Systems and methods for providing power to a load based upon a control strategy

• US 8,614,564 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Perisic, Milun, Kajouke, Lateef A., Ransom, Ray M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/949,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 320/145, 320/138
• US Class Current: 320/145
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/42 Voltage source inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/44 Current source inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for an electrical system. The electrical system includes a load, an interface configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source, and a controller configured to receive the voltage from the voltage source through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the load. Wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the load, when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the load, and when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the load.

Claims

1. A charging system, comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

an interface configured to be coupled to a voltage; and

a controller configured to receive the voltage through the interface and to recharge the rechargeable battery using the received voltage,

wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the rechargeable battery,

when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the rechargeable battery, and

when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the rechargeable battery,

wherein the controller further comprises a matrix conversion module including a plurality of gates which control a flow of current from the voltage source to the rechargeable battery, wherein the controller selectably operates the gates based upon which mode the controller is in.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether it is in the constant voltage, constant current or constant power mode based upon a state of the rechargeable battery.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the controller, when in the constant power mode, limits an amount of power that can be drawn from the voltage source.

4. The charging system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to allow a user select the amount of power drawn from the voltage source.

5. The charging system of claim 3, wherein the amount of power drawn from the voltage source is based upon a power capacity of the voltage source.

6. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a reference current depending upon the mode the controller is in, and to use the reference current to create an off-duty time ratio to control the plurality of gates.

7. An electrical system, comprising:

a load;

an interface configured to receive a voltage; and

a controller configured to receive the voltage through the interface and to provide a voltage and current to the load,

wherein, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, the controller provides a constant voltage to the load,

when the controller is in a constant current mode, the controller provides a constant current to the load, and

when the controller is in a constant power mode, the controller provides a constant power to the load,

wherein the controller further comprises a matrix conversion module including a plurality of gates which control a flow of current from the voltage source to the load, wherein the controller selectably operates the gates based upon which mode the controller is in.

8. The electrical system of claim 7, wherein the controller determines whether it is in the constant voltage, constant current or constant power mode based upon a state of the load.

9. The electrical system of claim 7, wherein the controller, when in the constant power mode, limits an amount of power that can be drawn from the voltage source.

10. The electrical system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to allow a user select the amount of power drawn from the voltage source.

11. The electrical system of claim 9, wherein the amount of power drawn from the voltage source is based upon a power capacity of the voltage source.

12. The electrical system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a reference current depending upon the mode the controller is in, and to use the reference current to create an off-duty time ratio to control the plurality of gates.

13. A method of providing a voltage and current to a load from a controller coupled to the load, comprising:

providing, when the controller is in a constant current mode, a constant current charge to the load;

providing, when the controller is in a constant voltage mode, a constant voltage to the load;

providing, when the controller is in a constant power mode, a constant power charge to the load; and

selecting, by a user, the amount of power drawn from the power source and provided to the load.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a mode of the controller based upon a state of the load.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a mode of the controller based upon a state of the power source.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a mode of the controller based upon a user input.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising limiting, by the controller when the controller is in a constant power mode, an amount of power drawn from a power source and provided to the load.