Battery fault tolerant architecture for cell failure modes parallel bypass circuit

• US 8,471,529 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Vance, Steven J., Guerin, John T., Leutheuser, Andrew H., Mentzer, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/904,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/19 Switching between serial connection and parallel connection of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A by-pass circuit for a battery system that disconnects parallel connected cells or modules from a battery circuit or controls the current through the parallel connected cells or modules. If a cell has failed or is potentially failing in the system, then the by-pass circuit can disconnect the cell or module from other cells or modules electrically coupled in parallel. If a cell or module has a lower capability than another cell or module, then the by-pass circuit can control the current to the cell or module to maximize the performance of the system and prevent the system from creating a walk-home condition.

Claims

1. A battery circuit comprising a plurality of battery modules electrically coupled in parallel, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled in series, each battery module also including a control device operable to disconnect the battery module from the other battery modules in response to battery cell failure or potential failure, wherein the control device includes a logic circuit, a first current path including a first switch and a second current path including a second switch, where the first current path allows current to flow into the module and the second current path allows current to flow out of the module, and wherein the logic circuit opens the second switch and controls the opening and closing of the first switch when the module is being charged where the time that the first switch is closed is based on a state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of a higher performing module in the battery circuit, and wherein the logic circuit opens the first switch and controls the opening and closing of the second switch when the module is being discharged where the time that the second switch is closed is also based on the state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of the higher performing module in the battery circuit.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the control circuit is a switch.

3. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the switch is a solid-state switch.

4. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the switch is a relay.

5. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the switch is a mechanical disconnect.

6. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the control device includes circuit components that control the time that a discharge current flows from the module and a charge current flows to the module.

7. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells.

8. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the battery is a vehicle battery.

9. The circuit according to claim 8 wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

10. A battery circuit comprising a plurality of battery modules electrically coupled in parallel, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled in series, each battery module also including a control device that includes circuit components that control the time that a discharge current flows from the module and a charge current flows to the module where the circuit components are operable to disconnect the battery module from the other battery modules, wherein the logic circuit opens the second switch and controls the opening and closing of the first switch when the module is being charged where the time that the first switch is closed is based on a state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of a higher performing module in the battery circuit, and wherein the logic circuit opens the first switch and controls the opening and closing of the second switch when the module is being discharged where the time that the second switch is closed is also based on the state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of the higher performing module in the battery circuit.

11. The circuit according to claim 10 wherein the control device includes a logic circuit, a first current path including a first switch and a second current path including a second switch, where the first current path allows current to flow into the module and the second current path allows current to flow out of the module.

12. The circuit according to claim 10 wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells.

13. The circuit according to claim 10 wherein the battery is a vehicle battery.

14. The circuit according to claim 13 wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle.

15. A battery circuit for a battery in a hybrid vehicle, said battery circuit comprising a plurality of battery modules electrically coupled in parallel, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells electrically coupled in series, each battery module also including a control device that includes circuit components that control the time that a discharge current flows from the module and a charge current flows to the module where the circuit components are operable to disconnect the battery module from the other battery modules, wherein the control device includes a logic circuit, a first current path including a first switch and a second current path including a second switch, where the first current path allows current to flow into the module and the second current path allows current to flow out of the module, wherein the logic circuit opens the second switch and controls the opening and closing of the first switch when the module is being charged where the time that the first switch is closed is based on a state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of a higher performing module in the battery circuit, and wherein the logic circuit opens the first switch and controls the opening and closing of the second switch when the module is being discharged where the time that the second switch is closed is also based on the state of charge range of the module compared to the state of charge range of the higher performing module in the battery circuit.

16. The circuit according to claim 15 wherein the battery cells are lithium-ion battery cells.