in the plurality comprising,(i) two or more energy delivery modules electrically coupled in series, wherein each energy delivery module includes one or more energy delivery devices for storing and delivering electric current, and a module monitor for monitoring and controlling each of the energy delivery devices in the energy delivery module, and(ii) a string communication path accessible to each of the energy delivery modules, wherein the module monitor of each energy delivery module is operable to communicate information associated with its energy delivery module through the string communication path;
a plurality of string manager devices for communicating with the module monitors in the strings through the string communication paths, each string manager device being respectively associated with a different string of the plurality of strings, wherein each string manager device is configured to independently communicate with the module monitors by sending an address specific message to the module monitors along its string communication path, such that a response is given by the module monitor that corresponds to the address specific message sent by the string manager device; and
a system controller for communicating with each string manager device through a system communication path.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An energy delivery system includes at least one string of two or more energy delivery modules electrically coupled in series. Each energy delivery module includes one or more energy delivery devices for storing and delivering electrical current, and a module monitor for monitoring and controlling each of the energy delivery devices. Each string of energy delivery modules includes a string communication path accessible to each of the energy delivery modules, wherein the module monitor of each energy delivery module is operable to communicate information associated with its energy delivery module through the string communication path. Each string also includes a string manager device for communicating with each module monitor in the string, through the string communication path. The energy delivery system also includes a system controller for communicating with each string manager device through a system communication path.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An energy delivery system, comprising:
a plurality of strings, each string in the plurality comprising, (i) two or more energy delivery modules electrically coupled in series, wherein each energy delivery module includes one or more energy delivery devices for storing and delivering electric current, and a module monitor for monitoring and controlling each of the energy delivery devices in the energy delivery module, and (ii) a string communication path accessible to each of the energy delivery modules, wherein the module monitor of each energy delivery module is operable to communicate information associated with its energy delivery module through the string communication path; a plurality of string manager devices for communicating with the module monitors in the strings through the string communication paths, each string manager device being respectively associated with a different string of the plurality of strings, wherein each string manager device is configured to independently communicate with the module monitors by sending an address specific message to the module monitors along its string communication path, such that a response is given by the module monitor that corresponds to the address specific message sent by the string manager device; and a system controller for communicating with each string manager device through a system communication path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. An energy delivery system, comprising:
-
a plurality of energy delivery devices, wherein each energy delivery device is operable to store energy provided to it and deliver stored energy as electrical current; a plurality of first electrical devices for providing functionality related to at least one of monitoring, controlling and managing the plurality of energy delivery devices; a plurality of string communication paths associated with the plurality of first electrical devices; a plurality of second electrical devices for communicating with the plurality of first electrical devices through the plurality of string communication paths, each of the second electrical devices being separately associated with a corresponding one of the string communication paths, wherein the plurality of second electrical devices are configured to independently communicate with the first electrical devices by sending address specific messages to the first electrical devices, such that responses are given by the first electrical devices that correspond to the address specific messages sent by the second electrical devices; and a printed circuit board including; (i) electrical contacts for electrically coupling the energy delivery devices to the printed circuit board, and, (ii) electrical conductors for electrically coupling the energy delivery devices to one another in a predetermined arrangement, and for coupling the energy delivery devices to the plurality of first electrical devices; wherein the plurality of energy delivery devices and the plurality of first electrical devices are mounted directly to the printed circuit board.
-
-
12. A method of assembling an energy delivery system, comprising:
-
providing a pair of endcaps, wherein the endcaps include (i) posts for constraining an array of energy delivery devices in a predetermined arrangement, (ii) electrically conductive plates for providing an electrical connection to the energy delivery devices, and (iii) access ports for accessing the electrically conductive plates through the endcaps at locations corresponding to electrical ports of the energy delivery devices, the access ports are formed in an exterior surface of the electrically conductive plates; disposing the energy delivery devices between the endcaps, such that the posts constrain the energy delivery devices in the predetermined arrangement, and the electrical ports of the energy delivery devices are in contact with the electrically conductive plates; securing the endcaps together, so as to clamp the batteries between the endcaps in the predetermined arrangement; applying heat through the access ports to the electrically conductive plates, which forms an electrically conductive bond between the electrical ports of the energy delivery devices and predetermined locations on the electrically conductive plates. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An energy delivery system, comprising:
-
a pair of endcaps, wherein the endcaps include (i) posts for constraining an array of energy delivery devices in a predetermined arrangement, (ii) electrically conductive plates for providing an electrical connection to the energy delivery devices, and (iii) access ports for accessing the electrically conductive plates through the endcaps at locations corresponding to electrical ports of the energy delivery devices, the access ports are formed in an exterior surface of the electrically conductive plates; wherein the energy delivery devices are disposed between the endcaps, such that the posts constrain the energy delivery devices in the predetermined arrangement, and the electrical ports of the energy delivery devices are in contact with the electrically conductive plates; wherein the endcaps are secured together, so as to clamp the batteries between the endcaps in the predetermined arrangement; and
,wherein an electrically conductive bond is formed between the electrical ports of the energy delivery devices and predetermined locations on the electrically conductive plates by applying heat through the access ports to the electrically conductive plates. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification